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)."
Romans 12:2 (Amplified) says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age) (fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs) but be transformed (changed) by the (entire) renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude)."
As new creations, we must learn and renew our minds by the way of our new life and customs of God's Kingdom, instead of allowing the world's culture to determine our way of living. In this world, we are trained by the customs and culture of the where we were born and raised. Everyone who has been born of the flesh, are human beings. They are human beings, because they were born in this world. We might come from different ethnic groups, but we're all human beings.
We were raised in different parts of the world and were trained by the cultures, customs and teachings of that venue. Our minds have conformed to the things we've heard and seen around us. As we grew into adulthood, this was an established way of life for us. Some broke with tradition and grew into a different way of living, but most didn't. Many still live like those who came before them centuries ago and hold to the customs they were raised in. Although we're all human beings, we live in different ways. We don't do this in order to become human beings, but we are developing lifestyles as humans.
The Body of Christ (the Church) comes from only One Source, according to 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) which says, "You have been regenerated (born again) not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm but from One that is Immortal by the Ever Living and Lasting Word of God." We Christians have all been born of the Same Seed, but we've been trained by the world's culture, instead of the culture of God's Kingdom. We all became one new creation when we were born-again, but we differ in so many ways, because of the cultures we were born into and raised in.
Paul directs us to, "Not be conformed to this world and fashioned after its external customs." This world can and has conformed the new creation family, after its own "external customs." If we look at the different denominations throughout today's world, we find that the customs and cultures of the world determine how and what we believe as the new creation family of God. Even though we are all born of the Spirit, we are still guided by the external customs of the world. This is why Paul tells us to, "renew our minds." The world's customs have determined the teachings of the Church. Not everything we've been taught is wrong, but it's certainly not all right either.
Most of us haven't given this much thought and we're not given this revelation, in order to become Lone Ranger Christians. Revelations tells us that satan is, "he who has deceived the whole world. None of us have been exempt from his lies and deceptions. We've been empowered by the new Life and Spirit within us, to overcome many things of the flesh, but we haven't been trained by our new creation spirit to live in what we've been created to be.
Customs and cultures have determined what we believe and what we are to do, in the Church. We were already Christians, but now the customs are training us, instead of the Word and the Holy Spirit (Who is our Teacher). The external customs that Paul spoke about, have determined the external things to override the eternal things. Many external customs (like the way we are to dress and worship) have been dictated through the world's teachings. Different cultures and customs still offer up sacrifices today and in others, the Gifts of the Spirit and the Super-natural things of God "have ceased." Some believe that God doesn't do these things anymore or that God only speaks to certain people. These are only a few examples of the external and superficial customs of "this age and the world," that have fashioned the Church over the years.
It's seems out of place in the Church, for us to step-out into the things of the new creation, because they go against the external customs and culture of the world's teachings. The Church isn't trying to be antagonistic against the Truth of the Word, but we've been so accustomed to these teachings, that it seems "right" to us. Jesus warned that, "The thief comes only to kill, to steal and to destroy" the liberty of this new creation. Satan's tried his best, to keep God's family under the same bondage he holds over the world.
In these Last Days, the Holy Spirit is breaking through the carnal minds of the Church, with revelation from God's Kingdom. The Super-natural move of the Kingdom is being restored and things are working and operating in the Kingdom principles. The world's customs are being replaced by the Truth of the Eternal God and Father of the new creation family.
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Lesson 218 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) tells us, "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 a child is born into this world, he doesn't need to try becoming a human being, because he is already a human being. He must though, learn to conduct himself and function as a human. Depending upon the culture he's raised in, he must adopt the teachings and grow into what the standards of a human being is expected to be. That child didn't become a human being, but developed as a human being, by the culture he was raised in.
When you were born-again, you didn't have to become a new creation, you already are one. Now, by the Holy Spirit and God's Word, we began to grow and develop into the maturity of what this new creation being is supposed to be. Depending on the culture and the teaching we receive, we grow into what that culture expects us to be. We're raised up into what differing cultures and denominations teach us to be as mature Christians.
The Church has developed according to what these cultures and denominations know about the Spirit realm. Most of us have never realized who we really are, by the standards of the Heavenly realm or sphere. As new creation people, we've allowed our lives to be governed by the same realm as those who aren't birthed into the new realm, we've been born-again into. We've been raised in a culture that mostly denied our Spiritual heritage and have functioned int the natural culture of this world.
Everything we feel, smell, see, hear or taste is from this natural realm of life. We've been born from and into a different realm, with different cultures. Because many in this culture are unable to see, feel, smell, hear or taste this invisible realm from which we've been born-again into, they put it off for "someday, when we get to Heaven." As citizens of Heaven, we've accepted the culture of the physical realm, instead of our Homeland (God's Kingdom).
The new creation people have only a few individuals, to follow as examples of our true heritage. The culture of our Homeland, is completely different from the natural culture, in which we've been raised. We've developed in some small areas of our Spiritual heritage. We've trained our natural bodies to behave by willpower and not from our spirit.
We don't need to try becoming a new creation, because we were born that way through faith in Jesus. We've lacked the Truth about who we really are and the culture that rules the Kingdom we are from. We've been waiting to become what God has already made us to be, by the new birth. We've been training our natural man, by the same standards we were taught, before being born-again.
Every new baby, born into this world, is already a human being. He doesn't need to be taught how to be a human, because he is already a human. However, he can be taught how to conduct his life, by the standards we live by. Billions of people throughout the world today, live by different standards and different cultures, according to where they were born. Even Jesus did this. Jesus dressed, ate, and lived like He did, according to how He was raised and where He lived. Jesus though, didn't allow this way, to be His only way. He took the way of the Heavenly culture from which He came and superimposed it on the earthly culture, thus combining the two into one. Jesus brought the natural culture, into subjection to His Heavenly culture and restored things to what they were meant to be. Jesus brought "Life in abundance, to the full, till it overflowed" and taught us the culture of His Father's Heavenly Kingdom.
Jesus was and is, the Example of the new creation. He was born of both realms and simultaneously lived in both realms. He operated as the First Born of many brethren in both realms. Jesus had a natural Body, but He functioned by His Spirit and not by the culture of the world. As a natural Man, Jesus could hear, feel, see, taste and smell, but He operated beyond these five natural senses. Jesus' natural Body, still became tired, and needed food and nourishment. Jesus' Spirit Man sustained Him, beyond the natural realm.
As the Sample Son, Jesus demonstrated how the new creation was to function in the natural and Spiritual realm simultaneously. God sent Jesus as an Example, to the new creation family He was going to bring into Life. Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy." He wasn't simply talking about the thief taking our belongings. This thief is intent on stealing our heritage and culture of our new birth. Satan tries to kill, steal and destroy the new Life, or make it of no effect in this realm and confining it to the culture of natural man. He intends to rob us of the knowledge of who we have become (by this new birth), in order to maintain control he's had since Adam's fall. When the new creation discovers who he has become, satan cannot hold onto what he stole from Adam. Jesus went on in John 10:10 (Amplified), saying, "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." The "abundant Life" Jesus spoke of, is the realm of the new creation man.
Through Jesus, the new creation was to born into this earth, from above, from the Spirit realm. Like Jesus, the new creation would develop from a different culture (the Spirit realm) and would control the culture of the natural, by this new Life. Jesus didn't flaunt this new Life, but walked in the wisdom of the culture of the Spirit realm, where He was from. Jesus didn't allow the culture of the natural man, to keep Him in the confines of the "thief." Jesus walked in a place, the thief couldn't control. Jesus walked in His True heritage.
Christians have allowed the thief to steal our heritage, kill our ability, and destroy the culture we have received as God's new creation family. We've grown into into the culture of the world and are still governed by the culture of the natural man.
We don't need to try being a new creation, because we were born that way, through faith in Jesus Christ. We've lacked the Truth of who we really are and the culture that rules the Kingdom we are from. We've been waiting to become, what God has already made us to be, by the new birth. We've been living the new life, by the standards of the natural realm,world.
Jesus wasn't limited to only the things He could see with His natural eyes, but could see into the Spirit realm. Jesus didn't only hear with His natural hearing, but could He could also hear the Father's Voice and guidance. Jesus wasn't only limited to what He could feel with His natural Body, but the presence of angels sent to comfort and encourage Him in the wilderness. Jesus was the Example for us to follow, as who the new creation family is supposed to be. We only need to change the culture that trained us and learn the culture of Heaven.
God isn't the problem in today's Church. The same "thief" of Jesus' day is. God is the Answer to every problem we encounter today. We continue walking as mere men, because of the culture that trains us. The same thief still wants to control us and have us see only what he wants us to see, instead of seeing who we are born (from Heaven) to be. Satan wants to restrain us to the first culture and not from the Kingdom. God's Word and the Holy Spirit are the Teachers of the new creation family.
When a child is born into this world, he doesn't need to try becoming a human being, because he is already a human being. He must though, learn to conduct himself and function as a human. Depending upon the culture he's raised in, he must adopt the teachings and grow into what the standards of a human being is expected to be. That child didn't become a human being, but developed as a human being, by the culture he was raised in.
When you were born-again, you didn't have to become a new creation, you already are one. Now, by the Holy Spirit and God's Word, we began to grow and develop into the maturity of what this new creation being is supposed to be. Depending on the culture and the teaching we receive, we grow into what that culture expects us to be. We're raised up into what differing cultures and denominations teach us to be as mature Christians.
The Church has developed according to what these cultures and denominations know about the Spirit realm. Most of us have never realized who we really are, by the standards of the Heavenly realm or sphere. As new creation people, we've allowed our lives to be governed by the same realm as those who aren't birthed into the new realm, we've been born-again into. We've been raised in a culture that mostly denied our Spiritual heritage and have functioned int the natural culture of this world.
Everything we feel, smell, see, hear or taste is from this natural realm of life. We've been born from and into a different realm, with different cultures. Because many in this culture are unable to see, feel, smell, hear or taste this invisible realm from which we've been born-again into, they put it off for "someday, when we get to Heaven." As citizens of Heaven, we've accepted the culture of the physical realm, instead of our Homeland (God's Kingdom).
The new creation people have only a few individuals, to follow as examples of our true heritage. The culture of our Homeland, is completely different from the natural culture, in which we've been raised. We've developed in some small areas of our Spiritual heritage. We've trained our natural bodies to behave by willpower and not from our spirit.
We don't need to try becoming a new creation, because we were born that way through faith in Jesus. We've lacked the Truth about who we really are and the culture that rules the Kingdom we are from. We've been waiting to become what God has already made us to be, by the new birth. We've been training our natural man, by the same standards we were taught, before being born-again.
Every new baby, born into this world, is already a human being. He doesn't need to be taught how to be a human, because he is already a human. However, he can be taught how to conduct his life, by the standards we live by. Billions of people throughout the world today, live by different standards and different cultures, according to where they were born. Even Jesus did this. Jesus dressed, ate, and lived like He did, according to how He was raised and where He lived. Jesus though, didn't allow this way, to be His only way. He took the way of the Heavenly culture from which He came and superimposed it on the earthly culture, thus combining the two into one. Jesus brought the natural culture, into subjection to His Heavenly culture and restored things to what they were meant to be. Jesus brought "Life in abundance, to the full, till it overflowed" and taught us the culture of His Father's Heavenly Kingdom.
Jesus was and is, the Example of the new creation. He was born of both realms and simultaneously lived in both realms. He operated as the First Born of many brethren in both realms. Jesus had a natural Body, but He functioned by His Spirit and not by the culture of the world. As a natural Man, Jesus could hear, feel, see, taste and smell, but He operated beyond these five natural senses. Jesus' natural Body, still became tired, and needed food and nourishment. Jesus' Spirit Man sustained Him, beyond the natural realm.
As the Sample Son, Jesus demonstrated how the new creation was to function in the natural and Spiritual realm simultaneously. God sent Jesus as an Example, to the new creation family He was going to bring into Life. Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy." He wasn't simply talking about the thief taking our belongings. This thief is intent on stealing our heritage and culture of our new birth. Satan tries to kill, steal and destroy the new Life, or make it of no effect in this realm and confining it to the culture of natural man. He intends to rob us of the knowledge of who we have become (by this new birth), in order to maintain control he's had since Adam's fall. When the new creation discovers who he has become, satan cannot hold onto what he stole from Adam. Jesus went on in John 10:10 (Amplified), saying, "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." The "abundant Life" Jesus spoke of, is the realm of the new creation man.
Through Jesus, the new creation was to born into this earth, from above, from the Spirit realm. Like Jesus, the new creation would develop from a different culture (the Spirit realm) and would control the culture of the natural, by this new Life. Jesus didn't flaunt this new Life, but walked in the wisdom of the culture of the Spirit realm, where He was from. Jesus didn't allow the culture of the natural man, to keep Him in the confines of the "thief." Jesus walked in a place, the thief couldn't control. Jesus walked in His True heritage.
Christians have allowed the thief to steal our heritage, kill our ability, and destroy the culture we have received as God's new creation family. We've grown into into the culture of the world and are still governed by the culture of the natural man.
We don't need to try being a new creation, because we were born that way, through faith in Jesus Christ. We've lacked the Truth of who we really are and the culture that rules the Kingdom we are from. We've been waiting to become, what God has already made us to be, by the new birth. We've been living the new life, by the standards of the natural realm,world.
Jesus wasn't limited to only the things He could see with His natural eyes, but could see into the Spirit realm. Jesus didn't only hear with His natural hearing, but could He could also hear the Father's Voice and guidance. Jesus wasn't only limited to what He could feel with His natural Body, but the presence of angels sent to comfort and encourage Him in the wilderness. Jesus was the Example for us to follow, as who the new creation family is supposed to be. We only need to change the culture that trained us and learn the culture of Heaven.
God isn't the problem in today's Church. The same "thief" of Jesus' day is. God is the Answer to every problem we encounter today. We continue walking as mere men, because of the culture that trains us. The same thief still wants to control us and have us see only what he wants us to see, instead of seeing who we are born (from Heaven) to be. Satan wants to restrain us to the first culture and not from the Kingdom. God's Word and the Holy Spirit are the Teachers of the new creation family.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Lesson 217 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)."
Jesus prayed in John 17:22-24 (Amplified), "I have given to them the glory and honor that You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One; I in them and You in Me, in order that they become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and (definitely) recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them (even) as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me (as Your gift to Me) may be with Me where I am; so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me (Your Love Gift to Me) for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
In Mark 11:24 (KJV) Jesus said, "Therefore I am telling you, Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them."
Do you believe that, Jesus believed He could have the things He desired? If you do, then John 17:24 has already come to pass in our lives. The only thing keeping them from us, is either we don't believe it or we don't desire it. Jesus was praying for His Body (the Church) to walk, talk, act, and perform the way He did in this world. It wasn't the Truth of His being the Messiah that set Him apart from others (most of the people He ministered to, didn't know He was), but it was His revealing the Super-natural power of God, in their midst. These people only knew about God through the Law and the priesthood and only heard the stories about the Super-natural events that occurred in the lives of the prophets of old. Jesus brought the reality of God, back into their thinking and their hearts, by revealing God in the present time.
We've do the same things in our lives, by only remembering who we used to be, instead of who God made us to be. We reminisce about "the old time" preachers, like they were the ones who brought about the healings and miracles and not God. They believed the same about Moses and Elijah, that we do about Oral Roberts and Smith Wigglesworth. It wasn't these men who were great, but the Father Himself moving through them. Jesus prayed that we (the Church) should be like Him and the Father and that we would walk in the glory and honor the Father had given Him. He said in John 17:18 (Amplified), "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
This includes the Super-natural ability and power of the Father and Jesus, by the Holy Spirit Who now lives in us. We've been so afraid that we'd act out of order before God, that we refused to allow Him to do the things Jesus sent us to do, in our lives. The world has seen enough of religion, what they need to see is Christ in us, "our hope of glory."
Jesus told His Father in John 17:22 (Amplified), "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." This is the Same Jesus, Who is our "hope of glory." The glory of God is what the world needs to see today, in order to reveal the Truth of the Father to them. There are many gods being preached, by different religions throughout the world today. All of them are dead and only the imagination of men and rituals. Our God is not only ALIVE, but He is actually LIVING IN US. This is why Jesus is called Emanuel, God with us.
You are now the living Ark of the Covenant, because God actually resides in you and is waiting to reveal the manifestations of His power and glory to the world. The "glory of the latter house (temple) will be greater than the former house." The old temple was adorned with gold, silver and precious jewels. You, the latter house, are adorned with the very glory and Presence of Almighty God Himself.
Many question what "God's will for today" is. The Word of God is still His will for today. If God didn't want the people healed, then Jesus wouldn't command us to "Lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." This must be the will of the Father. We're the problem, not Him.
If we're to "be like Him," then we must do like Jesus did and not allow the thought of "self," enter into our thinking. Jesus said that "It is not Me, but the Father in Me, that does the works." We keep putting ourselves into the equation or keep waiting for someone else to do it for us. Are we so afraid that the Word is untrue? Or, are we simply doing the same things, other religions are doing?
The other religions preach about "someday gods" and we've allowed the world to bring us to that same level where we will "see our God in Heaven someday." Our God wants the world to see Him now, not "some day." Matthew 7:7-8 (Amplified) says, "Keep on asking and it will be given you, keep on seeking and you will find, keep on knocking (reverently) and (the door) will be opened. For everyone that keeps on asking, receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps knocking, (the door) will be opened."
Since Jesus is "The Door," and we've been waiting for it to open, have we stopped asking, knocking and seeking? He promises that through our diligence, we will receive the very things He desires we have and the Father will be revealed to the world. The Father desires to be revealed to the world, through the Body of His Anointed One, the Church, us.
We have failed to show more proof of our God to the world, than all the pagan gods. We tell people to live right and then they will go to Heaven someday. God desires that "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven." I don't believe that the things we're witnessing around the earth, are how things are in Heaven. I hear Christians saying, "It must be God's will for this person to be sick." There are no sick people in Heaven, so how can this be God's will?
It's not written in the Gospels, that Jesus said "It's the Father's will" when He healed someone, but every time He came upon someone who was sick, Jesus healed them. Hebrews 1:3 (Amplified) tells us, "He (Jesus) is the Sole Expression of the Glory of God (the Light Being) (the Sole out-raying or radiance of the Divine), and He is the perfect Imprint and Very Image of (God's) nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty Word of power.. When He had by offering Himself, accomplished our cleansing of guilt and sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the Divine Majesty on High."
Remember Jesus' prayer in John 17:24 (Amplified), "Father, I desire that they also Whom You have entrusted to Me (as Your Gift to Me) may be with Me where I Am, So that they may see My Glory which You have given Me (Your Love Gift to Me) For You loved Me before the foundation of the world." The answer to this prayer was given in revelation to Paul, in Ephesians 2:6 -7(Amplified) which says, "And He raised us up together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly sphere (by virtue of us being in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One) He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come (this is our time) the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in (His) kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus."
Paul goes on in Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) saying, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the Heavenly sphere." We, the Church, are to reveal the glory and honor and power of God, to satan and all who control the people, and set those captives free. This is what Jesus prayed and this is what the Father has done. Now, it's our turn to return God's Super-natural ability and continue Jesus' ministry.
Jesus prayed in John 17:22-24 (Amplified), "I have given to them the glory and honor that You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One; I in them and You in Me, in order that they become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and (definitely) recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them (even) as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You have entrusted to Me (as Your gift to Me) may be with Me where I am; so that they may see My glory, which You have given Me (Your Love Gift to Me) for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
In Mark 11:24 (KJV) Jesus said, "Therefore I am telling you, Whatsoever things you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them."
Do you believe that, Jesus believed He could have the things He desired? If you do, then John 17:24 has already come to pass in our lives. The only thing keeping them from us, is either we don't believe it or we don't desire it. Jesus was praying for His Body (the Church) to walk, talk, act, and perform the way He did in this world. It wasn't the Truth of His being the Messiah that set Him apart from others (most of the people He ministered to, didn't know He was), but it was His revealing the Super-natural power of God, in their midst. These people only knew about God through the Law and the priesthood and only heard the stories about the Super-natural events that occurred in the lives of the prophets of old. Jesus brought the reality of God, back into their thinking and their hearts, by revealing God in the present time.
We've do the same things in our lives, by only remembering who we used to be, instead of who God made us to be. We reminisce about "the old time" preachers, like they were the ones who brought about the healings and miracles and not God. They believed the same about Moses and Elijah, that we do about Oral Roberts and Smith Wigglesworth. It wasn't these men who were great, but the Father Himself moving through them. Jesus prayed that we (the Church) should be like Him and the Father and that we would walk in the glory and honor the Father had given Him. He said in John 17:18 (Amplified), "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
This includes the Super-natural ability and power of the Father and Jesus, by the Holy Spirit Who now lives in us. We've been so afraid that we'd act out of order before God, that we refused to allow Him to do the things Jesus sent us to do, in our lives. The world has seen enough of religion, what they need to see is Christ in us, "our hope of glory."
Jesus told His Father in John 17:22 (Amplified), "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." This is the Same Jesus, Who is our "hope of glory." The glory of God is what the world needs to see today, in order to reveal the Truth of the Father to them. There are many gods being preached, by different religions throughout the world today. All of them are dead and only the imagination of men and rituals. Our God is not only ALIVE, but He is actually LIVING IN US. This is why Jesus is called Emanuel, God with us.
You are now the living Ark of the Covenant, because God actually resides in you and is waiting to reveal the manifestations of His power and glory to the world. The "glory of the latter house (temple) will be greater than the former house." The old temple was adorned with gold, silver and precious jewels. You, the latter house, are adorned with the very glory and Presence of Almighty God Himself.
Many question what "God's will for today" is. The Word of God is still His will for today. If God didn't want the people healed, then Jesus wouldn't command us to "Lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." This must be the will of the Father. We're the problem, not Him.
If we're to "be like Him," then we must do like Jesus did and not allow the thought of "self," enter into our thinking. Jesus said that "It is not Me, but the Father in Me, that does the works." We keep putting ourselves into the equation or keep waiting for someone else to do it for us. Are we so afraid that the Word is untrue? Or, are we simply doing the same things, other religions are doing?
The other religions preach about "someday gods" and we've allowed the world to bring us to that same level where we will "see our God in Heaven someday." Our God wants the world to see Him now, not "some day." Matthew 7:7-8 (Amplified) says, "Keep on asking and it will be given you, keep on seeking and you will find, keep on knocking (reverently) and (the door) will be opened. For everyone that keeps on asking, receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps knocking, (the door) will be opened."
Since Jesus is "The Door," and we've been waiting for it to open, have we stopped asking, knocking and seeking? He promises that through our diligence, we will receive the very things He desires we have and the Father will be revealed to the world. The Father desires to be revealed to the world, through the Body of His Anointed One, the Church, us.
We have failed to show more proof of our God to the world, than all the pagan gods. We tell people to live right and then they will go to Heaven someday. God desires that "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven." I don't believe that the things we're witnessing around the earth, are how things are in Heaven. I hear Christians saying, "It must be God's will for this person to be sick." There are no sick people in Heaven, so how can this be God's will?
It's not written in the Gospels, that Jesus said "It's the Father's will" when He healed someone, but every time He came upon someone who was sick, Jesus healed them. Hebrews 1:3 (Amplified) tells us, "He (Jesus) is the Sole Expression of the Glory of God (the Light Being) (the Sole out-raying or radiance of the Divine), and He is the perfect Imprint and Very Image of (God's) nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty Word of power.. When He had by offering Himself, accomplished our cleansing of guilt and sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the Divine Majesty on High."
Remember Jesus' prayer in John 17:24 (Amplified), "Father, I desire that they also Whom You have entrusted to Me (as Your Gift to Me) may be with Me where I Am, So that they may see My Glory which You have given Me (Your Love Gift to Me) For You loved Me before the foundation of the world." The answer to this prayer was given in revelation to Paul, in Ephesians 2:6 -7(Amplified) which says, "And He raised us up together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly sphere (by virtue of us being in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One) He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come (this is our time) the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in (His) kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus."
Paul goes on in Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) saying, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the Heavenly sphere." We, the Church, are to reveal the glory and honor and power of God, to satan and all who control the people, and set those captives free. This is what Jesus prayed and this is what the Father has done. Now, it's our turn to return God's Super-natural ability and continue Jesus' ministry.
Monday, May 15, 2017
Lesson 216 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 Christians, we've never truly seen ourselves the way the Father has now created us to be, in Jesus. We're looking in the future, for what God has already done in the Church. Although there are the futuristic and physical even that are still to occur, it is all already fulfilled in the Body of Christ.
We've missed what God has done, because we continue seeing ourselves as we are and were, in this natural body. God no longer sees us after the flesh, but after the Spirit. We still look at the outward man and we seldom think about the new creation being that lives in this fleshly house (body). 2Corinthians 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "For we know that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in Heaven. Here indeed, in this (present abode, body) we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over (we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment to be fitted out) with our Heavenly dwelling."
The only thing separating us from the "full dwelling place of eternity," is this earthly house that we dwell in, while we're still here on assignment for the Father. Our body (house) is to the world today, what the Ark of the Covenant was in the old covenant. Our flesh and blood body, is the dwelling place of God Himself, within us. 1Corinthians 6:19 (Amplified) says, "Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received (as a Gift) from God? You are not your own."
If it wasn't for Grace, any unsaved person who is still in their sin and touches you (you being God's sanctuary, the Ark of the Covenant) they could be destroyed, just like those under the Law. Through Grace, not only can the unbeliever touch Christians and is not destroyed, but Christians are called to "lay their hands on them," bringing healing and Life to them. Under the Law, there was a prescribed manner, in which the Priests had to deal with the people for their healing.
We have the very Presence of God living in us, to remove the results of the curse from the people and re-establish relations with Heaven. Under the Law, only the few could enter in the Presence of God. Now, through the new creation, we have the privilege of carrying and becoming the Ark of the Covenant or Presence of God to the masses of people, for their restoration and salvation. I've heard Christians say, "I wish I could be like Moses and part the waters." I'd rather be like Jesus and not part the water, but calm it and walk on it, like it was dry land. We've missed the understanding and privilege of what this new creation really is to the world and to us.
We keep seeing ourselves as "old sinner," while God sees us as containers for His Glory to be transported into the world. We've become houses that God resides in, here in this natural world by His Spirit. Jesus declare that, "It was not Him, but the Father in Him Who does the works." God in Him, could only go where Jesus went. Jesus didn't calm every sea, only the one where Jesus was. God didn't even heal all the sick on earth, only those to whom Jesus brought to Him (by going to the sick).
As new creation people, this is what we're supposed to be doing. We're supposed to be giving God access to the people, by "going into all the world." When the Holy Spirit moves by faith, through the congregations, it is the people who brings Him into contact with the masses. If God didn't need us to be there, then there wouldn't be a need for us to "Go," because God would just do it. We overlook the importance of why God chose to use us as vessels (or containers) for bringing His Presence to the world.
We think that God being God, He simply does whatever He wants. John 3:16 tells us that "God wants everyone to be saved," but there are still people who are unsaved, because we haven't preached the Word to them yet. You might ask, "Why doesn't God just save them?" There are Spiritual Laws that prohibit certain things and God will not violate these Laws. All of creation is founded on and depends on, these Laws to continue. If God violates His Own Laws, then His Word is not True and He is not a "man that should lie."
This is the Truth of God's Word, that is "forever settled in Heaven." When God puts out His Word, it is eternal. Even in the new creation, it had to be legal, by God's Own Laws, or it wouldn't be legitimate Sometimes, we fail to see the importance of doing things by God's Word. He sort of believe that "God understands and He will just do it," but that's not so! This is why Jesus only did what the Father said and what He saw the Father do. Jesus only moved by the Word of God.
We've limited the Father, by doing our own thing and not adhering to His Word for instructions. If we would spend more time listening rather than talking, then we would see greater results in our lives.
As Christians, we've never truly seen ourselves the way the Father has now created us to be, in Jesus. We're looking in the future, for what God has already done in the Church. Although there are the futuristic and physical even that are still to occur, it is all already fulfilled in the Body of Christ.
We've missed what God has done, because we continue seeing ourselves as we are and were, in this natural body. God no longer sees us after the flesh, but after the Spirit. We still look at the outward man and we seldom think about the new creation being that lives in this fleshly house (body). 2Corinthians 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "For we know that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in Heaven. Here indeed, in this (present abode, body) we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over (we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment to be fitted out) with our Heavenly dwelling."
The only thing separating us from the "full dwelling place of eternity," is this earthly house that we dwell in, while we're still here on assignment for the Father. Our body (house) is to the world today, what the Ark of the Covenant was in the old covenant. Our flesh and blood body, is the dwelling place of God Himself, within us. 1Corinthians 6:19 (Amplified) says, "Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received (as a Gift) from God? You are not your own."
If it wasn't for Grace, any unsaved person who is still in their sin and touches you (you being God's sanctuary, the Ark of the Covenant) they could be destroyed, just like those under the Law. Through Grace, not only can the unbeliever touch Christians and is not destroyed, but Christians are called to "lay their hands on them," bringing healing and Life to them. Under the Law, there was a prescribed manner, in which the Priests had to deal with the people for their healing.
We have the very Presence of God living in us, to remove the results of the curse from the people and re-establish relations with Heaven. Under the Law, only the few could enter in the Presence of God. Now, through the new creation, we have the privilege of carrying and becoming the Ark of the Covenant or Presence of God to the masses of people, for their restoration and salvation. I've heard Christians say, "I wish I could be like Moses and part the waters." I'd rather be like Jesus and not part the water, but calm it and walk on it, like it was dry land. We've missed the understanding and privilege of what this new creation really is to the world and to us.
We keep seeing ourselves as "old sinner," while God sees us as containers for His Glory to be transported into the world. We've become houses that God resides in, here in this natural world by His Spirit. Jesus declare that, "It was not Him, but the Father in Him Who does the works." God in Him, could only go where Jesus went. Jesus didn't calm every sea, only the one where Jesus was. God didn't even heal all the sick on earth, only those to whom Jesus brought to Him (by going to the sick).
As new creation people, this is what we're supposed to be doing. We're supposed to be giving God access to the people, by "going into all the world." When the Holy Spirit moves by faith, through the congregations, it is the people who brings Him into contact with the masses. If God didn't need us to be there, then there wouldn't be a need for us to "Go," because God would just do it. We overlook the importance of why God chose to use us as vessels (or containers) for bringing His Presence to the world.
We think that God being God, He simply does whatever He wants. John 3:16 tells us that "God wants everyone to be saved," but there are still people who are unsaved, because we haven't preached the Word to them yet. You might ask, "Why doesn't God just save them?" There are Spiritual Laws that prohibit certain things and God will not violate these Laws. All of creation is founded on and depends on, these Laws to continue. If God violates His Own Laws, then His Word is not True and He is not a "man that should lie."
This is the Truth of God's Word, that is "forever settled in Heaven." When God puts out His Word, it is eternal. Even in the new creation, it had to be legal, by God's Own Laws, or it wouldn't be legitimate Sometimes, we fail to see the importance of doing things by God's Word. He sort of believe that "God understands and He will just do it," but that's not so! This is why Jesus only did what the Father said and what He saw the Father do. Jesus only moved by the Word of God.
We've limited the Father, by doing our own thing and not adhering to His Word for instructions. If we would spend more time listening rather than talking, then we would see greater results in our lives.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Friday, May 12, 2017
Lesson 215 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral or 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 creation family, we've been fairly successful at sowing the Seed for the new birth, but we've neglected the raising and maturing the sons and daughters into adulthood. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto (completed) salvation." Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 (Amplified), "It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God."
We've mostly done what we have heard and taught what has been handed down by those before us. We haven't questioned much or even delved into the Word, for more and deeper insight and wisdom. The old hymn, "Give Me That Old Time Religion," wasn't merely a song, but a way of spiritual life for many years. And, while that was good enough for ages past, there's so much more to walking with our Heavenly Father. I want more than just enough milk to make me a happy, fat baby for the rest of my Christian walk. I desire substance that helps me grow and be a vessel fit for the Master's use.
There will always be babies in the Body of Christ, as we get them born-again. Babies are the only way to begin the family, but they're supposed to mature into adult Christians. We've majored on how to dress, what to ear, how to worship, what day's the correct day for attending church and even on whether or not we should attend church. We've come to the place where we think we have it all together and don't need anything more.
I suppose, for those who feel they've reached maturity and have become all they want to be or are called to be, this is enough. We have decided that all things will continue like they are and what we know will sustain us and see us through. And, most of us believe that our true vision for being Christians, will happened when we leave this earth.
The Father is directing and leading His children into learning how to live by the Spirit, while walking in this world. We are not "of this world," but we are in this world. It hasn't been our staying out of sin, but living in the Spirit, because we knew what we should and shouldn't do, even before being saved. Some of us ignored the Truth of wrongdoing, and simply "went with the flow." Many even wore T-shirts with the hedonist slogan of "If it feels good, do it." This didn't mean they saw nothing wrong with this philosophy, but they didn't think it mattered. Most in the Body of Christ, aren't searching for a way of living in sin while maintaining their salvation. We've seriously tried restraining the flesh from sin, but haven't matured into what the Word calls us to be, "His righteousness."
Jesus directed in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things (food, shelter, clothing, drink) taken together will be given you besides." Our Father wants to reveal His nature and ability in and through us, so that if affects even this natural realm in our lives. He wants these things to affect how we live on earth.
Many have reached the place in their Christian walk, where they've stopped growing and have settled into tradition. This doesn't mean that they are not saved and are not still God's children, but they're reached the place where they no longer crave after and desire the growing up into completed salvation. As a teenager, I believed I was mature and completed and no one could tell me any differently. I had no concept of what being mature really meant. The responsibilities of being mature, meant that I could do what I wanted to do, without anyone telling me what to do. I thought I was grown up. The things I learned in my younger years, were only the beginning of what I would need to learn as I grew up.
After we've been saved and have become new creations, how do we live and conduct our lives, here on earth? It's not only a matter of not sinning, but doing what is "His way of doing and being right." It takes much wisdom to accomplish "His way" of walking and living in the Spirit, while we're here on earth. We've mostly governed ourselves by ourselves, instead of by the Spirit and the Word. In John 6:63 (Amplified) Jesus said, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver) the flesh (or senses) conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
Walking in this world and Living by the Spirit are a matter of maturing our new creation spirit man. Learning how to receive Wisdom from our Father by our spirit, in order to make our decision here in this world, is seeking "His way of doing and being right."
I'm not saying that we're not learning or growing or that everything we've been doing until now is wrong, but we're still adolescence and not adults. Many in the Body of Christ, have become young adult or teenagers, but haven't reached adulthood. 1John 2:12-13 (Amplified) tells us, "I am writing to you little children, because for His Name's sake your sins are forgiven (pardoned through His Name and on account of confessing His Name). I am writing to you, Fathers, because you have come to know (recognize and be aware of, and understand) Him Who (has existed from the beginning)."
The above scripture speaks about being "mature" and not just being older. Growing up in the Spirit realm, isn't determined by years, like it is in the world. The world determines the age at which you must be an adult and how many years that is. In the Spirit, it is determined by how you seek after and listen to the Voice of the Father. Living in the world and walking after the Spirit, is asking God about decisions we make in our normal lives in this world and allowing those decisions to be led by our spirit. This isn't just praying, but continuously listening.
Some feel that growing up and adhering to the Holy Spirit's teachings, places them in bondage about how they should speak, pray and read the Word. Religion dictates Laws and bondage, but we're not under the Law...we live under Grace. I fail to see where learning more about the Father and learning to walk in His Truth, is bondage. It might be bondage to the teenage Christians who doesn't need or want anyone telling him what to do. To the wise, though, this is maturing in Christ.
Learning to speak according to God's Word, seems like bondage to many. Learning to hear God's Voice on our own and not always depending on our pastor, might seem like bondage to some. Trying to make everyone else responsible for what we do, is not liberty, but is truly bondage. Needing to ask whether something is right or wrong, is the result of our lack of maturity in Him. Living by the Oracles of God and not just living by the principles of religion, is being mature in Him.
It's like Paul writes in Hebrews 6:3 (Amplified), "If indeed God permits, we will (now) proceed (to advanced teachings)."
As new creation family, we've been fairly successful at sowing the Seed for the new birth, but we've neglected the raising and maturing the sons and daughters into adulthood. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto (completed) salvation." Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 (Amplified), "It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God."
We've mostly done what we have heard and taught what has been handed down by those before us. We haven't questioned much or even delved into the Word, for more and deeper insight and wisdom. The old hymn, "Give Me That Old Time Religion," wasn't merely a song, but a way of spiritual life for many years. And, while that was good enough for ages past, there's so much more to walking with our Heavenly Father. I want more than just enough milk to make me a happy, fat baby for the rest of my Christian walk. I desire substance that helps me grow and be a vessel fit for the Master's use.
There will always be babies in the Body of Christ, as we get them born-again. Babies are the only way to begin the family, but they're supposed to mature into adult Christians. We've majored on how to dress, what to ear, how to worship, what day's the correct day for attending church and even on whether or not we should attend church. We've come to the place where we think we have it all together and don't need anything more.
I suppose, for those who feel they've reached maturity and have become all they want to be or are called to be, this is enough. We have decided that all things will continue like they are and what we know will sustain us and see us through. And, most of us believe that our true vision for being Christians, will happened when we leave this earth.
The Father is directing and leading His children into learning how to live by the Spirit, while walking in this world. We are not "of this world," but we are in this world. It hasn't been our staying out of sin, but living in the Spirit, because we knew what we should and shouldn't do, even before being saved. Some of us ignored the Truth of wrongdoing, and simply "went with the flow." Many even wore T-shirts with the hedonist slogan of "If it feels good, do it." This didn't mean they saw nothing wrong with this philosophy, but they didn't think it mattered. Most in the Body of Christ, aren't searching for a way of living in sin while maintaining their salvation. We've seriously tried restraining the flesh from sin, but haven't matured into what the Word calls us to be, "His righteousness."
Jesus directed in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things (food, shelter, clothing, drink) taken together will be given you besides." Our Father wants to reveal His nature and ability in and through us, so that if affects even this natural realm in our lives. He wants these things to affect how we live on earth.
Many have reached the place in their Christian walk, where they've stopped growing and have settled into tradition. This doesn't mean that they are not saved and are not still God's children, but they're reached the place where they no longer crave after and desire the growing up into completed salvation. As a teenager, I believed I was mature and completed and no one could tell me any differently. I had no concept of what being mature really meant. The responsibilities of being mature, meant that I could do what I wanted to do, without anyone telling me what to do. I thought I was grown up. The things I learned in my younger years, were only the beginning of what I would need to learn as I grew up.
After we've been saved and have become new creations, how do we live and conduct our lives, here on earth? It's not only a matter of not sinning, but doing what is "His way of doing and being right." It takes much wisdom to accomplish "His way" of walking and living in the Spirit, while we're here on earth. We've mostly governed ourselves by ourselves, instead of by the Spirit and the Word. In John 6:63 (Amplified) Jesus said, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver) the flesh (or senses) conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
Walking in this world and Living by the Spirit are a matter of maturing our new creation spirit man. Learning how to receive Wisdom from our Father by our spirit, in order to make our decision here in this world, is seeking "His way of doing and being right."
I'm not saying that we're not learning or growing or that everything we've been doing until now is wrong, but we're still adolescence and not adults. Many in the Body of Christ, have become young adult or teenagers, but haven't reached adulthood. 1John 2:12-13 (Amplified) tells us, "I am writing to you little children, because for His Name's sake your sins are forgiven (pardoned through His Name and on account of confessing His Name). I am writing to you, Fathers, because you have come to know (recognize and be aware of, and understand) Him Who (has existed from the beginning)."
The above scripture speaks about being "mature" and not just being older. Growing up in the Spirit realm, isn't determined by years, like it is in the world. The world determines the age at which you must be an adult and how many years that is. In the Spirit, it is determined by how you seek after and listen to the Voice of the Father. Living in the world and walking after the Spirit, is asking God about decisions we make in our normal lives in this world and allowing those decisions to be led by our spirit. This isn't just praying, but continuously listening.
Some feel that growing up and adhering to the Holy Spirit's teachings, places them in bondage about how they should speak, pray and read the Word. Religion dictates Laws and bondage, but we're not under the Law...we live under Grace. I fail to see where learning more about the Father and learning to walk in His Truth, is bondage. It might be bondage to the teenage Christians who doesn't need or want anyone telling him what to do. To the wise, though, this is maturing in Christ.
Learning to speak according to God's Word, seems like bondage to many. Learning to hear God's Voice on our own and not always depending on our pastor, might seem like bondage to some. Trying to make everyone else responsible for what we do, is not liberty, but is truly bondage. Needing to ask whether something is right or wrong, is the result of our lack of maturity in Him. Living by the Oracles of God and not just living by the principles of religion, is being mature in Him.
It's like Paul writes in Hebrews 6:3 (Amplified), "If indeed God permits, we will (now) proceed (to advanced teachings)."
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Lesson 214 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 (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 Christians, we are a new creation people. As surely as the Heavens and earth never existed before God created them, the new creation never existed before this spoken creation we've become. We were created by the Word of God, just like the Heavens and earth were created by God's Word. 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) says, "You have been regenerated (born-again), not from a moral origin (seed, sperm) but from One that is immortal by the Ever Living and Lasting Word of God."
We've somehow separated this new life from the natural life, making them two different lives. We've looked at the new creation life, as occurring after our new body has ceased living on earth. We've believed that we have a natural life and a spiritual life and they're to be separated by where we're living, but God's Word doesn't say this. Our new creation spirit man lives in this natural body and the spirit man is to dominate this natural life and the natural body. We're not supposed to wait until we die, to have union with God and the Heavenly realm, but we're to live in this house (body) and have Heaven rule the natural realm of earth. The Father designed us to bring the original purpose for creation, back into subjection to Him.
We are to us the Blessing that God pronounced on man from the first and use the authority given to the first Adam and the Last Adam, in order to subdue and replenish this natural realm. The Blessing would be used to supply life into this natural realm and sustain man's needs here. This Super-natural blessing would (by God's Words) would make things live and prosper. It was to be the physical manifestation of the Spiritual Kingdom of God.
God being God, could have made or created something else, if He had desired too. This creation came from His heart and His desire. God created this earth and the Heavens for His man and family and it was (and will again be), the beauty that He intended from the beginning. God didn't make us new creations, so that we'd struggle through an earthly maze, but so we could once again subdue and replenish the earth.
God connected the new creation spirit man to the earthly, natural man, in order to combine Heaven and earth again, unto the authority of the Spirit (not to separate them). In our carnal minds, we've separated them, by where we're living before death and after our natural bodies die. God (with the Mind of Christ) considers our natural man to be dead already and our new creation man is supposed to rule it , through and in Life by Christ Jesus.
We get a glimpse of what happened at Adam's transgression, in Romans 8:19 (Amplified), which says, "For (even the whole) creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made know (waits for the revealing, the disclosure of their sonship)." Notice, how the scripture says, "God's sons," which is plural. It doesn't just say "God's Son, Jesus," but it indicates God's sons who have been born-again through Jesus' life and resurrection. God has given us the same mandate He gave the first Adam, to His born-again sons and daughters (us). This mandate and Gift of God for His family, hasn't changed, but has been created anew through Jesus.
Some consider this foolishness, while others believe it's been given for the Millennial Reign. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of His earthly Body, Jesus brought both realms into the one realm of God's desire for man. Jesus walked in His natural Body, which He directed with His Spiritual authority, even unto nature itself. This was how the Father intended creation to function, from the beginning. When we try keeping these separate, we fail in both realms. We have enough of the worldly realm in us, that we don't function in the Spirit and we have enough of the Spirit in us, so that we don't enjoy the things of the world. This makes us a "house divided," within ourselves.
Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." The Father created this earth for the enjoyment of His family. This earth was to produce the overflow of Life, to God's family. Having the understanding of both realms as one, Jesus ruled the natural by the Spirit and brought them into the subjection man was given and Blessed with, from the beginning.
Many have confused the earth, with the world. We've mistaken what has happened through the world system and believe we're not supposed to enjoy this new life, until we get to Heaven. The world and the earth aren't the same things. The world is the fallen system that came into being after Adam's transgression. The earth is still the Lord's and the "fullness thereof."
The authority of the new creation family has been restored, so we could again use the Blessing and mandate to bring the earth back to the place God created it to be. As new creation, we are to be the Salt and Light again in this earth, changing the world system and re-establishing God's kingdom. We're called to bring many brethren into God's family. Through Jesus, we now have the capacity to res-establish God's Kingdom, over most of the earth.
It seems foreign to many Christians to think like this, because we don't see through the eyes of the Spirit, but with only our natural eyes. We've looked at the earth and world we see around us, as "the real world," instead of seeing that the Spirit created it. The Creator is always more "real" than the creation. The "real" or true world is the Spirit realm, where everything we can see, feel smell, touch, hear and enjoy came from.
We are to use the five senses in our lives, but our lives shouldn't be dominated by them. The Father gave these things to us, in order to contact this natural realm He placed us in. The new creation man is to bring the senses back into subjection to the spirit man and the Father. The new creation man is to restore creation, to what it was before Adam's fall.
We know there is a time coming when, "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow or mourning) nor grief nor pain anymore, for the old condition's and the former order of things have passed away. And He Who is seated on the Throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible and trustworthy) and true (genuine)."
When Jesus walked as a Man on earth, He didn't change all of creation (or the natural surroundings), but only the parts where He was. Jesus didn't stop all storms, but He stopped the ones that impacted where He was on earth. Jesus was only One Man, Who was filled with the Holy Spirit. Now, through Him, we are a family (made up of millions of men and women) who are filled with The Holy Spirit of God. We are God's new creation family and have the ability to reach beyond only one person. God can live through many and reach beyond Jerusalem, into "all the world," (Mark 16).
I have no authority over your house and property, but through the new creation, I do have authority over mine. If each of us would display our new creation authority over our own, then the earth would once again be a Garden.
As Christians, we are a new creation people. As surely as the Heavens and earth never existed before God created them, the new creation never existed before this spoken creation we've become. We were created by the Word of God, just like the Heavens and earth were created by God's Word. 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) says, "You have been regenerated (born-again), not from a moral origin (seed, sperm) but from One that is immortal by the Ever Living and Lasting Word of God."
We've somehow separated this new life from the natural life, making them two different lives. We've looked at the new creation life, as occurring after our new body has ceased living on earth. We've believed that we have a natural life and a spiritual life and they're to be separated by where we're living, but God's Word doesn't say this. Our new creation spirit man lives in this natural body and the spirit man is to dominate this natural life and the natural body. We're not supposed to wait until we die, to have union with God and the Heavenly realm, but we're to live in this house (body) and have Heaven rule the natural realm of earth. The Father designed us to bring the original purpose for creation, back into subjection to Him.
We are to us the Blessing that God pronounced on man from the first and use the authority given to the first Adam and the Last Adam, in order to subdue and replenish this natural realm. The Blessing would be used to supply life into this natural realm and sustain man's needs here. This Super-natural blessing would (by God's Words) would make things live and prosper. It was to be the physical manifestation of the Spiritual Kingdom of God.
God being God, could have made or created something else, if He had desired too. This creation came from His heart and His desire. God created this earth and the Heavens for His man and family and it was (and will again be), the beauty that He intended from the beginning. God didn't make us new creations, so that we'd struggle through an earthly maze, but so we could once again subdue and replenish the earth.
God connected the new creation spirit man to the earthly, natural man, in order to combine Heaven and earth again, unto the authority of the Spirit (not to separate them). In our carnal minds, we've separated them, by where we're living before death and after our natural bodies die. God (with the Mind of Christ) considers our natural man to be dead already and our new creation man is supposed to rule it , through and in Life by Christ Jesus.
We get a glimpse of what happened at Adam's transgression, in Romans 8:19 (Amplified), which says, "For (even the whole) creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made know (waits for the revealing, the disclosure of their sonship)." Notice, how the scripture says, "God's sons," which is plural. It doesn't just say "God's Son, Jesus," but it indicates God's sons who have been born-again through Jesus' life and resurrection. God has given us the same mandate He gave the first Adam, to His born-again sons and daughters (us). This mandate and Gift of God for His family, hasn't changed, but has been created anew through Jesus.
Some consider this foolishness, while others believe it's been given for the Millennial Reign. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit of His earthly Body, Jesus brought both realms into the one realm of God's desire for man. Jesus walked in His natural Body, which He directed with His Spiritual authority, even unto nature itself. This was how the Father intended creation to function, from the beginning. When we try keeping these separate, we fail in both realms. We have enough of the worldly realm in us, that we don't function in the Spirit and we have enough of the Spirit in us, so that we don't enjoy the things of the world. This makes us a "house divided," within ourselves.
Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I come that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." The Father created this earth for the enjoyment of His family. This earth was to produce the overflow of Life, to God's family. Having the understanding of both realms as one, Jesus ruled the natural by the Spirit and brought them into the subjection man was given and Blessed with, from the beginning.
Many have confused the earth, with the world. We've mistaken what has happened through the world system and believe we're not supposed to enjoy this new life, until we get to Heaven. The world and the earth aren't the same things. The world is the fallen system that came into being after Adam's transgression. The earth is still the Lord's and the "fullness thereof."
The authority of the new creation family has been restored, so we could again use the Blessing and mandate to bring the earth back to the place God created it to be. As new creation, we are to be the Salt and Light again in this earth, changing the world system and re-establishing God's kingdom. We're called to bring many brethren into God's family. Through Jesus, we now have the capacity to res-establish God's Kingdom, over most of the earth.
It seems foreign to many Christians to think like this, because we don't see through the eyes of the Spirit, but with only our natural eyes. We've looked at the earth and world we see around us, as "the real world," instead of seeing that the Spirit created it. The Creator is always more "real" than the creation. The "real" or true world is the Spirit realm, where everything we can see, feel smell, touch, hear and enjoy came from.
We are to use the five senses in our lives, but our lives shouldn't be dominated by them. The Father gave these things to us, in order to contact this natural realm He placed us in. The new creation man is to bring the senses back into subjection to the spirit man and the Father. The new creation man is to restore creation, to what it was before Adam's fall.
We know there is a time coming when, "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow or mourning) nor grief nor pain anymore, for the old condition's and the former order of things have passed away. And He Who is seated on the Throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible and trustworthy) and true (genuine)."
When Jesus walked as a Man on earth, He didn't change all of creation (or the natural surroundings), but only the parts where He was. Jesus didn't stop all storms, but He stopped the ones that impacted where He was on earth. Jesus was only One Man, Who was filled with the Holy Spirit. Now, through Him, we are a family (made up of millions of men and women) who are filled with The Holy Spirit of God. We are God's new creation family and have the ability to reach beyond only one person. God can live through many and reach beyond Jerusalem, into "all the world," (Mark 16).
I have no authority over your house and property, but through the new creation, I do have authority over mine. If each of us would display our new creation authority over our own, then the earth would once again be a Garden.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Lesson 213 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)."
Jesus prayed in John 17:15-17 (Amplified) saying, "I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world) (Just) as I Am not of the world. Sanctify them, (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself) Make them holy by the Truth. Your Word is Truth."
As new creation family, we have the "best of both worlds," like the old saying goes. We are "in the world," but are not confined to only the things of this world. We are also citizens of God's Kingdom, with all the substance that this world holds, being returned to us through Jesus. The worldly things that Adam's transgression and the resulting curse brought, aren't part of our inheritance. The things God gave to man before satan took rule, are ours again through Jesus.
Luke 2:52 (Amplified) says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man." We've been left on earth for the full purpose of revealing the Father, through Jesus Christ. We've been granted the dominion and the authority that was given to man in the Blessing, once again. Jesus said in Luke 10:9-10 (Amplified), "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 way harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are enrolled in Heaven."
While we're in this world, we were given authority, power and dominion by and through Jesus, Whose "Name is above all names." Jesus prayed in John 17:15 (Amplified) saying, "I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one." As new creation family, we have the Blessing working on our behalf, to bring us into what God intended His children to have. This provides everything necessary to care for our physical needs. We also have the inheritance, as fellow heirs with Christ, that meets all of our spiritual and physical needs. Romans 8:17 (Amplified) tells us, "And if we are (His) children, then we are His heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him) only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory."
The suffering Jesus endured wasn't death on the cross, but the people's rejection that He was sent to free. Jesus told His followers in John 16:18-19 (Amplified), "If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world (no longer one with it) but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you."
When we walk in the Spirit, we walk contrary to everything the world believes and stands for. When you walk contrary to those things, then you will suffer persecution from those who abide only by the world's beliefs. As new creation family, we have Jesus' prayer to "protect and keep us from the evil one," while we're here on earth. We also have the authority and ability of Heaven, to propel us into victory. We have been redeemed and the Blessing has been restored, to work in our lives and to use while ministering salvation to the world.
We simultaneously live in two dimension and that requires us to do the same as Jesus did in Luke 2:52 (Amplified), which says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years and in favor with God and man." God can (and already has) give us favor , even with man, by entering into this Truth of the new creation family. Proverbs 16:7 (Amplified) says, "When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."
We've been ordained to walk as Heaven's ambassador and representatives of God's Kingdom, here on earth. We are to bring everything that satan took from God's family, by his deception, back into subjection. Those who've been captured by satan (through fear and deceit), are to be set free by God's Own elect family.
In this world (not of it), I have the responsibility of caring for my family. That's the stewardship and sonship of my inheritance. I also have the responsibility to walk as a dignitary and representative of Heaven. This appointment has been placed on us as family members and seems to be a long standing problem in many of our lives. Many believe that the more we suffer and do without, the more "holy" we become. Jesus asked God in John 17:17 (Amplified), "Make them holy by Your Truth, and Your Word is Truth."
Balancing our lives between the new Truth of this new creation, with the responsibilities of our family provisions, is where we seemingly become of two minds. We must provide and care for our earthly inheritance, as well as our Heavenly inheritance. We've had difficulty, balancing both in our lives. Some have given over one for the other, without seeking God on it, one way or the other.
We feel pressured and weighed down by the earthly things, that we're too tired to read the Word and/or pray. It's not that we don't wish to do these things, but we cannot find the time or energy. Jesus admonished His disciples at Gethsemane, saying in Mark 14:38 (Amplified), "Keep awake and watch and pray (constantly) that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Most of us desire to walk deeper in the things of God, but the flesh demands all of our time.
We're called to "seek first the Kingdom of God," according to Jesus' direction in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified) where He says, "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things (what you ear, wear, live, drink) taken together will be given you besides." These were the same instructions given to the Israelites who came out of Egypt, about what they would eat, drink, wear, and live. And, God did provide all these things for them.
God's Blessing in our lives, will multiply our labors and finances, so that our needs will be met. Jesus' Name and authority will set the captives free, while we serve Him in joy and thanksgiving. Everything God gave to Adam, has been restored to us through Jesus. We've also been given the authority of Heaven and the Host of Heaven, to hold and take dominion once again and restore God's honor and glory.
We can simultaneously enjoy the lives with our families here on earth, while enjoying our new creation relationship with our God and Father. We must do like Luke 2:52 (Amplified) says Jesus did and "[Increase] in wisdom (broad and full understanding) and in stature and years and favor with God and man." We must learn how to walk in the Spirit in the realm of the earth. We must do like Jesus did and balance both realms, to glorify the Father.
If we neglect our earthly families, then we are not in God's will. If we neglect our walk with God, in order to meet only our earthly needs, then we're not in His will altogether. It's requires "wisdom and full understanding" to balance both realms, like God intended from the beginning. The ministry of the Holy Spirit, is to lead us into all Truth. If we would allow the Holy Spirit to teach us, then we can walk with God on earth and enjoy both realms simultaneously.
When God finished His creation in Genesis, He was "pleased" with His creations and He saw "that all things were good, even very good." Whether I'm grooming my horses, watching my cattle, praying for the sick, being in fellowship with my Heavenly Father, mowing hay, and worshiping on Sunday mornings with the brethren, I find that I can truly "Do all things through Christ Jesus, Who strengthens me" and enjoy them all.
Jesus prayed in John 17:15-17 (Amplified) saying, "I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world) (Just) as I Am not of the world. Sanctify them, (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself) Make them holy by the Truth. Your Word is Truth."
As new creation family, we have the "best of both worlds," like the old saying goes. We are "in the world," but are not confined to only the things of this world. We are also citizens of God's Kingdom, with all the substance that this world holds, being returned to us through Jesus. The worldly things that Adam's transgression and the resulting curse brought, aren't part of our inheritance. The things God gave to man before satan took rule, are ours again through Jesus.
Luke 2:52 (Amplified) says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man." We've been left on earth for the full purpose of revealing the Father, through Jesus Christ. We've been granted the dominion and the authority that was given to man in the Blessing, once again. Jesus said in Luke 10:9-10 (Amplified), "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 way harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are enrolled in Heaven."
While we're in this world, we were given authority, power and dominion by and through Jesus, Whose "Name is above all names." Jesus prayed in John 17:15 (Amplified) saying, "I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one." As new creation family, we have the Blessing working on our behalf, to bring us into what God intended His children to have. This provides everything necessary to care for our physical needs. We also have the inheritance, as fellow heirs with Christ, that meets all of our spiritual and physical needs. Romans 8:17 (Amplified) tells us, "And if we are (His) children, then we are His heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (sharing His inheritance with Him) only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory."
The suffering Jesus endured wasn't death on the cross, but the people's rejection that He was sent to free. Jesus told His followers in John 16:18-19 (Amplified), "If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world (no longer one with it) but I have chosen (selected) you out of the world, the world hates (detests) you."
When we walk in the Spirit, we walk contrary to everything the world believes and stands for. When you walk contrary to those things, then you will suffer persecution from those who abide only by the world's beliefs. As new creation family, we have Jesus' prayer to "protect and keep us from the evil one," while we're here on earth. We also have the authority and ability of Heaven, to propel us into victory. We have been redeemed and the Blessing has been restored, to work in our lives and to use while ministering salvation to the world.
We simultaneously live in two dimension and that requires us to do the same as Jesus did in Luke 2:52 (Amplified), which says, "And Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years and in favor with God and man." God can (and already has) give us favor , even with man, by entering into this Truth of the new creation family. Proverbs 16:7 (Amplified) says, "When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."
We've been ordained to walk as Heaven's ambassador and representatives of God's Kingdom, here on earth. We are to bring everything that satan took from God's family, by his deception, back into subjection. Those who've been captured by satan (through fear and deceit), are to be set free by God's Own elect family.
In this world (not of it), I have the responsibility of caring for my family. That's the stewardship and sonship of my inheritance. I also have the responsibility to walk as a dignitary and representative of Heaven. This appointment has been placed on us as family members and seems to be a long standing problem in many of our lives. Many believe that the more we suffer and do without, the more "holy" we become. Jesus asked God in John 17:17 (Amplified), "Make them holy by Your Truth, and Your Word is Truth."
Balancing our lives between the new Truth of this new creation, with the responsibilities of our family provisions, is where we seemingly become of two minds. We must provide and care for our earthly inheritance, as well as our Heavenly inheritance. We've had difficulty, balancing both in our lives. Some have given over one for the other, without seeking God on it, one way or the other.
We feel pressured and weighed down by the earthly things, that we're too tired to read the Word and/or pray. It's not that we don't wish to do these things, but we cannot find the time or energy. Jesus admonished His disciples at Gethsemane, saying in Mark 14:38 (Amplified), "Keep awake and watch and pray (constantly) that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Most of us desire to walk deeper in the things of God, but the flesh demands all of our time.
We're called to "seek first the Kingdom of God," according to Jesus' direction in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified) where He says, "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things (what you ear, wear, live, drink) taken together will be given you besides." These were the same instructions given to the Israelites who came out of Egypt, about what they would eat, drink, wear, and live. And, God did provide all these things for them.
God's Blessing in our lives, will multiply our labors and finances, so that our needs will be met. Jesus' Name and authority will set the captives free, while we serve Him in joy and thanksgiving. Everything God gave to Adam, has been restored to us through Jesus. We've also been given the authority of Heaven and the Host of Heaven, to hold and take dominion once again and restore God's honor and glory.
We can simultaneously enjoy the lives with our families here on earth, while enjoying our new creation relationship with our God and Father. We must do like Luke 2:52 (Amplified) says Jesus did and "[Increase] in wisdom (broad and full understanding) and in stature and years and favor with God and man." We must learn how to walk in the Spirit in the realm of the earth. We must do like Jesus did and balance both realms, to glorify the Father.
If we neglect our earthly families, then we are not in God's will. If we neglect our walk with God, in order to meet only our earthly needs, then we're not in His will altogether. It's requires "wisdom and full understanding" to balance both realms, like God intended from the beginning. The ministry of the Holy Spirit, is to lead us into all Truth. If we would allow the Holy Spirit to teach us, then we can walk with God on earth and enjoy both realms simultaneously.
When God finished His creation in Genesis, He was "pleased" with His creations and He saw "that all things were good, even very good." Whether I'm grooming my horses, watching my cattle, praying for the sick, being in fellowship with my Heavenly Father, mowing hay, and worshiping on Sunday mornings with the brethren, I find that I can truly "Do all things through Christ Jesus, Who strengthens me" and enjoy them all.
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
Lesson 212 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-19 (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 Christians, we work hard to become what the Father has already made us to be. We've been trying to become Christians by our own standards, instead of learning to develop what was born in us, from God. Jesus spent much time developing (inside Himself), what He was born to be. He never tried "becoming the Son of God," but instead began to develop the qualities that were already within Him. Jesus spent a lot of time learning and reading the Law and the Blessing. He learned through studying the scriptures, how to walk in the Blessing and how to avoid the curse.
Jesus walked by the Word of God, instead of yielding to the flesh and bending to what others thought about the scriptures. He walked in a place where the Blessing was always operating in His life. This didn't happen because He was the Son of God, but because He obeyed the Word. Many of God's people have been robbed of the Blessing that belonged to them (by being born-again), because of man-made religious teachings and traditions. Many have allowed man's opinions to rule, instead of following God's Truth found in His Word.
Developing our new creation identity, isn't something left for the pastors or denominations to do, but comes from the individual. Just because some believe that, "God doesn't do these things anymore," doesn't mean that they're right. Under the Law, Priests were given the authority and were commanded to heal and cleanse the people. There were obligations in the Law, that were to be met in order for the Blessing to operate, like God intended. It seemed easier to men to make their own rules and regulations, so the curse entered their midst.
Religion has taught us many things and given us various reasons why "the Blessing doesn't work anymore."We've made the Blessing something that doesn't apply to this life, but is only for Heaven. I'm not sure how we were ever convinced to believe this. We won't need to operate in the Blessing when we get to Heaven. God's Blessing will flow there on it's own, because the curse doesn't operate there.
We operate in God's Blessing, by simply obeying God's Word. We have an enemy who wishes to destroy us and prevent us from becoming what God intended, here on earth. Satan uses strategies and deceits to confuse us, trying to make us give-up until we reach Heaven. In order to do what God created us to do, we must allow the Holy Spirit to direct us. Then, the Blessing will provide us what we need, to fulfill what God intended for us to do on earth. We must develop our new creation spirit, to listen and learn the Truth between the Law and the Grace of the new covenant. We must develop certain skills, in order to live in this natural body, while on earth. This is why God gave us the senses that govern our flesh.
Man needed to develop skills, in order to walk, talk distinguish words and people, and to develop love and integrity in our lives. All these things were already in us when we were born, but they had to be developed in our lives. When we became the new creation family of God, everything needed to walk with Him, were provided in our being born-again. The Fruit of the Spirit was deposited into our new living spirit, as the Character and Likeness of our Father. It requires practice and endurance on our part, to develop these things in our lives.
There are some in the flesh and in the new creation spirit, who choose the path of least resistance and only develop enough to "get by." They're not interested in excelling and becoming what they have the potential to be. This is why there will always be, those who stand out in God's Kingdom, just like they stand out in this world. With God, there's no limit in what we can accomplish, but the world puts limits on people through divisions and prejudices. We've placed limits on people, according to their sex, color, weight, and height. We tell people which schools they will be allowed to attend, because of who and where their family came from. This causes people to feel trapped in their lives, without any way of escaping. They're left believing they're "not as smart as other people," "don't fit in with other people" and "don't belong with others in society."
God has removed all of these limits from mankind, through faith in Jesus. Now, for the first time, men really have been created equal. It's no longer a problem of not having enough, but only that we develop what has been given to us, in Christ. When we develop the Gift of Love or the other Gifts of the Spirit in our lives, we become candidates for whatever the Holy Spirit needs done. Paul writes in 1Corinthians 12:31 (Amplified), "But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best Gifts and Graces (the Higher Gifts and the Choicest Graces) and yet I will show you still more excellent way (one that is better by far and the highest of them all - LOVE)."
Paul is saying that, "in order to obtain the way to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit, we must develop the Gift of Love." The only way these Gifts can operate in and through you, like the Holy Spirit wills, is by having Love. It's true that God chooses some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These are by His choosing, but God doesn't choose those who have no interest in developing their spirits, to the conformity of the Holy Spirit.
When a coach chooses someone for his team, he doesn't choose from those who don't wish to play. He chooses from those who turn out for the tryouts. Many Christians never show up, when God is choosing those to send. Developing our spirit to obey the Spirit and the Word, is a requirement that brings about the real you, God created you to be. Every individual born-again believer, has the same Lord and the same Holy Spirit and the same Father. God never short-changed any of His children. Development rests on the individual and his/her desire to glorify the Father, in his/her life.
You don't need to try obtaining God's favor, because you belong to Him and are already favored. We must simply believe this Truth and allow it to flow. You are "highly favored," because of Jesus. You are already in right standing or righteous, by His Righteousness. You must develop your faith in His Word and believe what God says about you, instead of what others say about you.
Even Jesus spent time in God's Word. When Jesus was twelve, His parents couldn't find Him. After searching, they found Him teaching and learning in the Synagogue. Jesus told them that, "He was about His Father's business." Jesus came to teach the almost forgotten Blessing of the Lord. This was the first time many heard about the Blessing and this is why the people rejoiced and followed Jesus. They heard Jesus restoring hope in them. We've preached sin and punishment for so long, that we've lost hope of ever being who God created us to be. Instead, we put our hopes in the time, when we get to Heaven.
When we develop Love in our lives, we become vessels that the Master will use. God will use these vessels, not only in our own lives, but to bring the Blessing into the lives of others like Jesus did. This Blessing will reach the saved and the unsaved. This Love will still heal the sick, cleanse the leper and set at liberty all who are bound, just like it did in Jesus' ministry. This is the Blessing and the Promise of the Holy Spirit. It's not a display of power, but one of the power of Love. Love cannot stand to see the people under bondage.
As Christians, we work hard to become what the Father has already made us to be. We've been trying to become Christians by our own standards, instead of learning to develop what was born in us, from God. Jesus spent much time developing (inside Himself), what He was born to be. He never tried "becoming the Son of God," but instead began to develop the qualities that were already within Him. Jesus spent a lot of time learning and reading the Law and the Blessing. He learned through studying the scriptures, how to walk in the Blessing and how to avoid the curse.
Jesus walked by the Word of God, instead of yielding to the flesh and bending to what others thought about the scriptures. He walked in a place where the Blessing was always operating in His life. This didn't happen because He was the Son of God, but because He obeyed the Word. Many of God's people have been robbed of the Blessing that belonged to them (by being born-again), because of man-made religious teachings and traditions. Many have allowed man's opinions to rule, instead of following God's Truth found in His Word.
Developing our new creation identity, isn't something left for the pastors or denominations to do, but comes from the individual. Just because some believe that, "God doesn't do these things anymore," doesn't mean that they're right. Under the Law, Priests were given the authority and were commanded to heal and cleanse the people. There were obligations in the Law, that were to be met in order for the Blessing to operate, like God intended. It seemed easier to men to make their own rules and regulations, so the curse entered their midst.
Religion has taught us many things and given us various reasons why "the Blessing doesn't work anymore."We've made the Blessing something that doesn't apply to this life, but is only for Heaven. I'm not sure how we were ever convinced to believe this. We won't need to operate in the Blessing when we get to Heaven. God's Blessing will flow there on it's own, because the curse doesn't operate there.
We operate in God's Blessing, by simply obeying God's Word. We have an enemy who wishes to destroy us and prevent us from becoming what God intended, here on earth. Satan uses strategies and deceits to confuse us, trying to make us give-up until we reach Heaven. In order to do what God created us to do, we must allow the Holy Spirit to direct us. Then, the Blessing will provide us what we need, to fulfill what God intended for us to do on earth. We must develop our new creation spirit, to listen and learn the Truth between the Law and the Grace of the new covenant. We must develop certain skills, in order to live in this natural body, while on earth. This is why God gave us the senses that govern our flesh.
Man needed to develop skills, in order to walk, talk distinguish words and people, and to develop love and integrity in our lives. All these things were already in us when we were born, but they had to be developed in our lives. When we became the new creation family of God, everything needed to walk with Him, were provided in our being born-again. The Fruit of the Spirit was deposited into our new living spirit, as the Character and Likeness of our Father. It requires practice and endurance on our part, to develop these things in our lives.
There are some in the flesh and in the new creation spirit, who choose the path of least resistance and only develop enough to "get by." They're not interested in excelling and becoming what they have the potential to be. This is why there will always be, those who stand out in God's Kingdom, just like they stand out in this world. With God, there's no limit in what we can accomplish, but the world puts limits on people through divisions and prejudices. We've placed limits on people, according to their sex, color, weight, and height. We tell people which schools they will be allowed to attend, because of who and where their family came from. This causes people to feel trapped in their lives, without any way of escaping. They're left believing they're "not as smart as other people," "don't fit in with other people" and "don't belong with others in society."
God has removed all of these limits from mankind, through faith in Jesus. Now, for the first time, men really have been created equal. It's no longer a problem of not having enough, but only that we develop what has been given to us, in Christ. When we develop the Gift of Love or the other Gifts of the Spirit in our lives, we become candidates for whatever the Holy Spirit needs done. Paul writes in 1Corinthians 12:31 (Amplified), "But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best Gifts and Graces (the Higher Gifts and the Choicest Graces) and yet I will show you still more excellent way (one that is better by far and the highest of them all - LOVE)."
Paul is saying that, "in order to obtain the way to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit, we must develop the Gift of Love." The only way these Gifts can operate in and through you, like the Holy Spirit wills, is by having Love. It's true that God chooses some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These are by His choosing, but God doesn't choose those who have no interest in developing their spirits, to the conformity of the Holy Spirit.
When a coach chooses someone for his team, he doesn't choose from those who don't wish to play. He chooses from those who turn out for the tryouts. Many Christians never show up, when God is choosing those to send. Developing our spirit to obey the Spirit and the Word, is a requirement that brings about the real you, God created you to be. Every individual born-again believer, has the same Lord and the same Holy Spirit and the same Father. God never short-changed any of His children. Development rests on the individual and his/her desire to glorify the Father, in his/her life.
You don't need to try obtaining God's favor, because you belong to Him and are already favored. We must simply believe this Truth and allow it to flow. You are "highly favored," because of Jesus. You are already in right standing or righteous, by His Righteousness. You must develop your faith in His Word and believe what God says about you, instead of what others say about you.
Even Jesus spent time in God's Word. When Jesus was twelve, His parents couldn't find Him. After searching, they found Him teaching and learning in the Synagogue. Jesus told them that, "He was about His Father's business." Jesus came to teach the almost forgotten Blessing of the Lord. This was the first time many heard about the Blessing and this is why the people rejoiced and followed Jesus. They heard Jesus restoring hope in them. We've preached sin and punishment for so long, that we've lost hope of ever being who God created us to be. Instead, we put our hopes in the time, when we get to Heaven.
When we develop Love in our lives, we become vessels that the Master will use. God will use these vessels, not only in our own lives, but to bring the Blessing into the lives of others like Jesus did. This Blessing will reach the saved and the unsaved. This Love will still heal the sick, cleanse the leper and set at liberty all who are bound, just like it did in Jesus' ministry. This is the Blessing and the Promise of the Holy Spirit. It's not a display of power, but one of the power of Love. Love cannot stand to see the people under bondage.
Monday, May 8, 2017
Lesson 211 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 creations, we've not only been forgiven of our sins, but the price was paid in full for those sins (by Jesus), when we received Him as our Lord. Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "That the wages of sin is death." Thus, it says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free Gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord." When we think of death, we usually think about our natural bodies giving up our spirit and dying. When God thinks of death, He thinks about our spirits that have been now made alive in Jesus. Jesus dies for our sin, but that's not all He died for, according to Romans 6:3-4 (Amplified) which says, "Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the Baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious (power) of the Father, so we too might (habitually) live and believe in newness of life."
We've never considered ourselves "dead," because of the unrenewed mind and the habit of the senses that we lived by, before being born-again. This is the powerful Truth about the new creation. We died with Christ as payment for sin and this new creation was raised with Him in newness of Life. We not to intimidated any longer, by what our unrenewed mind tells us about the old man and his shameful way of living. We are to live with Christ in the newness of life.
We knew Jesus died for our sins on the cross, so we only focused on our sins being forgiven. We never realized that we also, in Him, died too. When Jesus died, everyone who would receive Him, died too. And, when Jesus was raised, everyone who would receive Him, was raised as well. When God declared Jesus "righteous," after becoming sin with our sin, everyone who received Him, was also declared righteous.
Paul writes about the entrance of Light (Jesus) into our spirit man, in order to set us free from condemnation, in Romans 8:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but 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 For God has done what the Law could not do (it's power) being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit) sending His Own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an Offering for sin, (God) condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that Sacrifice)."
The awesome thing about this new creation, is that the wages of sin (which is death) has already been paid for, for all who are crucified with Him (have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior). Hebrews 12:1 (Amplified) says, "Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (who have borne testimony to the Truth) let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us."
The King James Version of the above scripture, says "the sin." The Amplified Bible says, "that sin," speaking about a particular sin. I believe "that sin" is the sin of unbelief, which prevents our running this race properly. As long as we continue feeling "unrighteous" by sin in our lives, we can never enter boldly into the place where God created us to be. This was the same sin that held the Israelites in the Wilderness and caused God to be displeased with them. Hebrews 3:12 (Amplified) says, "(Therefore beware) brethren [notice he is talking to brethren], take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked unbelieving heart (which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him) leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the Living God."
God was displeased, because they wouldn't believe in His complete Grace and mercy and "rest in Him." As new creation people, we have to choose whether to believe the Gospel or only believe in what we've been taught and feel. The above scripture says that the Gospel was preached to them, but it didn't benefit them, because they didn't mix faith with what they heard. We've had the very same Gospel preached to us and we should mix faith with it.
If we fail to mix faith in what the Word tells us about our dying, raised and forgiven with Christ, then we will not receive the benefits of the Gospel (just like the Israelites in the Wilderness). The "rest" that the Holy Spirit speaks about is destroyed by our feelings of condemnation and guilt, that the world and unrenewed mind places on those who haven't heard or received the Good News of the Gospel.
It's ironic that the only sin God holds us accountable for (after we're born-again) is the sin of unbelief, that comes from our not mixing faith with the Gospel we've heard. Paul writes in 1Corinthians 4:3-4 (Amplified), "But (as for me personally) it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you (on this point), and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself. I am not conscious of anything against myself and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account. It is the Lord (Himself) Who examines and judges me."
Paul wasn't saying that he never made mistakes or that he didn't attempt to walk in the Spirit. What it does means, is Paul accepted himself crucified with Christ and wouldn't let his or the ideas of men to remove him from his faith in being completely cleansed of sin, by Jesus. Paul didn't allow his past of killing and imprisoning Christians, to prevent his entering into revelation and the constant fellowship with the Lord Jesus.
In the natural unrenewed mind of man, seeing himself clean and pure in God's eyes, is more than he could hope for. Entering into God's rest, requires faith in the Gospel and trust in God. No one can walk with God, in the natural man, but only in the new creation. God has done a new thing with the new creation. He has removed even the thought of sin in our lives, by the renewing of our minds with the Word and bringing every thought "into captivity to the obedience of Christ." This is perhaps, the greatest hurdle the Church has before it. Hebrews 10:2 speaks about how accepting the Perfect Sacrifice (Jesus) would result in our "No longer having any guilt or consciousness of sin."
Now, we can "come boldly, into God's Throne of Grace and we can receive grace and mercy from Him, with boldness of faith and without sin in our consciousness." This boldness of faith is needed for the new creation people to ever receive the advanced teachings of Christ, according to Hebrews 6:1-3. The enemy has tried everything, in order to stop the revelation of the Fullness of Christ, to the Church. He knows that, when the Fullness of the Truth comes into our spirits, nothing can stop the progress of the advancing Kingdom of God.
As new creations, we've not only been forgiven of our sins, but the price was paid in full for those sins (by Jesus), when we received Him as our Lord. Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "That the wages of sin is death." Thus, it says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free Gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord." When we think of death, we usually think about our natural bodies giving up our spirit and dying. When God thinks of death, He thinks about our spirits that have been now made alive in Jesus. Jesus dies for our sin, but that's not all He died for, according to Romans 6:3-4 (Amplified) which says, "Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the Baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious (power) of the Father, so we too might (habitually) live and believe in newness of life."
We've never considered ourselves "dead," because of the unrenewed mind and the habit of the senses that we lived by, before being born-again. This is the powerful Truth about the new creation. We died with Christ as payment for sin and this new creation was raised with Him in newness of Life. We not to intimidated any longer, by what our unrenewed mind tells us about the old man and his shameful way of living. We are to live with Christ in the newness of life.
We knew Jesus died for our sins on the cross, so we only focused on our sins being forgiven. We never realized that we also, in Him, died too. When Jesus died, everyone who would receive Him, died too. And, when Jesus was raised, everyone who would receive Him, was raised as well. When God declared Jesus "righteous," after becoming sin with our sin, everyone who received Him, was also declared righteous.
Paul writes about the entrance of Light (Jesus) into our spirit man, in order to set us free from condemnation, in Romans 8:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but 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 For God has done what the Law could not do (it's power) being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit) sending His Own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an Offering for sin, (God) condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that Sacrifice)."
The awesome thing about this new creation, is that the wages of sin (which is death) has already been paid for, for all who are crucified with Him (have accepted Him as their Lord and Savior). Hebrews 12:1 (Amplified) says, "Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (who have borne testimony to the Truth) let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us."
The King James Version of the above scripture, says "the sin." The Amplified Bible says, "that sin," speaking about a particular sin. I believe "that sin" is the sin of unbelief, which prevents our running this race properly. As long as we continue feeling "unrighteous" by sin in our lives, we can never enter boldly into the place where God created us to be. This was the same sin that held the Israelites in the Wilderness and caused God to be displeased with them. Hebrews 3:12 (Amplified) says, "(Therefore beware) brethren [notice he is talking to brethren], take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked unbelieving heart (which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him) leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the Living God."
God was displeased, because they wouldn't believe in His complete Grace and mercy and "rest in Him." As new creation people, we have to choose whether to believe the Gospel or only believe in what we've been taught and feel. The above scripture says that the Gospel was preached to them, but it didn't benefit them, because they didn't mix faith with what they heard. We've had the very same Gospel preached to us and we should mix faith with it.
If we fail to mix faith in what the Word tells us about our dying, raised and forgiven with Christ, then we will not receive the benefits of the Gospel (just like the Israelites in the Wilderness). The "rest" that the Holy Spirit speaks about is destroyed by our feelings of condemnation and guilt, that the world and unrenewed mind places on those who haven't heard or received the Good News of the Gospel.
It's ironic that the only sin God holds us accountable for (after we're born-again) is the sin of unbelief, that comes from our not mixing faith with the Gospel we've heard. Paul writes in 1Corinthians 4:3-4 (Amplified), "But (as for me personally) it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you (on this point), and that you or any other human tribunal should investigate and question and cross-question me. I do not even put myself on trial and judge myself. I am not conscious of anything against myself and I feel blameless; but I am not vindicated and acquitted before God on that account. It is the Lord (Himself) Who examines and judges me."
Paul wasn't saying that he never made mistakes or that he didn't attempt to walk in the Spirit. What it does means, is Paul accepted himself crucified with Christ and wouldn't let his or the ideas of men to remove him from his faith in being completely cleansed of sin, by Jesus. Paul didn't allow his past of killing and imprisoning Christians, to prevent his entering into revelation and the constant fellowship with the Lord Jesus.
In the natural unrenewed mind of man, seeing himself clean and pure in God's eyes, is more than he could hope for. Entering into God's rest, requires faith in the Gospel and trust in God. No one can walk with God, in the natural man, but only in the new creation. God has done a new thing with the new creation. He has removed even the thought of sin in our lives, by the renewing of our minds with the Word and bringing every thought "into captivity to the obedience of Christ." This is perhaps, the greatest hurdle the Church has before it. Hebrews 10:2 speaks about how accepting the Perfect Sacrifice (Jesus) would result in our "No longer having any guilt or consciousness of sin."
Now, we can "come boldly, into God's Throne of Grace and we can receive grace and mercy from Him, with boldness of faith and without sin in our consciousness." This boldness of faith is needed for the new creation people to ever receive the advanced teachings of Christ, according to Hebrews 6:1-3. The enemy has tried everything, in order to stop the revelation of the Fullness of Christ, to the Church. He knows that, when the Fullness of the Truth comes into our spirits, nothing can stop the progress of the advancing Kingdom of God.
Friday, May 5, 2017
Lesson 210 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 has 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)."
Hebrews 9:3-4 (Amplified) says, "For if (the mere) sprinkling of unholy things and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body How much more surely shall the Blood of Christ, Who by virtue of (His) eternal Spirit (His Own preexistent Divine personality) has offered Himself as an unblemished Sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the (Ever) Living God?"
1Corinthians 15:34 (Amplified) says, "AWAKE (from your drunken stupor and return) to sober sense and your right minds; and sin no more. For some of you have not the knowledge of God (you are utterly and willfully and disgracefully ignorant, and continue to be so, lacking the sense of God's Presence and all true knowledge of Him) I say this to your shame." The King James Version says, "Awake unto righteousness and sin no more."
Ephesians 5:14 (Amplified) says, "Therefore He says, Awake O sleeper, and arise from the dead, And Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light." This scripture originates from Isaiah 60:1 (Amplified) which says, "Arise (from the depression and prostitution in which circumstances have kept you-rise to a new life) for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."
Isaiah was prophesying about the time we're now living in and about the Redeemed of the Lord and the new creation people (us). Isaiah foretold the time when God made a new covenant (with Himself and Jesus), that cannot be broken. Under this new covenant, we're no longer rely on temporal sacrifices of bulls and goats to establish our right standing with God. By faith, we receive our right standing (or righteousness) by faith in Jesus' Sacrifice.
The people in the old covenant were "not righteous," because of the weakness of the flesh. Romans 3:9-10 (Amplified) says, "Well then, are we (Jews) superior and better off than they? No, not at all. We have already charge that all men, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are under sin (held down by and subject to its power and control). As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, No, not one."
Under the Law, the covering that the blood of bulls and goats provided, was not able to remove the sin or the remembrance of it, in the minds of the people. The yearly pilgrimage to bring offerings and sacrifices, kept the minds of the people focused on their inability to walk in righteousness before God.
Many believe that Paul was telling the people, "Try not to sin," when he wrote "Awake unto righteousness and sin not," in 1Corinthians 15:3-4 (Amplified). Some believe God's grace gives a license to sin, but we are not to sin. Paul was calling them to "Awake to the righteousness that Christ Jesus provided for you and stop trying to obtain right standing by the old ways of sacrifice and rituals."
We find throughout the Word, how God gives us the Truth Righteousness, by faith in Jesus, our Sacrifice Lamb. When we continue to see ourselves in the same unrighteousness we were in before being born-again, it's seen as sin in God's eyes. Romans 3:22-24 (Amplified) says, "Namely, the Righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah) (And it is meant) for all who believe; For there is no distinction. Since all have sinned and are fallen short of the Honor and Glory which God bestows and receives." Verse 24 goes on, "All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His Grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus."
When we fail to understand what the Holy Spirit says in the above scripture, we continue thinking we gain righteousness by doing good deeds and through our own merits. Paul said, "Awake unto righteousness." He meant that we've been asleep in our spiritual relationship with God and that we're unaware that we've been already made righteous, in Jesus. This is the key to entering into the depth of who we (the new creation) people are and what we've been created to be.
Righteousness isn't a moral or physical state of being (even though it will produce this), but a place of unity with our Father, where we can hear and obey His Voice. Hebrews 12:1,2 (Amplified) has been a source of controversy for many. Thus, it says, "Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (who have born testimony to the Truth) let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race is set before us." Paul goes on in Verse 2, "Looking unto Jesus (from all that will distract)."
I'm convinced in my spirit, that the sin that so easily besets us is the sin conscience or the act of the senses that keeps the faith of His Truth from our new creation man's spirit. When our senses repeatedly say, "You're still sinners," then it's difficult to act in faith, before a Righteous God. This might be the hardest act of faith we try overcoming, after receiving Jesus as our Lord. The Holy Spirit inspires Paul to write in Hebrews 3:19 (Amplified), "So we see that they were not able to enter (into His rest) because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God (unbelief had shut them out)."
When we don't trust in what God's Word says about our own right standing with Him, does our "unbelief shut us out?" How can we believe we're righteous or in right standing before God, unless we believe (or put faith in) our own spirit was created new in Him? Your flesh and the devil will never cease reminding you of who you were before being born-again. Only your spirit can accept and receive this Truth, about your new creation man. This sin of seeing ourselves as who we used to be, is probably the most prominent sin, in all of Christianity.
We could never have been born-again, without receiving the Gift of Righteousness from Jesus. God couldn't raise an unrighteous man up, to become His temple and then make this unrighteous "house" His abode. This is why the Holy Spirit speaks about the day in which we live, in Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified), saying, "You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness in conformity with God's will and order." He continues, "You shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come new you."
Most of the depression and oppression we have, derives from the fear of not being in right standing with the Father. We're always conscience of our own weakness, but trusting in His Righteousness must be a greater part of our walk with God instead. We must learn to walk in the Spirit and let Him teach us that we're more than "just forgiven sinners." We must put faith in the Truth of His Word. We must remember that, it's not our own righteousness, but the Righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus
Hebrews 9:3-4 (Amplified) says, "For if (the mere) sprinkling of unholy things and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body How much more surely shall the Blood of Christ, Who by virtue of (His) eternal Spirit (His Own preexistent Divine personality) has offered Himself as an unblemished Sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the (Ever) Living God?"
1Corinthians 15:34 (Amplified) says, "AWAKE (from your drunken stupor and return) to sober sense and your right minds; and sin no more. For some of you have not the knowledge of God (you are utterly and willfully and disgracefully ignorant, and continue to be so, lacking the sense of God's Presence and all true knowledge of Him) I say this to your shame." The King James Version says, "Awake unto righteousness and sin no more."
Ephesians 5:14 (Amplified) says, "Therefore He says, Awake O sleeper, and arise from the dead, And Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light." This scripture originates from Isaiah 60:1 (Amplified) which says, "Arise (from the depression and prostitution in which circumstances have kept you-rise to a new life) for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."
Isaiah was prophesying about the time we're now living in and about the Redeemed of the Lord and the new creation people (us). Isaiah foretold the time when God made a new covenant (with Himself and Jesus), that cannot be broken. Under this new covenant, we're no longer rely on temporal sacrifices of bulls and goats to establish our right standing with God. By faith, we receive our right standing (or righteousness) by faith in Jesus' Sacrifice.
The people in the old covenant were "not righteous," because of the weakness of the flesh. Romans 3:9-10 (Amplified) says, "Well then, are we (Jews) superior and better off than they? No, not at all. We have already charge that all men, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) are under sin (held down by and subject to its power and control). As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, No, not one."
Under the Law, the covering that the blood of bulls and goats provided, was not able to remove the sin or the remembrance of it, in the minds of the people. The yearly pilgrimage to bring offerings and sacrifices, kept the minds of the people focused on their inability to walk in righteousness before God.
Many believe that Paul was telling the people, "Try not to sin," when he wrote "Awake unto righteousness and sin not," in 1Corinthians 15:3-4 (Amplified). Some believe God's grace gives a license to sin, but we are not to sin. Paul was calling them to "Awake to the righteousness that Christ Jesus provided for you and stop trying to obtain right standing by the old ways of sacrifice and rituals."
We find throughout the Word, how God gives us the Truth Righteousness, by faith in Jesus, our Sacrifice Lamb. When we continue to see ourselves in the same unrighteousness we were in before being born-again, it's seen as sin in God's eyes. Romans 3:22-24 (Amplified) says, "Namely, the Righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah) (And it is meant) for all who believe; For there is no distinction. Since all have sinned and are fallen short of the Honor and Glory which God bestows and receives." Verse 24 goes on, "All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His Grace (His unmerited favor and mercy) through the redemption which is (provided) in Christ Jesus."
When we fail to understand what the Holy Spirit says in the above scripture, we continue thinking we gain righteousness by doing good deeds and through our own merits. Paul said, "Awake unto righteousness." He meant that we've been asleep in our spiritual relationship with God and that we're unaware that we've been already made righteous, in Jesus. This is the key to entering into the depth of who we (the new creation) people are and what we've been created to be.
Righteousness isn't a moral or physical state of being (even though it will produce this), but a place of unity with our Father, where we can hear and obey His Voice. Hebrews 12:1,2 (Amplified) has been a source of controversy for many. Thus, it says, "Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (who have born testimony to the Truth) let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race is set before us." Paul goes on in Verse 2, "Looking unto Jesus (from all that will distract)."
I'm convinced in my spirit, that the sin that so easily besets us is the sin conscience or the act of the senses that keeps the faith of His Truth from our new creation man's spirit. When our senses repeatedly say, "You're still sinners," then it's difficult to act in faith, before a Righteous God. This might be the hardest act of faith we try overcoming, after receiving Jesus as our Lord. The Holy Spirit inspires Paul to write in Hebrews 3:19 (Amplified), "So we see that they were not able to enter (into His rest) because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God (unbelief had shut them out)."
When we don't trust in what God's Word says about our own right standing with Him, does our "unbelief shut us out?" How can we believe we're righteous or in right standing before God, unless we believe (or put faith in) our own spirit was created new in Him? Your flesh and the devil will never cease reminding you of who you were before being born-again. Only your spirit can accept and receive this Truth, about your new creation man. This sin of seeing ourselves as who we used to be, is probably the most prominent sin, in all of Christianity.
We could never have been born-again, without receiving the Gift of Righteousness from Jesus. God couldn't raise an unrighteous man up, to become His temple and then make this unrighteous "house" His abode. This is why the Holy Spirit speaks about the day in which we live, in Isaiah 54:14 (Amplified), saying, "You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness in conformity with God's will and order." He continues, "You shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come new you."
Most of the depression and oppression we have, derives from the fear of not being in right standing with the Father. We're always conscience of our own weakness, but trusting in His Righteousness must be a greater part of our walk with God instead. We must learn to walk in the Spirit and let Him teach us that we're more than "just forgiven sinners." We must put faith in the Truth of His Word. We must remember that, it's not our own righteousness, but the Righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Lesson 209 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 (brought 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 we were born-again, we weren't yet in the "Likeness and Image of God." Jesus said in John 4:24 (Amplified) that, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)." God first created Adam a spirit, like Himself. God created a body for Adam to live in the physical realm, but his true nature was spirit.
Until Adam's transgression in the Garden, both Adam and Eve were led by their spirits and by the Spirit of the Father. They were sustained by the Blessing that God pronounced on them and they had no physical needs. Everything they could want or need, was supplied through the Promise of the Spirit or the Blessing. The Blessing of Abraham was only an extension of the original Blessing, that God pronounced on Adam and Eve. This was for meeting their every need from Heaven, where God resides. Everything on the earth manifested from the Spirit realm, to provide for those on this natural world.
History cannot record how many years (thousands or millions) Adam and Eve walked here on earth, with the Father. Science says that the earth is billions of years old. I'm not sure just how old the earth is, but I don't believe that God created man one day and that man transgressed the very next day. I have much more faith in my Father, than to believe His Own son Adam would so quickly turn renegade.
Notice how God didn't count time, before the fall. Adam and Eve walked in a timeless, spiritual relationship with the Father, even while in their natural bodies. Time was set into motion, after the fall, because now death (or an end) cane into existence for mankind. Until then, Adam had total dominion and was given authority over everything on earth. Adam was made like God, in the form of a spirit and then God made him a physical body (house for the spirit). As new creation people, we aren't made "like God," but are made IN GOD. The difference is astounding. Instead of being a spirit like Him, we were made "one" spirit in Him.
Adam's spirit was directed from the outside, by the Spirit of God. We are to be directed from the inside, by the indwelling Spirit of God Himself. 1Corinthians 6:19 (Amplified)says, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received (as a Gift) from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price (purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His Own). So then honor God and bring glory to Him in your body." God had once walked with Adam in the Garden. Now, in this new creation, He doesn't just walk with us, He walks in us.
The Last Adam, Jesus, is the true representation of the new creation family of God. Even though He had a natural body, He was led from the inward Presence of the Holy Spirit. We weren't created like Adam was (an independent spirit), but we were created "one with the Holy Spirit." Our spirit's not independent from God, like Adam was. Adam needed to learn how to walk in the natural senses, after he was separated from the Father. We were trained by the world , how to take care of ourselves, by the only source we knew---our senses without God.
In the new creation, we find ourselves going in the reverse of Adam. Instead of having to learn how to walk in the natural (like Adam did), we find ourselves needing to learn how to walk in the Spirit (like Jesus did). Man's ideas of religion, have resulted in our not knowing how to walk in the Super-natural realm.
The carnal mind of man or the reasoning factor of the natural man, has dismissed the Super-natural ability as "foolishness." Jesus told His followers that He would send the Holy Spirit (the same Holy Spirit He received in the Jordan River) to them, in John 14:17 (Amplified) which says, "The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart) because it does not see Him or know Him or recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you (constantly) and will be in you."
Jesus was speaking prophetically about the time of His resurrection and the time of the new creation. Jesus was the only flesh and Blood Man, Who actually had the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spent His life learning about His Father and how His Father worked in the earth. There was no time when Jesus conferred with His natural man, asking "Do you think this God?" John 14:12 (Amplified) has probably caused the most controversy in the Church. Thus, "Jesus said, 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 he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father."
When Jesus "went to the Father," His Sacrifice was accepted, His ministry as the First Born of many brethren was activated, and His position of High Priest of His new covenant, was ratified and the new creation family (that was made in His Image) was about to be birthed. The same Holy Spirit that had been in Jesus to "do the works," is the same Holy Spirit Who gives us Life, with His Life in us.
John 17:21-22 (Amplified) will bear witness to your new creation spirit. Thus, it says, "That they all may be one (just) as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, So that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them [you and me] the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." Jesus was speaking about the new creation family, that would be birthed after His resurrection and after He send the Holy Spirit of God to us. God's Spirit would be birthed within every person who believed His Word and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. The new creation people would have the Father abide in us. In John 14:23 (Amplified) Jesus says, "If a person (really) loves Me, he will keep My Word (obey My teachings) and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him."
We've come to the place in our lives, where we must listen to the Holy Spirit, just like Jesus listened to Him. In order to learn how to walk in the Spirit, we must first understand who we really are, as a new creation son or daughter of God. The things we're learning in these teachings, aren't impossible. They're just unlearned. When Jesus foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit, He said that the Holy Spirit would not just be with us, but would live in us. He is the Teacher of the new creation believer and lives intertwined with our now living in God, new creation spirit. Jesus said in John 14:26 (Amplified) that, "The Holy Spirit would teach us all things, and will cause us to recall (will remind us of, bring to our remembrance) everything I have told you."
Everything we learn about life in the natural or Super-natural, is a process from birth. We had to learn how to walk, talk, eat, through a trial and error process. We pressed on, until we learned it. Learning to hear and follow the Voice of the Father, in our new creation spirit, is also a process. We must learn and practice how to hear and follow His Voice. It's not impossible to do, it's only different from what we were accustomed to doing.
When we were born-again, we weren't yet in the "Likeness and Image of God." Jesus said in John 4:24 (Amplified) that, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)." God first created Adam a spirit, like Himself. God created a body for Adam to live in the physical realm, but his true nature was spirit.
Until Adam's transgression in the Garden, both Adam and Eve were led by their spirits and by the Spirit of the Father. They were sustained by the Blessing that God pronounced on them and they had no physical needs. Everything they could want or need, was supplied through the Promise of the Spirit or the Blessing. The Blessing of Abraham was only an extension of the original Blessing, that God pronounced on Adam and Eve. This was for meeting their every need from Heaven, where God resides. Everything on the earth manifested from the Spirit realm, to provide for those on this natural world.
History cannot record how many years (thousands or millions) Adam and Eve walked here on earth, with the Father. Science says that the earth is billions of years old. I'm not sure just how old the earth is, but I don't believe that God created man one day and that man transgressed the very next day. I have much more faith in my Father, than to believe His Own son Adam would so quickly turn renegade.
Notice how God didn't count time, before the fall. Adam and Eve walked in a timeless, spiritual relationship with the Father, even while in their natural bodies. Time was set into motion, after the fall, because now death (or an end) cane into existence for mankind. Until then, Adam had total dominion and was given authority over everything on earth. Adam was made like God, in the form of a spirit and then God made him a physical body (house for the spirit). As new creation people, we aren't made "like God," but are made IN GOD. The difference is astounding. Instead of being a spirit like Him, we were made "one" spirit in Him.
Adam's spirit was directed from the outside, by the Spirit of God. We are to be directed from the inside, by the indwelling Spirit of God Himself. 1Corinthians 6:19 (Amplified)says, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received (as a Gift) from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price (purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His Own). So then honor God and bring glory to Him in your body." God had once walked with Adam in the Garden. Now, in this new creation, He doesn't just walk with us, He walks in us.
The Last Adam, Jesus, is the true representation of the new creation family of God. Even though He had a natural body, He was led from the inward Presence of the Holy Spirit. We weren't created like Adam was (an independent spirit), but we were created "one with the Holy Spirit." Our spirit's not independent from God, like Adam was. Adam needed to learn how to walk in the natural senses, after he was separated from the Father. We were trained by the world , how to take care of ourselves, by the only source we knew---our senses without God.
In the new creation, we find ourselves going in the reverse of Adam. Instead of having to learn how to walk in the natural (like Adam did), we find ourselves needing to learn how to walk in the Spirit (like Jesus did). Man's ideas of religion, have resulted in our not knowing how to walk in the Super-natural realm.
The carnal mind of man or the reasoning factor of the natural man, has dismissed the Super-natural ability as "foolishness." Jesus told His followers that He would send the Holy Spirit (the same Holy Spirit He received in the Jordan River) to them, in John 14:17 (Amplified) which says, "The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart) because it does not see Him or know Him or recognize Him. But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you (constantly) and will be in you."
Jesus was speaking prophetically about the time of His resurrection and the time of the new creation. Jesus was the only flesh and Blood Man, Who actually had the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spent His life learning about His Father and how His Father worked in the earth. There was no time when Jesus conferred with His natural man, asking "Do you think this God?" John 14:12 (Amplified) has probably caused the most controversy in the Church. Thus, "Jesus said, 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 he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father."
When Jesus "went to the Father," His Sacrifice was accepted, His ministry as the First Born of many brethren was activated, and His position of High Priest of His new covenant, was ratified and the new creation family (that was made in His Image) was about to be birthed. The same Holy Spirit that had been in Jesus to "do the works," is the same Holy Spirit Who gives us Life, with His Life in us.
John 17:21-22 (Amplified) will bear witness to your new creation spirit. Thus, it says, "That they all may be one (just) as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, So that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them [you and me] the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." Jesus was speaking about the new creation family, that would be birthed after His resurrection and after He send the Holy Spirit of God to us. God's Spirit would be birthed within every person who believed His Word and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. The new creation people would have the Father abide in us. In John 14:23 (Amplified) Jesus says, "If a person (really) loves Me, he will keep My Word (obey My teachings) and My Father will love him and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him."
We've come to the place in our lives, where we must listen to the Holy Spirit, just like Jesus listened to Him. In order to learn how to walk in the Spirit, we must first understand who we really are, as a new creation son or daughter of God. The things we're learning in these teachings, aren't impossible. They're just unlearned. When Jesus foretold the coming of the Holy Spirit, He said that the Holy Spirit would not just be with us, but would live in us. He is the Teacher of the new creation believer and lives intertwined with our now living in God, new creation spirit. Jesus said in John 14:26 (Amplified) that, "The Holy Spirit would teach us all things, and will cause us to recall (will remind us of, bring to our remembrance) everything I have told you."
Everything we learn about life in the natural or Super-natural, is a process from birth. We had to learn how to walk, talk, eat, through a trial and error process. We pressed on, until we learned it. Learning to hear and follow the Voice of the Father, in our new creation spirit, is also a process. We must learn and practice how to hear and follow His Voice. It's not impossible to do, it's only different from what we were accustomed to doing.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Lesson 208 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 (brought 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 creations, we're translated into the actual spirit realm where God resides. Although, we've been assigned to work in this natural realm, our true identity is raised up together and is seated together with Christ, Who seats at the right hand of the Father. We've been created anew in Christ Jesus and we've now children of the Most High God.
If we read these things in the Word with our own intellect, then they're just words that provide us hope for our lives after death. When we receive revelation about the Spiritual Truths, these words contain totally different meanings. Jesus walked as a flesh and Blood Man on this earth, but He was never restrained by the natural things. Jesus commissioned His followers (us) to go into the world and we witness the power of the Spirit that followed them.
These men and women weren't born-again yet, but they functioned in the Super-natural authority of Jesus' Name We've not only been given His Name to use (through the power of Attorney) and we are actually "In Him" and have become the Body of Christ. The Body and the Head are all one person, according to 1John 4:17 (Amplified) which says, "In this union and communion with Him (Love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us), that we may have confidence for the day of judgment (with assurance and boldness to face Him) because as He is, so are we in this world."
We've been waiting until death comes to our physical body, to be as He is, but the Word says that "as He is, so are we in this world." As far as the Father is concerned, our physical man has already undergone death and our life is now in Him. In Galatians 2:20 (Amplified) the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to write, "I have been crucified with Christ (in Him I have shared His crucifixion); it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; And the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who love me and gave Himself up for me."
The above scripture isn't just some "pretty and religious thing to say," but is a Spiritual Truth in Jesus. Even though Paul was given this revelation, he still was confined to live in the natural body, until his time was up and he was delivered up to God. Paul goes on in Galatians 5:25 (Amplified), "If we live by the Holy Spirit, let us also walk by the Holy Spirit, if we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line (our conduct controlled by the Holy Spirit)." Paul was telling us that "Because our new creation life is spirit, then our spirit (by the Holy Spirit) should control our natural body."
Many look at this as being "crazy" and "too far out," but we must remember that the Holy Spirit directed Paul to write them. Hebrews 10:38 (Amplified) reiterates this, saying, "But the just )or those who are justified in Jesus) shall live by faith (My righteous servant shall live by His conviction respecting man's relationship to God and Divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it) and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him)."
We simultaneously know these things, and don't know these things. We read with our intellect, but never receive them into our spirits. What God literally says is, "You are already dead and the only life we now have, is the Life we have from His Spirit, into our spirit." You are already seated in Heavenly places with Jesus. 1John 3:2 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, we are (even here and) now God's children; be (hereafter), but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall (as God's children) resemble and be like him, for we shall see Him just as He (really) is."
We still see the parts of ourselves and others, that don't look like Jesus yet, because we only look at the outer man (the house our new creation lives in). No person on earth looks like he/she will look like when He comes. No one has seen with his natural eyes, what He really looks like, because we can only see the real Christ with our spiritual eyes. 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified) says, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value) (No) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)."
This is a powerful statement, but we don't seem to understand it in our spirits yet, because we still see ourselves after the flesh. It's Gods Life in our spirits, that actually gives Life to our flesh. When your spirit leaves your body, it will fall down like leaves from a tree. The only life we have now, is by faith. This is what the Word mean. s when it says, "The just shall live, and shall live by their faith." It was (and is) your faith in Him, that gave you life. It's only this faith in Him, that can sustains life, because it's His Life we received. This is what Paul wrote above in Galatians 2:20.
We've been translated into the Kingdom of Heaven, by our faith in Jesus. This isn't something that's "going to happen," but has already happened. We're now to walk in our assigned place in the provision of His Spirit and bring Life through Him as He brought Life to us. We've been delivered from time, to eternity. Healings that should take weeks or years to happen, can now be brought about instantly, because time has been suspended for the new creation family of God.
Time has been man's enemy, since the fall of Adam in the Garden. We began dying, the very moment we were birthed. We're governed by minutes and hours, instead of by the unlimited realm of eternity. Even our prayers have been governed by our awareness of time. Jesus told His followers in Mark 11:24 (Amplified), "For this reason I Am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will (get it)."
We allow time to dictate "when we are to get it (if we get it at all)," but Jesus said "Believe you get it, when you pray." He never told the blind man, "Hold on, because even if you don't receive sight here and now, then you will see in Heaven." Jesus bypassed time altogether and brought a miracle to pass, by faith. Miracles supersede time and there's no "waiting for nature to take its course." It doesn't matter whether it's a premature death or a sickness, time is suspended when the Spirit intervenes. God is timeless. He is eternal and has made us to be eternal too. As Christians, we have never entered into the realm of the timeless eternal, place of God, because we still allow ourselves to be governed by the flesh and time.
When we allow ourselves to live by the Spirit, instead of the flesh and time, then miracles will happen through the Spirit. We find a deacon named Philip, who was sent to minister to an Ethiopian eunuch, in Acts 8:38-40 (Amplified). Philip baptized the eunuch and led him to Jesus, so that the Gospel could be brought back to Ethiopia. Then, the Holy Spirit "removed" Philip from time and he was translated into a town called Azotus. Verses 39-40 says, "And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord (suddenly) caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached the Good News (the Gospel) to all the towns until he reached Caesarea."
As new creations, we're translated into the actual spirit realm where God resides. Although, we've been assigned to work in this natural realm, our true identity is raised up together and is seated together with Christ, Who seats at the right hand of the Father. We've been created anew in Christ Jesus and we've now children of the Most High God.
If we read these things in the Word with our own intellect, then they're just words that provide us hope for our lives after death. When we receive revelation about the Spiritual Truths, these words contain totally different meanings. Jesus walked as a flesh and Blood Man on this earth, but He was never restrained by the natural things. Jesus commissioned His followers (us) to go into the world and we witness the power of the Spirit that followed them.
These men and women weren't born-again yet, but they functioned in the Super-natural authority of Jesus' Name We've not only been given His Name to use (through the power of Attorney) and we are actually "In Him" and have become the Body of Christ. The Body and the Head are all one person, according to 1John 4:17 (Amplified) which says, "In this union and communion with Him (Love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us), that we may have confidence for the day of judgment (with assurance and boldness to face Him) because as He is, so are we in this world."
We've been waiting until death comes to our physical body, to be as He is, but the Word says that "as He is, so are we in this world." As far as the Father is concerned, our physical man has already undergone death and our life is now in Him. In Galatians 2:20 (Amplified) the Holy Spirit inspires Paul to write, "I have been crucified with Christ (in Him I have shared His crucifixion); it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; And the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who love me and gave Himself up for me."
The above scripture isn't just some "pretty and religious thing to say," but is a Spiritual Truth in Jesus. Even though Paul was given this revelation, he still was confined to live in the natural body, until his time was up and he was delivered up to God. Paul goes on in Galatians 5:25 (Amplified), "If we live by the Holy Spirit, let us also walk by the Holy Spirit, if we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line (our conduct controlled by the Holy Spirit)." Paul was telling us that "Because our new creation life is spirit, then our spirit (by the Holy Spirit) should control our natural body."
Many look at this as being "crazy" and "too far out," but we must remember that the Holy Spirit directed Paul to write them. Hebrews 10:38 (Amplified) reiterates this, saying, "But the just )or those who are justified in Jesus) shall live by faith (My righteous servant shall live by His conviction respecting man's relationship to God and Divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it) and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him)."
We simultaneously know these things, and don't know these things. We read with our intellect, but never receive them into our spirits. What God literally says is, "You are already dead and the only life we now have, is the Life we have from His Spirit, into our spirit." You are already seated in Heavenly places with Jesus. 1John 3:2 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, we are (even here and) now God's children; be (hereafter), but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall (as God's children) resemble and be like him, for we shall see Him just as He (really) is."
We still see the parts of ourselves and others, that don't look like Jesus yet, because we only look at the outer man (the house our new creation lives in). No person on earth looks like he/she will look like when He comes. No one has seen with his natural eyes, what He really looks like, because we can only see the real Christ with our spiritual eyes. 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified) says, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value) (No) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)."
This is a powerful statement, but we don't seem to understand it in our spirits yet, because we still see ourselves after the flesh. It's Gods Life in our spirits, that actually gives Life to our flesh. When your spirit leaves your body, it will fall down like leaves from a tree. The only life we have now, is by faith. This is what the Word mean. s when it says, "The just shall live, and shall live by their faith." It was (and is) your faith in Him, that gave you life. It's only this faith in Him, that can sustains life, because it's His Life we received. This is what Paul wrote above in Galatians 2:20.
We've been translated into the Kingdom of Heaven, by our faith in Jesus. This isn't something that's "going to happen," but has already happened. We're now to walk in our assigned place in the provision of His Spirit and bring Life through Him as He brought Life to us. We've been delivered from time, to eternity. Healings that should take weeks or years to happen, can now be brought about instantly, because time has been suspended for the new creation family of God.
Time has been man's enemy, since the fall of Adam in the Garden. We began dying, the very moment we were birthed. We're governed by minutes and hours, instead of by the unlimited realm of eternity. Even our prayers have been governed by our awareness of time. Jesus told His followers in Mark 11:24 (Amplified), "For this reason I Am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will (get it)."
We allow time to dictate "when we are to get it (if we get it at all)," but Jesus said "Believe you get it, when you pray." He never told the blind man, "Hold on, because even if you don't receive sight here and now, then you will see in Heaven." Jesus bypassed time altogether and brought a miracle to pass, by faith. Miracles supersede time and there's no "waiting for nature to take its course." It doesn't matter whether it's a premature death or a sickness, time is suspended when the Spirit intervenes. God is timeless. He is eternal and has made us to be eternal too. As Christians, we have never entered into the realm of the timeless eternal, place of God, because we still allow ourselves to be governed by the flesh and time.
When we allow ourselves to live by the Spirit, instead of the flesh and time, then miracles will happen through the Spirit. We find a deacon named Philip, who was sent to minister to an Ethiopian eunuch, in Acts 8:38-40 (Amplified). Philip baptized the eunuch and led him to Jesus, so that the Gospel could be brought back to Ethiopia. Then, the Holy Spirit "removed" Philip from time and he was translated into a town called Azotus. Verses 39-40 says, "And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord (suddenly) caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached the Good News (the Gospel) to all the towns until he reached Caesarea."
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