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)."
We discussed the tithe, in the previous lesson. Tithing might be one of the most misunderstood teachings in both the Old and New Testaments. Many have used this for furtherance of their own lives in the ministry, while many have simply ignored teaching about the tithe altogether because of their misunderstanding about it. Genesis 14:18-20 (Amplified) tells us, "Melchizedek King of Salem (later called Jerusalem) brought out bread and wine (for their nourishment); he was the priest of the God Most High And he blessed him and said, Blessed (favored with blessings, made blissful, joyful) be Abram by God Most High, Possessor and Maker of Heaven and earth And blessed, praised, and glorified by God Most High, Who has given your foes into your hand! And (Abram) gave him a tenth of all (he had taken)."
The act of tithing was a source of blessing the people, so God placed it into the Law, in order to bless and sustain His people on a legal means. Leviticus 27:30-34 (Amplified) says, "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's, it is holy to the Lord. And if a man wants to redeem any of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it." Verses 32-34 go on, "And all the tithe of the herd of the flock, whatever passes under the herdsman's staff (by means of which each tenth animal as it passes through a small door, is selected and marked) the tenth shall be holy to the Lord. The man shall not examine whether the animal is good or bad nor shall he exchange it, then both it and the animal substituted for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed. These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites."
One might ask, "Why did God make this a commandment to the people?" Because, as long as they would follow this law, the people would put themselves in a place where God could do what He wanted, which was to bless them in all that they had. God said in Leviticus 26:1-13, 14-41 (Amplified) that He intended to "bless the people if they would obey His laws." In Verses 14-41 God tells what would happen, if the people didn't obey His laws.
Malachi 3:7,8-12 (Amplified) says, "Even from the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My Ordinances and have not kept them, Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts, But you says How shall we return?" Listen to how the Lord wants them to "return," so He can once bless and provide for them. In Verses 8-12 the Lord begins to explain to the people, why they're in captivity and want, saying, "Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In what way do we rob or defraud You (You have withheld your) tithes and offerings. You are cursed with the Curse (Leviticus 27:3-34) for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My House, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of Hosts, If I will not open the windows of Heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devour-er (insects and plagues) for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of Hosts. And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of Hosts."
The people robbed God by not doing like He said, so God had to resend His Promise to bless them in all they would do. His heart was toward them, to bless them. He made it a commandment, so they would have no choice but to be blessed, if they would only do as His law commanded.
The people seemed to follow the laws pertaining to sacrifice, but when it came to the personal wealth of each man, they chose to hold onto the tithe, instead of releasing it to God for their increase. In Malachi 3:13-15 (Amplified) God says, "Your words have been strong and hard against Me, says the Lord, Yet you say, What have we spoken against You? You have said, It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His Ordinances and walk gloomily and as if in mourning apparel before the Lord of Hosts? And now we consider the proud and arrogant to be happy and favored, evil doers are exalted and prosper, Yes, and when they test God, they escape (unpunished)."
The people had forgotten where the Blessing came from and began looking at the nations that didn't come into covenant with God. Those were already under the Curse, because of the covenant God only made through His law and the blood. They withheld the tithe (which was the source of God's Blessing) to spend it on themselves as the nations did. Soon, it ran out and there was no way to replenish it, without God's Blessing on them.
God made it a command, so He could bless the people in all they had. Abram didn't consider it a command, but an "honor to bless the High Priest with all that God had delivered into his hands." It wasn't an obligation or a command, but was something Abram voluntarily did to honor and God, Who was the Source of his blessing.
The Word tells us that Jesus is our High Priest, in this new covenant and new creation family. Hebrews 7:7-8 (Amplified) says, "Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one. Furthermore, here (in the Leviticus priesthood) tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there (in the case of Melchizedek) they are received by one of whom it is testified that He lives (perpetually)."
The individual person must decide whether or not he will tithe. There is no law that demands the new creation family of God must tithe. For me, I choose to tithe, in order to honor the High Priest Who blesses me and mine. I recognize that He is my Source of Blessing and I tithe to honor Him, and not because it's law. This is a part of my inheritance as a child of God. I am able to express to Him even my temporal blessing as coming from Him.
Galatians 3:17-18 (Amplified) says, "This is my argument, the Law, which began 430 years after the covenant (concerning the coming Messiah) does not and cannot annul the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the Promise and make it void. For if the inheritance (of the Promise depends on observing) the Law (as these false teachers would like you to believe) it no longer (depends) on the Promise; however, God gave it to Abraham (as a free gift solely) by virtue of His Promise."
The tithe came before the Law and by Jesus, is now under grace. Grace makes the tithe voluntary as an act of honor and not a law. Don't allow yourselves to try and fulfill the Law (or any part of it) for your Blessing. If you tithe, then let it be because of a grateful heart and as an act of honoring the One Who Redeemed you. Tithe is now, as is everything else in this new creation, a matter of conscience and love and honor. Whether you tithe or don't tithe, doesn't make you "more of a child of God." It's a matter of conscience to believe.
Proverbs 3:9-10 (Amplified) says, "Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency (from righteous labors) and with the first fruits of all your income So shall your storage places be filled with plenty, and your vats shall be overflowing with new wine." This Promise is still valid for today, to those who will receive it. Do as the Lord directs you and receive your Blessing.
God makes a distinction between those who honored and reverenced Him and those who did not, in Malachi 3. The people didn't rob God by withholding their money or wealth from Him. But, they robbed Him from a means of Blessing and Loving them, when they refused to tithe. Thus, Verses 16-18 say, "Then those who feared (reverenced, honored) the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worship-fully feared the Lord and who thought on His Name. And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possessions, My peculiar treasure) and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who does not serve Him."
According to the above scripture, there were people who tithed and honored God, in the midst of the others who didn't. God writes about those who tithed and honored Him, in a Book of Remembrances, "They shall be Mine." This isn't about God needing your money or belongings. God's not broke or hungry or in a position where He must layoff some angels, so He can balance His checkbook. When the people fail to honor God and recognize Him as their Source by their tithe, then they rob Him of the joy of Blessing them.
God listened to and heard those who feared the Lord and honored Him by tithing when others didn't. Some tithed because of the Law and murmured and complained when they did, because they viewed it as something they "had to do," instead of something they "got to do." Not everything that is placed in the offerings is dedicated to the Lord, by those who put it in. Some give because of compulsion or pride (fear of what others beside them might think of their not giving). Others give as charitable contributions to help keep the lights and heat on in the building, Not everyone gives in order to honor God for His Goodness.
We're not obligated to give or tithe, in this new creation family. It's not a law or even an obligation, but it's a privilege for us to give to Him. We need not be concerned about whether God will accept our gift, because we might not be "righteous enough." He will receive it. Jesus is our High Priest and is the Source of our righteousness and gives us entry to the Father. Today, many of us simply place our tithes and offerings into a plate or basked, to be received to the Lord. Many of us tithe without tithing. Tithe is what you bring, tithing is what you say. Both are acts of honoring and worshiping the Lord, according to Deuteronomy 26:10-19 (Amplified) which says, "And now, behold I bring the first fruits of the ground which You O Lord, have given me. And you shall set it down before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God. And you and the Levite and the stranger and the sojourner among you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your God has given you and your household. When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger and the sojourner, the fatherless and to the widow, that they may eat within your towns and be filled. Then you shall say before the Lord your God, I have brought the hallowed things (the tithe) out of my house and moreover have given them to the Levite, to the strange, and the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to Your commandments which you have commanded me, I have not transgressed any of Your commandments, neither have I forgotten them."
Verses 17-18 go on, "You have (openly) declared the Lord this day to be your God, (pledging) to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes and His precepts, and to hearken to His Voice. And the Lord has declared this day that you are His peculiar people as He Promised you, and you are to keep all His commandments. And He will make you high above all nations which He has made, in praise and in fame and in honor and that you shall be a holy people to the Lord your God as He has spoken."
Tithing isn't what makes us a "holy people" in this new creation. It was Jesus Who made us a holy and righteous people, before God. Although this isn't what makes us holy, tithing is still what a holy people do with honor, before our Heavenly Father. What if we don't do these things? There's nothing that says we must tither or even give offerings to Him, in the new creation. It depends on how much your honor, esteem, regard or appreciate His Gift of salvation and Blessing in your life. Remember, this isn't a law, it's a privilege for us. We are blessed to be in a place, where we're given the right through Jesus, to come into His Presence and be received as family. I consider it to always be Father's Day, when I get to present Him with my worship and gifts of thanksgiving. "Honor the Lord with the first fruits, your capital and sufficiency of your righteous labors," according to Proverbs 3:9 (Amplified)
Monday, October 16, 2017
Friday, October 13, 2017
Lesson 276 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 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)."
The world and man's idea of religion have trained us to think of ourselves by the way men portray us, instead of how the Word of God portrays us. In John 17:19 (Amplified) Jesus said, "And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicated, and consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth."
Do you believe that Jesus accomplished the things He went to the cross to do? If you do, then you must also believe what the Word (the Truth) is in our lives and bring your thoughts into captivity and under the authority of the Truth. It doesn't matter what satan, your neighbors, your family, or even your conscience says about you, because the Truth (the Word) is what you must believe and trust to bring you to a place of reverence before God and to a place of fellowship with Him. We must be confident in both relationships simultaneously.
Even tithing isn't under Law, nor is it a law, nor is Old or New Testament. It is a matter of honor, according to Proverbs 3:9-10 (Amplified) which says, "Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency (from righteous labors) and with the first fruits of all your income. So shall your storage places be filled with plenty and your vats be overflowing with new wine."
For many years, I believe we've misquoted and misread Malachi 3:9, 10-14 (Amplified), saying it's about "robbing God." We've tried making men tithe by declaring them to be "robbing God." Even though the scripture says this, we must allow the Spirit to reveal the Truth about this robbery, to u. First of all, God DOES NOT need your twenty dollars. Secondly, He has promised a Blessing upon the tither, making the tither dependent upon no man, except God Himself. Thus, God says in the above scripture, "You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation." Why were they "cursed with a curse?" Because, they were "robbing God."
In Verses 10-14 God explains what He wanted to do for them, if they would honor Him in their tithe and offerings. God said He would override the curse they had come under and would be able to bless them, heal them, rebuke them and put them in a place where "All nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of Hosts." Where then did the robbing part come in? They had robbed God of His heart's plan and purpose to bless them in all areas of their lives. They refused to do so.
It wasn't a matter of their money, but their trust and honor towards God. If they would trust Him, then God could have had the joy of blessing and healing and exalting the nation. They instead, robbed God of the joy of being a Loving God and Provider for them. Times have arisen in my life, where I wished to do things for my children, but because of their distrust or childish foolishness, they placed themselves in a place where I couldn't do so. I too, felt like they robbed me of the joy of blessing them.
God said in Malachi 3:7,14-15 (Amplified), "even from the days of your father's you have turned aside from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts; But you say, How shall we return?" Remember Proverbs 3:9-10 says we "honor the Lord with our tithes and offerings." We place ourselves in a place of being under the curse, when we withhold and don't honor God. Malachi tells us that the people didn't honor God, but they were actually in contempt of Him. Thus, Verses 14-15 the people say, "It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His ordinances and walk gloomily before the Lord of Hosts? And now we consider the proud and arrogant to be happy and favored; evil doers are exalted and prosper; Yes, and when they test God, they escape (unpunished)." This is how they "robbed God." They not only dishonored Him with the fruits of their blessing, but they disdained Him with their words of distrust and accusations of favor.
It's totally up to your discretion whether or not you bring your tithes and offerings to the Lord. As a pastor, I have no idea whether you gave or not. It's between you and your Heavenly Father. This is an act of honoring Him for Who and What He is to you, in your life. This is an expression and acknowledgment of Him and what He's done. When you honor Him, then you've "opened His joy," according to Verse 10 where God says, "I will open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing upon you that you can't find room enough to receive it all."
This is how we rob God. We rob the joy He receives when He is able to Bless us with His great Love. The world made this scripture about money and greed, but God meant if for fellowship, honor and the joy of Blessings. It's not about religion and law, but it's about relationship and Love. This is an individual walk of honor and trust, between the Father and yourself. We must pray about what we've seen from this revelation and talk to the Father about it. Abraham said in Genesis 12:23 (Amplified), " I would not take a thread or shoelace or anything that is yours; lest you should say,I have made Abraham rich." Abraham wanted everyone to know that it was Almighty God and His blessing, that made Abraham rich and this was a matter of honor for him, according to Genesis 15:1 (Amplified) which says, "After these things the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision saying, Fear not Abram I am your shield, your abundant compensation and your reward shall be exceedingly great."
You must study God's Word for yourself and look unto the Holy Spirit to reveal Truth into your spirit. It's not that we shouldn't tithe or give or share or do any of these things. It's not as much about "what we do," but "why" we do them. One is Law and works, while the other is Love and worship. They might look like they're the same thing, if you only see them in the offering plate. But, they are not the same in the Eyes of the One Who receives them.
"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)."
Balancing living in this body (the flesh) and walking in the spirit, has been a constant source of friction in the Church for two-thousand years. How do we still live in this natural body and walk in the new creation spirit man we've become? The body (the natural man) is a constant reminder of the old man and holds many in condemnation. For others, the new creation man (spirit man) means for "when we die and get to Heaven."
Some constantly fight to control their flesh, in order to be acceptable to God, while others use grace like some loophole for their lack of self-control and acting foolish. Where do we actually fit into this new man and our place with a Holy God? We've viewed God as being so holy, perfect and unapproachable. Or, we've made Him so familiar that He has lost His perfection and position as Almighty God. There must be a balance between God and Father. Receiving this Awesome God in the realm of Father, comes only by fellowship.
Jesus never forgot (even for a second), that He was in the Presence of Almighty God and He still was never intimidated by His power or His glory. Jesus was always mindful of the Father's Presence in His life and in His Body. Jesus said that, "It's the Father in Me Who does the works." This illustrated His awareness of the Ever Present indwelling of God, in Him. Even so, Jesus never condemned Himself for ministering to the lowest of people.
It was a matter of fact in the Life of Jesus, that God would also heal and deliver the lowest of people, as well as the highest. Jesus never doubted that His Father would deliver a prostitute, just as quickly as He would a King. Jesus also knew that the Father needed Him to be "human enough," so the people could identify with Him. Jesus also knew that the Father needed Him to infinitely be "Spirit enough," in order to hear and move by the power and Presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus never allowed His flesh or any sense of the enemy, to cause Him to doubt His identity in the Father.
Jesus was never boastful of Who He was and He was never intimidated to deny His Godliness, by the world or those around Him. Today, it seems we're quick to say that, "God is our Father," while simultaneously being reluctant to say we are His sons and daughters.
I am His son, but I am not THE SON (Jesus). I am nonetheless, God's son. I'm not saying this in boast, but I declare it in Truth. I am a son of the Most High God and nothing can change or modify this Truth. While I am God's son, how can I please Him or walk with Him in this body of flesh, without condemnation?
The concerns we hold about coming close in fellowship with Him, stem from the teachings of man and not from the Spirit. Even though you're born-again and have become a new creation in Christ, the world and carnal minded men will still identify you with the sinner and not with the Christ. Satan wishes to hold you back from your new identity with Jesus, in order to hold the Church in condemnation and guilt's prison. This is the only way he can control the new creation family of God.
We've fought over such things as whether or not to tithe; whether tithing is under the Law or under grace. We've argued over whether it's a command to read the Word or can we simply follow the Golden Rules of the Beatitudes. Do we "have" to go to Church or can we walk our own walk without it? Some Christians are arguing about which day is the correct day to worship and what is the humblest and most chaste way to dress before the world and the Father. Balancing the human body with the Divine Spirit Who now lives in it, has presented a dilemma for centuries. The new creation man that lives inside this natural body, is in fact, a divine creature. How can it be "Christ in us, our hope and glory" and not be "divinity?" How can we be the temple of the Holy Spirit Who now lives in our spirit and that not be a "Divine Being?"
The natural mind with the world's idea of Christianity deems this as "blasphemous" to say, but this is what God's Word says about us. It says we are sons and daughters of God, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus. Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth in 2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified), "For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood) but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds (in as much as we) refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
Jesus handled the "thoughts and reasonings and argument" that satan tried bringing against the Truth, in Luke 4:3-4 (Amplified) saying, "Then the devil said to Him; If you are the Son of God, order this stone to turn into a loaf (of bread). And Jesus replied to him; It is written, Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone, but by every Word and Expression of God."
Notice how Jesus didn't try justifying Himself by saying that He was "born of a virgin." He didn't deny Who He was, in order to appear humble. Jesus succinctly stated that "He was to live by God's Word and what it said." The same temptation that came to Jesus, is the same one that comes to us, in our walk with the Father. You don't have to shout on the streets, "I am a son or daughter of God," but you also shouldn't allow the enemy to cause you to doubt that you are indeed God's son or daughter. Don't look at the flesh, look at the Word. Your flesh will lie to you, but God's Word is Truth.
The world and religion have trained us to doubt our holiness in Christ, because of our flesh. Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17:17 (Amplified), "Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy) by the Truth, Your Word is Truth." If God's Word says that "you are holy," then confess what the Word says, because" it is Truth," and not something you've invented.
The world and man's idea of religion have trained us to think of ourselves by the way men portray us, instead of how the Word of God portrays us. In John 17:19 (Amplified) Jesus said, "And so for their sake and on their behalf I sanctify (dedicated, and consecrate) Myself, that they also may be sanctified (dedicated, consecrated, made holy) in the Truth."
Do you believe that Jesus accomplished the things He went to the cross to do? If you do, then you must also believe what the Word (the Truth) is in our lives and bring your thoughts into captivity and under the authority of the Truth. It doesn't matter what satan, your neighbors, your family, or even your conscience says about you, because the Truth (the Word) is what you must believe and trust to bring you to a place of reverence before God and to a place of fellowship with Him. We must be confident in both relationships simultaneously.
Even tithing isn't under Law, nor is it a law, nor is Old or New Testament. It is a matter of honor, according to Proverbs 3:9-10 (Amplified) which says, "Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency (from righteous labors) and with the first fruits of all your income. So shall your storage places be filled with plenty and your vats be overflowing with new wine."
For many years, I believe we've misquoted and misread Malachi 3:9, 10-14 (Amplified), saying it's about "robbing God." We've tried making men tithe by declaring them to be "robbing God." Even though the scripture says this, we must allow the Spirit to reveal the Truth about this robbery, to u. First of all, God DOES NOT need your twenty dollars. Secondly, He has promised a Blessing upon the tither, making the tither dependent upon no man, except God Himself. Thus, God says in the above scripture, "You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole nation." Why were they "cursed with a curse?" Because, they were "robbing God."
In Verses 10-14 God explains what He wanted to do for them, if they would honor Him in their tithe and offerings. God said He would override the curse they had come under and would be able to bless them, heal them, rebuke them and put them in a place where "All nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of Hosts." Where then did the robbing part come in? They had robbed God of His heart's plan and purpose to bless them in all areas of their lives. They refused to do so.
It wasn't a matter of their money, but their trust and honor towards God. If they would trust Him, then God could have had the joy of blessing and healing and exalting the nation. They instead, robbed God of the joy of being a Loving God and Provider for them. Times have arisen in my life, where I wished to do things for my children, but because of their distrust or childish foolishness, they placed themselves in a place where I couldn't do so. I too, felt like they robbed me of the joy of blessing them.
God said in Malachi 3:7,14-15 (Amplified), "even from the days of your father's you have turned aside from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Hosts; But you say, How shall we return?" Remember Proverbs 3:9-10 says we "honor the Lord with our tithes and offerings." We place ourselves in a place of being under the curse, when we withhold and don't honor God. Malachi tells us that the people didn't honor God, but they were actually in contempt of Him. Thus, Verses 14-15 the people say, "It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His ordinances and walk gloomily before the Lord of Hosts? And now we consider the proud and arrogant to be happy and favored; evil doers are exalted and prosper; Yes, and when they test God, they escape (unpunished)." This is how they "robbed God." They not only dishonored Him with the fruits of their blessing, but they disdained Him with their words of distrust and accusations of favor.
It's totally up to your discretion whether or not you bring your tithes and offerings to the Lord. As a pastor, I have no idea whether you gave or not. It's between you and your Heavenly Father. This is an act of honoring Him for Who and What He is to you, in your life. This is an expression and acknowledgment of Him and what He's done. When you honor Him, then you've "opened His joy," according to Verse 10 where God says, "I will open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing upon you that you can't find room enough to receive it all."
This is how we rob God. We rob the joy He receives when He is able to Bless us with His great Love. The world made this scripture about money and greed, but God meant if for fellowship, honor and the joy of Blessings. It's not about religion and law, but it's about relationship and Love. This is an individual walk of honor and trust, between the Father and yourself. We must pray about what we've seen from this revelation and talk to the Father about it. Abraham said in Genesis 12:23 (Amplified), " I would not take a thread or shoelace or anything that is yours; lest you should say,I have made Abraham rich." Abraham wanted everyone to know that it was Almighty God and His blessing, that made Abraham rich and this was a matter of honor for him, according to Genesis 15:1 (Amplified) which says, "After these things the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision saying, Fear not Abram I am your shield, your abundant compensation and your reward shall be exceedingly great."
You must study God's Word for yourself and look unto the Holy Spirit to reveal Truth into your spirit. It's not that we shouldn't tithe or give or share or do any of these things. It's not as much about "what we do," but "why" we do them. One is Law and works, while the other is Love and worship. They might look like they're the same thing, if you only see them in the offering plate. But, they are not the same in the Eyes of the One Who receives them.
"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)."
Balancing living in this body (the flesh) and walking in the spirit, has been a constant source of friction in the Church for two-thousand years. How do we still live in this natural body and walk in the new creation spirit man we've become? The body (the natural man) is a constant reminder of the old man and holds many in condemnation. For others, the new creation man (spirit man) means for "when we die and get to Heaven."
Some constantly fight to control their flesh, in order to be acceptable to God, while others use grace like some loophole for their lack of self-control and acting foolish. Where do we actually fit into this new man and our place with a Holy God? We've viewed God as being so holy, perfect and unapproachable. Or, we've made Him so familiar that He has lost His perfection and position as Almighty God. There must be a balance between God and Father. Receiving this Awesome God in the realm of Father, comes only by fellowship.
Jesus never forgot (even for a second), that He was in the Presence of Almighty God and He still was never intimidated by His power or His glory. Jesus was always mindful of the Father's Presence in His life and in His Body. Jesus said that, "It's the Father in Me Who does the works." This illustrated His awareness of the Ever Present indwelling of God, in Him. Even so, Jesus never condemned Himself for ministering to the lowest of people.
It was a matter of fact in the Life of Jesus, that God would also heal and deliver the lowest of people, as well as the highest. Jesus never doubted that His Father would deliver a prostitute, just as quickly as He would a King. Jesus also knew that the Father needed Him to be "human enough," so the people could identify with Him. Jesus also knew that the Father needed Him to infinitely be "Spirit enough," in order to hear and move by the power and Presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus never allowed His flesh or any sense of the enemy, to cause Him to doubt His identity in the Father.
Jesus was never boastful of Who He was and He was never intimidated to deny His Godliness, by the world or those around Him. Today, it seems we're quick to say that, "God is our Father," while simultaneously being reluctant to say we are His sons and daughters.
I am His son, but I am not THE SON (Jesus). I am nonetheless, God's son. I'm not saying this in boast, but I declare it in Truth. I am a son of the Most High God and nothing can change or modify this Truth. While I am God's son, how can I please Him or walk with Him in this body of flesh, without condemnation?
The concerns we hold about coming close in fellowship with Him, stem from the teachings of man and not from the Spirit. Even though you're born-again and have become a new creation in Christ, the world and carnal minded men will still identify you with the sinner and not with the Christ. Satan wishes to hold you back from your new identity with Jesus, in order to hold the Church in condemnation and guilt's prison. This is the only way he can control the new creation family of God.
We've fought over such things as whether or not to tithe; whether tithing is under the Law or under grace. We've argued over whether it's a command to read the Word or can we simply follow the Golden Rules of the Beatitudes. Do we "have" to go to Church or can we walk our own walk without it? Some Christians are arguing about which day is the correct day to worship and what is the humblest and most chaste way to dress before the world and the Father. Balancing the human body with the Divine Spirit Who now lives in it, has presented a dilemma for centuries. The new creation man that lives inside this natural body, is in fact, a divine creature. How can it be "Christ in us, our hope and glory" and not be "divinity?" How can we be the temple of the Holy Spirit Who now lives in our spirit and that not be a "Divine Being?"
The natural mind with the world's idea of Christianity deems this as "blasphemous" to say, but this is what God's Word says about us. It says we are sons and daughters of God, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus. Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth in 2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified), "For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical (weapons of flesh and blood) but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds (in as much as we) refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the (true) knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
Jesus handled the "thoughts and reasonings and argument" that satan tried bringing against the Truth, in Luke 4:3-4 (Amplified) saying, "Then the devil said to Him; If you are the Son of God, order this stone to turn into a loaf (of bread). And Jesus replied to him; It is written, Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone, but by every Word and Expression of God."
Notice how Jesus didn't try justifying Himself by saying that He was "born of a virgin." He didn't deny Who He was, in order to appear humble. Jesus succinctly stated that "He was to live by God's Word and what it said." The same temptation that came to Jesus, is the same one that comes to us, in our walk with the Father. You don't have to shout on the streets, "I am a son or daughter of God," but you also shouldn't allow the enemy to cause you to doubt that you are indeed God's son or daughter. Don't look at the flesh, look at the Word. Your flesh will lie to you, but God's Word is Truth.
The world and religion have trained us to doubt our holiness in Christ, because of our flesh. Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17:17 (Amplified), "Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy) by the Truth, Your Word is Truth." If God's Word says that "you are holy," then confess what the Word says, because" it is Truth," and not something you've invented.
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Lesson 275 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 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)."
Jesus said that, "The Kingdom of God has come close to you today," in Luke 10:8-9,19 (Amplified) which says, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive you and accept you, and welcome you, eat what is set before you And heal the sick in it and says to them, the Kingdom of God has come close to you."
Today, the Kingdom of God has more than "come close to us," it has come INTO us, by this new creation experience. We don't only have this Kingdom within us, but we're ambassadors from this Kingdom, in order to reveal it to the nations. Jesus continues in Verse 19 telling His followers (who weren't yet born-again people, but they did operate in the Authority of One Who was not under the usurped authority of the god of this world) saying, "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."
This was delegated authority from One Who operated above the natural realm of fallen man. Jesus delegated His authority to them, and it brought everything back into the first realm which the Curse had brought into this world system. This brought back the power of the Blessing, because Jesus wasn't contaminated with the fall or sin. Things now were beginning to come back into place on earth, at least in the place where a Man Who was above the Curse was walking. Jesus didn't cast out devils throughout the earth, but only in the place where He walked on earth. We cannot control everything that happens on this planet, but we can control what happens in the part and portions that belong to us.
If the Church begins to understand and walk in our delegated authority, then can you imagine how much of this earth will change, because we occupy much of the earth. Many of the storms that have been brought against us could have been calmed, if we had stood together as a collective Body, in dominion and authority. We've been taught to accept these storms as "just the way things are," but Jesus didn't accept this. Many have taught that "God sent these things to teach us a lesson," because of our sin. God sent Jesus because of sin, not a storm. If He was going to send a storm to judge sin, then it would be as "In the days of Noah."
As individual Christians, we should take the responsibility upon ourselves to seek God, in a way that we've never done before. Don't depend on your pastor to do the seeking for you, but do it yourself. If we were so slack in doing things in the natural as we've been in seeking God's Word, then most of us wouldn't be able to read, write, talk or even walk today. Everything we've learned to do, required diligence and patience to accomplish. When it comes to God's Word, though, we might try it once and when it doesn't work like we think it should, we quit. God is not slack in His Promises, but we've been slack in training ourselves in faith and patience.
Jesus healed people, because He knew that "God's will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven," meant God wanted them to walk in health and healing on this earth. This wasn't an afterthought on God's part. God never intended for us to be sick and miserable, when He formed man in the beginning. God had created a family for Himself and He never intended for that family to live on welfare, but in His Blessing.
We've limited God's ability to do anything and have believed these are for "after we die and go to Heaven." It's true that when we arrive at our destination with Him, we will all be whole and well, but He isn't limited to do these things after we die. It's not God Who limits us, but it's we who limit Him. God not only can do everything He ever did before, but He wants to do all these things He did before, for us. We have limited the Holy One of Israel. Hebrews 4:1 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, while the Promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid (to distrust it) lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of reaching it."
No matter what God did for the Israelites in the Wilderness, they still wouldn't trust Him for the next that arose. They were always distrusting and unbelieving, even when they witnessed the miracles God did for them, they doubted He could do the next miracle. We've heard how "God tested the people in the Wilderness," but in Hebrews 3:4 (Amplified) God says, "It was the people who tested Him." This has been another excuse for not believing God and His Word. If God said He would do it, then He will.
Our faith in the Super-natural God of all creation, has been limited to only "after we die and leave this earth." If God can't do anything with us while we're alive, then why would we think He can do anything with us after we are dead? If He ever was God, then He still is God, because "He changes not and is not a man that He should lie." Don't cease in your quest for God in your life and don't simply get caught up in the status quo with Him.
God is still looking for someone to be in a position to believe in Him and change this earth through Him. God waited for someone who would believe what He said, while the people were in the Wilderness forty years. Joshua and Caleb were the ones who believed what God said. Did you ever notice that only those who would believe Him, are the ones we read about in God's Word" God has a Hall of Fame list, counting those who believed Him and carried out His plans for mankind. This list is found in Hebrews 11:39-40 (Amplified) which says, "And all of these, though they won Divine approval by means of their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised Because God had us in mine and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they (these heroes and heroines of faith) should not come to perfection apart from us (before we could join them)."
God is still searching for people who will dare to believe Him and move into a place of faith, that will change the hearts of the unbelievers. He's searching for those who will not only "talk about Him," but will "reveal Him" to the world. This isn't a passed away Gospel, but is still the Good News of the Kingdom with the demonstration of the power of God to mankind. As new creation people, we can do like Jesus did, having "the Father in Me that does the work."
Jesus said that, "The Kingdom of God has come close to you today," in Luke 10:8-9,19 (Amplified) which says, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive you and accept you, and welcome you, eat what is set before you And heal the sick in it and says to them, the Kingdom of God has come close to you."
Today, the Kingdom of God has more than "come close to us," it has come INTO us, by this new creation experience. We don't only have this Kingdom within us, but we're ambassadors from this Kingdom, in order to reveal it to the nations. Jesus continues in Verse 19 telling His followers (who weren't yet born-again people, but they did operate in the Authority of One Who was not under the usurped authority of the god of this world) saying, "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."
This was delegated authority from One Who operated above the natural realm of fallen man. Jesus delegated His authority to them, and it brought everything back into the first realm which the Curse had brought into this world system. This brought back the power of the Blessing, because Jesus wasn't contaminated with the fall or sin. Things now were beginning to come back into place on earth, at least in the place where a Man Who was above the Curse was walking. Jesus didn't cast out devils throughout the earth, but only in the place where He walked on earth. We cannot control everything that happens on this planet, but we can control what happens in the part and portions that belong to us.
If the Church begins to understand and walk in our delegated authority, then can you imagine how much of this earth will change, because we occupy much of the earth. Many of the storms that have been brought against us could have been calmed, if we had stood together as a collective Body, in dominion and authority. We've been taught to accept these storms as "just the way things are," but Jesus didn't accept this. Many have taught that "God sent these things to teach us a lesson," because of our sin. God sent Jesus because of sin, not a storm. If He was going to send a storm to judge sin, then it would be as "In the days of Noah."
As individual Christians, we should take the responsibility upon ourselves to seek God, in a way that we've never done before. Don't depend on your pastor to do the seeking for you, but do it yourself. If we were so slack in doing things in the natural as we've been in seeking God's Word, then most of us wouldn't be able to read, write, talk or even walk today. Everything we've learned to do, required diligence and patience to accomplish. When it comes to God's Word, though, we might try it once and when it doesn't work like we think it should, we quit. God is not slack in His Promises, but we've been slack in training ourselves in faith and patience.
Jesus healed people, because He knew that "God's will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven," meant God wanted them to walk in health and healing on this earth. This wasn't an afterthought on God's part. God never intended for us to be sick and miserable, when He formed man in the beginning. God had created a family for Himself and He never intended for that family to live on welfare, but in His Blessing.
We've limited God's ability to do anything and have believed these are for "after we die and go to Heaven." It's true that when we arrive at our destination with Him, we will all be whole and well, but He isn't limited to do these things after we die. It's not God Who limits us, but it's we who limit Him. God not only can do everything He ever did before, but He wants to do all these things He did before, for us. We have limited the Holy One of Israel. Hebrews 4:1 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, while the Promise of entering His rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid (to distrust it) lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come short of reaching it."
No matter what God did for the Israelites in the Wilderness, they still wouldn't trust Him for the next that arose. They were always distrusting and unbelieving, even when they witnessed the miracles God did for them, they doubted He could do the next miracle. We've heard how "God tested the people in the Wilderness," but in Hebrews 3:4 (Amplified) God says, "It was the people who tested Him." This has been another excuse for not believing God and His Word. If God said He would do it, then He will.
Our faith in the Super-natural God of all creation, has been limited to only "after we die and leave this earth." If God can't do anything with us while we're alive, then why would we think He can do anything with us after we are dead? If He ever was God, then He still is God, because "He changes not and is not a man that He should lie." Don't cease in your quest for God in your life and don't simply get caught up in the status quo with Him.
God is still looking for someone to be in a position to believe in Him and change this earth through Him. God waited for someone who would believe what He said, while the people were in the Wilderness forty years. Joshua and Caleb were the ones who believed what God said. Did you ever notice that only those who would believe Him, are the ones we read about in God's Word" God has a Hall of Fame list, counting those who believed Him and carried out His plans for mankind. This list is found in Hebrews 11:39-40 (Amplified) which says, "And all of these, though they won Divine approval by means of their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised Because God had us in mine and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they (these heroes and heroines of faith) should not come to perfection apart from us (before we could join them)."
God is still searching for people who will dare to believe Him and move into a place of faith, that will change the hearts of the unbelievers. He's searching for those who will not only "talk about Him," but will "reveal Him" to the world. This isn't a passed away Gospel, but is still the Good News of the Kingdom with the demonstration of the power of God to mankind. As new creation people, we can do like Jesus did, having "the Father in Me that does the work."
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Lesson 274 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is 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)."
For over two-thousand years, the Church has had difficulty understanding who we are in Jesus, as new creations. We falter in our Christian walk, trying to find a balance between the natural man and the Super-natural man. When God created man in the natural form, he was already created in the spirit form, according to Genesis 1:27 (Amplified) which says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him, male and female He created them." Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) goes on, "Then the Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being."
God created both the man of the spirit and the man of the dust, for purpose and pleasure. The spirit man was created for fellowship and to be God's family, while the natural man was created to live on earth and rule and enjoy the things God created for him in the natural realm. God had prepared this natural realm for man to rule and enjoy in his natural form, while still being in perfect fellowship with God in his spirit form. In both realms, man was to enjoy his place of creation. Man could rule his natural domain by his spiritual connection with the Father. Man's natural body and senses were nourished and taught by his spirit, which was in full fellowship with God's Own Wisdom. By ruling from the spirit, the natural man had only to enjoy what the Lord had created for him to enjoy. There was no need for anything, because the Father had completed everything before He formed the natural man.
We also are natural men and women, who have been restored to perfect fellowship with the Lord again. We are like the first Adam (or son of God) was to be. We're to ruled creation that God made for us to enjoy. The Last Adam (Jesus) restored dominion, by redeeming or buying us back, through His Sacrifice. Now, we've once again been placed in a position of dominion in this earth, by Jesus.
In John 10:10 (Amplified), Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." Jesus didn't say we're to be miserable in our humanity, but that "through Him, we would now be able to enjoy it to the full." Until this time, the earth had been transferred into satan's hands and he is the one who "came to steal, kill and destroy." Now, Jesus was prophesying a change coming.
As Christian people, we haven't made the distinction between the world and the earth. The "world" is the demonic system that the enemy set up to control mankind, while the "earth" is the very garden home God created for man to live in and enjoy. Jesus simply said that "He was going to bring man back into fellowship with the lost realm of the Spirit of God (Life), so that now we could once again have and enjoy Life to the full."
God made man alive again to Himself, returning creation to the Father's original intent. Many have taught that "it is sin to enjoy the things of the earth." Many more of us have been taught that we "must be only spirit." Neither are really Truth, as the Lord taught us in His ministry. Jesus brought healing and deliverance to the natural man, so man could enjoy his humanity, instead of suffering in it. We're not to be healed "only when we get to Heaven," but we're to be able to enjoy our own humanity while on earth. Jesus could have simply taken us Home, when we were born, if this was so.
We are to take back the dominion that the Father gave to us through Jesus and return this creation to the dream and vision He had, when He creation it. From the beginning, God made this earth for man's own pleasure and enjoyment.
The earth has nothing to do with the way this earth has been messed up, because the world's system (that has been running it) is wrong. God never created this earth to produce thorns and death, but to be a blessing to and for His children. Romans 8:19 (Amplified) says, "For (even the whole) creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known (waits for the revealing,the disclosing of their sonship)."
Many read the above scripture to mean, "At the End of the Age" when things are all over and not for while we're here on earth. The new creation family of God has dominion and authority restored back to us now, while we're still here in this life. The outer-man (the natural body) has now been "filled with the Divine Presence of the Spirit of God." We're a perfect example of the God-Man, Jesus. Jesus was all human (natural Man) and was all God (the Father in Him). Jesus' inner-Man (His Spirit) was the Father intertwined with His Spirit and brought about His dominion and authority. The outer-Man was subject to His Spirit and His spirit was subject to the Holy Spirit. Jesus was the Perfect balance of what was in the heart of God, from the beginning...family.
Religion teaches that in order to be a good Christian and inherit the Kingdom, we must suffer, be sick, be broke and be miserable. I don't know about you, but the reason I came to the Lord in the first place, was because I was miserable, sick, broke and full of dispare. Jesus didn't say that "He came so that we might be miserable, but that we might have peace and joy." There's a balance between the divine nature that now lives in our new man's spirit and the flesh and blood body that has now become the temple of the Holy Spirit.
We can now have and enjoy life, just like Jesus said, because we have Life (God's Life) restored to us through Jesus in this new creation. We have a flesh and blood body, to enjoy the things of the earth like God intended from the beginning. I can enjoy my family, my life, my horses, my cattle, my God, and spending my leisure time with the great things of nature God created for my pleasure. When I look around at the glory of the things my Father has placed in my life, I can now truly "enjoy life to the full, till it overflows."
When Jesus entered my life, I finally aborted the world's treadmill and began walking in my new creation life. I am not "only human," but now have become more than just human, because I'm filled with the Super-natural of God. That changed my natural into His Image.
We keep talking about Heaven and the things that are to come. No doubt that this will be marvelous to behold, but we also need to encompass the Truth that in Jesus, Heaven has now come here to us. By His Sacrifice, we're been translated into where God intended us to be when He created man in the beginning. All by grace. The problem's been that we've only had the opportunity to see this earth, from the eyes of fallen man. We've never really seen it as it was before the fall of Adam.
We've never seen what "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven," from Heaven's viewpoint. This planet wasn't supposed to be a home for the sick and downtrodden, but a dual home for the inner and outer-man. This was the place for the Father could visit His children. This was the beautiful home he made for us, where every need of mankind (physical and spiritual) was and would be prepared for man. Satan brought this beauty of God's creation into such a state of ruin, through his system of running it and through the Curse. Now, that the Blessing has been restored through Jesus, things are to change this earth and return the system into it's natural glory. I cannot control the whole earth, but I can control my part of it, through the new creation man in me.
For over two-thousand years, the Church has had difficulty understanding who we are in Jesus, as new creations. We falter in our Christian walk, trying to find a balance between the natural man and the Super-natural man. When God created man in the natural form, he was already created in the spirit form, according to Genesis 1:27 (Amplified) which says, "So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him, male and female He created them." Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) goes on, "Then the Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or Spirit of Life, and man became a living being."
God created both the man of the spirit and the man of the dust, for purpose and pleasure. The spirit man was created for fellowship and to be God's family, while the natural man was created to live on earth and rule and enjoy the things God created for him in the natural realm. God had prepared this natural realm for man to rule and enjoy in his natural form, while still being in perfect fellowship with God in his spirit form. In both realms, man was to enjoy his place of creation. Man could rule his natural domain by his spiritual connection with the Father. Man's natural body and senses were nourished and taught by his spirit, which was in full fellowship with God's Own Wisdom. By ruling from the spirit, the natural man had only to enjoy what the Lord had created for him to enjoy. There was no need for anything, because the Father had completed everything before He formed the natural man.
We also are natural men and women, who have been restored to perfect fellowship with the Lord again. We are like the first Adam (or son of God) was to be. We're to ruled creation that God made for us to enjoy. The Last Adam (Jesus) restored dominion, by redeeming or buying us back, through His Sacrifice. Now, we've once again been placed in a position of dominion in this earth, by Jesus.
In John 10:10 (Amplified), Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." Jesus didn't say we're to be miserable in our humanity, but that "through Him, we would now be able to enjoy it to the full." Until this time, the earth had been transferred into satan's hands and he is the one who "came to steal, kill and destroy." Now, Jesus was prophesying a change coming.
As Christian people, we haven't made the distinction between the world and the earth. The "world" is the demonic system that the enemy set up to control mankind, while the "earth" is the very garden home God created for man to live in and enjoy. Jesus simply said that "He was going to bring man back into fellowship with the lost realm of the Spirit of God (Life), so that now we could once again have and enjoy Life to the full."
God made man alive again to Himself, returning creation to the Father's original intent. Many have taught that "it is sin to enjoy the things of the earth." Many more of us have been taught that we "must be only spirit." Neither are really Truth, as the Lord taught us in His ministry. Jesus brought healing and deliverance to the natural man, so man could enjoy his humanity, instead of suffering in it. We're not to be healed "only when we get to Heaven," but we're to be able to enjoy our own humanity while on earth. Jesus could have simply taken us Home, when we were born, if this was so.
We are to take back the dominion that the Father gave to us through Jesus and return this creation to the dream and vision He had, when He creation it. From the beginning, God made this earth for man's own pleasure and enjoyment.
The earth has nothing to do with the way this earth has been messed up, because the world's system (that has been running it) is wrong. God never created this earth to produce thorns and death, but to be a blessing to and for His children. Romans 8:19 (Amplified) says, "For (even the whole) creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known (waits for the revealing,the disclosing of their sonship)."
Many read the above scripture to mean, "At the End of the Age" when things are all over and not for while we're here on earth. The new creation family of God has dominion and authority restored back to us now, while we're still here in this life. The outer-man (the natural body) has now been "filled with the Divine Presence of the Spirit of God." We're a perfect example of the God-Man, Jesus. Jesus was all human (natural Man) and was all God (the Father in Him). Jesus' inner-Man (His Spirit) was the Father intertwined with His Spirit and brought about His dominion and authority. The outer-Man was subject to His Spirit and His spirit was subject to the Holy Spirit. Jesus was the Perfect balance of what was in the heart of God, from the beginning...family.
Religion teaches that in order to be a good Christian and inherit the Kingdom, we must suffer, be sick, be broke and be miserable. I don't know about you, but the reason I came to the Lord in the first place, was because I was miserable, sick, broke and full of dispare. Jesus didn't say that "He came so that we might be miserable, but that we might have peace and joy." There's a balance between the divine nature that now lives in our new man's spirit and the flesh and blood body that has now become the temple of the Holy Spirit.
We can now have and enjoy life, just like Jesus said, because we have Life (God's Life) restored to us through Jesus in this new creation. We have a flesh and blood body, to enjoy the things of the earth like God intended from the beginning. I can enjoy my family, my life, my horses, my cattle, my God, and spending my leisure time with the great things of nature God created for my pleasure. When I look around at the glory of the things my Father has placed in my life, I can now truly "enjoy life to the full, till it overflows."
When Jesus entered my life, I finally aborted the world's treadmill and began walking in my new creation life. I am not "only human," but now have become more than just human, because I'm filled with the Super-natural of God. That changed my natural into His Image.
We keep talking about Heaven and the things that are to come. No doubt that this will be marvelous to behold, but we also need to encompass the Truth that in Jesus, Heaven has now come here to us. By His Sacrifice, we're been translated into where God intended us to be when He created man in the beginning. All by grace. The problem's been that we've only had the opportunity to see this earth, from the eyes of fallen man. We've never really seen it as it was before the fall of Adam.
We've never seen what "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven," from Heaven's viewpoint. This planet wasn't supposed to be a home for the sick and downtrodden, but a dual home for the inner and outer-man. This was the place for the Father could visit His children. This was the beautiful home he made for us, where every need of mankind (physical and spiritual) was and would be prepared for man. Satan brought this beauty of God's creation into such a state of ruin, through his system of running it and through the Curse. Now, that the Blessing has been restored through Jesus, things are to change this earth and return the system into it's natural glory. I cannot control the whole earth, but I can control my part of it, through the new creation man in me.
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Lesson 273 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)."
2Corinthians 12:1 (Amplified) says, "True, there is nothing to be gained by it, but (as I am obliged) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelation of the Lord."
We've mostly been taught about the above scripture, concerning Paul's "thorn in the flesh." We've not heard much about how that "thorn in the flesh" was "a messenger of satan," sent to buffet and harass Paul. Many any of us have heard though, that God gave Paul this thorn of the flesh, in order to keep Paul humble. May God give us understanding and open our eyes to see the Truth of His Word, and not religion. Paul says Jesus directly gave him the revelation of the new creation in a vision. He also says that his "thorn in the flesh" was a demon spirit satan sent to take away the Message by force."
Jesus was preaching the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:15 (Amplified) and says, "The one along the path are those who have the Word sown (in their hearts) but when they hear, satan comes at once and (by force) takes away the Message which is sown in them. It was God, Who gave the revelation about the new creation to Paul. Satan did everything he could to stop Paul and "steal" the Word that Paul was preaching and sowing in the people's hearts. Paul speaks about the persecution he had undergone, in order to preach this revelation to the world, in 2Corinthians 11. Most of us wouldn't have endured the persecution Paul underwent. We probably would have quit preaching the Word and returned home. Not Paul. Despite the trouble and strife satan stirred up against him, Paul stated in 2Corinthians 12:1,9 (Amplified), "True, there is nothing to be gained by it (boasting of his infirmities, or weaknesses of his natural man) (but as I am obligated) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord." In Verse 9, Paul tells about asking the Lord to "remove this messenger" from him and the Lord actually gave him revelation of "more grace" and it's ability to deliver him. By revelation, Paul states that "when he was weak as a natural man, is when God's strength is greater."
Remember, the same Paul who wrote these previous Verses, is also the Paul who wrote 2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) which says, "For God Who said, Let Light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the Majesty and Glory (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). However we possess this precious treasure (the Divine Light of the Gospel) in (frail, human) vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
We can now understand what Paul meant in 2Corinthians 12:9 (Amplified), saying, "Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in (your) weaknesses. Therefore I will all the more glory in my weaknesses and infirmities that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes make a tent over and dwell) upon me."
In 2Corinthians 12:1 (Amplified), Paul wrote, "I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord." This is a continuing revelation that reached beyond the cross and continues even unto "being seated together with Jesus in the Heavenlies," according to Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) where Paul says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
Paul goes "on in visions and revelations" of Jesus and he instructs the Church (us) to continue on with him, as he shares this revelation in 2Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified), "AND ALL OF US; as with unveiled face, (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His Very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the Spirit."
Many of us in the Church, have only a limited revelation of the cross and not much beyond the remission of sin. Some do not even have a clear revelation of this and continue to refer to themselves as "only forgiven sinners." For many, the revelation of our righteousness in Christ has been blinded by the god of this world. For many more, the revelation of Jesus' Sacrifice has been limited to "going to Heaven when we die."
Much of our "revelation" has been derived from the four Gospels. That revelation was limited, because it wasn't time to reveal the Mystery of God, to the world. It was only after Paul was "taken into the third Heaven" and given the "revelation of this Mystery that was hidden in God,"that we received even a glimpse of the new creation. We still concentrated on the sins of the flesh, rather than the righteousness of the new man, who had been created within our spirit. Of course, the sins of the flesh must cease and be done away with, but it's done by the power of the Spirit of God that is now within our new creation man. Laws and rituals try to control the flesh from the outside only.
Reading through Paul's letters to the Church, we see him writing more about learning "who we are," rather than "who we were." His idea of weakness was that the flesh has no power in it. Only the new man has power, because the Holy Spirit lives within him or her. We've allowed ourselves to return to the bondage of the world, by denying the power from within. Until we "come to further revelations" (like Paul preached and wrote about), we've reached the limits of our understanding of who Jesus really made us to be.
Paul wrote to the Church in Galatians 3:2-3 (Amplified), "Let me ask you this one question; Did you receive the Holy Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing (the Message of the Gospel) and believing it? Was it from observing a Law of rituals or from a Message of faith? Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun (your new life spiritually) with the Holy Spirit; are you now reaching perfection (by dependence) on the flesh?"
I am truly impressed by the faith of the early Church, after the heard the Gospel. They received what was preached by faith and received the moves and miracles of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 5:15-16 (Amplified) which says, "So that they (even) kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, (in the hope) that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. And the people also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured."
Today, what are we preaching that is so different from what they preached?"
2Corinthians 12:1 (Amplified) says, "True, there is nothing to be gained by it, but (as I am obliged) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelation of the Lord."
We've mostly been taught about the above scripture, concerning Paul's "thorn in the flesh." We've not heard much about how that "thorn in the flesh" was "a messenger of satan," sent to buffet and harass Paul. Many any of us have heard though, that God gave Paul this thorn of the flesh, in order to keep Paul humble. May God give us understanding and open our eyes to see the Truth of His Word, and not religion. Paul says Jesus directly gave him the revelation of the new creation in a vision. He also says that his "thorn in the flesh" was a demon spirit satan sent to take away the Message by force."
Jesus was preaching the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:15 (Amplified) and says, "The one along the path are those who have the Word sown (in their hearts) but when they hear, satan comes at once and (by force) takes away the Message which is sown in them. It was God, Who gave the revelation about the new creation to Paul. Satan did everything he could to stop Paul and "steal" the Word that Paul was preaching and sowing in the people's hearts. Paul speaks about the persecution he had undergone, in order to preach this revelation to the world, in 2Corinthians 11. Most of us wouldn't have endured the persecution Paul underwent. We probably would have quit preaching the Word and returned home. Not Paul. Despite the trouble and strife satan stirred up against him, Paul stated in 2Corinthians 12:1,9 (Amplified), "True, there is nothing to be gained by it (boasting of his infirmities, or weaknesses of his natural man) (but as I am obligated) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord." In Verse 9, Paul tells about asking the Lord to "remove this messenger" from him and the Lord actually gave him revelation of "more grace" and it's ability to deliver him. By revelation, Paul states that "when he was weak as a natural man, is when God's strength is greater."
Remember, the same Paul who wrote these previous Verses, is also the Paul who wrote 2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) which says, "For God Who said, Let Light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the Majesty and Glory (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). However we possess this precious treasure (the Divine Light of the Gospel) in (frail, human) vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
We can now understand what Paul meant in 2Corinthians 12:9 (Amplified), saying, "Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in (your) weaknesses. Therefore I will all the more glory in my weaknesses and infirmities that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes make a tent over and dwell) upon me."
In 2Corinthians 12:1 (Amplified), Paul wrote, "I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord." This is a continuing revelation that reached beyond the cross and continues even unto "being seated together with Jesus in the Heavenlies," according to Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) where Paul says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
Paul goes "on in visions and revelations" of Jesus and he instructs the Church (us) to continue on with him, as he shares this revelation in 2Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified), "AND ALL OF US; as with unveiled face, (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His Very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the Spirit."
Many of us in the Church, have only a limited revelation of the cross and not much beyond the remission of sin. Some do not even have a clear revelation of this and continue to refer to themselves as "only forgiven sinners." For many, the revelation of our righteousness in Christ has been blinded by the god of this world. For many more, the revelation of Jesus' Sacrifice has been limited to "going to Heaven when we die."
Much of our "revelation" has been derived from the four Gospels. That revelation was limited, because it wasn't time to reveal the Mystery of God, to the world. It was only after Paul was "taken into the third Heaven" and given the "revelation of this Mystery that was hidden in God,"that we received even a glimpse of the new creation. We still concentrated on the sins of the flesh, rather than the righteousness of the new man, who had been created within our spirit. Of course, the sins of the flesh must cease and be done away with, but it's done by the power of the Spirit of God that is now within our new creation man. Laws and rituals try to control the flesh from the outside only.
Reading through Paul's letters to the Church, we see him writing more about learning "who we are," rather than "who we were." His idea of weakness was that the flesh has no power in it. Only the new man has power, because the Holy Spirit lives within him or her. We've allowed ourselves to return to the bondage of the world, by denying the power from within. Until we "come to further revelations" (like Paul preached and wrote about), we've reached the limits of our understanding of who Jesus really made us to be.
Paul wrote to the Church in Galatians 3:2-3 (Amplified), "Let me ask you this one question; Did you receive the Holy Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing (the Message of the Gospel) and believing it? Was it from observing a Law of rituals or from a Message of faith? Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun (your new life spiritually) with the Holy Spirit; are you now reaching perfection (by dependence) on the flesh?"
I am truly impressed by the faith of the early Church, after the heard the Gospel. They received what was preached by faith and received the moves and miracles of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 5:15-16 (Amplified) which says, "So that they (even) kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, (in the hope) that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. And the people also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured."
Today, what are we preaching that is so different from what they preached?"
Monday, October 9, 2017
Lesson 272 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); old things (previous moral and spiritual condition) have 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)."
If possible, then momentarily try not to look upon Jesus as "the Lord," but as "the man." Jesus was and is the perfect Example of the new creation man. "Jesus was born without sin," according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) which says, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God."
Because Jesus was without sin, God could now actually indwell this human being, without the consequence of destroying Jesus with His Presence. As Jesus, the Man, became the Temple of God, He could allow God to live and move through Him. In John 10:10 (Amplified) Jesus said, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
At this time, Jesus was the only "Living" Spirit on the planet. All were dead (spiritually) in trespass and sin. Jesus was the Perfect Example of a new creation man. He was a flesh and blood Man and was the actual Living Temple of God Himself. There had never been a natural man who was made "one" with the very Spirit of God residing in Him. The Last Adam (Jesus), was and is today, the True Example of the new creation.
While it's True that Jesus is Lord of all, He is also what the Word calls Him, "the Firstborn of many brethren." Romans 8:29 (Amplified) says, "For those whom He foreknew (of whom He was aware and Loved beforehand) He also destined from the beginning (fore ordaining them) to be molded into the Image of His Son (and share inwardly His Likeness) that He might become the Firstborn of many brethren."
Jesus was born of the Word of God and not by man's sperm, which means he was without the sin that came from "fallen man." John 1:14 (Amplified) says, "And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we (actually) saw His glory (His honor, His majesty) such glory as an Only Begotten Son receives from His Father, full of grace (favor, loving kindness) and Truth."
The above scripture tells us that the "man" Jesus was the "Only Begotten Son of God." After His resurrection, Romans 8:29 refers to Him as, "the Firstborn among many brethren." Jesus was without sin, so God could actually indwell Him and live in Him. Jesus wasn't only the Word of God, but He was born of the Word, 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."
The Seed (Word) that gave birth to Jesus, is the Same Seed (Word) that gave birth to you and me, in this natural body. The new creation living in this body, is the same kind of new creation Spirit, Who lived in the sinless Body of Jesus. Paul says that the Father now sees us as sinless too in Romans 6:11 (Amplified), "Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God (living in unbroken fellowship) with Him in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "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 Death."
Natural man cannot conceive in his mind, the Truth about being sinless in the Eyes of a Holy God. We're still more in tune with who we were, instead of who we now are in Christ Jesus. We've actually been made righteousness enough that God makes His home within our spirit. It seems unthinkable to the mind of natural man, that God makes this old body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. But, this is exactly what God has done in this new creation. He didn't just forgive the sin, but He created a new creation from this fallen man. God din't recreate us, but He raised our dead spirits to a new life. God created a new, sinless, righteous, holy and joint spirit with His Own Spirit. He created us from dead and useless spirits, and calls us His sons and daughters.
The new creation man was even more amazing than the first creation. When God created man, even the angels were amazed at God's "making a man higher than the angels" and His giving man "dominion over the works of God's Hands." Psalm 8:4-6 (Amplified) asks, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of (earth born) man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a littler lower than God (or Heavenly beings) and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your Hands, You have put all things under his feet."
The first Adam (man) God created was so amazing, but couldn't compare with God's new creation that was made "a little lower than God." Through Jesus, the new creation is made in union with God, as joint heirs and God's Own dwelling place on earth. This is the new creation that Jesus came to be and is the Seed from which we are to grow. John 1:3-4 (Amplified) says "Al things were made and came into existence through Him (the Word) and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men."
If possible, then momentarily try not to look upon Jesus as "the Lord," but as "the man." Jesus was and is the perfect Example of the new creation man. "Jesus was born without sin," according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) which says, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God."
Because Jesus was without sin, God could now actually indwell this human being, without the consequence of destroying Jesus with His Presence. As Jesus, the Man, became the Temple of God, He could allow God to live and move through Him. In John 10:10 (Amplified) Jesus said, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
At this time, Jesus was the only "Living" Spirit on the planet. All were dead (spiritually) in trespass and sin. Jesus was the Perfect Example of a new creation man. He was a flesh and blood Man and was the actual Living Temple of God Himself. There had never been a natural man who was made "one" with the very Spirit of God residing in Him. The Last Adam (Jesus), was and is today, the True Example of the new creation.
While it's True that Jesus is Lord of all, He is also what the Word calls Him, "the Firstborn of many brethren." Romans 8:29 (Amplified) says, "For those whom He foreknew (of whom He was aware and Loved beforehand) He also destined from the beginning (fore ordaining them) to be molded into the Image of His Son (and share inwardly His Likeness) that He might become the Firstborn of many brethren."
Jesus was born of the Word of God and not by man's sperm, which means he was without the sin that came from "fallen man." John 1:14 (Amplified) says, "And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we (actually) saw His glory (His honor, His majesty) such glory as an Only Begotten Son receives from His Father, full of grace (favor, loving kindness) and Truth."
The above scripture tells us that the "man" Jesus was the "Only Begotten Son of God." After His resurrection, Romans 8:29 refers to Him as, "the Firstborn among many brethren." Jesus was without sin, so God could actually indwell Him and live in Him. Jesus wasn't only the Word of God, but He was born of the Word, 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."
The Seed (Word) that gave birth to Jesus, is the Same Seed (Word) that gave birth to you and me, in this natural body. The new creation living in this body, is the same kind of new creation Spirit, Who lived in the sinless Body of Jesus. Paul says that the Father now sees us as sinless too in Romans 6:11 (Amplified), "Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God (living in unbroken fellowship) with Him in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "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 Death."
Natural man cannot conceive in his mind, the Truth about being sinless in the Eyes of a Holy God. We're still more in tune with who we were, instead of who we now are in Christ Jesus. We've actually been made righteousness enough that God makes His home within our spirit. It seems unthinkable to the mind of natural man, that God makes this old body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. But, this is exactly what God has done in this new creation. He didn't just forgive the sin, but He created a new creation from this fallen man. God din't recreate us, but He raised our dead spirits to a new life. God created a new, sinless, righteous, holy and joint spirit with His Own Spirit. He created us from dead and useless spirits, and calls us His sons and daughters.
The new creation man was even more amazing than the first creation. When God created man, even the angels were amazed at God's "making a man higher than the angels" and His giving man "dominion over the works of God's Hands." Psalm 8:4-6 (Amplified) asks, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of (earth born) man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a littler lower than God (or Heavenly beings) and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your Hands, You have put all things under his feet."
The first Adam (man) God created was so amazing, but couldn't compare with God's new creation that was made "a little lower than God." Through Jesus, the new creation is made in union with God, as joint heirs and God's Own dwelling place on earth. This is the new creation that Jesus came to be and is the Seed from which we are to grow. John 1:3-4 (Amplified) says "Al things were made and came into existence through Him (the Word) and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men."
Friday, October 6, 2017
Lesson 271 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)."
Because there have been so few examples of who and what the new creation being really is, we've fashioned or have allowed ourselves to be fashioned after man's idea of who we truly are.
God said in Genesis 1:26-27 (Amplified), "Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image, after Our Likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air the (tame) beasts, and over all of the earth and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in Truth (reality)."
Man was created first of all, a spirit, according to Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) which says, "The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life, and man became a living being." Luke 3:21-22 (Amplified) says, "Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and (while He was still) praying, the (visible) Heaven was opened And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in Bodily Form like a dove, and a Voice came from Heaven saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!"
In John 17:21-22 (Amplified) Jesus prayed, "That they all may be one, (Just) as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, So that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One."
2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) tells us, "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) However, we possess this previous treasure (the Divine Light of the Gospel) in frail, human vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
I have listed the above scriptures, in order to cast a new light on the new creation man. There are many more such scriptures that reveal this truth, but these are a good place to begin understanding the "Glorious Gospel" that was given to Paul. Most of us view ourselves as "forgiven sinners who are saved from perdition and the penalty of sin." This is some of the Truth, but it isn't all the Truth. We're not just forgiven of sin, but we've actually been cleansed and purified from sin, by the death, resurrection and the Blood of Jesus. The Law of Sin and Death was paid for by Jesus' being made to be sin with our sin. "We were made righteous with His righteousness," according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified). We were also crucified (died) the death that He suffered and therefore, in Him, we fulfilled the same Law of Sin and and Death. When we were born-again and became part of the new creation family of God, we weren't just "forgiven sinners," but we were truly new creations.
God created man in His Image and Likeness. Man was first created a spirit and not a flesh and blood being. The Image and Likeness of God was the spirit, not the flesh. The great difference between the first Adam (or man) and the Last Adam (Jesus), was that the first Adam was a spirit like God and the Last Adam was "One Spirit with God." As the new creation family, we are "One Spiirt with Him" and not just "like Him." The Last Adam (Jesus) was One and the Same Spirit with Him.
God has now become infused with His Spirit and our spirit. Now, as new creation family, He and I are One and the same spirit. God didn't live in Adam, but only with Adam. We though, don't live with God, but we actually live in God and God in us. This wasn't what the original man was. He was an independent spirit, like God. God said, "Let Us make man in Our Image." We weren't simply created "a spirit," we already were a spirit. Like Jesus, we were created new, when God's Spirit entered into our dead spirit and infused Himself into our spirit. We have now become "one with Him."
In order to fully understand the difference between the first and Last Adam, we must understand it from the Spiritual aspect and not from the senses. Jesus was "born" a Flesh and Blood Man. Jesus had a Spirit, just like we have (or are) a spirit. Until Jesus received the Holy Spirit at His baptism, He was just like we are...a man. Even though Jesus was the Son of God, He didn't do any Super-natural deeds until He was infused in the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus said, after being baptized in John 12:45 (Amplified), "And whoever sees Me sees Him Who sent Me." Jesus also said in John 17:23 (Amplified), "I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them (even) as You have loved Me."
In the new creation, the spirit of man is made one with the Spirit of God and is united in His Love. We are united in His Love and our natural bodies have become the Temple of God (where God lives in and through). This new creation man isn't "just forgiven," but is made new by God's Own Self living and abiding in and through our spirit. This is the Mystery that Paul was sent to preach to the Jews and Gentiles. This is the "Mystery hidden in God," that is now sent into the world.
This Mystery is being made clear to the Church in Corinth, in 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) which says, "But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God (revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine Plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as) our righteousness (thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God), and our Consecration (making us purse and holy) and our Redemption (providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin)."
Paul goes on in 1Corinthians 6:19-20 (Amplified), "Do you not know that your body is the temples (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received (as 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."
Jesus prayed to the Father about the believer who was to come through His death and resurrection, in John 17:22 (Amplified), saying, "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." Paul preached about the Church, from the revelation he was given by God, in 2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) saying, "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, so as (to beam forth) the light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this Precious Treasure (this Divine Light of the Gospel) in frail, human vessels of earth that the grandeur and the exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
Even Jesus said, "It is not Me, but the Father in Me, that does the work." The glory and honor given Him, was also in a "frail human vessel of earth." The glory and majesty that Jesus portrayed, was "the Father in Him." As new creation sons and daughter and family of God, we have this same majesty and glory abiding in us.
Because there have been so few examples of who and what the new creation being really is, we've fashioned or have allowed ourselves to be fashioned after man's idea of who we truly are.
God said in Genesis 1:26-27 (Amplified), "Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image, after Our Likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air the (tame) beasts, and over all of the earth and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in Truth (reality)."
Man was created first of all, a spirit, according to Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) which says, "The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life, and man became a living being." Luke 3:21-22 (Amplified) says, "Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and (while He was still) praying, the (visible) Heaven was opened And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in Bodily Form like a dove, and a Voice came from Heaven saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!"
In John 17:21-22 (Amplified) Jesus prayed, "That they all may be one, (Just) as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, So that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One."
2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) tells us, "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) However, we possess this previous treasure (the Divine Light of the Gospel) in frail, human vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
I have listed the above scriptures, in order to cast a new light on the new creation man. There are many more such scriptures that reveal this truth, but these are a good place to begin understanding the "Glorious Gospel" that was given to Paul. Most of us view ourselves as "forgiven sinners who are saved from perdition and the penalty of sin." This is some of the Truth, but it isn't all the Truth. We're not just forgiven of sin, but we've actually been cleansed and purified from sin, by the death, resurrection and the Blood of Jesus. The Law of Sin and Death was paid for by Jesus' being made to be sin with our sin. "We were made righteous with His righteousness," according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified). We were also crucified (died) the death that He suffered and therefore, in Him, we fulfilled the same Law of Sin and and Death. When we were born-again and became part of the new creation family of God, we weren't just "forgiven sinners," but we were truly new creations.
God created man in His Image and Likeness. Man was first created a spirit and not a flesh and blood being. The Image and Likeness of God was the spirit, not the flesh. The great difference between the first Adam (or man) and the Last Adam (Jesus), was that the first Adam was a spirit like God and the Last Adam was "One Spirit with God." As the new creation family, we are "One Spiirt with Him" and not just "like Him." The Last Adam (Jesus) was One and the Same Spirit with Him.
God has now become infused with His Spirit and our spirit. Now, as new creation family, He and I are One and the same spirit. God didn't live in Adam, but only with Adam. We though, don't live with God, but we actually live in God and God in us. This wasn't what the original man was. He was an independent spirit, like God. God said, "Let Us make man in Our Image." We weren't simply created "a spirit," we already were a spirit. Like Jesus, we were created new, when God's Spirit entered into our dead spirit and infused Himself into our spirit. We have now become "one with Him."
In order to fully understand the difference between the first and Last Adam, we must understand it from the Spiritual aspect and not from the senses. Jesus was "born" a Flesh and Blood Man. Jesus had a Spirit, just like we have (or are) a spirit. Until Jesus received the Holy Spirit at His baptism, He was just like we are...a man. Even though Jesus was the Son of God, He didn't do any Super-natural deeds until He was infused in the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus said, after being baptized in John 12:45 (Amplified), "And whoever sees Me sees Him Who sent Me." Jesus also said in John 17:23 (Amplified), "I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them (even) as You have loved Me."
In the new creation, the spirit of man is made one with the Spirit of God and is united in His Love. We are united in His Love and our natural bodies have become the Temple of God (where God lives in and through). This new creation man isn't "just forgiven," but is made new by God's Own Self living and abiding in and through our spirit. This is the Mystery that Paul was sent to preach to the Jews and Gentiles. This is the "Mystery hidden in God," that is now sent into the world.
This Mystery is being made clear to the Church in Corinth, in 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) which says, "But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God (revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine Plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as) our righteousness (thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God), and our Consecration (making us purse and holy) and our Redemption (providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin)."
Paul goes on in 1Corinthians 6:19-20 (Amplified), "Do you not know that your body is the temples (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received (as 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."
Jesus prayed to the Father about the believer who was to come through His death and resurrection, in John 17:22 (Amplified), saying, "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." Paul preached about the Church, from the revelation he was given by God, in 2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) saying, "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, so as (to beam forth) the light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this Precious Treasure (this Divine Light of the Gospel) in frail, human vessels of earth that the grandeur and the exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
Even Jesus said, "It is not Me, but the Father in Me, that does the work." The glory and honor given Him, was also in a "frail human vessel of earth." The glory and majesty that Jesus portrayed, was "the Father in Him." As new creation sons and daughter and family of God, we have this same majesty and glory abiding in us.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Lesson 270 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)."
1Corinthians 1-3 (Amplified) says, "However, Brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual (men), but as to non-spiritual (men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates), as to mere infants (in the new life) in Christ (unable to talk yet) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough (to be ready for it); but even yet strong enough (to be ready for it) For are you still (unspiritual, having the nature) of the flesh (under the control of ordinary impulses) For as long as (there are) envying and jealousy and wranglings and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?"
Paul was writing to the Church in Corinth who were already born-again and should have been growing in the knowledge of God. Paul chastised them for their lack of growth and maturity, because they should have been much further in the things of the new creation man. The dispute over who was the "better preacher" or who was "the most sought after minister," is similar to what today's denominational churches. Paul saw how the Church in Corinth had stopped in their spiritual growth and had fallen back into traditions and rituals. Those who ministered in the Church at that time, had only a portion of the Truth of Paul's revelation. He expected them to have a more clear and growing Truth of the new man, by combining the revelation he received with their traditions.
Today, we have come upon the same thing. Many have exchanged the Super-natural things of God and have returned to tradition and formality. We've don't need to discard the good traditional things that we've walked in, but we should combine them with further revelation. We don't stop with not sinning, but we must go onto training the senses to move in the things of the Spirit. Of course, the Church should certainly mature in our not sinning, but that should be a starting point.
When the sins of the old man have been put in their proper place, the developing of the new man can grow from "faith to faith." Paul speaks to the Church in Corinth about their making judgments in court cases and civil judgments. As the "called out ones," we are taking our court cases to the unrighteous courts of the land and aren't trusting the Holy Spirit to judge in righteousness. Dare I say that this is still the case for most of the Church, today. When was the last time you saw a people go to the preacher and Elders of the church, to settle a lawsuit? Even if the church decided a case and it didn't set well with the one who lost the case, then they would still go to the courts of the land for restitution. Paul went on in 1Corinthians 6:2,5-6 (Amplified) saying, "Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will (one day) judge and govern the world? And if the world (itself) is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try (such petty matters) of the smallest courts of justice?"
The new creation people haven't understood the authority of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Paul goes in in Verses 5-6, "I say this to move you to shame. Can it be that there really is not one man among you who (in action is governed by piety and integrity and) is wise and competent enough to decide (the private grievances, disputes, and quarrels) between members of the brotherhood? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before (Gentile judges who are) unbelievers (without faith or trust in the Gospel of Christ)?"
Arriving to the place where we can actually trust in our clergy to make Godly decisions in our "private grievances and disputes," is a long way from where we are today, but this is where Paul expected those Christians to do. The new creation family is something that many of us haven't looked at from the Laws that govern the Kingdom they belong to. We're still wavering between the world and the Kingdom. Paul was given this revelation and tried bringing the people to a place, where they were only dependent on God's Word and the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean we are supposed to ignore the Laws of the Land, but we're to walk above those laws by a Higher Law. The Laws of the Land tell us "not to steal and kill." These laws shouldn't be deterrents for the Church, because the Laws of the Kingdom already forbid these things. We shouldn't be afraid to steal, because we're afraid of arrest and jail time, but because the Word says, "Thou shall not steal."
We have much to learn about ourselves as new creation people. As the Holy Spirit gives us revelation, we are to grow in Truth. In God's Kingdom, there are Laws that govern His people. We've haven't learned or sought out these "Higher Laws," in order to walk in them. One of these Higher Laws, is the Laws that govern our words. Many see governing their words as "bondage" or as "foolishness." Jesus said in Mark 11:23 (Amplified), "Truly, I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him."
We've been trained in the world to have more faith in the negative words we speak, rather than having more faith in Jesus' Words. We speak words of the world with faith in our hearts, without even thinking about it. These words come to pass in our lives, without our ever being cognizant of it. Even though these are not God's Words, they are faith filled words. We speak words of sickness, death, divorce and lack. We speak words about our children "being lost in drugs" or "belonging to the world." Then we doubt God's Word, when we speak "healing, life, the Blessing and the redemption of our children," even though these are Spiritual Laws and they work.
The new creation man has power in his and her words, that will change things in our lives and in our own family for the good of the Kingdom. There is also power in our words the enemy can use against us, when we speak contrary to our covenant. The world uses political correctness and other things it deems "offensive", to control our words. The world finds it offensive, for us to speak God's Word in public. Most of the authority and peace of the new creation life, must begin with the individual believer's words. Don't be concerned about what someone else says, but only about what you say. Believe what you say will come to pass and it will change the way you speak.
1Corinthians 1-3 (Amplified) says, "However, Brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual (men), but as to non-spiritual (men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates), as to mere infants (in the new life) in Christ (unable to talk yet) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough (to be ready for it); but even yet strong enough (to be ready for it) For are you still (unspiritual, having the nature) of the flesh (under the control of ordinary impulses) For as long as (there are) envying and jealousy and wranglings and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?"
Paul was writing to the Church in Corinth who were already born-again and should have been growing in the knowledge of God. Paul chastised them for their lack of growth and maturity, because they should have been much further in the things of the new creation man. The dispute over who was the "better preacher" or who was "the most sought after minister," is similar to what today's denominational churches. Paul saw how the Church in Corinth had stopped in their spiritual growth and had fallen back into traditions and rituals. Those who ministered in the Church at that time, had only a portion of the Truth of Paul's revelation. He expected them to have a more clear and growing Truth of the new man, by combining the revelation he received with their traditions.
Today, we have come upon the same thing. Many have exchanged the Super-natural things of God and have returned to tradition and formality. We've don't need to discard the good traditional things that we've walked in, but we should combine them with further revelation. We don't stop with not sinning, but we must go onto training the senses to move in the things of the Spirit. Of course, the Church should certainly mature in our not sinning, but that should be a starting point.
When the sins of the old man have been put in their proper place, the developing of the new man can grow from "faith to faith." Paul speaks to the Church in Corinth about their making judgments in court cases and civil judgments. As the "called out ones," we are taking our court cases to the unrighteous courts of the land and aren't trusting the Holy Spirit to judge in righteousness. Dare I say that this is still the case for most of the Church, today. When was the last time you saw a people go to the preacher and Elders of the church, to settle a lawsuit? Even if the church decided a case and it didn't set well with the one who lost the case, then they would still go to the courts of the land for restitution. Paul went on in 1Corinthians 6:2,5-6 (Amplified) saying, "Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will (one day) judge and govern the world? And if the world (itself) is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try (such petty matters) of the smallest courts of justice?"
The new creation people haven't understood the authority of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Paul goes in in Verses 5-6, "I say this to move you to shame. Can it be that there really is not one man among you who (in action is governed by piety and integrity and) is wise and competent enough to decide (the private grievances, disputes, and quarrels) between members of the brotherhood? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before (Gentile judges who are) unbelievers (without faith or trust in the Gospel of Christ)?"
Arriving to the place where we can actually trust in our clergy to make Godly decisions in our "private grievances and disputes," is a long way from where we are today, but this is where Paul expected those Christians to do. The new creation family is something that many of us haven't looked at from the Laws that govern the Kingdom they belong to. We're still wavering between the world and the Kingdom. Paul was given this revelation and tried bringing the people to a place, where they were only dependent on God's Word and the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean we are supposed to ignore the Laws of the Land, but we're to walk above those laws by a Higher Law. The Laws of the Land tell us "not to steal and kill." These laws shouldn't be deterrents for the Church, because the Laws of the Kingdom already forbid these things. We shouldn't be afraid to steal, because we're afraid of arrest and jail time, but because the Word says, "Thou shall not steal."
We have much to learn about ourselves as new creation people. As the Holy Spirit gives us revelation, we are to grow in Truth. In God's Kingdom, there are Laws that govern His people. We've haven't learned or sought out these "Higher Laws," in order to walk in them. One of these Higher Laws, is the Laws that govern our words. Many see governing their words as "bondage" or as "foolishness." Jesus said in Mark 11:23 (Amplified), "Truly, I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him."
We've been trained in the world to have more faith in the negative words we speak, rather than having more faith in Jesus' Words. We speak words of the world with faith in our hearts, without even thinking about it. These words come to pass in our lives, without our ever being cognizant of it. Even though these are not God's Words, they are faith filled words. We speak words of sickness, death, divorce and lack. We speak words about our children "being lost in drugs" or "belonging to the world." Then we doubt God's Word, when we speak "healing, life, the Blessing and the redemption of our children," even though these are Spiritual Laws and they work.
The new creation man has power in his and her words, that will change things in our lives and in our own family for the good of the Kingdom. There is also power in our words the enemy can use against us, when we speak contrary to our covenant. The world uses political correctness and other things it deems "offensive", to control our words. The world finds it offensive, for us to speak God's Word in public. Most of the authority and peace of the new creation life, must begin with the individual believer's words. Don't be concerned about what someone else says, but only about what you say. Believe what you say will come to pass and it will change the way you speak.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Lesson 269 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
We've nearly lost the Truth of the new creation reality, because we've been taught by the world system for so long. It seems like many have put the things of their new man or woman into the future after we die and get to Heaven. The Truth is that we've been reinstated by our relationship with the Father through Jesus and have inherited our position that belonged to man from the beginning. Jesus taught and spoke a Truth in Matthew 6:31-34 (Amplified) that is so far above what we've ever come to believe and what we know of our Christian faith, but without revelation from the Holy Spirit, it's difficult for us to understand. The people had been listening to Jesus speak about the covenant and giving Kingdom teachings. He spoke not only about "Heavenly things," but about the provision and care of God's people here on this earth.
Thus, Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying; What are we going to eat? or, what are we going to have to drink? or, what are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathens) wish for and crave and diligently seek all those things, and your Heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble."
We have gleaned many things from the above scriptures, but I don't believe we've reached the full Truth of them. God, Who is now our Father, has declared that He intends to take care of us, not only in Heaven, but also while we're on earth. Food, clothing, drink, and shelter aren't things we will "seek" in Heaven. These are things we need, while we're here on earth. Jesus said that, "The Father knows we need these things" and told us to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and all of these things taken together will be given to you besides."
Jesus didn't say that we could have "one or the other of these things," but He said, "All these things taken together." This includes both our Heavenly home (where we'll live for eternity after leaving earth) and our here on earth. Many will say this is "foolishness" and some will call it "crazy nonsense," but to Jesus, it was a matter of fact and Truth. When Jesus preached about the new covenant and relationship with God, the people found these things difficult to understand. Today, the new creation people can understand that we're not like the covenant people of the Law. Through revelation of the Holy Spirit, we understand the Truth about our being sons and daughters of faith.
God's "way of doing and being right" is our way of life, by the birth of the new creation in Jesus. God's new creation family isn't only covenant, but we are family. We are "His way of being right," because we've been made right or now by faith in Jesus, stand righteousness or in right standing as the Father's children. Jesus said that, "When we seek first of all God's way of doing and being right (righteous), then all these other things would also come to us."
Our Father has a way of doing things and being right, in His Word and in His Kingdom. The words, "being right" are simply the "way of righteousness" that returns us to right standing with our Father and the Kingdom we are now part of, by the new birth. This is so different from what many have been taught, that many will dismiss it as "carnal or foolish." God took care of the people of the old covenant, for the duration of the old covenant. He fed them manna, gave them non-bitter water to drink, provided shelter and beyond. He took them into a Land that "flowed with milk and honey." All these things are needs we have, while on earth every day.
God speaks about the Israelites in the Wilderness, who wouldn't believe Him to care for them and to rest in His provisions for them in Hebrews 4:9-10 (Amplified). God was displeased at their lack of faith in His ability to provide for their daily needs, saying, "So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete, Sabbath-rest reserved for the (true), people of God. For he who has once entered (God's) rest also has ceased from (the weariness and pain) of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His Own."
I believe that our Father wishes to do far more for His children, than He could do for those of the old covenant. If God took care of them under the blood of bulls and goats, then isn't the relationship we have with Him through the Blood of Jesus stronger? Somehow, we've put God off as being only God after we leave here. If God could provide for His people here on earth, who were under the old covenant, then don't we think He can and will care for His Own children today? Has God lost something over the years, that has weakened His ability to deal with things here in life?
God's way of doing and being right (His righteousness) is seeking first the Kingdom of God. As new creation children of God, we've obtained His righteousness, through faith in Jesus. We must learn about His way of doing." The Amplified Bible simply says, "Seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right)." God has a way of doing and He also has a way of being right. God's Kingdom that we now belong to, there is a way of doing things that must be His way. His Kingdom works of different Laws and principles, than this world's system operates in. All of His Laws are more sure and superior, to man's laws that govern here.
We came into Jesus' righteousness, when we received Him as our Lord and Savior. We couldn't become righteous or in right standing with Him, by any other means. Now that we've come into His Kingdom and His righteousness, we must learn to operate in His way of doing and being right. There is a way of doing right and being right, in His Kingdom. This isn't a religious term or some teaching of man, but an actual way that is right and lawful, according to the Terms and Laws that govern God's Kingdom (of which we now belong).
Have you ever noticed that Jesus walked in a different set of Laws, than the other people of His time did? Jesus walked in the Laws of the Kingdom. He walked in God's way of doing and being right. We've never learned how to walk in "His way of doing." We've barely begun to understand His way of righteousness.
We've been waiting to become His sons and daughters and waiting to become righteous. We haven't understood that we are now already His sons and daughters and that we are His righteous ones. We don't inherit the Kingdom when we get to Heaven, we have already inherited the Kingdom of God and are to bring it to this earth. Through our new creation, we have a way of doing, that is superior to the world's way of doing.
We must call upon the Holy Spirit to reveal to us, how to walk in the Kingdom Laws and way that liberate mankind, instead of being content to walk in what the world tells us we're to walk in. We already have His way of being right, righteous, in right standing, the right to stand in His Presence, through our union with Jesus Christ. Now, we must seek after His way of doing and bring the Kingdom of God into focus, for the world to see.
In Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified) Jesus instructs, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive and accept and welcome you, eat what is set before you. And heal the sick in it and say to them, The Kingdom of God has come close to you." This is His way of doing and this is how the Kingdom functions. The Kingdom could only "come close" to them then, but through Jesus and the new creation, the Kingdom has now come to do "on earth as it is in Heaven."
We've nearly lost the Truth of the new creation reality, because we've been taught by the world system for so long. It seems like many have put the things of their new man or woman into the future after we die and get to Heaven. The Truth is that we've been reinstated by our relationship with the Father through Jesus and have inherited our position that belonged to man from the beginning. Jesus taught and spoke a Truth in Matthew 6:31-34 (Amplified) that is so far above what we've ever come to believe and what we know of our Christian faith, but without revelation from the Holy Spirit, it's difficult for us to understand. The people had been listening to Jesus speak about the covenant and giving Kingdom teachings. He spoke not only about "Heavenly things," but about the provision and care of God's people here on this earth.
Thus, Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying; What are we going to eat? or, what are we going to have to drink? or, what are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathens) wish for and crave and diligently seek all those things, and your Heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble."
We have gleaned many things from the above scriptures, but I don't believe we've reached the full Truth of them. God, Who is now our Father, has declared that He intends to take care of us, not only in Heaven, but also while we're on earth. Food, clothing, drink, and shelter aren't things we will "seek" in Heaven. These are things we need, while we're here on earth. Jesus said that, "The Father knows we need these things" and told us to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and all of these things taken together will be given to you besides."
Jesus didn't say that we could have "one or the other of these things," but He said, "All these things taken together." This includes both our Heavenly home (where we'll live for eternity after leaving earth) and our here on earth. Many will say this is "foolishness" and some will call it "crazy nonsense," but to Jesus, it was a matter of fact and Truth. When Jesus preached about the new covenant and relationship with God, the people found these things difficult to understand. Today, the new creation people can understand that we're not like the covenant people of the Law. Through revelation of the Holy Spirit, we understand the Truth about our being sons and daughters of faith.
God's "way of doing and being right" is our way of life, by the birth of the new creation in Jesus. God's new creation family isn't only covenant, but we are family. We are "His way of being right," because we've been made right or now by faith in Jesus, stand righteousness or in right standing as the Father's children. Jesus said that, "When we seek first of all God's way of doing and being right (righteous), then all these other things would also come to us."
Our Father has a way of doing things and being right, in His Word and in His Kingdom. The words, "being right" are simply the "way of righteousness" that returns us to right standing with our Father and the Kingdom we are now part of, by the new birth. This is so different from what many have been taught, that many will dismiss it as "carnal or foolish." God took care of the people of the old covenant, for the duration of the old covenant. He fed them manna, gave them non-bitter water to drink, provided shelter and beyond. He took them into a Land that "flowed with milk and honey." All these things are needs we have, while on earth every day.
God speaks about the Israelites in the Wilderness, who wouldn't believe Him to care for them and to rest in His provisions for them in Hebrews 4:9-10 (Amplified). God was displeased at their lack of faith in His ability to provide for their daily needs, saying, "So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete, Sabbath-rest reserved for the (true), people of God. For he who has once entered (God's) rest also has ceased from (the weariness and pain) of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His Own."
I believe that our Father wishes to do far more for His children, than He could do for those of the old covenant. If God took care of them under the blood of bulls and goats, then isn't the relationship we have with Him through the Blood of Jesus stronger? Somehow, we've put God off as being only God after we leave here. If God could provide for His people here on earth, who were under the old covenant, then don't we think He can and will care for His Own children today? Has God lost something over the years, that has weakened His ability to deal with things here in life?
God's way of doing and being right (His righteousness) is seeking first the Kingdom of God. As new creation children of God, we've obtained His righteousness, through faith in Jesus. We must learn about His way of doing." The Amplified Bible simply says, "Seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right)." God has a way of doing and He also has a way of being right. God's Kingdom that we now belong to, there is a way of doing things that must be His way. His Kingdom works of different Laws and principles, than this world's system operates in. All of His Laws are more sure and superior, to man's laws that govern here.
We came into Jesus' righteousness, when we received Him as our Lord and Savior. We couldn't become righteous or in right standing with Him, by any other means. Now that we've come into His Kingdom and His righteousness, we must learn to operate in His way of doing and being right. There is a way of doing right and being right, in His Kingdom. This isn't a religious term or some teaching of man, but an actual way that is right and lawful, according to the Terms and Laws that govern God's Kingdom (of which we now belong).
Have you ever noticed that Jesus walked in a different set of Laws, than the other people of His time did? Jesus walked in the Laws of the Kingdom. He walked in God's way of doing and being right. We've never learned how to walk in "His way of doing." We've barely begun to understand His way of righteousness.
We've been waiting to become His sons and daughters and waiting to become righteous. We haven't understood that we are now already His sons and daughters and that we are His righteous ones. We don't inherit the Kingdom when we get to Heaven, we have already inherited the Kingdom of God and are to bring it to this earth. Through our new creation, we have a way of doing, that is superior to the world's way of doing.
We must call upon the Holy Spirit to reveal to us, how to walk in the Kingdom Laws and way that liberate mankind, instead of being content to walk in what the world tells us we're to walk in. We already have His way of being right, righteous, in right standing, the right to stand in His Presence, through our union with Jesus Christ. Now, we must seek after His way of doing and bring the Kingdom of God into focus, for the world to see.
In Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified) Jesus instructs, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive and accept and welcome you, eat what is set before you. And heal the sick in it and say to them, The Kingdom of God has come close to you." This is His way of doing and this is how the Kingdom functions. The Kingdom could only "come close" to them then, but through Jesus and the new creation, the Kingdom has now come to do "on earth as it is in Heaven."
Monday, September 25, 2017
Lesson 268 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether) the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
The new creation people have been taught that we are the as before our new birth. Because we've been taught this for so long, we've come to believe we're no different than the old covenant people. It's never easy to oppose centuries of teachings. We've become so entrenched in the misinformation we've been taught, that we fight against making any changes to it. It's not that what we've doing to fight is wrong, by what we are fighting against.
Change doesn't come easy to those who've set their hearts in what they're doing. Even during Jesus' ministry, people fought against the changes He taught. They didn't do this because they didn't love God, but because they thought Jesus was teaching against everything knew. Trying to bring revelation knowledge into religion, is always in opposition to what carnal man has learned. Because as in the Law, everything we hear is different, our minds try to understand what only our spirits can receive.
The new creation man and woman is different than any other creature on this planet and that's why he is called "a new creation." We've tried patterning the new creation after the old man and the first creation man.
There was never a Man Who was actually filled with God Himself, before Jesus. After Adam's fall in the Garden, man had been cut off in his spirit, from the Father. As a matter of fact, God was no longer "their Father." Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father" and the people considered that blasphemy. As new creation people, we are no longer a covenant people by the Blood of Jesus. We have become God's Own children. We read this in the Word, but somehow, we don't seem to understand the full revelation of it in our spirits.
Everything has changed by this new birth. We've been connected to God once again, in the very same way that Jesus was and still is. The indwelling Spirit of God within us, has made us something the world has never before seen. Satan's tried hard to prevent this revelation from being preached and received. We've believed the parts of God's Word that pertain to our going to Heaven someday. We fail to understand that we are already citizens of Heaven, even while we're still in this body and on this earth. We seemingly believe that when a person dies, he is a spirit, but we fail to realize how he is a spirit, while he's still here on earth.
Not having the revelation of being a spirit and believing we've become a spirit when we die, leaves us walking in the carnal understanding of our new creation being. We've come to believe that the only benefit of the new birth, is going to Heaven when we die. We've failed to realize that we are infused with Him and that He dwells within us all the time.
When the new creation people fail to understand that God's entire Word is True, it limits God's ability to do only a few things in our lives. The Israelites didn't believe the things God said to them in the Wilderness and this caused them to remain there for forty long years. After forty years, the unbelieving peoples died and God would have a new generation who would believe Him. This same principal is true for us, today. Many times, we're disappointed in God for "not coming through in times of trouble" in our lives and we say, "It must not have been God's will." This is a carnal excuse for our not believing what He has said in His Word for us today.
We believe what 2Corinthians 5:21 says about "Jesus became sin with our sin," while simultaneously struggling with the same Truth that, "We've become righteous with His righteousness." If one part of the scripture is True, then why do we struggle to believe the other part is True? It has come into our thinking through the world's teaching, and it has prevented the Church from entering into the Truth of the new creation. So long as the enemy can keep us from God's Presence, we will continue struggling and trying to enter in. This has been satan's strategy all along. He wants to keep the new creation people (the Church, the Called Ones) in the world's idea of religion, instead of relation.
I understand what many believe about what this revelation implies, but this is the revelation that Jesus gave Paul, while in God's Presence, according to 2Corinthians 12. Paul went all over his portion of the earth, teaching this great Truth. Many saw it as "foolishness," while others received it as "complete deliverance." It was the same revelation, but it depended on whether or not the person hearing it, would believe it. This is and was, the very same Message that Jesus Himself preached, during His Own earthly ministry. God isn't limited to "being God only after you die," but He is God while we are here on earth too. As far as God is concerned, you were crucified with Jesus and are already dead to the world, by the Law of Sin and Death.
The Price has been paid and you are already free to walk in the Law of the Spirit and Life in Christ Jesus. A Christian person doesn't die when the body stops working, but only leaves one house and enters into his "celestial house made without hands in the Heavenly Sphere." 2Corinthians 5:5 (Amplified) says that "our dying, mortal body is swallowed up by life." Our mortal bodies have been decaying and dying, from the very moment we began living. Now, as new creations, those decaying bodies that have been holding us back, have been "swallowed up by Life" and are no longer subject to futility. We all understand that it doesn't matter how well you care for your natural body, it still gets older. Paul said, "Though the outer man is perishing, our inward man is renewed daily." Our new creation man is a Living spirit and is where the glory and Presence of the Holy Spirit now resides. This new creation man is to display God's Presence, through this mortal body.
The inability to acknowledge God in this natural realm, has led to misery for generations in the Church. We read about what God intends for the Church to do, before the world and the devil, in Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided, Wisdom of God with 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." This isn't for after the Church is no longer here, but while the Church IS HERE. Satan should be able to know a Christian, just as surely as he knew Jesus while He was on earth. The same Spirit of God Who lived in Jesus, is the same Holy Spirit Who lives in us now. Satan didn't only recognize Jesus by His mortal Body, but by His indwelt Spirit that was infused with God's Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit Who lives in the new creation people of God.
We've never seen ourselves the way the Word portrays us or the way the Father sees us. We are the tangible Presence of God, on this earth. In order to keep us in check, satan has portrayed us to ourselves as "like those who came before us." It's only the revelation from the Father, that can raise the Church up into what He intended for us to be, in His new family. Many of us know God and even call Him, "Father," but not very many of us act like He's truly our Father. Our relationship with the Mighty Creator has changed from those "of old," because we're now His new creation family.
We must dare to believe Him to be God, Who now even lives in us. We must allow God to reveal Himself through us, to the world. There's so much God wants to do through us, but we have limited Him by unbelief, in our natural body and realm. We must allow God to use our natural self, to reveal Himself through. He needs your humanity, your hands, your feed, and your body to operate through and do the things He wants to do here on earth. It's true that we all need God, but it is also true, that God needs you. We are His Body.
The new creation people have been taught that we are the as before our new birth. Because we've been taught this for so long, we've come to believe we're no different than the old covenant people. It's never easy to oppose centuries of teachings. We've become so entrenched in the misinformation we've been taught, that we fight against making any changes to it. It's not that what we've doing to fight is wrong, by what we are fighting against.
Change doesn't come easy to those who've set their hearts in what they're doing. Even during Jesus' ministry, people fought against the changes He taught. They didn't do this because they didn't love God, but because they thought Jesus was teaching against everything knew. Trying to bring revelation knowledge into religion, is always in opposition to what carnal man has learned. Because as in the Law, everything we hear is different, our minds try to understand what only our spirits can receive.
The new creation man and woman is different than any other creature on this planet and that's why he is called "a new creation." We've tried patterning the new creation after the old man and the first creation man.
There was never a Man Who was actually filled with God Himself, before Jesus. After Adam's fall in the Garden, man had been cut off in his spirit, from the Father. As a matter of fact, God was no longer "their Father." Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father" and the people considered that blasphemy. As new creation people, we are no longer a covenant people by the Blood of Jesus. We have become God's Own children. We read this in the Word, but somehow, we don't seem to understand the full revelation of it in our spirits.
Everything has changed by this new birth. We've been connected to God once again, in the very same way that Jesus was and still is. The indwelling Spirit of God within us, has made us something the world has never before seen. Satan's tried hard to prevent this revelation from being preached and received. We've believed the parts of God's Word that pertain to our going to Heaven someday. We fail to understand that we are already citizens of Heaven, even while we're still in this body and on this earth. We seemingly believe that when a person dies, he is a spirit, but we fail to realize how he is a spirit, while he's still here on earth.
Not having the revelation of being a spirit and believing we've become a spirit when we die, leaves us walking in the carnal understanding of our new creation being. We've come to believe that the only benefit of the new birth, is going to Heaven when we die. We've failed to realize that we are infused with Him and that He dwells within us all the time.
When the new creation people fail to understand that God's entire Word is True, it limits God's ability to do only a few things in our lives. The Israelites didn't believe the things God said to them in the Wilderness and this caused them to remain there for forty long years. After forty years, the unbelieving peoples died and God would have a new generation who would believe Him. This same principal is true for us, today. Many times, we're disappointed in God for "not coming through in times of trouble" in our lives and we say, "It must not have been God's will." This is a carnal excuse for our not believing what He has said in His Word for us today.
We believe what 2Corinthians 5:21 says about "Jesus became sin with our sin," while simultaneously struggling with the same Truth that, "We've become righteous with His righteousness." If one part of the scripture is True, then why do we struggle to believe the other part is True? It has come into our thinking through the world's teaching, and it has prevented the Church from entering into the Truth of the new creation. So long as the enemy can keep us from God's Presence, we will continue struggling and trying to enter in. This has been satan's strategy all along. He wants to keep the new creation people (the Church, the Called Ones) in the world's idea of religion, instead of relation.
I understand what many believe about what this revelation implies, but this is the revelation that Jesus gave Paul, while in God's Presence, according to 2Corinthians 12. Paul went all over his portion of the earth, teaching this great Truth. Many saw it as "foolishness," while others received it as "complete deliverance." It was the same revelation, but it depended on whether or not the person hearing it, would believe it. This is and was, the very same Message that Jesus Himself preached, during His Own earthly ministry. God isn't limited to "being God only after you die," but He is God while we are here on earth too. As far as God is concerned, you were crucified with Jesus and are already dead to the world, by the Law of Sin and Death.
The Price has been paid and you are already free to walk in the Law of the Spirit and Life in Christ Jesus. A Christian person doesn't die when the body stops working, but only leaves one house and enters into his "celestial house made without hands in the Heavenly Sphere." 2Corinthians 5:5 (Amplified) says that "our dying, mortal body is swallowed up by life." Our mortal bodies have been decaying and dying, from the very moment we began living. Now, as new creations, those decaying bodies that have been holding us back, have been "swallowed up by Life" and are no longer subject to futility. We all understand that it doesn't matter how well you care for your natural body, it still gets older. Paul said, "Though the outer man is perishing, our inward man is renewed daily." Our new creation man is a Living spirit and is where the glory and Presence of the Holy Spirit now resides. This new creation man is to display God's Presence, through this mortal body.
The inability to acknowledge God in this natural realm, has led to misery for generations in the Church. We read about what God intends for the Church to do, before the world and the devil, in Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided, Wisdom of God with 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." This isn't for after the Church is no longer here, but while the Church IS HERE. Satan should be able to know a Christian, just as surely as he knew Jesus while He was on earth. The same Spirit of God Who lived in Jesus, is the same Holy Spirit Who lives in us now. Satan didn't only recognize Jesus by His mortal Body, but by His indwelt Spirit that was infused with God's Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit Who lives in the new creation people of God.
We've never seen ourselves the way the Word portrays us or the way the Father sees us. We are the tangible Presence of God, on this earth. In order to keep us in check, satan has portrayed us to ourselves as "like those who came before us." It's only the revelation from the Father, that can raise the Church up into what He intended for us to be, in His new family. Many of us know God and even call Him, "Father," but not very many of us act like He's truly our Father. Our relationship with the Mighty Creator has changed from those "of old," because we're now His new creation family.
We must dare to believe Him to be God, Who now even lives in us. We must allow God to reveal Himself through us, to the world. There's so much God wants to do through us, but we have limited Him by unbelief, in our natural body and realm. We must allow God to use our natural self, to reveal Himself through. He needs your humanity, your hands, your feed, and your body to operate through and do the things He wants to do here on earth. It's true that we all need God, but it is also true, that God needs you. We are His Body.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Lesson 267 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) by 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."
2Corinthians 5:2 (Amplified) says, "Here indeed, in the (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."
We are new creation people who are still living in the old house (dwelling) that we did before we were born-again. Many of us still have an affection for the "old homestead," the flesh (or house) we now live in was fashioned by the former tenant.
Jesus said that, "In this world, you will have tribulation," but He continued, "Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." Even though we are in the world, we are not "of the world." In Him, we can walk through this world, as "over comers." I've been watching the hurricanes on the Weather Channel, as the wind destroy everything in the wake of the hurricanes and water floods people's homes and cars. While watching these storms, I was reminded of something the Lord told me years ago. He said to me, "You may not be able to stop all the storms that come to this world, but if you will only walk in the eye of the hurricane, then you can still be at peace."
In the eye of the hurricane, the weather is calm. The hurricane's outer bands hold the destructive winds, tornadoes and pounding rains. As God told me this, I was reminded of Psalm 91:7-8 (Amplified) which says, "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be (yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High) as you witness the reward of the wicked."
In order to walk in the eye of the hurricane, one must keep moving with the storm and not simply wait for it to pass over. To do this, you must learn to hear the Voice of the Lord and move as He says to move. I'm not speaking literally about your walking across the Atlantic Ocean during a hurricane, but in life's storms, we must stay at peace, in the Presence of God. In John 14:27 (Amplified), Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Jesus tells us that we have a say about whether we will be fearful and afraid. Jesus is the EYE of the hurricane. If we will walk in Him during the storms of life, then we can walk in Psalm 91 and be safe in Him. After all, He is our PEACE.
In order to do this, we must renovate the old things that the former tenant left in this house. The old man had no inkling of Who Jesus really is or what the Word says to do. In Ephesians 5:24-25 (Amplified) Paul says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ Loved the Church, and gave Himself up for her. So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word."
The Word will wash out and cleanse the senses. When God's Word is fed into the carnal mind of man, and changes and cleans the thinking of the old man, thus renewing the thinking to the Holy Spirit. We don't have a problem with the body, only where you tell the body and allow the body to go. I can't do or go anywhere, my head didn't tell it too. It won't even get up and go to work, unless I tell it too. When Paul speaks about the flesh, he's speaking about the senses and a carnal mind, not the house. I built a house 35 years ago and I'm still living there. It has never moved from the foundation. Not once. It doesn't move without help.
Our walk with God has been determined by how many of the old man's possessions we have kept in the house we now live in. The amount of renovation is determined by the new occupant. Some seem to like the old recliner and have decided to keep it in the house. This is the place we make ourselves comfortable and allow ourselves to relax. This is as far as some will take the renovating process. Others, though, will renovate the entire house. As long as the house is painted and welcoming on the outside, many will be satisfied. That's alright, I guess, because it is their house and they're the ones who have to live there.
Don't get tired and decide that your house is "as good as the house down the road." We often judge ourselves by what the other churches are doing or not doing, and then we can justify sitting down in that recliner. Some preach about the Holy Spirit and speaking in unknown tongues, while others do not. Because the other churches aren't teaching about these things, doesn't mean we've arrived and can sit and relax because we do. Speaking in tongues is a starting point to greater things of God and not a completion. It's a place in the renovation process of the old house, by the Spirit of God. Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified), "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret Truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
This is a starting place to receiving the revelation knowledge (the hidden things of God) from the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 4:7 (Amplified) says, "The beginning of Wisdom is; get wisdom (skillful and Godly wisdom) (For skillful and Godly wisdom is the principal thing) And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation)." This is what speaking in tongues is for..."TO GET WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING."
This is the language of the new creation man and is speaking in the Spirit for the Wisdom and the counsel of God. If this is used properly, then it will open revelation and insight into the mysteries of GOd. Since they are Spiritual insight and wisdom, they must be received in your spirit and transferred into your mind and put into control of the senses that once led us the wrong way.
2Corinthians 5:2 (Amplified) says, "Here indeed, in the (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."
We are new creation people who are still living in the old house (dwelling) that we did before we were born-again. Many of us still have an affection for the "old homestead," the flesh (or house) we now live in was fashioned by the former tenant.
Jesus said that, "In this world, you will have tribulation," but He continued, "Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." Even though we are in the world, we are not "of the world." In Him, we can walk through this world, as "over comers." I've been watching the hurricanes on the Weather Channel, as the wind destroy everything in the wake of the hurricanes and water floods people's homes and cars. While watching these storms, I was reminded of something the Lord told me years ago. He said to me, "You may not be able to stop all the storms that come to this world, but if you will only walk in the eye of the hurricane, then you can still be at peace."
In the eye of the hurricane, the weather is calm. The hurricane's outer bands hold the destructive winds, tornadoes and pounding rains. As God told me this, I was reminded of Psalm 91:7-8 (Amplified) which says, "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be (yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High) as you witness the reward of the wicked."
In order to walk in the eye of the hurricane, one must keep moving with the storm and not simply wait for it to pass over. To do this, you must learn to hear the Voice of the Lord and move as He says to move. I'm not speaking literally about your walking across the Atlantic Ocean during a hurricane, but in life's storms, we must stay at peace, in the Presence of God. In John 14:27 (Amplified), Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Jesus tells us that we have a say about whether we will be fearful and afraid. Jesus is the EYE of the hurricane. If we will walk in Him during the storms of life, then we can walk in Psalm 91 and be safe in Him. After all, He is our PEACE.
In order to do this, we must renovate the old things that the former tenant left in this house. The old man had no inkling of Who Jesus really is or what the Word says to do. In Ephesians 5:24-25 (Amplified) Paul says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ Loved the Church, and gave Himself up for her. So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word."
The Word will wash out and cleanse the senses. When God's Word is fed into the carnal mind of man, and changes and cleans the thinking of the old man, thus renewing the thinking to the Holy Spirit. We don't have a problem with the body, only where you tell the body and allow the body to go. I can't do or go anywhere, my head didn't tell it too. It won't even get up and go to work, unless I tell it too. When Paul speaks about the flesh, he's speaking about the senses and a carnal mind, not the house. I built a house 35 years ago and I'm still living there. It has never moved from the foundation. Not once. It doesn't move without help.
Our walk with God has been determined by how many of the old man's possessions we have kept in the house we now live in. The amount of renovation is determined by the new occupant. Some seem to like the old recliner and have decided to keep it in the house. This is the place we make ourselves comfortable and allow ourselves to relax. This is as far as some will take the renovating process. Others, though, will renovate the entire house. As long as the house is painted and welcoming on the outside, many will be satisfied. That's alright, I guess, because it is their house and they're the ones who have to live there.
Don't get tired and decide that your house is "as good as the house down the road." We often judge ourselves by what the other churches are doing or not doing, and then we can justify sitting down in that recliner. Some preach about the Holy Spirit and speaking in unknown tongues, while others do not. Because the other churches aren't teaching about these things, doesn't mean we've arrived and can sit and relax because we do. Speaking in tongues is a starting point to greater things of God and not a completion. It's a place in the renovation process of the old house, by the Spirit of God. Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified), "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret Truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
This is a starting place to receiving the revelation knowledge (the hidden things of God) from the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 4:7 (Amplified) says, "The beginning of Wisdom is; get wisdom (skillful and Godly wisdom) (For skillful and Godly wisdom is the principal thing) And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation)." This is what speaking in tongues is for..."TO GET WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING."
This is the language of the new creation man and is speaking in the Spirit for the Wisdom and the counsel of God. If this is used properly, then it will open revelation and insight into the mysteries of GOd. Since they are Spiritual insight and wisdom, they must be received in your spirit and transferred into your mind and put into control of the senses that once led us the wrong way.
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