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've always looked at ourselves through the eyes of what we've been taught and see ourselves as being two separate people. One is the man of the flesh and the other is the man of the spirit. We've tried understanding the new creation, by our carnal minds and religious training. And, we've found ourselves seeing this new creation man, more by the carnal minded teaching, instead of after the spirit, which has left us seeing ourselves as "only sinners who were saved by Grace." This is certainly true, but we've failed to see the Truth of the miracle that occurred when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
We've read in God's Word that, "All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God" and "None were righteous, no not one," and have placed ourselves into these categories, instead of how God describes us after being born-again. As God's children, we're no longer described as sinners and unrighteous in His eyes, because this would mean that Jesus' Sacrifice wasn't enough to bring about the new creation. If we were only "covered" by the Blood, then we are no different from the old covenant people.
The Blood of Christ Jesus didn't only cover our sin, but it completely removed it and made us into this new creation. We've never seen ourselves like God sees us and we've adopted the world's view and opinion of us. We've fallen into the same trap, satan has used since Adam. We've spent most of our Christian lives, trying to become what God has already made us to be in Jesus.
This keeps us constantly working to become righteous, without having an end or destination in sight. We keep doing good works, in order to become approved by God. But, when we do something wrong, we end up back where we started. It's like we're running on a treadmill. One small mistake puts us back under condemnation and guilt, which hinders us again, in our prayer life and fellowship with the Father. This treadmill has ruled the Church, from the second century.
We should always look to Jesus as our Example and see how Jesus always did good things to help people, without having the animosity we feel at times. We've failed to look at the trials and tests that satan brought against Jesus, during His earthly walk. Jesus never had it easy. He just made it look easy. Satan knew Who Jesus was and did everything possible to try and stop Jesus. The difference between Jesus and us is, that Jesus handled everything by the Word and the Holy Spirit within Him. We try handling the devil, with out own intellect and the flesh.
Jesus was our Example of how to walk in this world, while still not being of this world. He prayed this for us too, in John 17:15-20 (Amplified) saying, "I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them, purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy, by the Truth, Your Word is Truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world." Jesus continues in Verses 19-20, "And so for their sake and on their behalf, I sanctify, dedicate, consecrate them to Myself, that they also may be sanctified, dedicated, consecrated, made holy, in the Truth. Neither for these alone do I pray, it is not for their sake only that I make this request, but also for all those who will ever come to believe in, trust in, cling to, rely on Me through their word and teaching."
If ever there was a prayer answered, then it was Jesus' prayer of faith, power, deliverance and Truth to the Father. The Father is still upholding this prayer, to all who will accept it as Truth. The Father never intended for His children who were born from the Seed of Jesus, to suffer the same fate as satan. Jesus petitioned the Father to "keep and protect them from the evil one." We've exercised little faith in the prayer.
We not only have failed to placed faith in Jesus' prayer of protection, but we've accused the Father of bringing these troubles on us. Jesus said, "we are not of this world, even as He is not of the world," and He meant exactly that. Jesus is our Example, showing the new creation family how to walk in this world. It takes the Super-natural Spirit of God living in us, to walk like Jesus walked. When we deny the Super-natural, we walk as mere men and not as the new creation family, who are made in the Image and Likeness of Christ Jesus.
Our spiritual enemy (satan) does his best, to hold the family of God in bondage. We're not required to face him in our own strength and ability, but in the power of the Spirit, according to Ephesians 6:12 (Amplified) where Paul says, "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood, contending only with physical opponents, but against the despotisms, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the Heavenly Super-natural sphere."
We cannot fight the world by worldly weapons and expect to win the battle. We must learn to walk in the Spirit, without being squeamish about who we really are in Christ Jesus. We've been so careful to offend the natural man, because we fear they will not understand. They can't understand, because they are still carnal and are being raised in carnality, even in the Church. Jesus didn't offend the leper, when He cleansed him. The leper praised God for his deliverance.
The world is waiting for the Church to see the Truth of the Gospel, setting the captives free. The world will continue believing we're "just another religion," until the Father is revealed in all His Glory to them. We haven't shown the world any more proof that Jesus is anymore Alive, than their gods. "The whole of creation awaits and groans for the manifestation of the sons of God, to set them free," according to Romans 8:19-20 (Amplified). The planet is wanting to do what God has created it to do, but as the sons of God, we must first make our entrance into our sonship rights, that Jesus made ours.
Romans 8:16-17 (Amplified) says, "The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God. And if we are His children, then we are His heirs also, heirs of God, and fellow heirs with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him, only we must share His suffering if we are to share His Glory."
Jesus' suffering isn't what He bore on the cross in His death. He suffered this, that we could be free. We cannot suffer what Jesus did on the cross. We cannot pay for the sin of the world, we cannot suffer the Curse of the Law and we cannot suffer all Jesus did to take away the sickness and disease from humanity. Only Jesus could do that. What we suffer on His behalf, is being misunderstood by others and being so different from everyone else and not accepted in all circles of humanity.
When you begin healing the sick, casting out demons, and operating in the Holy Spirit, you'll be surprised how many people will persecute and oppose you. One would think they'd embrace and be glad, but not everyone will react that way towards you. The "suffering that Jesus endured," was the heartbreak He suffered because many people didn't accept Him or the ministry He was sent to do. Jesus couldn't do mighty works, for those who wouldn't believe and this suffering was greater for Jesus to bear, than all the rest He endured.
This remains true, for those who follow Jesus in the Super-natural. Watching someone die from a disease that Jesus could and would heal, but couldn't do so because of their unbelief, is heart breaking. Too many have left this earth early, because we've lost sight of the ability of God in this present age. It still takes faith in Jesus, "to do His works."
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Lesson 294 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! all things are made new. 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 says in John 16:24-27 (Amplified), "Up to this time you have not asked a single thing in My Name (as presenting all that I AM); but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight)may be full and complete. I have told you these things in parables (veiled language, allegories, dark sayings); the house is now coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I shall tell you about the Father in plain Words and openly (without reserve) At that time you will ask (pray) in My Name; and I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf (for it will be unnecessary) For the Father Himself (tenderly) Loves you because you have Loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father."
In the Gospels, Jesus speaks about the things which are to come, in Parables. Jesus speaks through Paul in the Epistles, openly declaring what He had before eluded to. 1Corinthians 2:7-8 says, "But rather what we are setting forth is a Wisdom of God once hidden (from the human understanding) and now revealed to us by God (that Wisdom) which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification (to lift us) into the glory of His Presence. None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory."
Jesus' crucifixion was satan's complete downfall. If Jesus had made God's plan for mankind known to the people or His disciples, then satan would never have planned His death, according to the above scriptures. Many of the things in the Gospel, were only for the old covenant people. Many still don't understand that the four Gospels are Old Testament books. The new covenant didn't begin, until Jesus' resurrection , His ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The people Jesus spoke to in His earthly ministry, were still in spiritual death, dead in trespass and sin and shut off from the Life of God, that we now share in Christ Jesus.
Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "I came that we might have Life," which must have sounded "strange," to the people who were there and thought they were "already alive." They had no insight into the salvation, that is now available to "whosoever will believe." The things Jesus eluded to in parables, are now our inheritance through Him.
The Jews and those under the Law, believed it was heresy when Jesus prayed "The Lord's Prayer," and said, "Our Father." This was an insight into the new birth and the new creation family of God. Paul writes about his actually being taken into the Presence of Jesus in the Heavenlies in 2Corinthians 12:1-4. Paul says that this revelation was for the new creation and that no man had heard or knew these things, until he preached them.
In Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified) Paul says, "For I want you to know brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known to me is not man's gospel (a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standards) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but (it came to me) through a (direct) revelation (given) by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)." We struggle today, to distinguish between what Jesus taught before His death and resurrection and what Jesus told Paul and what Paul preached, after Jesus' resurrection. When reading Romans 8:1-2, we still still talk about "being in the flesh" or "being in the Spirit." as though it implies two separate persons.
We fail to understand that God sees our earthly body, as already dead in crucifixion with Christ and He sees our spirit alive to Him, by the resurrection of Christ. God only sees one person, not two. The natural body has become only a House for the Holy Spirit and our new creation spirit to live in, while we're here on earth. We continue walking in many of the old habits and customs of the world's training we were raised in, before receiving our Life in Jesus. These aren't "sins" of our spirit being, nor are they the flesh body (like some would say), but they're the results of an unrenewed mind or the soul that habitually walks after what it's been trained to know and do. The flesh (body) doesn't do "just what it wants to do," without permission. Our spirit wants to walk with God, while our soul (carnal nature) wants to remain in the environment which it has been trained. The body can only obey the stronger of those two things.
Some have never considered the Truth about renewing our minds, by the Word of God. The body can only do, what the mind tells it to do. When we learn to think like the Spirit of God, then our body will walk in-line with the Word. If we continue reading, thinking, seeing, and talking like we did before being born-again, then the body will follow the same impulses and habits it did before. Psalms 23:3 (KJV) tells us, "He, the Shepherd, will restore your soul." He will make your mind, intellect, emotions, will, to obey the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. This will put an end to our being "double-minded," like James 1:5-8 talks about.
Jesus says in John 16:24-27 (Amplified), "Up to this time you have not asked a single thing in My Name (as presenting all that I AM); but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight)may be full and complete. I have told you these things in parables (veiled language, allegories, dark sayings); the house is now coming when I shall no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but I shall tell you about the Father in plain Words and openly (without reserve) At that time you will ask (pray) in My Name; and I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf (for it will be unnecessary) For the Father Himself (tenderly) Loves you because you have Loved Me and have believed that I came out from the Father."
In the Gospels, Jesus speaks about the things which are to come, in Parables. Jesus speaks through Paul in the Epistles, openly declaring what He had before eluded to. 1Corinthians 2:7-8 says, "But rather what we are setting forth is a Wisdom of God once hidden (from the human understanding) and now revealed to us by God (that Wisdom) which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification (to lift us) into the glory of His Presence. None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory."
Jesus' crucifixion was satan's complete downfall. If Jesus had made God's plan for mankind known to the people or His disciples, then satan would never have planned His death, according to the above scriptures. Many of the things in the Gospel, were only for the old covenant people. Many still don't understand that the four Gospels are Old Testament books. The new covenant didn't begin, until Jesus' resurrection , His ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The people Jesus spoke to in His earthly ministry, were still in spiritual death, dead in trespass and sin and shut off from the Life of God, that we now share in Christ Jesus.
Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "I came that we might have Life," which must have sounded "strange," to the people who were there and thought they were "already alive." They had no insight into the salvation, that is now available to "whosoever will believe." The things Jesus eluded to in parables, are now our inheritance through Him.
The Jews and those under the Law, believed it was heresy when Jesus prayed "The Lord's Prayer," and said, "Our Father." This was an insight into the new birth and the new creation family of God. Paul writes about his actually being taken into the Presence of Jesus in the Heavenlies in 2Corinthians 12:1-4. Paul says that this revelation was for the new creation and that no man had heard or knew these things, until he preached them.
In Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified) Paul says, "For I want you to know brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known to me is not man's gospel (a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standards) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but (it came to me) through a (direct) revelation (given) by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)." We struggle today, to distinguish between what Jesus taught before His death and resurrection and what Jesus told Paul and what Paul preached, after Jesus' resurrection. When reading Romans 8:1-2, we still still talk about "being in the flesh" or "being in the Spirit." as though it implies two separate persons.
We fail to understand that God sees our earthly body, as already dead in crucifixion with Christ and He sees our spirit alive to Him, by the resurrection of Christ. God only sees one person, not two. The natural body has become only a House for the Holy Spirit and our new creation spirit to live in, while we're here on earth. We continue walking in many of the old habits and customs of the world's training we were raised in, before receiving our Life in Jesus. These aren't "sins" of our spirit being, nor are they the flesh body (like some would say), but they're the results of an unrenewed mind or the soul that habitually walks after what it's been trained to know and do. The flesh (body) doesn't do "just what it wants to do," without permission. Our spirit wants to walk with God, while our soul (carnal nature) wants to remain in the environment which it has been trained. The body can only obey the stronger of those two things.
Some have never considered the Truth about renewing our minds, by the Word of God. The body can only do, what the mind tells it to do. When we learn to think like the Spirit of God, then our body will walk in-line with the Word. If we continue reading, thinking, seeing, and talking like we did before being born-again, then the body will follow the same impulses and habits it did before. Psalms 23:3 (KJV) tells us, "He, the Shepherd, will restore your soul." He will make your mind, intellect, emotions, will, to obey the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. This will put an end to our being "double-minded," like James 1:5-8 talks about.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Lesson 293 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)."
God tells Adam and Eve, in Genesis 2:17 (Amplified), "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity it you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Genesis 3:21 (Amplified) says, "For Adam also for his wife the Lord God made long coats (tunics) of skin and clothed them."
This is the beginning of the Law of Sin and Death, according to Genesis 3:21 (Amplified) which says, "God took the life of innocent animals, shed their blood as payment for sin (as a temporary covering) in order to fulfill that because of sin, a death had come." God instituted the Law of Sin and Death, telling Adam that "He will die if he disobeyed the Words of Life." The very day that Adam sinned and disobeyed God's instructions, Adam died or was separated from God, Who is Life. The spiritual disconnect, brought death into the spirits of Adam and Eve. They no longer had the Life of God, within them.
God killed two animals to clothe them and the blood of these animals "covered their sin." From that time on, the blood of animal sacrifice, would cover the sin of every generation, until Jesus could be brought into the world. From Adam until Jesus, God made covenant with mankind by blood. Genesis 9:4-5 (Amplified) says, "When God made the requirements for His Blessing and His covenant with Noah, He said, You shall not eat flesh with the life of it, which is it's blood. And surely for your lifeblood I will require an accounting; from every beast I will require it; and from every man (who spills another's blood) I will require a reckoning."
In Exodus 12:7,13 (Amplified) God says, "They shall take of the blood and put it on the two side posts and on the lintel (above the door space) of the houses in which they shall eat (the Passover Lamb)." Verse 13 goes on, "The blood shall be for a token or sign to you upon (the doorposts of) the houses where you are (that) when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt."
The Church and the world have heard about God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. We've all heard about their putting blood on three sides of their house doors (like the sign of the cross). The death angel or destroyer, would have to pass over them because of the blood. Many think the Exodus is a grand story or movie (even in today's Church) and lack understanding of its meaning.
When sin came through Adam, death also came. The only way to rid mankind from this spiritual death, was for an innocent life to be substituted in its place. An innocent animal was sacrificed, so that the requirements of the Law of Sin and Death would be fulfilled, as a "covering" for those under the blood. The same pattern was repeated through the time of Grace in Abraham's life, until the time of Law through Moses.
Physical and spiritual death came, because of sin. We all know that people are continuing to sin in today's world. What make the new creation different from everyone else? We all know that Jesus took our sin on the cross, but many haven't understood that our sins weren't only forgiven, like in the old covenant. 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) tells us, "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 (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His Goodness)."
We're not only "covered" by the temporary sacrifice of animal's blood, but the stain of sin and the penalty of the Law of Sin and Death have been met, (along with the requirements of fulfillment) in Christ Jesus. Jesus didn't cover our sin, but took it with Him in His death. Jesus paid the entire debt and abolished the Law of Sin and Death with His Blood. Jesus took our sin and death with Him to the cross, along with the penalty due to men. All who believe in Him, will not only be forgiven, but clean, in a new creation state with the Father.
The Truth of this can be found and clarified for the believer, in Romans 8:1-3 (Amplified), which says, "Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." If we understand the Spiritual power of His Blood, then we are free from condemnation, guilt, judgment, and according to Exodus 12:13 (Amplified) "No plague will come upon us to destroy us." But, if we allow the carnal mind and the dictates of the flesh to control us, then we continue to consider ourselves like the old covenant people did and we'll walk in condemnation and guilt before God.
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 of Death, For God has done what the Law could not do (it's power) being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit). Sending His Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an Offering for sin; God condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcome, deprived it of its power over all who accept that Sacrifice)."
We've come to the new creation family of God, that Jesus spoke to His disciples about many times. Some heard and some haven't. The same is true today concerning communion in the Church. Some churches don't allow children to receive communion, because they're not old enough to understand what it means. There are adults who don't know the true meaning of communion either. Some churches only receive communion, once or twice yearly, for differing reasons. Some Christians are afraid to receive communion, because they've sinned and might drink and eat damnation unto themselves. These foolish traditions, rituals and misunderstanding about communion, have left God's people lacking.
Mark 14:23-24 (Amplified) tells us, "[Jesus] also took a cup of the juice of the grape, when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And He said to them, this is My Blood (which ratifies the new covenant, the Blood which is being poured out for and on account of many)."
Luke 22:17-20 (Amplified) says, "And [Jesus] took a cup and when He had given thanks, He said, Take this and divide and distribute it among yourselves For I say to you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine at all until the Kingdom of God comes. Then He took a loaf of bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them saying, This is My Body which is given for you, Do this in remembrance of Me."
Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 11:23-27, 28-30 (Amplified), "For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you (it was given to me personally) that the Lord Jesus, on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress took bread And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, Eat, This is My Body, which is broken for you, Do this to call Me affectionately to remembrance)." Verses 25-27 go on, "Similarly, When supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant ratified and established in My Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it to call Me affectionately to remembrance. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes again. Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy of Him will be guilty of profaning and sinning against the Body and Blood of the Lord."
There are many, varying teachings about communion, in these last days. Paul goes on in Verses 28-30 saying, "Let a man thoroughly examine himself and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that it is Christ's Body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself. That careless and unworthy participation is the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite often enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death."
Receiving communion in the new covenant, is the same as in the old covenant, where we're not counting upon our goodness, but placing everything under the Blood of our Passover Lamb, Jesus. It's a proclamation and declaration before God, that we're free from the Law of Sin and Death. It's also a declaration to the destroyer, that we understand the power of Jesus' Sacrifice and how by His Blood, we're no longer under the judgment or jurisdiction of the Law of Sin and Death. It's telling the destroyer that, "By the power of Jesus' Blood, satan must pass over us.
The Israelites came out of bondage and were covered by the blood of the Passover Lamb. They were also healed and made whole, because they trusted the lamb they chose and took for their homes. The Israelites obeyed what Moses said and stayed in the house, trusting in their sacrificed lamb. It was their faith in the lamb and not trust in their own goodness, that delivered the people. Psalm 105:37 (Amplified) says, "He brought Israel forth also with silver and gold, and there was not one feeble person among their tribes."
1Corinthians 11:26 (Amplified) says, "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes again." Romans 8:2 (Amplified) speaks about the significance of the Lord's death, saying, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
We must know and understand that, like in the Exodus, the Law of Sin and Death has been paid in full in Christ Jesus and no longer governs the new creation. We're under a new Law and new creation. The Law is paid, Redemption has come and satan must pass over us. Our faith is in Christ Jesus (our Passover Lamb), just like the Israelites in Exodus. Now, you can better understand my saying, "Sin in the new creation, is no longer any of satan's business." Surely, there were sinners in Egypt and as a matter of fact they were "all sinners," but their faith in the blood and their faith in what Moses had told them, was enough to "cover, heal, and deliver them." Jesus paid and fulfilled the Law of Sin and Death on behalf of all who will believe. We are delivered out of the hands of the destroyer.
This doesn't mean we're to remain in sin, according to Romans 6:1-4 (Amplified) which says, "What shall we say to all this? Are we to remain in sin in order that God's Grace, favor, and mercy may multiply and overflow? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the Baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too might habitually live and behave in newness of life."
If and when a new creation person sins, we now have an Advocate before our Father, to pray as our Intercessor and give us place in God's Throne Room of Grace, according to Hebrews 4:14-16 (Amplified) which says, "In as much as we have a Great High Priest Who has already ascended and passed through the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession of faith in Him. For we do no have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the Throne of Grace, the Throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners that we may receive mercy for our failures and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it)."
1John 1:9 (Amplified) tells us, "If we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just, True to His Own nature and Promises, and will forgive our sins, dismiss our lawlessness and continuously cleanse us from all unrighteousness, everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action." This is God's business and no longer any of satan's business. We belong to the Father and we're no longer only covenant...we are family.
The Father teaches us, by the five-fold ministry, with His Word and through His Spirit. He doesn't teach His children, using sickness, disease and calamity.
God tells Adam and Eve, in Genesis 2:17 (Amplified), "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and blessing and calamity it you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Genesis 3:21 (Amplified) says, "For Adam also for his wife the Lord God made long coats (tunics) of skin and clothed them."
This is the beginning of the Law of Sin and Death, according to Genesis 3:21 (Amplified) which says, "God took the life of innocent animals, shed their blood as payment for sin (as a temporary covering) in order to fulfill that because of sin, a death had come." God instituted the Law of Sin and Death, telling Adam that "He will die if he disobeyed the Words of Life." The very day that Adam sinned and disobeyed God's instructions, Adam died or was separated from God, Who is Life. The spiritual disconnect, brought death into the spirits of Adam and Eve. They no longer had the Life of God, within them.
God killed two animals to clothe them and the blood of these animals "covered their sin." From that time on, the blood of animal sacrifice, would cover the sin of every generation, until Jesus could be brought into the world. From Adam until Jesus, God made covenant with mankind by blood. Genesis 9:4-5 (Amplified) says, "When God made the requirements for His Blessing and His covenant with Noah, He said, You shall not eat flesh with the life of it, which is it's blood. And surely for your lifeblood I will require an accounting; from every beast I will require it; and from every man (who spills another's blood) I will require a reckoning."
In Exodus 12:7,13 (Amplified) God says, "They shall take of the blood and put it on the two side posts and on the lintel (above the door space) of the houses in which they shall eat (the Passover Lamb)." Verse 13 goes on, "The blood shall be for a token or sign to you upon (the doorposts of) the houses where you are (that) when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall be upon you to destroy you when I smite the land of Egypt."
The Church and the world have heard about God's deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. We've all heard about their putting blood on three sides of their house doors (like the sign of the cross). The death angel or destroyer, would have to pass over them because of the blood. Many think the Exodus is a grand story or movie (even in today's Church) and lack understanding of its meaning.
When sin came through Adam, death also came. The only way to rid mankind from this spiritual death, was for an innocent life to be substituted in its place. An innocent animal was sacrificed, so that the requirements of the Law of Sin and Death would be fulfilled, as a "covering" for those under the blood. The same pattern was repeated through the time of Grace in Abraham's life, until the time of Law through Moses.
Physical and spiritual death came, because of sin. We all know that people are continuing to sin in today's world. What make the new creation different from everyone else? We all know that Jesus took our sin on the cross, but many haven't understood that our sins weren't only forgiven, like in the old covenant. 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) tells us, "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 (what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His Goodness)."
We're not only "covered" by the temporary sacrifice of animal's blood, but the stain of sin and the penalty of the Law of Sin and Death have been met, (along with the requirements of fulfillment) in Christ Jesus. Jesus didn't cover our sin, but took it with Him in His death. Jesus paid the entire debt and abolished the Law of Sin and Death with His Blood. Jesus took our sin and death with Him to the cross, along with the penalty due to men. All who believe in Him, will not only be forgiven, but clean, in a new creation state with the Father.
The Truth of this can be found and clarified for the believer, in Romans 8:1-3 (Amplified), which says, "Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." If we understand the Spiritual power of His Blood, then we are free from condemnation, guilt, judgment, and according to Exodus 12:13 (Amplified) "No plague will come upon us to destroy us." But, if we allow the carnal mind and the dictates of the flesh to control us, then we continue to consider ourselves like the old covenant people did and we'll walk in condemnation and guilt before God.
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 of Death, For God has done what the Law could not do (it's power) being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit). Sending His Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an Offering for sin; God condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcome, deprived it of its power over all who accept that Sacrifice)."
We've come to the new creation family of God, that Jesus spoke to His disciples about many times. Some heard and some haven't. The same is true today concerning communion in the Church. Some churches don't allow children to receive communion, because they're not old enough to understand what it means. There are adults who don't know the true meaning of communion either. Some churches only receive communion, once or twice yearly, for differing reasons. Some Christians are afraid to receive communion, because they've sinned and might drink and eat damnation unto themselves. These foolish traditions, rituals and misunderstanding about communion, have left God's people lacking.
Mark 14:23-24 (Amplified) tells us, "[Jesus] also took a cup of the juice of the grape, when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And He said to them, this is My Blood (which ratifies the new covenant, the Blood which is being poured out for and on account of many)."
Luke 22:17-20 (Amplified) says, "And [Jesus] took a cup and when He had given thanks, He said, Take this and divide and distribute it among yourselves For I say to you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine at all until the Kingdom of God comes. Then He took a loaf of bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it and gave it to them saying, This is My Body which is given for you, Do this in remembrance of Me."
Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 11:23-27, 28-30 (Amplified), "For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you (it was given to me personally) that the Lord Jesus, on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress took bread And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, Take, Eat, This is My Body, which is broken for you, Do this to call Me affectionately to remembrance)." Verses 25-27 go on, "Similarly, When supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant ratified and established in My Blood. Do this, as often as you drink it to call Me affectionately to remembrance. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes again. Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy of Him will be guilty of profaning and sinning against the Body and Blood of the Lord."
There are many, varying teachings about communion, in these last days. Paul goes on in Verses 28-30 saying, "Let a man thoroughly examine himself and only when he has done so should he eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that it is Christ's Body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment) upon himself. That careless and unworthy participation is the reason many of you are weak and sickly, and quite often enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death."
Receiving communion in the new covenant, is the same as in the old covenant, where we're not counting upon our goodness, but placing everything under the Blood of our Passover Lamb, Jesus. It's a proclamation and declaration before God, that we're free from the Law of Sin and Death. It's also a declaration to the destroyer, that we understand the power of Jesus' Sacrifice and how by His Blood, we're no longer under the judgment or jurisdiction of the Law of Sin and Death. It's telling the destroyer that, "By the power of Jesus' Blood, satan must pass over us.
The Israelites came out of bondage and were covered by the blood of the Passover Lamb. They were also healed and made whole, because they trusted the lamb they chose and took for their homes. The Israelites obeyed what Moses said and stayed in the house, trusting in their sacrificed lamb. It was their faith in the lamb and not trust in their own goodness, that delivered the people. Psalm 105:37 (Amplified) says, "He brought Israel forth also with silver and gold, and there was not one feeble person among their tribes."
1Corinthians 11:26 (Amplified) says, "For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes again." Romans 8:2 (Amplified) speaks about the significance of the Lord's death, saying, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
We must know and understand that, like in the Exodus, the Law of Sin and Death has been paid in full in Christ Jesus and no longer governs the new creation. We're under a new Law and new creation. The Law is paid, Redemption has come and satan must pass over us. Our faith is in Christ Jesus (our Passover Lamb), just like the Israelites in Exodus. Now, you can better understand my saying, "Sin in the new creation, is no longer any of satan's business." Surely, there were sinners in Egypt and as a matter of fact they were "all sinners," but their faith in the blood and their faith in what Moses had told them, was enough to "cover, heal, and deliver them." Jesus paid and fulfilled the Law of Sin and Death on behalf of all who will believe. We are delivered out of the hands of the destroyer.
This doesn't mean we're to remain in sin, according to Romans 6:1-4 (Amplified) which says, "What shall we say to all this? Are we to remain in sin in order that God's Grace, favor, and mercy may multiply and overflow? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the Baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too might habitually live and behave in newness of life."
If and when a new creation person sins, we now have an Advocate before our Father, to pray as our Intercessor and give us place in God's Throne Room of Grace, according to Hebrews 4:14-16 (Amplified) which says, "In as much as we have a Great High Priest Who has already ascended and passed through the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession of faith in Him. For we do no have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the Throne of Grace, the Throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners that we may receive mercy for our failures and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it)."
1John 1:9 (Amplified) tells us, "If we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just, True to His Own nature and Promises, and will forgive our sins, dismiss our lawlessness and continuously cleanse us from all unrighteousness, everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action." This is God's business and no longer any of satan's business. We belong to the Father and we're no longer only covenant...we are family.
The Father teaches us, by the five-fold ministry, with His Word and through His Spirit. He doesn't teach His children, using sickness, disease and calamity.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Lesson 292 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! all things are made new. 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 we are a "new creation," the Only Example we have to know we we are in Christ, is Jesus. The early Church knew Jesus in Person and lived to be like Him, but after only a few hundred years, the Church became just another religion. The same miracles and healings that followed Jesus, were prevalent in the early Church, but these things later became just traditions and rituals and "things that have passed away."
In order to become who we were created to believe, we must receive revelation knowledge from the Holy Spirit. We must read God's Word with the mind of Christ and allow it to tell us who we were really meant to be. The knowledge of our being righteous in God's eyes, has nearly been lost to the Church and we continue struggling to make ourselves righteous, by works and performance. Both of these things are void of power and repugnant to God, because it ignores what Jesus did for us.
The Super-natural expression of the Holy Spirit has been reduced to a mere whisper of who and what He is, in the believer. Many believers have removed the Holy Spirit completely from their expression of who they are, altogether. We acknowledge the Presence of the Holy Spirit with our words, but deny His Presence in Truth. We've made studies of Who He "used to be," and found a way to keep Him only in the early days of our new creation.
Some teach that the Holy Spirit had to move in the early Church, in order to establish the Church, but today's Church can "function on our own." The Truth is that without the Holy Spirit, the Church doesn't function at all. He is the One Who gives Life to this new creation and without Him, we become a social club. We've been faithful to give and meet the natural needs of the people, but we've mostly ignored the Super-natural needs. We've become a referral center for those who need the the power of God to deliver them.
We refer people to rehab, doctors, mental health facilities and to women's crisis centers, but what has happened to setting them free by the power of the Spirit and the Name of Jesus? One might answer, "Yes, but not everyone can do these things." I would then say, "Have you really sought and listened to the Spirit, to see if He wanted to do these things through you?" We've categorized the Gifts of the Spirit and determined "who has been chosen to operate in them." Why not let Him decide and do "as He wills?" The worst that could happen is, the people are't healed and are no worse off.
It doesn't only take faith in what we're called to be, but it requires courage enough to step out in that faith. It's God's faith we're using and it hasn't diminished. God is responsible to "do the works," not us. We need to learn to trust God to keep His Word and then lean on His ability in us. Jesus said He did nothing of Himself, but He only did "what the Father told Him." We haven't been hearing.
Jesus told the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:23-24 (Amplified) saying, "The sower sows the Word." I wonder whether or not, the thing we've been hearing is the Word. Jesus said, "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them; Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study you give (to the Truth you hear) will be the measure (of virtue and knowledge) that comes back to you-and more besides will be given to you who hear."
Most of can quote Romans 10:17 (KJV) which says, "Faith cometh by hearing." We assume this implies to the Word of God and it does. The Amplified Bible says, "So faith comes by hearing what is told, and what is heard comes by the preaching of the Message that came from the lips of Christ (the Messiah Himself)." This is Spiritual Law that functions both ways. Words are seeds and seeds are sown by speaking or preaching. Our heart (or spirit) is the soil and whatever we hear, is able to produce in our spirit. We must be careful about what we hear and allow to be planted.
Faith in God, comes by hearing the Truth of God's Word. Faith in anything else, also comes by hearing. If we hear anything long enough, then we put faith in it (whether it's wrong or right). Why would we believe that not everyone who hears the Word preached, will not believe it? The old covenant Jews didn't believe Jesus when He preached, because their faith was still in the words of the Law and the sacrificing of lambs and bulls that was taught by Moses. They had faith, but it was in the seed that had already been sown in their hearts and produced others things than what Jesus preached.
The seed principle or law, is true in any kind of word seed. All words are seed, not only God's Word. If we only allow certain words (seeds) into the soil of our hearts, then we can control the harvest that comes from the seed. In Matthew 12:35-37 (Amplified) Jesus said, "The good man from his good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse, flings forth evil things. But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle inoperative non-working word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced."
Jesus was saying, "We are to be responsible for whatever we hear, because what we hear is what we believe and will say." We are revealing from our hearts, with our words, what we really have allowed to be sown by men, in our hearts. This is why Jesus admonished us to, "Be careful what you are hearing." The only way I know to hear the Truth, is to know the Truth. If we don't listen to and seek Truth from God's Word and the Holy Spirit, then we will never recognize the Truth when we hear it.
Every individual person is responsible to, "Be careful what he hears." Today, there are so many differing things being sown into the world and the Church. Truth can only be determined by the person who is hearing. Some who haven't heard the Truth about Jesus, will receive and allow the seed of the world or false religions to be sown in their hearts, placing their faith into evil reports and doctrines and will be judged by what they allow to be sown in their hearts.
I'm mostly speaking to the Church and I'm confident that the Seed you've received has brought forth a new creation. I trust the Word of faith that you've heard, has done exactly what it was meant to do and that is to produce a new creation. Now that you've become what the Seed (Word) produced, how you grow and develop in this new creation depends on what words you allow to be sown into your new spirit. Seeds always "produce after kind." Apple seeds always produces apple trees. They will never produce peach trees. The Seed of words, always produces what the Word or Seed is.
Today, words produce many things in the earth, but only if they find a place in someone's heart to take root and produce the mature tree that puts forth more seeds. By hearing, many have put faith in other gods, Hollywood, communism, holy wars and even cannibalism. They done so by hearing and allowing the seed of words, to produce a culture other than the Kingdom. These words will either bring justification or condemnation in the lives of those who were not careful what they hear.
There are seeds that do no belong in the garden of our new creation hearts and these will bring forth unbelief, doubt and even bondage in the spirit. Every year, I discover things growing in my hay fields, that I didn't sow. The wind will bring seeds from many sources, that take up root in my fields. The same is true in the world. There are seeds (words) that are almost "blown on the wind," which we come into contact with daily. We can't turn on the television or the internet, without hearing political confusions broadcast by the news media, or hearing about global disasters happening and broadcasters unknowingly spreading fear to our hearts through their reports on terror attacks. We have seeds of public opinion, overtaking our schools and children. We seem to have lost the ability to determine between what is "good seed and what is evil seed."
I hear even God's people say, "The Seed of God is the One behind all the evil things that are now taking place," and this leads me to believe we either don't God's Word or we don't know our Father. If you receive these seeds, then they will grow a crop of immobility in your life. If received, these will grow crops of fear, doubt, guilt, condemnation and a lack of faith in God's being able and willing to do and His ability to perform what He has promised. God's Word is like the rain and snow, that comes down and waters the earth. And, according to Isaiah 55:10-11 (Amplified), God's Word "will not return to Him void, but will accomplish and prosper in the thing He sent it to do."
Because we are a "new creation," the Only Example we have to know we we are in Christ, is Jesus. The early Church knew Jesus in Person and lived to be like Him, but after only a few hundred years, the Church became just another religion. The same miracles and healings that followed Jesus, were prevalent in the early Church, but these things later became just traditions and rituals and "things that have passed away."
In order to become who we were created to believe, we must receive revelation knowledge from the Holy Spirit. We must read God's Word with the mind of Christ and allow it to tell us who we were really meant to be. The knowledge of our being righteous in God's eyes, has nearly been lost to the Church and we continue struggling to make ourselves righteous, by works and performance. Both of these things are void of power and repugnant to God, because it ignores what Jesus did for us.
The Super-natural expression of the Holy Spirit has been reduced to a mere whisper of who and what He is, in the believer. Many believers have removed the Holy Spirit completely from their expression of who they are, altogether. We acknowledge the Presence of the Holy Spirit with our words, but deny His Presence in Truth. We've made studies of Who He "used to be," and found a way to keep Him only in the early days of our new creation.
Some teach that the Holy Spirit had to move in the early Church, in order to establish the Church, but today's Church can "function on our own." The Truth is that without the Holy Spirit, the Church doesn't function at all. He is the One Who gives Life to this new creation and without Him, we become a social club. We've been faithful to give and meet the natural needs of the people, but we've mostly ignored the Super-natural needs. We've become a referral center for those who need the the power of God to deliver them.
We refer people to rehab, doctors, mental health facilities and to women's crisis centers, but what has happened to setting them free by the power of the Spirit and the Name of Jesus? One might answer, "Yes, but not everyone can do these things." I would then say, "Have you really sought and listened to the Spirit, to see if He wanted to do these things through you?" We've categorized the Gifts of the Spirit and determined "who has been chosen to operate in them." Why not let Him decide and do "as He wills?" The worst that could happen is, the people are't healed and are no worse off.
It doesn't only take faith in what we're called to be, but it requires courage enough to step out in that faith. It's God's faith we're using and it hasn't diminished. God is responsible to "do the works," not us. We need to learn to trust God to keep His Word and then lean on His ability in us. Jesus said He did nothing of Himself, but He only did "what the Father told Him." We haven't been hearing.
Jesus told the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:23-24 (Amplified) saying, "The sower sows the Word." I wonder whether or not, the thing we've been hearing is the Word. Jesus said, "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them; Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study you give (to the Truth you hear) will be the measure (of virtue and knowledge) that comes back to you-and more besides will be given to you who hear."
Most of can quote Romans 10:17 (KJV) which says, "Faith cometh by hearing." We assume this implies to the Word of God and it does. The Amplified Bible says, "So faith comes by hearing what is told, and what is heard comes by the preaching of the Message that came from the lips of Christ (the Messiah Himself)." This is Spiritual Law that functions both ways. Words are seeds and seeds are sown by speaking or preaching. Our heart (or spirit) is the soil and whatever we hear, is able to produce in our spirit. We must be careful about what we hear and allow to be planted.
Faith in God, comes by hearing the Truth of God's Word. Faith in anything else, also comes by hearing. If we hear anything long enough, then we put faith in it (whether it's wrong or right). Why would we believe that not everyone who hears the Word preached, will not believe it? The old covenant Jews didn't believe Jesus when He preached, because their faith was still in the words of the Law and the sacrificing of lambs and bulls that was taught by Moses. They had faith, but it was in the seed that had already been sown in their hearts and produced others things than what Jesus preached.
The seed principle or law, is true in any kind of word seed. All words are seed, not only God's Word. If we only allow certain words (seeds) into the soil of our hearts, then we can control the harvest that comes from the seed. In Matthew 12:35-37 (Amplified) Jesus said, "The good man from his good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse, flings forth evil things. But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle inoperative non-working word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced."
Jesus was saying, "We are to be responsible for whatever we hear, because what we hear is what we believe and will say." We are revealing from our hearts, with our words, what we really have allowed to be sown by men, in our hearts. This is why Jesus admonished us to, "Be careful what you are hearing." The only way I know to hear the Truth, is to know the Truth. If we don't listen to and seek Truth from God's Word and the Holy Spirit, then we will never recognize the Truth when we hear it.
Every individual person is responsible to, "Be careful what he hears." Today, there are so many differing things being sown into the world and the Church. Truth can only be determined by the person who is hearing. Some who haven't heard the Truth about Jesus, will receive and allow the seed of the world or false religions to be sown in their hearts, placing their faith into evil reports and doctrines and will be judged by what they allow to be sown in their hearts.
I'm mostly speaking to the Church and I'm confident that the Seed you've received has brought forth a new creation. I trust the Word of faith that you've heard, has done exactly what it was meant to do and that is to produce a new creation. Now that you've become what the Seed (Word) produced, how you grow and develop in this new creation depends on what words you allow to be sown into your new spirit. Seeds always "produce after kind." Apple seeds always produces apple trees. They will never produce peach trees. The Seed of words, always produces what the Word or Seed is.
Today, words produce many things in the earth, but only if they find a place in someone's heart to take root and produce the mature tree that puts forth more seeds. By hearing, many have put faith in other gods, Hollywood, communism, holy wars and even cannibalism. They done so by hearing and allowing the seed of words, to produce a culture other than the Kingdom. These words will either bring justification or condemnation in the lives of those who were not careful what they hear.
There are seeds that do no belong in the garden of our new creation hearts and these will bring forth unbelief, doubt and even bondage in the spirit. Every year, I discover things growing in my hay fields, that I didn't sow. The wind will bring seeds from many sources, that take up root in my fields. The same is true in the world. There are seeds (words) that are almost "blown on the wind," which we come into contact with daily. We can't turn on the television or the internet, without hearing political confusions broadcast by the news media, or hearing about global disasters happening and broadcasters unknowingly spreading fear to our hearts through their reports on terror attacks. We have seeds of public opinion, overtaking our schools and children. We seem to have lost the ability to determine between what is "good seed and what is evil seed."
I hear even God's people say, "The Seed of God is the One behind all the evil things that are now taking place," and this leads me to believe we either don't God's Word or we don't know our Father. If you receive these seeds, then they will grow a crop of immobility in your life. If received, these will grow crops of fear, doubt, guilt, condemnation and a lack of faith in God's being able and willing to do and His ability to perform what He has promised. God's Word is like the rain and snow, that comes down and waters the earth. And, according to Isaiah 55:10-11 (Amplified), God's Word "will not return to Him void, but will accomplish and prosper in the thing He sent it to do."
Friday, November 10, 2017
Lesson 291 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! all things are made fresh and new. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
The new creation family of God is unique from any other living species on earth. We're different from the unsaved person, because we're born-again We differ from other religions, because we're "not of this world," according to what Jesus said in John 17:16. We're different from the Old Testament Hebrews, because we're no longer under the Law. Mostly importantly, we're different because we aren't alive any longer to the Law of Sin and Death. We're under "the Law of the Spirit of Life which in in Christ Jesus and we're God's Own children, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus," according to Romans 8:17.
The new creation family of God is alive, like Jesus in His earthly ministry. 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)." The new creation people are the only humans on earth who are alive in our spirit, from the Law of Sin and Death. Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free Gift of God is eternal Life through and (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 8:10 (Amplified) tells us, "But if Christ lives in you (then although) your (natural) body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of the righteousness (that He imputes to you)." Romans 6:3 (Amplified) says, "Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death." And, Romans 6:7 (Amplified) tells us, "For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from (the power of) sin (among men) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him."
We were under the Law of Sin and Death, but we have died with Jesus and the Law of Sin and Death has been fulfilled in our lives, according to Galatians 2:20 (Amplified), where Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ (in Him I have shared His crucifixion) it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
The above scriptures tell us that, "If we sin now, then it's not any of satan's business." We belong to God, debt free. We've been redeemed (ransomed) by the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Jesus paid the debt for our sins and fulfilled the Law of Sin and Death, through His death. This is the ultimate grace that made us alive in our spirit and dead unto sin. I'm not saying that "we haven't sinned" or that "we might sin in while growing and maturing in our new man," but the requirements the Law demanded our spiritual death (separation from the Life of God) have been met in Jesus.
Sin might not unravel your salvation, but it will unravel your earthly life. God is Spirit and we are now "in Him" in our spirit, so God will deal with our sin, in a spiritual way. We've erroneously charged God, with physical things that plague the new creation. If we sin and nothing happens to us, then we feel like we've "gotten away" with sinning, but that's not true.
God deals with us in our spirit, because we are spirit beings. When we disobey His Word and don't listen to His Voice, then we get into places we have no business being in and this brings destruction and dismay into our natural lives. God's Word has "directed our paths by His Wisdom and truth," but if we walk our own paths, then we will encounter things that were never God's will for us and the new creation people will suffer.
When we get outside of God's Word, we place ourselves in the territory of the enemy and are subject to the consequences. When we find ourselves in satan's territory (sin), the Holy Spirit has provided the way for us to return to right standing with the Father. 1John 1:9 (Amplified) says, "If we (freely) admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His Own nature and Promises) and will forgive our sins (dismiss our lawlessness and continuously) cleanse us from all unrighteousness (everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action)."
This is how the new creation people are to walk in the newness of Life. We're not supposed to wait for our sins to bring physical injury in our lives, but we're to shut it down, by bringing it to Him. God doesn't teach or discipline His new creation family, like He did in the old covenant. The old covenant people were still dead in their spirit and the only way to reach them, was through their flesh. We're not like them, because we are dead in our flesh and now we are alive in our spirit. God directs and disciplines His family, by their spirit. We've been spiritually dense and have fallen into the enemy camp, where we suffer the consequences of being dull of hearing.
God teaches, corrects and disciplines His new creation family, by His Word and His Spirit. In John 14:26 (Amplified), Jesus said, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Strengthener, Intercessor, Advocate, Helper, Standby) the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf) He will teach you all things And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you." In Ephesians 4:10-15 (Amplified) Paul says this about the purpose of the five-fold ministry, "His intent was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people) (that they should do) the work of ministering toward building up Christ's Body (the Church)."
2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Every scripture is God breathed (given by His Inspiration) and is profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will), in thought, purpose and action. So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
God's Word is to correct the new creation people's walk with God and to keep it in the realm of God's authority. Walking in these instructions, will keep us out of the enemy's realm. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life Giver) the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it) the Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life." John 8:31-32 (Amplified) says, "So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My Word (hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them) you are truly My disciples And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."
We are children of the Most High and are called to be obedient to His Voice and His teachings. Every child becomes the product of what he or she is taught and how obedient he or she is to those teachings. Even as natural children who had loving and caring parents, we weren't allowed to do certain things, because they were harmful and could cause us injury. If we disobeyed and did these things, then we were hurt as a result for doing our own thing.
Jesus said that, "I only do what My Father says to do." These weren't platitudes that Jesus spoke, but this prevented Him from falling into satan's hold. As new creation children, we're responsible to obey the teachings and Words of our Heavenly Father. If God tells us not to do something and we ignore His Voice and this results in calamity, then we cannot say that "God did this to teach us something." We must swallow our pride and admit that we befell this calamity, because we didn't obey God's Word and His teaching. God can and will forgive us and will make it alright, but if we'd paid attention to Him, then we wouldn't have been there in the first place. Don't fall under condemnation, but place yourself into submission to the Word and the Holy Spirit. In 2Timothy 3:16 (Amplified) Paul tells us to, "Let the Word correct, discipline, train up, and bring reproof to your life."
We shouldn't need the authorities of this world to keep us from doing wrong. We should be walking far above all the laws demanded of us. Don't use Grace, to live in a place where you do not belong. The purpose of Grace isn't so we might continue living in disobedience, while still being saved. You might still be saved and going to Heaven, but you might arrive there ahead of schedule.
Don't place your life or health in the enemy's jurisdiction. David writes about God's Words in Psalms 17:4-5 (Amplified) saying, "Concerning the works of men, by the Words of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent (the paths of the destroyer) My steps have held closely to Your paths (to the tracks of the One Who has gone on before) my feet have not slipped." It's up to us, to walk in Spirit and Truth. God won't change His Word (even to protect us). But, if we walk in His Word, then the Truth of His Word will be our protection and the enemy has no defense against it.
The new creation family of God is unique from any other living species on earth. We're different from the unsaved person, because we're born-again We differ from other religions, because we're "not of this world," according to what Jesus said in John 17:16. We're different from the Old Testament Hebrews, because we're no longer under the Law. Mostly importantly, we're different because we aren't alive any longer to the Law of Sin and Death. We're under "the Law of the Spirit of Life which in in Christ Jesus and we're God's Own children, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus," according to Romans 8:17.
The new creation family of God is alive, like Jesus in His earthly ministry. 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)." The new creation people are the only humans on earth who are alive in our spirit, from the Law of Sin and Death. Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive (God's) overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." Romans 6:23 (Amplified) says, "For the wages which sin pays is death, but the (bountiful) free Gift of God is eternal Life through and (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 8:10 (Amplified) tells us, "But if Christ lives in you (then although) your (natural) body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of the righteousness (that He imputes to you)." Romans 6:3 (Amplified) says, "Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death." And, Romans 6:7 (Amplified) tells us, "For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from (the power of) sin (among men) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him."
We were under the Law of Sin and Death, but we have died with Jesus and the Law of Sin and Death has been fulfilled in our lives, according to Galatians 2:20 (Amplified), where Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ (in Him I have shared His crucifixion) it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
The above scriptures tell us that, "If we sin now, then it's not any of satan's business." We belong to God, debt free. We've been redeemed (ransomed) by the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Jesus paid the debt for our sins and fulfilled the Law of Sin and Death, through His death. This is the ultimate grace that made us alive in our spirit and dead unto sin. I'm not saying that "we haven't sinned" or that "we might sin in while growing and maturing in our new man," but the requirements the Law demanded our spiritual death (separation from the Life of God) have been met in Jesus.
Sin might not unravel your salvation, but it will unravel your earthly life. God is Spirit and we are now "in Him" in our spirit, so God will deal with our sin, in a spiritual way. We've erroneously charged God, with physical things that plague the new creation. If we sin and nothing happens to us, then we feel like we've "gotten away" with sinning, but that's not true.
God deals with us in our spirit, because we are spirit beings. When we disobey His Word and don't listen to His Voice, then we get into places we have no business being in and this brings destruction and dismay into our natural lives. God's Word has "directed our paths by His Wisdom and truth," but if we walk our own paths, then we will encounter things that were never God's will for us and the new creation people will suffer.
When we get outside of God's Word, we place ourselves in the territory of the enemy and are subject to the consequences. When we find ourselves in satan's territory (sin), the Holy Spirit has provided the way for us to return to right standing with the Father. 1John 1:9 (Amplified) says, "If we (freely) admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His Own nature and Promises) and will forgive our sins (dismiss our lawlessness and continuously) cleanse us from all unrighteousness (everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action)."
This is how the new creation people are to walk in the newness of Life. We're not supposed to wait for our sins to bring physical injury in our lives, but we're to shut it down, by bringing it to Him. God doesn't teach or discipline His new creation family, like He did in the old covenant. The old covenant people were still dead in their spirit and the only way to reach them, was through their flesh. We're not like them, because we are dead in our flesh and now we are alive in our spirit. God directs and disciplines His family, by their spirit. We've been spiritually dense and have fallen into the enemy camp, where we suffer the consequences of being dull of hearing.
God teaches, corrects and disciplines His new creation family, by His Word and His Spirit. In John 14:26 (Amplified), Jesus said, "But the Comforter (Counselor, Strengthener, Intercessor, Advocate, Helper, Standby) the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My Name (in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf) He will teach you all things And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you." In Ephesians 4:10-15 (Amplified) Paul says this about the purpose of the five-fold ministry, "His intent was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people) (that they should do) the work of ministering toward building up Christ's Body (the Church)."
2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Every scripture is God breathed (given by His Inspiration) and is profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will), in thought, purpose and action. So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
God's Word is to correct the new creation people's walk with God and to keep it in the realm of God's authority. Walking in these instructions, will keep us out of the enemy's realm. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life Giver) the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it) the Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life." John 8:31-32 (Amplified) says, "So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My Word (hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them) you are truly My disciples And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."
We are children of the Most High and are called to be obedient to His Voice and His teachings. Every child becomes the product of what he or she is taught and how obedient he or she is to those teachings. Even as natural children who had loving and caring parents, we weren't allowed to do certain things, because they were harmful and could cause us injury. If we disobeyed and did these things, then we were hurt as a result for doing our own thing.
Jesus said that, "I only do what My Father says to do." These weren't platitudes that Jesus spoke, but this prevented Him from falling into satan's hold. As new creation children, we're responsible to obey the teachings and Words of our Heavenly Father. If God tells us not to do something and we ignore His Voice and this results in calamity, then we cannot say that "God did this to teach us something." We must swallow our pride and admit that we befell this calamity, because we didn't obey God's Word and His teaching. God can and will forgive us and will make it alright, but if we'd paid attention to Him, then we wouldn't have been there in the first place. Don't fall under condemnation, but place yourself into submission to the Word and the Holy Spirit. In 2Timothy 3:16 (Amplified) Paul tells us to, "Let the Word correct, discipline, train up, and bring reproof to your life."
We shouldn't need the authorities of this world to keep us from doing wrong. We should be walking far above all the laws demanded of us. Don't use Grace, to live in a place where you do not belong. The purpose of Grace isn't so we might continue living in disobedience, while still being saved. You might still be saved and going to Heaven, but you might arrive there ahead of schedule.
Don't place your life or health in the enemy's jurisdiction. David writes about God's Words in Psalms 17:4-5 (Amplified) saying, "Concerning the works of men, by the Words of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent (the paths of the destroyer) My steps have held closely to Your paths (to the tracks of the One Who has gone on before) my feet have not slipped." It's up to us, to walk in Spirit and Truth. God won't change His Word (even to protect us). But, if we walk in His Word, then the Truth of His Word will be our protection and the enemy has no defense against it.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Lesson 290 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold! All things are made fresh and new. 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 prayed in John 17:15-18 (Amplified), "I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that you will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly) belonging to the world (just) as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy) by the Truth; Your Word is Truth Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
Jesus said we were "In the world, but not of the world." The Church has struggled with living in the world, by the ways of God's Kingdom. We've cleaned-up our lives in the natural and have ministered to the poor, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, gave homes to the homeless and preached salvation to the world. These are all good and scriptural things to do, but are all things that the world can do and has done, in the flesh of natural man.
Jesus prayed above in Verse 18, "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them." This is to be what sets us apart from the world. This is something that only the new creation can do, because no one on the earth can do what Jesus did, unless they are ingrafted in Jesus. All the things the Church is now doing, are things that the Father has called us to do. It's not that we haven't been doing what God has called us to, but we've left out the other part of our calling.
Jesus said we are not of this world, indicating we have power and ability from our Heavenly home and Kingdom. We've cautious about the Super-natural Gifts and power of the Holy Spirit, in our lives. Many of us have even been taught that, "These things are no longer for us, today. Our Love and compassion for mankind is to exceed far beyond caring for their physical needs (like clothing, food, shelter) and is to reach into the realm of restoring the body (not just feeding it).
We've thankfully been faithful in leading others to Christ, but we've mostly left them in the same state they were in before being saved. You might not have the Gifts of the Spirit, but you do have the Spirit Who gives the Gifts. The world has charities to help the needs and the world (government) has become the source of help, for millions of people. But, the government is not God. It's only God, through His people, Who can open blind eyes, cleanse the leper or raise the dead. I'm not saying we should race to the hospital and raise up all those who are sick, but I do believe we must listen to the Lord and be obedient to His Voice when He calls.
Our Love is to reach further than just the needs of the flesh, into the Liberty of the Spirit into the flesh and bringing complete wholeness. We've sadly reduced God's ability to only what the world has been doing by itself. As the new creation, we are a Super-natural source of God's Spirit in this earth. We're to enjoy our lives here, while simultaneously having our lives fed and sustained by the Kingdom, while we're here. We're left here, to bring God's Kingdom into the lives of mankind. This is what Jesus meant, when He said that "He sent us, Just as the Father sent Him." Jesus' earthly ministry overlapped the charitable things, into the depths of despair that the sick, demon possessed,and the disabled held.
Jesus said some things that we may have read over or simply haven't understood. He prayed in John 17:15,17 (Amplified), "Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy) by the Truth; Your Word is Truth." Rituals and traditions that will not make us what God has called us to be. God's Word will do this. Jesus also prayed in Verse 15, "I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one."
When was the last time that we believed God to "protect and keep us from the evil one?" We've been so confused about our identity as new creations, which leads us to only see ourselves being in God's hands, only after we leave this earth. We've tried to sanctify, separate, consecrate and become holy, by trials and tests. This isn't what will make us new creation people. Jesus said that, "The Truth (God's Word) does the work in us." 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)."
You have come into the Presence of Wisdom, when you open your Bible. The problem has been that we have no discernment, revelation or interpretation of what the Word is saying. Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified) says, "Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God) the people perish but he who keep the Word of God is blessed."
We've seemingly lost the vision of the redemptive revelation of God. Most of the new creation people believe "redemption" means "when we get home to Heaven." This is when our redemption is made complete (spirit, soul, and body), but the only part of our redemption that is lacking here, is that we are still living in this house, natural body. Jesus has redeemed us even now, according to 1Peter 1:18-19 (Amplified) which says, "You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from (your) forefathers, not with corruptible things (such as) silver and gold. But (you were purchased) with the Precious Blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a (Sacrificial) Lamb, without blemish or spot."
The above scripture doesn't say that "He was going to redeem us," but that Jesus "did redeem us." In a previous blog (The Return to Eden), I wrote about have we've been restored and redeemed all the way back to prior Adam, by the Blood of Jesus. Adam had dominion over the earth and we've been "raised together with Christ into the heavenlies and seated there with Him; at the right hand of the Father, high above all principalities, dominions, and authorities." This is already done, now, while we're still in this world.
Jesus prayed in John 17:15-18 (Amplified), "I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that you will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly) belonging to the world (just) as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy) by the Truth; Your Word is Truth Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
Jesus said we were "In the world, but not of the world." The Church has struggled with living in the world, by the ways of God's Kingdom. We've cleaned-up our lives in the natural and have ministered to the poor, fed the hungry, clothed the naked, gave homes to the homeless and preached salvation to the world. These are all good and scriptural things to do, but are all things that the world can do and has done, in the flesh of natural man.
Jesus prayed above in Verse 18, "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them." This is to be what sets us apart from the world. This is something that only the new creation can do, because no one on the earth can do what Jesus did, unless they are ingrafted in Jesus. All the things the Church is now doing, are things that the Father has called us to do. It's not that we haven't been doing what God has called us to, but we've left out the other part of our calling.
Jesus said we are not of this world, indicating we have power and ability from our Heavenly home and Kingdom. We've cautious about the Super-natural Gifts and power of the Holy Spirit, in our lives. Many of us have even been taught that, "These things are no longer for us, today. Our Love and compassion for mankind is to exceed far beyond caring for their physical needs (like clothing, food, shelter) and is to reach into the realm of restoring the body (not just feeding it).
We've thankfully been faithful in leading others to Christ, but we've mostly left them in the same state they were in before being saved. You might not have the Gifts of the Spirit, but you do have the Spirit Who gives the Gifts. The world has charities to help the needs and the world (government) has become the source of help, for millions of people. But, the government is not God. It's only God, through His people, Who can open blind eyes, cleanse the leper or raise the dead. I'm not saying we should race to the hospital and raise up all those who are sick, but I do believe we must listen to the Lord and be obedient to His Voice when He calls.
Our Love is to reach further than just the needs of the flesh, into the Liberty of the Spirit into the flesh and bringing complete wholeness. We've sadly reduced God's ability to only what the world has been doing by itself. As the new creation, we are a Super-natural source of God's Spirit in this earth. We're to enjoy our lives here, while simultaneously having our lives fed and sustained by the Kingdom, while we're here. We're left here, to bring God's Kingdom into the lives of mankind. This is what Jesus meant, when He said that "He sent us, Just as the Father sent Him." Jesus' earthly ministry overlapped the charitable things, into the depths of despair that the sick, demon possessed,and the disabled held.
Jesus said some things that we may have read over or simply haven't understood. He prayed in John 17:15,17 (Amplified), "Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy) by the Truth; Your Word is Truth." Rituals and traditions that will not make us what God has called us to be. God's Word will do this. Jesus also prayed in Verse 15, "I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one."
When was the last time that we believed God to "protect and keep us from the evil one?" We've been so confused about our identity as new creations, which leads us to only see ourselves being in God's hands, only after we leave this earth. We've tried to sanctify, separate, consecrate and become holy, by trials and tests. This isn't what will make us new creation people. Jesus said that, "The Truth (God's Word) does the work in us." 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)."
You have come into the Presence of Wisdom, when you open your Bible. The problem has been that we have no discernment, revelation or interpretation of what the Word is saying. Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified) says, "Where there is no vision (no redemptive revelation of God) the people perish but he who keep the Word of God is blessed."
We've seemingly lost the vision of the redemptive revelation of God. Most of the new creation people believe "redemption" means "when we get home to Heaven." This is when our redemption is made complete (spirit, soul, and body), but the only part of our redemption that is lacking here, is that we are still living in this house, natural body. Jesus has redeemed us even now, according to 1Peter 1:18-19 (Amplified) which says, "You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from (your) forefathers, not with corruptible things (such as) silver and gold. But (you were purchased) with the Precious Blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a (Sacrificial) Lamb, without blemish or spot."
The above scripture doesn't say that "He was going to redeem us," but that Jesus "did redeem us." In a previous blog (The Return to Eden), I wrote about have we've been restored and redeemed all the way back to prior Adam, by the Blood of Jesus. Adam had dominion over the earth and we've been "raised together with Christ into the heavenlies and seated there with Him; at the right hand of the Father, high above all principalities, dominions, and authorities." This is already done, now, while we're still in this world.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
Lesson 289 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! All things are made fresh and new. But all things are from God, Who through Christ Jesus 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've read and heard sermons about the new birth, but when revelation of the new birth and the new creation came, we tried walking it out in the flesh, instead of the spirit. When we do this, we place ourselves back into the arena of darkness, which is flesh and blood and can never inherit the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom must came into the spirit, and the spirit will bring the flesh into subjection to Kingdom Law.
The new Law of Liberty in the Holy Spirit is exactly that: The Law of the Spirit of Life and Liberty. Many have said that "Paul's problems came from God, in order to humble Paul." But, Paul wrote, telling us to "humble ourselves under the Mighty hand of God." Did you ever wonder why God would assign Paul the task of preaching the Gospel and then send turmoil into Paul's life, in order to stop him? Why would Jesus give Paul the revelation that only he knew, charge Paul with the mission of teaching that revelation and then try stopping Paul from doing this? That wouldn't be very bright, would it? If God didn't want this revelation published or preached throughout the world, then He only needed to keep the revelation to Himself. Paul says that the Gospel was a "Mystery hidden in God," so we know God could have simply let it remain a mystery. God charged Paul with revealing the mystery to the world, so it wouldn't remain a mystery, but would be a revelation of the new creation through Jesus.
In Romans 6:3-4 (Amplified) Paul says, "Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the Baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, so we too might habitually live and behave in the newness of Life."
In the heart and Kingdom of God, the Law of Sin and Death has been fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus bore our sin and our death by His Own Sacrifice. When Jesus "became sin with our sin" and died in our place, the Law of Sin and Death was reckoned to be fulfilled, in the lives of all who will receive Him and are in Him. We've been justified in Him, according to Romans 6:10-11 (Amplified) which says, "For by the death He died, He died to sin (ending His relation to it) once for all; and the Life that He lives, He is living to God in unbroken fellowship with Him. Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relationship to it broken, but alive to God, living in unbroken fellowship with Him in Christ Jesus."
Even in our newness in Jesus, we've somehow never grabbed hold of this Truth and and we continue expecting "the other shoe to drop." We're still expecting to be judged for our sin, without realizing God doesn't see or recognize the Law of Sin and Death, in the new creation. This Law has been completely fulfilled in Jesus. Sin brought absence from God and demanded death (God is Life). Man was separated from God by sin, which resulted in death. It was and still is a Law and because "all had sinned, all had died." Romans 5:18-19 (Amplified) says, "Well then, as one man's trespass, one man's false step and falling away led to condemnation for all men, so One Man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and right standing with God and Life for all men. For just as by one man's disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by One Man's obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him)."
The new creation family has lacked this revelation, spending two-thousand years trying to "become" what God through Jesus, already made us to be. We don't need to try and become a new creation, anymore than we have to try and be a human being. We were born human beings. We dib't need to struggle with it or work at it, because that's simply the way we were born. It depends on how we were raised and taught as children, as to what sort of human being we become. We will be human beings, no matter how good or bad we "turn out to be." There are those who have strayed so far from seemingly being human, by their demonic and ungodly impulses and deeds. Without God, man is almost resorting to the animal nature of beasts.
When you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior and received His Sacrifice, you became a new creation. You don't have to try being what God has already made you to be. How you walk your Christian walk, will be determined by how you're raised and taught as a child of God. When we don't have the revelation of the new creation family, we go on a quest, trying to become what we think God made us to be, instead of learning what God's plan for us is and following that plan.
There are numerous and varying opinions about what the new creation child of God should be, but most involve trying to become. When you know who you already are in Christ Jesus, you can rely on God's Word and the Holy Spirit to develop the desired son and daughter God created us to be, in your spirit. Many believe this to be an impossible thing, but the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write in Ephesians 5:1-2 (Amplified), "Therefore, Be imitators of God (copy Him and follow His Example) as well beloved children imitate their father). And walk in Love (esteeming and delighting in one another) as Christ Loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God (for you, so that it became a sweet fragrance)."
Paul didn't say that you would "be God," but that we should learn "as children" from our Father. He said, this new creation should learn, be trained, and grow up into, by imitating our Heavenly Father. Jesus said, "When you see Me, you see the Father." Jesus was imitating the Father, to the point where He could truthfully and boldly say, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me that does the work."
Some would says, "Yes, but that was Jesus." We might never grow into the full and clear Image of the Father, like Jesus in His earthly ministry, but we can (like Him) learn and grow from "glory to glory and faith to faith" from the Holy Spirit's training. We can strive to become as close to our Fathers Image as we can. We've been graced with the Mind of Christ. He has now become our Wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification and everything we'll ever need to be what the new creation family was born to be. If we allow the Holy Spirit to "train up a child in the way that he should be," then we will fulfill our destiny in Christ Jesus.
We don't need to try and become a new creation, because we are already a new creation through Christ Jesus. Now, what we will grow into, depends on how or by whom we're raised and trained, according to 1Corinthians 4:15-16,17 (Amplified) which says, "After all, although you should have ten thousand teachers (guides direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel) So I urge and implore you, be imitators of me."
Like God is, Paul was jealous over you like a father is jealous over his children. "Jealous" here, means desiring the very best for you and of you, to your fullest potential and ability. Paul went on in Verse 17, "For this very cause I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, Who will recall to your minds my methods of proceeding and course of conduct and way of life in Christ, such as I teach everywhere in each of the churches."
Paul imitated Jesus as closely as he could. He taught the Church from his revelation and relationship with Christ, how to walk with the Father. This was what he taught to "each of the churches, everywhere he went."
We've read and heard sermons about the new birth, but when revelation of the new birth and the new creation came, we tried walking it out in the flesh, instead of the spirit. When we do this, we place ourselves back into the arena of darkness, which is flesh and blood and can never inherit the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom must came into the spirit, and the spirit will bring the flesh into subjection to Kingdom Law.
The new Law of Liberty in the Holy Spirit is exactly that: The Law of the Spirit of Life and Liberty. Many have said that "Paul's problems came from God, in order to humble Paul." But, Paul wrote, telling us to "humble ourselves under the Mighty hand of God." Did you ever wonder why God would assign Paul the task of preaching the Gospel and then send turmoil into Paul's life, in order to stop him? Why would Jesus give Paul the revelation that only he knew, charge Paul with the mission of teaching that revelation and then try stopping Paul from doing this? That wouldn't be very bright, would it? If God didn't want this revelation published or preached throughout the world, then He only needed to keep the revelation to Himself. Paul says that the Gospel was a "Mystery hidden in God," so we know God could have simply let it remain a mystery. God charged Paul with revealing the mystery to the world, so it wouldn't remain a mystery, but would be a revelation of the new creation through Jesus.
In Romans 6:3-4 (Amplified) Paul says, "Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the Baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, so we too might habitually live and behave in the newness of Life."
In the heart and Kingdom of God, the Law of Sin and Death has been fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus bore our sin and our death by His Own Sacrifice. When Jesus "became sin with our sin" and died in our place, the Law of Sin and Death was reckoned to be fulfilled, in the lives of all who will receive Him and are in Him. We've been justified in Him, according to Romans 6:10-11 (Amplified) which says, "For by the death He died, He died to sin (ending His relation to it) once for all; and the Life that He lives, He is living to God in unbroken fellowship with Him. Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relationship to it broken, but alive to God, living in unbroken fellowship with Him in Christ Jesus."
Even in our newness in Jesus, we've somehow never grabbed hold of this Truth and and we continue expecting "the other shoe to drop." We're still expecting to be judged for our sin, without realizing God doesn't see or recognize the Law of Sin and Death, in the new creation. This Law has been completely fulfilled in Jesus. Sin brought absence from God and demanded death (God is Life). Man was separated from God by sin, which resulted in death. It was and still is a Law and because "all had sinned, all had died." Romans 5:18-19 (Amplified) says, "Well then, as one man's trespass, one man's false step and falling away led to condemnation for all men, so One Man's act of righteousness leads to acquittal and right standing with God and Life for all men. For just as by one man's disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by One Man's obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him)."
The new creation family has lacked this revelation, spending two-thousand years trying to "become" what God through Jesus, already made us to be. We don't need to try and become a new creation, anymore than we have to try and be a human being. We were born human beings. We dib't need to struggle with it or work at it, because that's simply the way we were born. It depends on how we were raised and taught as children, as to what sort of human being we become. We will be human beings, no matter how good or bad we "turn out to be." There are those who have strayed so far from seemingly being human, by their demonic and ungodly impulses and deeds. Without God, man is almost resorting to the animal nature of beasts.
When you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior and received His Sacrifice, you became a new creation. You don't have to try being what God has already made you to be. How you walk your Christian walk, will be determined by how you're raised and taught as a child of God. When we don't have the revelation of the new creation family, we go on a quest, trying to become what we think God made us to be, instead of learning what God's plan for us is and following that plan.
There are numerous and varying opinions about what the new creation child of God should be, but most involve trying to become. When you know who you already are in Christ Jesus, you can rely on God's Word and the Holy Spirit to develop the desired son and daughter God created us to be, in your spirit. Many believe this to be an impossible thing, but the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write in Ephesians 5:1-2 (Amplified), "Therefore, Be imitators of God (copy Him and follow His Example) as well beloved children imitate their father). And walk in Love (esteeming and delighting in one another) as Christ Loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God (for you, so that it became a sweet fragrance)."
Paul didn't say that you would "be God," but that we should learn "as children" from our Father. He said, this new creation should learn, be trained, and grow up into, by imitating our Heavenly Father. Jesus said, "When you see Me, you see the Father." Jesus was imitating the Father, to the point where He could truthfully and boldly say, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me that does the work."
Some would says, "Yes, but that was Jesus." We might never grow into the full and clear Image of the Father, like Jesus in His earthly ministry, but we can (like Him) learn and grow from "glory to glory and faith to faith" from the Holy Spirit's training. We can strive to become as close to our Fathers Image as we can. We've been graced with the Mind of Christ. He has now become our Wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification and everything we'll ever need to be what the new creation family was born to be. If we allow the Holy Spirit to "train up a child in the way that he should be," then we will fulfill our destiny in Christ Jesus.
We don't need to try and become a new creation, because we are already a new creation through Christ Jesus. Now, what we will grow into, depends on how or by whom we're raised and trained, according to 1Corinthians 4:15-16,17 (Amplified) which says, "After all, although you should have ten thousand teachers (guides direct you) in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the glad tidings (the Gospel) So I urge and implore you, be imitators of me."
Like God is, Paul was jealous over you like a father is jealous over his children. "Jealous" here, means desiring the very best for you and of you, to your fullest potential and ability. Paul went on in Verse 17, "For this very cause I sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and trustworthy child in the Lord, Who will recall to your minds my methods of proceeding and course of conduct and way of life in Christ, such as I teach everywhere in each of the churches."
Paul imitated Jesus as closely as he could. He taught the Church from his revelation and relationship with Christ, how to walk with the Father. This was what he taught to "each of the churches, everywhere he went."
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Lesson 288 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! all things are made fresh and new. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
Jesus prayed in John 17:15-18 (Amplified) saying, "I do not ask that you will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly), belonging to the world, (Just) as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy) by the Truth, Your Word is Truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
The Church is living in the world by the Kingdom Laws today. Jesus was in the world, but walked in the Kingdom principles. The things of the world had no Law over Jesus, because the world was operating under the Law of Sin and Death. Jesus was without sin and wasn't subject to the Laws that governed the world. The Church has been slow to understand that through Jesus, we are now no longer governed by the Law of Sin and Death.
Many Christians still see themselves as "only forgiven sinners who were saved by grace." This is True. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of your own selves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving) but it is the Gift of God."
The thing that has eluded the Church for so long, comes from Romans 8:1-3 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit [If we listen to the Word and the Spirit, instead of the flesh]." Verses 2-3 continue, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death. For God has done what the Law could not do, its power being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit) sending His Own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an Offering for sin, God condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that Sacrifice)."
If we sin after being born-again (and we should be striving to walk in the Spirit), then it's not satan's business any longer, because we're not under that Law. Our entire life and judgment has been placed under the Sacrifice of Jesus that wiped out the old Law (which previously held mankind) and delivered it into an entirely new Law, which is the Spirit of Life, in Christ Jesus.
We now live in God's grace and in His Own family. Nothing we do or don't do, is any of satan's business any longer. When we violate the Laws of our new creation, we can place ourselves under penalty to the old laws. This is why God has placed such a high priority in our listening and learning the Laws which govern His Kingdom. The entire strength of this new creation family is listening to the Teacher of the Church (Who is the Holy Spirit) and learn how to operate in our new life. Jesus made a statement in John 16:33 (Amplified) that bears much understanding and study. Thus, He says, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distresses and frustration, but be of good cheer (take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted) For I have overcome the world, I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you."
We have focused more on the trails, than we have on the conquering. The entire reason for the trails, is to live by the dictates of the flesh and not the dictates of the Spirit. We've made much of the trials that Paul and many other New Testament heroes suffered for the sake of the Gospel. We've failed to see that Jesus delivered them out all of these trials. If we had trials of this magnitude, then we'd probably shut down and decide God was "trying us for our sins." We'd never press on. Paul knew his calling and knew satan would do everything he could, in order to stop the Gospel being preached. Paul learned from his trials, that when he was weak (when the flesh could no longer deal with natural things), the Laws of the Kingdom and the Truth of his calling in God and the Spirit of God would deliver him.
Jesus prayed in John 17:15 (Amplified), "I do not ask that you will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one." We sometimes forget that Paul was learning how to "walk out" this great revelation, in his own life. Jesus gave Paul this revelation, but Paul had to do like we must do and learn to walk in a place he'd never been before. There are times when we receive a revelation and we must learn and fight the good fight of faith, in order to walk it out. Most of us quit, before mastering the revelation and bringing the flesh into subjection to the revelation. Despite of the trials Paul faced, he never quit.
Remember that at the time, Paul was the only man (as far as we know from the Word) that had the revelation of the new creation. Satan only had to contend with one source of Truth about the Father and His family. Peter and the disciples had no idea that the new creation extended to the Gentile or that it was a Higher Law than the old Law. It was of great necessity that satan stop Paul, before others began to believe and be set free from satan's bondage.
Satan's kingdom of darkness couldn't hold man in its bondage, once man began seeing the power of deliverance from the Law of Sin and Death and began walking in the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Satan knew he needed to prevent Paul's proclaiming the Gospel of deliverance and assigned a demon spirit to Paul. This demon had only one task and one purpose; to kill or stop Paul from preaching the new creation truth to the people, according to 2Corinthaisn 12:7,9 (Amplified) where Paul says, "To keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by this exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh (a messenger of satan), to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted." Paul goes on in Verse 9 saying, God said to him, "My Grace (My favor and Loving kindness and mercy) is enough for you (sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully) For My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in your weaknesses" Paul responded, "Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ, the Messiah, may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me."
We've erroneously preached that, God "brought all these things on Paul, in order to humble him." The Word says that, "it was a messenger of satan sent to shut Paul down." Paul had to learn (just like we do) that one cannot do what is needed by the flesh, because the flesh isn't God's Law, but man's own ability. Paul had to learn how to walk out this revelation, by "yielding his intellect and ability of his knowledge about what he knew," over to the Spirit and allowing the Lord to move through him. It's noteworthy that Paul referred to his trials as "a splinter in his flesh." We would have probably called it "a disaster" and probably sat down, cried and stopped spreading the Good News.
Like Paul, we must allow the Holy Spirit to cause us to rise above the world.
Jesus prayed in John 17:15-18 (Amplified) saying, "I do not ask that you will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly), belonging to the world, (Just) as I am not of the world. Sanctify them (purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy) by the Truth, Your Word is Truth. Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
The Church is living in the world by the Kingdom Laws today. Jesus was in the world, but walked in the Kingdom principles. The things of the world had no Law over Jesus, because the world was operating under the Law of Sin and Death. Jesus was without sin and wasn't subject to the Laws that governed the world. The Church has been slow to understand that through Jesus, we are now no longer governed by the Law of Sin and Death.
Many Christians still see themselves as "only forgiven sinners who were saved by grace." This is True. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of your own selves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving) but it is the Gift of God."
The thing that has eluded the Church for so long, comes from Romans 8:1-3 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit [If we listen to the Word and the Spirit, instead of the flesh]." Verses 2-3 continue, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death. For God has done what the Law could not do, its power being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit) sending His Own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an Offering for sin, God condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that Sacrifice)."
If we sin after being born-again (and we should be striving to walk in the Spirit), then it's not satan's business any longer, because we're not under that Law. Our entire life and judgment has been placed under the Sacrifice of Jesus that wiped out the old Law (which previously held mankind) and delivered it into an entirely new Law, which is the Spirit of Life, in Christ Jesus.
We now live in God's grace and in His Own family. Nothing we do or don't do, is any of satan's business any longer. When we violate the Laws of our new creation, we can place ourselves under penalty to the old laws. This is why God has placed such a high priority in our listening and learning the Laws which govern His Kingdom. The entire strength of this new creation family is listening to the Teacher of the Church (Who is the Holy Spirit) and learn how to operate in our new life. Jesus made a statement in John 16:33 (Amplified) that bears much understanding and study. Thus, He says, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distresses and frustration, but be of good cheer (take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted) For I have overcome the world, I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you."
We have focused more on the trails, than we have on the conquering. The entire reason for the trails, is to live by the dictates of the flesh and not the dictates of the Spirit. We've made much of the trials that Paul and many other New Testament heroes suffered for the sake of the Gospel. We've failed to see that Jesus delivered them out all of these trials. If we had trials of this magnitude, then we'd probably shut down and decide God was "trying us for our sins." We'd never press on. Paul knew his calling and knew satan would do everything he could, in order to stop the Gospel being preached. Paul learned from his trials, that when he was weak (when the flesh could no longer deal with natural things), the Laws of the Kingdom and the Truth of his calling in God and the Spirit of God would deliver him.
Jesus prayed in John 17:15 (Amplified), "I do not ask that you will take them out of the world, but that You will keep and protect them from the evil one." We sometimes forget that Paul was learning how to "walk out" this great revelation, in his own life. Jesus gave Paul this revelation, but Paul had to do like we must do and learn to walk in a place he'd never been before. There are times when we receive a revelation and we must learn and fight the good fight of faith, in order to walk it out. Most of us quit, before mastering the revelation and bringing the flesh into subjection to the revelation. Despite of the trials Paul faced, he never quit.
Remember that at the time, Paul was the only man (as far as we know from the Word) that had the revelation of the new creation. Satan only had to contend with one source of Truth about the Father and His family. Peter and the disciples had no idea that the new creation extended to the Gentile or that it was a Higher Law than the old Law. It was of great necessity that satan stop Paul, before others began to believe and be set free from satan's bondage.
Satan's kingdom of darkness couldn't hold man in its bondage, once man began seeing the power of deliverance from the Law of Sin and Death and began walking in the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Satan knew he needed to prevent Paul's proclaiming the Gospel of deliverance and assigned a demon spirit to Paul. This demon had only one task and one purpose; to kill or stop Paul from preaching the new creation truth to the people, according to 2Corinthaisn 12:7,9 (Amplified) where Paul says, "To keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by this exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh (a messenger of satan), to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted." Paul goes on in Verse 9 saying, God said to him, "My Grace (My favor and Loving kindness and mercy) is enough for you (sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully) For My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in your weaknesses" Paul responded, "Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ, the Messiah, may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me."
We've erroneously preached that, God "brought all these things on Paul, in order to humble him." The Word says that, "it was a messenger of satan sent to shut Paul down." Paul had to learn (just like we do) that one cannot do what is needed by the flesh, because the flesh isn't God's Law, but man's own ability. Paul had to learn how to walk out this revelation, by "yielding his intellect and ability of his knowledge about what he knew," over to the Spirit and allowing the Lord to move through him. It's noteworthy that Paul referred to his trials as "a splinter in his flesh." We would have probably called it "a disaster" and probably sat down, cried and stopped spreading the Good News.
Like Paul, we must allow the Holy Spirit to cause us to rise above the world.
Monday, November 6, 2017
Lesson 287 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! All things are made fresh and new. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
As we learn more about and begin to understand who we are in this new creation, we will find it easier to walk and live in what we've been birthed into. Many of the Kingdom's children have never really learned to live by the Kingdom principles. We have enough Word in us, so we don't fit in this world any longer; while having enough world in us, that we cannot fit into the Kingdom. The Kingdom heritage that is ours through Jesus, doesn't fit into the religious structure we've been taught for years.
This makes it difficult for us to understand the Father's full Promise, because the traditions and religious teachings have denied it's being for this time. Nearly all we've learned about Christianity is for "when we get to Heaven" or "for another time and generation." Jesus preached in John 10:10 (Amplified) that, "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)."
Jesus came so that we might have life and enjoy life to the full. We have life here, but Jesus came to give us Life by the Spirit and restore the life we were meant to heave here. Mankind could never live life here on this earth like God intended from the beginning, without the Spiritual Life that Jesus came to give us. We weren't meant to be "as miserable as possible" while we're here on earth, but we're to be restored back and enjoy what the Father created for us in the beginning.
The things of the world were against the Father and not the things of the earth. Through Jesus, we're able to live here on earth, like Adam was in the beginning. We have the ability of the Spirit to govern the things of the flesh and bring the things of the earth back into what God intended from the first, so that we can have and enjoy life to the overflow of it.
Did you know that God never intended for us to live the way many of us did before knowing Jesus? Some of us came from extreme poverty, want, abuse, sickness, disease, depression and many other misuses of this world. This was never the heart of our Father, for His family. When Jesus said that, "He came that we might have and enjoy life," He didn't remove the things that made life enjoyable here (like marriage, family, happiness and children), but through Him, we now would be able to have the full joy that the Father had for us, when placing mankind on earth.
We never lost anything that we had before being born-again, except for what sin had burdened us with. It was the "thief who came to steal the blessings and destroy the joy and bring death that grieved man's hearts." Through Jesus, we are now able to again enjoy our lives here on earth and in Heaven for eternity. We tend to separate this life from the "next" life, but they are one and the same. The life that Jesus gave us, is now, while living on earth. We've never learned how to combine the Life of the Spirit, with the life on earth.
Religion and tradition have trained us to accept the world's misery as "a penalty for being here." The Blessing of Abraham came upon us through Jesus and it was a temporal and earthly Blessing. God Blessed Abraham with such good things as gold, silver, cattle, sheep, family and prosperity. These Blessing came from Abraham's union with God and were to be enjoyed here, as well as with the Lord in his future.
My life here, since becoming a new creation, has been blessed by Jesus. I'm not what I was before receiving Jesus as my Lord, but I'm a new creation. I've discovered in God's Word and His Promises, that I can enjoy life here and still walk with God. I have accepted the Blessing, so I can now bless others and enjoy my life to overflowing. I must learn how to receive this great impartation for two realms, from God's Word and His Spirit. I've begun to see how the Blessing from the Kingdom, works here in this earthly realm too.
We've been taught that "all Christians must suffer, in order to be rewarded in Heaven." I've found though, that the rewards of Heaven are for the overcomer. We weren't meant to "suffer," as much as we were meant to overcome the sufferings of this world. Paul said in 2Corinthians 12:10 (Amplified), "So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities, and distresses, for when I am weak in human strength, then am I truly strong, able, powerful in Divine strength."
Paul said that facing hardships of this life, gave him God's strength to overcome, through his new creation life. Many others have suffered the same hardships as Paul, but failed. As part of the new creation family, we have entrance into the Divine ability of the Father. That allows us to overcome the things in life that would have defeated and destroyed us, in the carnal natural life we had before. When satan singled Paul out for destruction, God reminded Paul that His Grace provided all that was needed for Paul to overcome. We've misunderstood the power of God's Grace, that puts us over the lies of satan.
The only thing Jesus came to take away from man, was sin and death; not life. There were certainly things from our old lifestyles that would be removed, but not the things that brought us happiness and joy. The old, sinful things of the flesh were "crucified with Christ on the cross," so the things of our natural body could once again glorify God. Jesus didn't take away the love I have for my wife and family, but He enhanced my love for them with His Love, making it more perfect. 1John 2:15-16 (Amplified) says, "Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world, if anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh craving for sensual gratification, and the lust of the eyes, greedy longings of the mind, and the pride of life, assurance in ones own resources or in the stability of earthly things, these do not come from the Father but are from the world itself."
We must learn to distinguish between the world and the earth. The world is the system satan establish when Adam fell. It's a system that denies God and tries making men meet his own needs without God. The earth is the home God created for His children to live and walk in, when He formed the natural body that the spirit abides in. The earth was lush and full and under the dominion of God's family.
When we love the world and it's system, we must deny God in a variety of different ways. The world doesn't acknowledge sin any longer. It's acceptable for man to "do whatever he or she wishes." This isn't true in the Kingdom, which has returned man to the dominion over the earth. There are many things I still enjoy in the earth, but it's difficult to find anything in the world that's worth looking at. The world has war, famine, disease, terror, divorce, child abuse, broken homes, drugs and alcohol, and the spirit of disobedience abiding in the men of the world. Our job is to bring them into relationship with the Father; not to kill them.
God has charged the new creation people with changing the hearts of man, to the heart of God. We're not to do this through condemnation, but through the ministry of reconciliation with the Father. We do this by being different from the world, while still being joyful in the earth. We're to take the things the world brings against us and overcome them by the Kingdom principles we now hold. Through Jesus, we're to bring light and hope to the world. When they see us rise above this world, they will have hope that by Jesus, they can rise above it's problems too. It's not the problems that will change the hearts of unbelievers, but it's the victory over the problems, that the world needs to see and know.
When we actually learn who the new creation person is, we will be able to reveal Jesus to the world, like He really is. The lost world won't just see a Man Who died two-thousand years ago, but will see a Man Who is alive and living through the new creation man who was created in His Image and Likeness.
As we learn more about and begin to understand who we are in this new creation, we will find it easier to walk and live in what we've been birthed into. Many of the Kingdom's children have never really learned to live by the Kingdom principles. We have enough Word in us, so we don't fit in this world any longer; while having enough world in us, that we cannot fit into the Kingdom. The Kingdom heritage that is ours through Jesus, doesn't fit into the religious structure we've been taught for years.
This makes it difficult for us to understand the Father's full Promise, because the traditions and religious teachings have denied it's being for this time. Nearly all we've learned about Christianity is for "when we get to Heaven" or "for another time and generation." Jesus preached in John 10:10 (Amplified) that, "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)."
Jesus came so that we might have life and enjoy life to the full. We have life here, but Jesus came to give us Life by the Spirit and restore the life we were meant to heave here. Mankind could never live life here on this earth like God intended from the beginning, without the Spiritual Life that Jesus came to give us. We weren't meant to be "as miserable as possible" while we're here on earth, but we're to be restored back and enjoy what the Father created for us in the beginning.
The things of the world were against the Father and not the things of the earth. Through Jesus, we're able to live here on earth, like Adam was in the beginning. We have the ability of the Spirit to govern the things of the flesh and bring the things of the earth back into what God intended from the first, so that we can have and enjoy life to the overflow of it.
Did you know that God never intended for us to live the way many of us did before knowing Jesus? Some of us came from extreme poverty, want, abuse, sickness, disease, depression and many other misuses of this world. This was never the heart of our Father, for His family. When Jesus said that, "He came that we might have and enjoy life," He didn't remove the things that made life enjoyable here (like marriage, family, happiness and children), but through Him, we now would be able to have the full joy that the Father had for us, when placing mankind on earth.
We never lost anything that we had before being born-again, except for what sin had burdened us with. It was the "thief who came to steal the blessings and destroy the joy and bring death that grieved man's hearts." Through Jesus, we are now able to again enjoy our lives here on earth and in Heaven for eternity. We tend to separate this life from the "next" life, but they are one and the same. The life that Jesus gave us, is now, while living on earth. We've never learned how to combine the Life of the Spirit, with the life on earth.
Religion and tradition have trained us to accept the world's misery as "a penalty for being here." The Blessing of Abraham came upon us through Jesus and it was a temporal and earthly Blessing. God Blessed Abraham with such good things as gold, silver, cattle, sheep, family and prosperity. These Blessing came from Abraham's union with God and were to be enjoyed here, as well as with the Lord in his future.
My life here, since becoming a new creation, has been blessed by Jesus. I'm not what I was before receiving Jesus as my Lord, but I'm a new creation. I've discovered in God's Word and His Promises, that I can enjoy life here and still walk with God. I have accepted the Blessing, so I can now bless others and enjoy my life to overflowing. I must learn how to receive this great impartation for two realms, from God's Word and His Spirit. I've begun to see how the Blessing from the Kingdom, works here in this earthly realm too.
We've been taught that "all Christians must suffer, in order to be rewarded in Heaven." I've found though, that the rewards of Heaven are for the overcomer. We weren't meant to "suffer," as much as we were meant to overcome the sufferings of this world. Paul said in 2Corinthians 12:10 (Amplified), "So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities, and distresses, for when I am weak in human strength, then am I truly strong, able, powerful in Divine strength."
Paul said that facing hardships of this life, gave him God's strength to overcome, through his new creation life. Many others have suffered the same hardships as Paul, but failed. As part of the new creation family, we have entrance into the Divine ability of the Father. That allows us to overcome the things in life that would have defeated and destroyed us, in the carnal natural life we had before. When satan singled Paul out for destruction, God reminded Paul that His Grace provided all that was needed for Paul to overcome. We've misunderstood the power of God's Grace, that puts us over the lies of satan.
The only thing Jesus came to take away from man, was sin and death; not life. There were certainly things from our old lifestyles that would be removed, but not the things that brought us happiness and joy. The old, sinful things of the flesh were "crucified with Christ on the cross," so the things of our natural body could once again glorify God. Jesus didn't take away the love I have for my wife and family, but He enhanced my love for them with His Love, making it more perfect. 1John 2:15-16 (Amplified) says, "Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world, if anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world-the lust of the flesh craving for sensual gratification, and the lust of the eyes, greedy longings of the mind, and the pride of life, assurance in ones own resources or in the stability of earthly things, these do not come from the Father but are from the world itself."
We must learn to distinguish between the world and the earth. The world is the system satan establish when Adam fell. It's a system that denies God and tries making men meet his own needs without God. The earth is the home God created for His children to live and walk in, when He formed the natural body that the spirit abides in. The earth was lush and full and under the dominion of God's family.
When we love the world and it's system, we must deny God in a variety of different ways. The world doesn't acknowledge sin any longer. It's acceptable for man to "do whatever he or she wishes." This isn't true in the Kingdom, which has returned man to the dominion over the earth. There are many things I still enjoy in the earth, but it's difficult to find anything in the world that's worth looking at. The world has war, famine, disease, terror, divorce, child abuse, broken homes, drugs and alcohol, and the spirit of disobedience abiding in the men of the world. Our job is to bring them into relationship with the Father; not to kill them.
God has charged the new creation people with changing the hearts of man, to the heart of God. We're not to do this through condemnation, but through the ministry of reconciliation with the Father. We do this by being different from the world, while still being joyful in the earth. We're to take the things the world brings against us and overcome them by the Kingdom principles we now hold. Through Jesus, we're to bring light and hope to the world. When they see us rise above this world, they will have hope that by Jesus, they can rise above it's problems too. It's not the problems that will change the hearts of unbelievers, but it's the victory over the problems, that the world needs to see and know.
When we actually learn who the new creation person is, we will be able to reveal Jesus to the world, like He really is. The lost world won't just see a Man Who died two-thousand years ago, but will see a Man Who is alive and living through the new creation man who was created in His Image and Likeness.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Lesson 286 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! All things are made new. 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 with Him (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
I've been using the above scripture for our text in many lessons. Let's read what Paul writes in Verses 13-16 of 2Corinthians 5 about the new creation family, saying, "For if we are beside ourselves (mad as some would say) it is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. For the Love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that if One died for all, then all died. And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view, in terms of natural standards of value. No, even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, Yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh."
Paul received this revelation directly from Jesus and we can read Verse 17 in light of this revelation. Thus, it 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 might have read these scriptures many times, without grasping what Paul said, because we've been taught and trained to see ourselves as still "being after the flesh" and "just forgiven sinners." We continue seeing ourselves after the flesh, as the old man, which leaves us focused on our weakness and short comings. Paul instructed us to "estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view and in terms of natural standards only."
We've been taught to focus on humanity and not the Spirit, so we haven't seen who we were created to be. Using human standards and abilities, we always lead to falling short of the new creation. We are more aware of our own disabilities, instead of His ability. In the humanity's natural state, we cannot simply lay hands on the sick and expect them to be healed. But, we're not only human any longer. We tend to forget that God's Holy Spirit is now living our vessels of flesh and it's no longer us, "but the Father in us, Who does the work."
Jesus stated this many times, in many ways. It wasn't His flesh, but the Holy Spirit within Him, Who worked all of the miracles that Jesus performed. Jesus' body (the flesh and blood humanity that He lived in) was born from God and was without sin. Through Him, the sinful part of you (spirit, soul and body) was laid on the cross with Jesus and died. This is what Paul said in 2Corinthians 5:14-15 (Amplified), where he said, "For the Love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that if One died for all, then all died. And He died for all, so that all those who live no longer live to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake."
God now sees even our mortal body as "being without sin ," like Jesus was. Our old, mortal and sinful flesh, was crucified and died with Jesus, leaving the new creation man holy, blameless and without sin in God's eyes. This isn't saying that we should continue in sin without repentance, but that we won't allow the weakness of the flesh distract us from who we've become in this new creation. If we concentrate only on the body, then we will never rise to the full standards of who we are in Him. We learn from the Word and our Teacher, the Holy Spirit, how to bring the body under subjection to the spirit and see ourselves like God sees us.
2Corinthians 3:16-18 (Amplified) says, "But whenever a person in repentance to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). 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 every increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit."
We can never become the new creation manifested to the world, without God's Word and the Holy Spirit. We will never "see in the Word of God, as in a mirror" what we've now become, if we read it with a carnal mind. Reading with a carnal mind, will leave us to only see ourselves as who we once were. If we allow the Spirit to reveal God's Word (like in a mirror), then He will show us who we've now become.
The Super-natural things of God are impossible to the natural man, but the Super-natural has been ingrafted into the new creation man. This allows us to carry out the work and ministry of reconciliation to the world. Romans 8:29 (Amplified) tells us that Jesus was the Firstborn of many brethren. Thus, Paul writes, "For those whom He foreknew (of whom He was aware and Love 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 among many brethren." Hebrews 12:23 (Amplified) says, "And to the Church, assembly of the Firstborn who are registered as citizens in Heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, the redeemed in Heaven, who have been made perfect."
Satan and his system, have tried keeping the Church in spiritual blindness, to the Truth of what Jesus has actually done when through Him, God brought forth the new creation. This new creation is no longer subject to the old, spiritual bondage that came upon them through Adam, but we've been created new by Jesus Christ. We've been redeemed from the entire Law of Sin and Death and have been restored into the perfection of the Father's heart. From the very beginning, the Father's heart was for family. Through Adam's fall, God momentarily lost His dream for that family, but He set into motion a way to redeem mankind and return His children back to Himself, from captivity.
We've been created new, through Christ Jesus. We're not just simply forgiven sinners (like in the old covenant), but we've been made brand new. Not a trace of Adam's sin has been left to tarnish God's family and bring shame upon Him. The Very Spirit of God, Who loves, heals and makes whole is now living in our own spirit, to do whatever is needful to set the captives free.
It's the Spirit Who gives these Gifts as He will and He will deliver which of these Gifts is needed to set someone free, through you. He knows what Gift is needed for the person you are ministering to. This doesn't mean that you "have the Gift of Healing," but that you do "have the One Who has these Gifts." He will manifest them through you, as they are needed.
Don't lock yourself into the same thing we've been deceived into believing for over two-thousand years. We've been taught that "These Gifts aren't for everyone," for far too long. Not everyone might have the Gifts, but all do have the One Who has these Gifts. He gives these Gifts as He wills, so that "these signs and wonders followed those who believe." Not all (if any) were of the five-fold ministry, but these signs followed those who believed.
We must allow the Holy Spirit to do what He wishes to do through us, in order to set at liberty all who are bound (spirit, soul, and body). If it requires healing, then He will heal them. If it requires deliverance, then He will deliver them. Whatever the need is, the Holy Spirit will deliver these Gifts as He wills. In Jesus' ministry (and that of Paul and others), we witness the Holy Spirit "as He healed them all."
In some instances, like in Nazareth with Jesus, the unbelief of the people, caused Him "to do no mighty works." This isn't something we judge, but the Spirit. For all who would believe, though, deliverance was always there. Jesus could only heal, restore and minister to those who would believe and this is true for us today. Don't allow yourself to fall into the thinking that has plagued the Church for centuries, believing that, "It might not be God's will to heal them." It was God's will to heal them all, but it was their will not to receive it. It's the same as it is with the Word of salvation. God would that "all should be saved and come to the knowledge of Him," but there are those who refuse God's will.
Don't fall into the religious habit of trying to determine "which ones God would deal with." Do what we are created to do and allow God, through His Spirit, to do His will. Not everyone Jesus preached to, believed His Message, but all had the same opportunity to receive. This is the way man was made and God will respect it. You have a choice to make (as far as doing what we've been created to do) and we must make it wisely.
I've been using the above scripture for our text in many lessons. Let's read what Paul writes in Verses 13-16 of 2Corinthians 5 about the new creation family, saying, "For if we are beside ourselves (mad as some would say) it is for God and concerns Him; if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. For the Love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that if One died for all, then all died. And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view, in terms of natural standards of value. No, even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, Yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh."
Paul received this revelation directly from Jesus and we can read Verse 17 in light of this revelation. Thus, it 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 might have read these scriptures many times, without grasping what Paul said, because we've been taught and trained to see ourselves as still "being after the flesh" and "just forgiven sinners." We continue seeing ourselves after the flesh, as the old man, which leaves us focused on our weakness and short comings. Paul instructed us to "estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view and in terms of natural standards only."
We've been taught to focus on humanity and not the Spirit, so we haven't seen who we were created to be. Using human standards and abilities, we always lead to falling short of the new creation. We are more aware of our own disabilities, instead of His ability. In the humanity's natural state, we cannot simply lay hands on the sick and expect them to be healed. But, we're not only human any longer. We tend to forget that God's Holy Spirit is now living our vessels of flesh and it's no longer us, "but the Father in us, Who does the work."
Jesus stated this many times, in many ways. It wasn't His flesh, but the Holy Spirit within Him, Who worked all of the miracles that Jesus performed. Jesus' body (the flesh and blood humanity that He lived in) was born from God and was without sin. Through Him, the sinful part of you (spirit, soul and body) was laid on the cross with Jesus and died. This is what Paul said in 2Corinthians 5:14-15 (Amplified), where he said, "For the Love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that if One died for all, then all died. And He died for all, so that all those who live no longer live to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake."
God now sees even our mortal body as "being without sin ," like Jesus was. Our old, mortal and sinful flesh, was crucified and died with Jesus, leaving the new creation man holy, blameless and without sin in God's eyes. This isn't saying that we should continue in sin without repentance, but that we won't allow the weakness of the flesh distract us from who we've become in this new creation. If we concentrate only on the body, then we will never rise to the full standards of who we are in Him. We learn from the Word and our Teacher, the Holy Spirit, how to bring the body under subjection to the spirit and see ourselves like God sees us.
2Corinthians 3:16-18 (Amplified) says, "But whenever a person in repentance to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). 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 every increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit."
We can never become the new creation manifested to the world, without God's Word and the Holy Spirit. We will never "see in the Word of God, as in a mirror" what we've now become, if we read it with a carnal mind. Reading with a carnal mind, will leave us to only see ourselves as who we once were. If we allow the Spirit to reveal God's Word (like in a mirror), then He will show us who we've now become.
The Super-natural things of God are impossible to the natural man, but the Super-natural has been ingrafted into the new creation man. This allows us to carry out the work and ministry of reconciliation to the world. Romans 8:29 (Amplified) tells us that Jesus was the Firstborn of many brethren. Thus, Paul writes, "For those whom He foreknew (of whom He was aware and Love 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 among many brethren." Hebrews 12:23 (Amplified) says, "And to the Church, assembly of the Firstborn who are registered as citizens in Heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, the redeemed in Heaven, who have been made perfect."
Satan and his system, have tried keeping the Church in spiritual blindness, to the Truth of what Jesus has actually done when through Him, God brought forth the new creation. This new creation is no longer subject to the old, spiritual bondage that came upon them through Adam, but we've been created new by Jesus Christ. We've been redeemed from the entire Law of Sin and Death and have been restored into the perfection of the Father's heart. From the very beginning, the Father's heart was for family. Through Adam's fall, God momentarily lost His dream for that family, but He set into motion a way to redeem mankind and return His children back to Himself, from captivity.
We've been created new, through Christ Jesus. We're not just simply forgiven sinners (like in the old covenant), but we've been made brand new. Not a trace of Adam's sin has been left to tarnish God's family and bring shame upon Him. The Very Spirit of God, Who loves, heals and makes whole is now living in our own spirit, to do whatever is needful to set the captives free.
It's the Spirit Who gives these Gifts as He will and He will deliver which of these Gifts is needed to set someone free, through you. He knows what Gift is needed for the person you are ministering to. This doesn't mean that you "have the Gift of Healing," but that you do "have the One Who has these Gifts." He will manifest them through you, as they are needed.
Don't lock yourself into the same thing we've been deceived into believing for over two-thousand years. We've been taught that "These Gifts aren't for everyone," for far too long. Not everyone might have the Gifts, but all do have the One Who has these Gifts. He gives these Gifts as He wills, so that "these signs and wonders followed those who believe." Not all (if any) were of the five-fold ministry, but these signs followed those who believed.
We must allow the Holy Spirit to do what He wishes to do through us, in order to set at liberty all who are bound (spirit, soul, and body). If it requires healing, then He will heal them. If it requires deliverance, then He will deliver them. Whatever the need is, the Holy Spirit will deliver these Gifts as He wills. In Jesus' ministry (and that of Paul and others), we witness the Holy Spirit "as He healed them all."
In some instances, like in Nazareth with Jesus, the unbelief of the people, caused Him "to do no mighty works." This isn't something we judge, but the Spirit. For all who would believe, though, deliverance was always there. Jesus could only heal, restore and minister to those who would believe and this is true for us today. Don't allow yourself to fall into the thinking that has plagued the Church for centuries, believing that, "It might not be God's will to heal them." It was God's will to heal them all, but it was their will not to receive it. It's the same as it is with the Word of salvation. God would that "all should be saved and come to the knowledge of Him," but there are those who refuse God's will.
Don't fall into the religious habit of trying to determine "which ones God would deal with." Do what we are created to do and allow God, through His Spirit, to do His will. Not everyone Jesus preached to, believed His Message, but all had the same opportunity to receive. This is the way man was made and God will respect it. You have a choice to make (as far as doing what we've been created to do) and we must make it wisely.
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Lesson 285 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! All things are made new. 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 with Him (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
Who and what is the new creation? God's Word says we're a new creation and this indicates that there was never anyone like us before, otherwise we wouldn't be a new creation. What our new quest should be, is finding out what God's Word and the Holy Spirit (our Teacher) says we are created to be and what are we that was never before.
Those used of the Lord under the old covenant, only had His Spirit come down upon them for a purpose and a season. When the Spirit left them, they were mere mortal men. Some were used in mighty and miraculous ways, but only when the Holy Spirit was upon them. God used these men for a purpose to deliver His Word and His deliverance of His people. God used some as prophets, to speak His Word into the earth, while using others to deliver His spoken Words.
In the new covenant, we are not like these men at all. The only common thing we share with the Old Testament saints, is our faith in Him Who Promised. We are no longer longer servants, but family, in the new covenant. We're not like those in whom the Spirit came down upon, because we are now those the Holy Spirit has made His home.
"The Word of God testifies that all these lived and died in their faith," according to Hebrews 11. This faith is a trust in God, that He is Almighty. In Romans 4:21 (Amplified) God speaks about Abraham (the one who God now calls "The father of our faith") saying, "Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had Promised." God has made many such Promises to us, in this new family of believers.
Abraham had an outstanding faith, concerning God's Promises to him. Today, most of us will never need to believe such a great Promise as the one God gave to Abraham. It's unthinkable in the natural realm, to believe that Abraham and Sarah would bear a son at one-hundred years of age. This faith impressed the Father, that He calls Abraham "The father of our faith" and God has accounted unto Abraham as "righteousness (right standing with God)."
We've been born-again into God's family and have been made the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus. We must also believe what God has said and that He will do what He has Promised us, according to Romans 5:1 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore, Since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us (grasp the fact that we) have (the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy) peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
Our righteousness differs a little from Abraham's, but it still relies on faith. Abraham's righteousness was "credited to him," while ours has been "imparted to us." Abraham trusted God and God counted it as righteousness. We were made righteous in our union with Jesus. Some struggle to accept this Truth, by faith in our family relationship with God. We are a new creation and differ from all others on the planet. The same Holy Spirit Who worked all the great things of God, when He came upon the Old Testament heroes, now lives in our new creation spirit for all time.
What is the nature and the character of this new creation? Are we only as some have said "only forgiven sinners?" Or, are we truly a new creation? It's certainly true that God no longer remembers our sins and iniquities, but He didn't do this just to forgive our sin. God removed even the stain of sin and made us altogether new. We have now received the very natural and character of our Father Himself. The signs and wonders that the Holy Spirit revealed in the old covenant saints, now lives in the new spirits of the new creation family of God.
Most of what Jesus preached was already in the Word and the people knew and had already read it. They just didn't believe that it was for them or for their time. We've fallen into the same trap of unbelief, that they did. Like them, we believe it's going to be, but it's not for us or our times. We keep putting it off for future generations. Jesus preached a sermon that had already been read and known to all of Israel for thousands of years, in Luke 4:18-21 (Amplified). The thing that threw them, was where Jesus said in Verse 21, "Today, this scripture has been fulfilled while you are present and hearing." The fact that God's Promise was no longer just the future, but now, wasn't something easy for them to grasp.
The great thing about Jesus' ministry was that He knew Who He was. And, because He knew Who He was, He had no problem doing what He was sent to do. The new creation family has had a problem of not knowing who we are and this has led to our not doing what we were meant to do. We've often looked at "the ministry," as being behind the pulpit or someone who travels from church to church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (Amplified) says, "And His Gifts were varied (He Himself appointed and gave men to us) some to be apostles (special messengers) some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders) some evangelists (preachers of the God, traveling missionaries) some pastors (shepherds of His flocks) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people) (that they should do) the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the Church) That it might develop until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the (full and accurate) knowledge of the Son of God, that we might arrive at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's Own perfection, the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him."
God gave the five-fold ministry as a Gift, to bring the Body of Christ (the Church) into a knowledge of who and what Jesus has made us to be and to minister to the world and the workplace. The Gifts of the Spirit from 1Corinthians 12:7-31 (Amplified) are primarily Gifts used in the five-fold ministry, but are not exclusive to them. Thus, Paul says, "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Holy Spirit (the evidence, the Spiritual illumination of the Spirit for good and profit." Verse 31 says, "But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best Gifts and graces (the higher Gifts and choicest Graces) and yet I will show you a still more excellent way (one that is better by far and the highest of all-Love)."
The Holy Spirit has and gives these Gifts, "as He will to profit all" and we are to strive to walk in Love, in order to be a recipient of these Gifts. These Gifts aren't limited to the five-fold ministry. When we develop Love, we become candidates for one or all of these Gifts, to set others free.
We are new creations and have the Holy Spirit living in and through us. He determines these Gifts and to whom they are bound. Through the Holy Spirit, we are to bring these Gifts to those who need them. We've read about and have been taught about those have a healing ministry, a deliverance ministry or a teaching ministry. The Truth is, there is but one ministry and that is the ministry of reconciliation. We are all called into this ministry.
2Corinthians 5:18-19 (Amplified) tells us, "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) It was God (Personally Present) in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting and holding against (men) their trespasses (but canceling them and committing to us the ministry of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor)."
We can see from even these few scriptures, that the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Message of the Holy Spirit are for all who are walking in the Love of God and are moved by His compassion to set he captives free. Jesus told His followers in Mark 16:15-17,20 (Amplified), "Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the Good News (the Gospel) to every creature of the whole human race. He who believes (who adheres to and trust in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death) but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth, will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe." Notice, Jesus didn't say "these things will follow those in the five-fold ministry" or only a "special people," but "those who believe." I'm writing now to the Church, which is made up of believers (those who believe).
We see the result of God's new creation family who believed what was preached; not the apostles, not the disciples, but those who believed what they heard in Vere 20 which says, "And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the Message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it (the Word preached)."
This wasn't the Gifts of the Spirit from 1Corinthians 12 and it wasn't for the five-fold ministry, but was for all who heard and believed and proclaimed it. Signs, wonders and miracles accompanied the men and women as they heard, believed and did what the new creation is supposed to do.
This is nature, character and calling of the new creation family of God. You might never lay hands on thousands of people. You might not minister healing and deliverance to thousands of people either, but if thousands of us lay hands on one person, then thousands will see and hear and believe. This isn't an anointing for some, but for all who believe. What can be wrong with simply laying your hands on someone who is sick, simply because God told us to? This doesn't mean you're called into a healing ministry, but that you're a new creation with the Holy Spirit (Who gives the Gifts as He wills) living within you. We have the One Who has and gives these Gifts as He wills to profit everyone who needs them, living inside us.
This is who we are and what we are. We're a new creation, filled with His Spirit to do His will and reconcile the world back to Himself, "by word and deed."
Who and what is the new creation? God's Word says we're a new creation and this indicates that there was never anyone like us before, otherwise we wouldn't be a new creation. What our new quest should be, is finding out what God's Word and the Holy Spirit (our Teacher) says we are created to be and what are we that was never before.
Those used of the Lord under the old covenant, only had His Spirit come down upon them for a purpose and a season. When the Spirit left them, they were mere mortal men. Some were used in mighty and miraculous ways, but only when the Holy Spirit was upon them. God used these men for a purpose to deliver His Word and His deliverance of His people. God used some as prophets, to speak His Word into the earth, while using others to deliver His spoken Words.
In the new covenant, we are not like these men at all. The only common thing we share with the Old Testament saints, is our faith in Him Who Promised. We are no longer longer servants, but family, in the new covenant. We're not like those in whom the Spirit came down upon, because we are now those the Holy Spirit has made His home.
"The Word of God testifies that all these lived and died in their faith," according to Hebrews 11. This faith is a trust in God, that He is Almighty. In Romans 4:21 (Amplified) God speaks about Abraham (the one who God now calls "The father of our faith") saying, "Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His Word and do what He had Promised." God has made many such Promises to us, in this new family of believers.
Abraham had an outstanding faith, concerning God's Promises to him. Today, most of us will never need to believe such a great Promise as the one God gave to Abraham. It's unthinkable in the natural realm, to believe that Abraham and Sarah would bear a son at one-hundred years of age. This faith impressed the Father, that He calls Abraham "The father of our faith" and God has accounted unto Abraham as "righteousness (right standing with God)."
We've been born-again into God's family and have been made the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus. We must also believe what God has said and that He will do what He has Promised us, according to Romans 5:1 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore, Since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us (grasp the fact that we) have (the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy) peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
Our righteousness differs a little from Abraham's, but it still relies on faith. Abraham's righteousness was "credited to him," while ours has been "imparted to us." Abraham trusted God and God counted it as righteousness. We were made righteous in our union with Jesus. Some struggle to accept this Truth, by faith in our family relationship with God. We are a new creation and differ from all others on the planet. The same Holy Spirit Who worked all the great things of God, when He came upon the Old Testament heroes, now lives in our new creation spirit for all time.
What is the nature and the character of this new creation? Are we only as some have said "only forgiven sinners?" Or, are we truly a new creation? It's certainly true that God no longer remembers our sins and iniquities, but He didn't do this just to forgive our sin. God removed even the stain of sin and made us altogether new. We have now received the very natural and character of our Father Himself. The signs and wonders that the Holy Spirit revealed in the old covenant saints, now lives in the new spirits of the new creation family of God.
Most of what Jesus preached was already in the Word and the people knew and had already read it. They just didn't believe that it was for them or for their time. We've fallen into the same trap of unbelief, that they did. Like them, we believe it's going to be, but it's not for us or our times. We keep putting it off for future generations. Jesus preached a sermon that had already been read and known to all of Israel for thousands of years, in Luke 4:18-21 (Amplified). The thing that threw them, was where Jesus said in Verse 21, "Today, this scripture has been fulfilled while you are present and hearing." The fact that God's Promise was no longer just the future, but now, wasn't something easy for them to grasp.
The great thing about Jesus' ministry was that He knew Who He was. And, because He knew Who He was, He had no problem doing what He was sent to do. The new creation family has had a problem of not knowing who we are and this has led to our not doing what we were meant to do. We've often looked at "the ministry," as being behind the pulpit or someone who travels from church to church.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (Amplified) says, "And His Gifts were varied (He Himself appointed and gave men to us) some to be apostles (special messengers) some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders) some evangelists (preachers of the God, traveling missionaries) some pastors (shepherds of His flocks) and teachers. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people) (that they should do) the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the Church) That it might develop until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the (full and accurate) knowledge of the Son of God, that we might arrive at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's Own perfection, the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him."
God gave the five-fold ministry as a Gift, to bring the Body of Christ (the Church) into a knowledge of who and what Jesus has made us to be and to minister to the world and the workplace. The Gifts of the Spirit from 1Corinthians 12:7-31 (Amplified) are primarily Gifts used in the five-fold ministry, but are not exclusive to them. Thus, Paul says, "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Holy Spirit (the evidence, the Spiritual illumination of the Spirit for good and profit." Verse 31 says, "But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best Gifts and graces (the higher Gifts and choicest Graces) and yet I will show you a still more excellent way (one that is better by far and the highest of all-Love)."
The Holy Spirit has and gives these Gifts, "as He will to profit all" and we are to strive to walk in Love, in order to be a recipient of these Gifts. These Gifts aren't limited to the five-fold ministry. When we develop Love, we become candidates for one or all of these Gifts, to set others free.
We are new creations and have the Holy Spirit living in and through us. He determines these Gifts and to whom they are bound. Through the Holy Spirit, we are to bring these Gifts to those who need them. We've read about and have been taught about those have a healing ministry, a deliverance ministry or a teaching ministry. The Truth is, there is but one ministry and that is the ministry of reconciliation. We are all called into this ministry.
2Corinthians 5:18-19 (Amplified) tells us, "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) It was God (Personally Present) in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting and holding against (men) their trespasses (but canceling them and committing to us the ministry of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor)."
We can see from even these few scriptures, that the Holy Spirit, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Message of the Holy Spirit are for all who are walking in the Love of God and are moved by His compassion to set he captives free. Jesus told His followers in Mark 16:15-17,20 (Amplified), "Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the Good News (the Gospel) to every creature of the whole human race. He who believes (who adheres to and trust in and relies on the Gospel and Him Whom it sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death) but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth, will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe." Notice, Jesus didn't say "these things will follow those in the five-fold ministry" or only a "special people," but "those who believe." I'm writing now to the Church, which is made up of believers (those who believe).
We see the result of God's new creation family who believed what was preached; not the apostles, not the disciples, but those who believed what they heard in Vere 20 which says, "And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the Message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it (the Word preached)."
This wasn't the Gifts of the Spirit from 1Corinthians 12 and it wasn't for the five-fold ministry, but was for all who heard and believed and proclaimed it. Signs, wonders and miracles accompanied the men and women as they heard, believed and did what the new creation is supposed to do.
This is nature, character and calling of the new creation family of God. You might never lay hands on thousands of people. You might not minister healing and deliverance to thousands of people either, but if thousands of us lay hands on one person, then thousands will see and hear and believe. This isn't an anointing for some, but for all who believe. What can be wrong with simply laying your hands on someone who is sick, simply because God told us to? This doesn't mean you're called into a healing ministry, but that you're a new creation with the Holy Spirit (Who gives the Gifts as He wills) living within you. We have the One Who has and gives these Gifts as He wills to profit everyone who needs them, living inside us.
This is who we are and what we are. We're a new creation, filled with His Spirit to do His will and reconcile the world back to Himself, "by word and deed."
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