Lesson 6 DOING HIS WILL AND WORKS

     Jesus said in John 6:38 (Amplified), "For I have come down from Heaven not to do My Own will and purpose, but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me."
     We see Jesus carrying out the Father's will in the Gospels and we see the Father's will being carried out in the Epistles.  Paul writes in Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified), "For I want you to know brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not a man's gospel (a human invention according to or patterned after any human standard). 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)."
     Man has put his own ideas and interpretations, into God's revelations that He gave to man.  Paul said, "This Gospel was not patterned after any human standards."  Men have patterned the Gospel after the Law and human ideas that meet their own ideas.  Much of what is being preached in today's churches, is man's ideas of what he thinks God said through Jesus.  Most of this has to do with still trying to be pleasing to God.  We continue to look at ourselves through man's ideas of righteousness and justification.  We fail, because our righteousness and justification comes by Jesus Christ our Lord.
     No matter how hard we try or how much we do, we can never be righteous or justified, without placing our faith in the Finished Word of Jesus.  We can be saved and not understand this revelation of the Gospel.  It seems difficult for some to believe that Jesus has already done everything needed to make us in right standing with the Father.  And, because of this, we still struggle to operate in the way of the new creation people of God.
     I've heard Christians say, "If only I could be righteous and just in God's eyes, then God might heal me or answer my prayers."  Many in the Church have thought this way for centuries.  Many feel it's sacrilegious or blasphemous, to say "we are in right standing with God or righteous in God's eyes," even though this is what the Word says.  It seems too easy for us to simply believe and accept what the Father says about us, in His Word.
     Even though Paul's words aren't written in red (like in some Bibles), but they are Jesus speaking to us from His place in glory with the Father, according to 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified) which says, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view, in terms of natural standards of value, No, even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh."
     In other words, what Jesus was preaching while He was here, was only a part of what was to come after His resurrection.  Satan and mankind had no idea of what was to come after Jesus' resurrection and thus, that was the Mystery.  1Corinthians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory."  Jesus could only reveal a small part of the plan of redemption to His disciples and He did much of this through Parables.
     While reading the Gospels, we must know and remember that these weren't born-again men, but those who were still under the Law of Sin and of Death.  The shadow of death, hung over them like a cloud and only their obedience to the Law, could keep them standing in God's mercy.  Under the new covenant family, we live in the Grace that the old covenant people could only obtain under their obedience to the Law.  We are required to keep God's Word and standards, but not in order to obtain His Grace or mercy, but because He has given us grace and mercy to do so.
     The Holy Spirit doesn't just come down on us for a short time (like in the old covenant), but He lives within us, in order to direct and guide us.  This is a concept that those in the Gospels couldn't see by the natural human standards of a Holy God.  God was just "God," to the people of the old covenant.  He is "Father God," to us.  They were a "chosen" people, but we are "family."  We've somehow missed this Truth, by trying to become what Jesus has already made us to be.
     When we understand this righteousness by faith, we gain the boldness and assurance to come before God, without doubt or reservation.  We don't do this with arrogance, but in faith of what Jesus has already done for and to us.  Somehow, this doesn't come to us in the way the Holy Spirit has reveled it through the Word and our lack of faith in what Jesus has done, leaves us trying to get close to God.  We try dressing the way we believe will get us into God's good graces.
     This leads us to the bondage of man-made laws, instead of allowing the Spirit to make us free.  We've actually bound ourselves with our own laws and haven't entered into our Blood bought liberty in Christ Jesus.  We are to have restraint in what the flesh is doing, but not to the point of law, but by His Spirit.  We're left under guilt and self-condemnation.  We continue struggling with the old sin in our lives and the condemnation of the past, instead of entering into the Liberty of our new found Hope in Christ Jesus.
     This condemnation and self-guilt, results in our lack of ability to set the captives free and do the things of the Spirit.  We feel unworthy to be able to lay hands on the sick and believe God cannot use us, because of who we once were.  We don't feel like deserving to be used of God.  This is a purely human point of view and holds us back from allowing God to be shown Alive to the world.
     The world needs to see the Super-natural things of God (especially in this time of Jesus' soon returning), but we lack faith in what Jesus has already done for us and we're not going into the world.  Jesus has already made us acceptable and clean in the Father's sight.  We can't do it, only believe it.  When we do simply believe it, we are doing God's will on this earth.  God's will is that each person will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and walk by faith in what Jesus has done for us, not what we have done.  This sounds simply, but it's the most crucial thing in the New Testament.
    It's hard to make your mind to accept and believe you are righteous, knowing the things you've done, without renewing it by the Word and the Holy Spirit.  Every time we change churches, we come under a new set of rules and laws.  Some churches even require us to be baptized again, by their laws.  Baptism is a form of the burial of the old man and most people only need to be buried once.  Many churches require filling out a card and joining their church.  No one can "join" the Church by signing a card.  You must be born into the Church.  We've divided the family of God, by our own customs, instead of enjoying the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in other congregations.
     Isn't Jesus Lord over ALL the Church?  Why do we make it a personal thing of rituals and laws then?  Some in the Church are newborn babies in Christ, while others are more mature.  We stunt the growth of many, by teaching God's Word on an infant degree.  1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure unadulterated spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto completed salvation."  This growing process can only come by seeking Truth and fellowship of Truth, through the revealed Word by the Holy Spirit.  There is so much that our Father wants to do in and through us, but we're not allowing Him to do so.  We're not like the early Church and we should be doing things the early Church didn't even know was available to us. 

Lesson 5 DOING HIS WILL AND WORKS

     In John 8:19 (Amplified) Jesus is asked, "Then they said to Him, Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me. If you knew Me, you would know My Father also."
     Jesus is our Only Living Testimony our our Heavenly Father.  Under the old covenant, people couldn't know or see God and they couldn't see Him as "Father."  They could only know Him by the Law and their own obedience to it.  They had no relationship with Him as Father and very little relationship with Him even as God.  The old covenant people could only hear from the prophets, the way and Word of God.  That was only when a prophet was sent.  The people didn't trust the words of the prophets and failed to walk in what they were told.
     Today, many still cannot see or hear the Father's Voice by His Spirit and they continue struggling to know and understand the Father's will for the Church, the world and Israel.  God has shown mankind what His will is, through Jesus.  God has a will for mankind and He has a will for the Church and He has a will for Israel.  These may differ, but they are for "all to be saved."  God has a plan and will, for each of our individual lives.
     It might be the hardest things for the Church to do, but we must understand God's will for His Body and for the personal life He has given each of us.  Many have mistaken the Law and the old covenant, as being God's plan and will for this age and mankind.  We've been taught that the old covenant Law is still "God's way of doing things in this age."  We assumed this was true, because we were taught by man, instead of the Word.
     Many believe God teaches and disciplines us, by trials and sickness, but nothing can be further from the TRUTH, according to John 8:31-32 (Amplified) which 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."  Verse 32 says, "And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."
     Many have quoted the 32nd Verse, without paying much attention to the previous one.  Jesus said, "If we hold fast to His teachings, then we will know the Truth and the Truth will set us free."  We've listened to the teachings of men and what they think the Word says, instead of the teachings of Jesus and this has kept us in bondage to man's religion.  So, we're not as free, like Jesus said, because "the Truth (God's Word) will set us free."
     When we don't use Jesus as our Example and follow the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, then we return to being under the Law.  Paul writes in Galatians 5:4 (Amplified), "If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated severed from Christ. You have fallen away from Grace, from God's gracious favor and unmerited blessing."
     Jesus told His followers in John 5:19 (Amplified), "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the Son is able to do nothing of Himself (of His Own accord), but He is able to do only what He sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does is what the Son does in the same way (in His turn)."  Jesus told us that, "If I don't do something, then the Father doesn't do it" and "If I'm doing it, then it's the Father doing it."  If you truly want to know God's will for mankind, then watch Jesus.
     If Jesus healed the sick, then it was God's will.  If Jesus made someone sick, then that would have been God's will.  Did you ever read in the Word, where Jesus made someone sick or refused to heal someone?  No.  Why didn't this never happen?  Because, this isn't God's will.  I challenge you with Jesus' Words, to show me in the new covenant, where it was God's will for us to be sick or made sick, in order to teach us something?
     Do people (including God's people) still get sick?  Of course they do, but mostly from what the Word says is the Curse that came from the first Adam's fall; not the LAST ADAM.  Jesus came to heal the sick.  Was Jesus doing God's will or was He just operating on His Own?  Jesus wouldn't have healed them, if it wasn't the Father's will.
     Before ascending to Heaven, Jesus spoke to His followers about sin, judgment, righteousness, Himself and satan, in John 16:7-11 (Amplified).  Listen carefully to what He says, "However, I am telling you nothing but the Truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not god away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Stand-by) will not come to you, into close fellowship with you; but if I god away, I will send Him to you, to be in close fellowship with you. And when He comes, He will convict and convince the world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness, uprightness of heart and right standing with God, and about judgment."  Verses 9-11 go on, "About sin, because they do not believe in Me (trust in, rely on, and adhere to Me) About righteousness and uprightness of heart and right standing with God, Because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no more.  About judgment, because the ruler, evil genius, prince of this world, satan, is judged and condemned and sentence is passed on him already."
     Jesus was speaking, what the Father says about sin, righteousness and judgment.  Part of this is for you or for the Church, and the other is for satan and the unsaved.  Judgment is for satan, while righteousness is for those who believe in Jesus as their Sin Bearer.  As children on God, we were "judged, declared righteous and without sin and made free already," by Jesus' Sacrifice.  Where is sickness, disease, calamity and terrible trials, listed as being God's will for us, in the new covenant family?
     God isn't judging the earth or those on the earth and He won't do so, until the appointed time (which is not yet).  The only one who's been judged already, is satan.  Sickness, trouble, and calamity, are not God's judgment or how He disciplines His children.  These are not God's will for the world or for His children.  1Timothy 2:4-6 (Amplified) says, "God, Who wishes all men to be saved and increasingly to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the Divine Truth. For there is only One God, and Only One Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. Who gave Himself as a Ransom for all people, a fact that was well attested to at the right and proper time."
     If you truly want to know God's will and nature, then listen to what the Holy Spirit writes about Jesus, in Hebrews 1:2 (Amplified), "He (Jesus) is the Sole Expression of the Glory of God, the Light-Being, the Outraying or radiance of the Divine and He is the Perfect Imprint and Very Image of God's nature, upholding and propelling the universe by His mighty Word of power, when He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins, and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the Divine Majesty on High."
     When we see the Man Christ Jesus, we see the very will and nature of our Heavenly Father.  Don't allow men and religion, to give you a false outlook on the Father.  When we walk in what man and religion says about the Father, instead of the Truth of God's Word, we place ourselves back into satan's bondage and the world's idea of the new creation being, we've become in Christ Jesus.
    

Lesson 4 DOING HIS WILL AND WORKS

     Jesus said in John 14:7 (Amplified), "If you had known Me, had learn ed to recognize Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on, you know Him and have seen Him."
     We must first know and understand Jesus, in order the understand the will of God.  Jesus said, "The Father and I are One."  Religion has taught that God's will is for the Church to pattern itself after the Law and the old covenant.  It was always God's will to bless, prosper, and move on behalf of His people.  It was more difficult to do this under the Law, because the people in the old covenant, were dead to Him in spirit.  God had to rely on their outward deeds, rituals, feast observance, daily sacrifices of goats and bulls and their total obedience to the Law, in order to perform His will in their lives.
     Under the new covenant, we no longer need to obey the rituals and sacrifices that those people did, in order to walk in the Blessing and Presence of God.  God's will hasn't changed, only His covenant and His people have changed.  It's was always God's will to bless His people, but it wasn't always His right to bless them.  God's right to bless the people, depended upon the people's being in right standing with Him through sacrifices and rituals.  God has now created the new creation people, in the new covenant, who are righteous and in right standing through Jesus' Sacrifice for us.  This is how God has blessed us.
     The only way to know the Father and His will for you, is to know Jesus and His very Own Words and works.  When we see Jesus the Man, in His earthly, bodily ministry, we actually see God walking among us in a visible and tangible Truth.  Hebrews 1:3 (Amplified) tells us, "Jesus is the Sole Expression of the Glory of God (the Light Being, the Out-Raying or Radiance of the Divine) and He is the Perfect Imprint and Very Image of God's nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty Word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the Divine Majesty on High."
     Jesus was Emmanuel, "God with us."  We can see the historical figure of the Man Jesus and determine God's will from His ministry and Presence.  Jesus even said that, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me Who does the works."  If will watch Jesus' earthly ministry and determine God's will from it, then we can understand the will of God for our own lives.  The great debate and disagreements over whether or not it's God's will to heal, should be settle forever, when we simply watch how Jesus dealt with the sick.
     Did you ever read Jesus declare, "It's God's will to leave this person or that person sick?"  Did you ever read Jesus saying, "It's the Father's will for Me to leave these people sick or lame?"  Did Jesus ever turn away anyone who needed Him?  Of course not, because it never happened.  We make up lame excuses for sickness and blame God for "putting sickness on us, in order to teach us something."  I've heard some Christians proclaim, "God has chosen me, to bear this sickness for His Glory."  Luke 13:11-13,16 (Amplified) says, "There was a woman there who for eighteen years had had an infirmity caused by a spirit (a demon of sickness); She was bent completely forward and utterly unable to straighten herself up or look forward. And when Jesus saw her, He called to her, Woman, you are released from your infirmity. Then He laid His hands on her, and instantly she was made straight and she recognized and thanked and praised God."  Jesus says this about her sickness in Verse 16,  "And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom satan has kept bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath Day?"
     Satan was the one, who bound this woman.  It was God's will to set her free.  According to the above scripture, this woman Jesus healed was only a "daughter of Abraham."  How much more will He do for a daughter or son of the Almighty God Himself?  I've never read about God making anyone in the new creation family of God and in His new covenant, sick.  I've never read about it being "God's will to make anyone in His new creation family, sick."  Before ascending to the Father, Jesus commanded us to "Go into all the world, proclaiming the Gospel, healing the sick, and casting out demons."  This Great Commission was not only for Jesus' apostles, but was for all those who believe in Him.
     The new creation family of God's Household, are supposed to know what His will is for mankind.  His will for your personal life or ministry, might differ from someone else's, but His over all will hasn't changed.  God's will for your own personal ministry, whether it's the five-fold ministry or whatever else, is based on being in Christ Jesus and it hasn't changed.  God's will for you is healing, joy, life, and prosperity.  These are His will for all of His children.
     1John 5:14 (Amplified) says, "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him, we are sure that if we ask anything, make any request according to His will (in agreement with His Own plan) He listens to and hears us."  This scripture indicates that we are to know God's will, before we ask for something.
     We have the Teacher, the Holy Spirit, living in us, in order to reveal the Father to us.  We have the Gospels and the teachings of Jesus.  Jesus is our Example of how God lives in us.  We have the insight of the Holy Spirit, if we will hear His Voice, according to 1John 2:20,27 (Amplified) which says, "But you have been anointed by (you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from) the Holy One, and you know all the Truth, or you know all things."  Verse 27 continues, "But as for you, the anointing, the sacred appointment, the unction, which you received from Him abides permanently in you, so then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is True and is no falsehood, so you must abide in Him; knit to Him, just as His anointing has taught you to do."
     How do we know what God's will is and how can we walk in it?  In Matthew 6:9-13 (Amplified), Jesus taught His disciples to pray in this manner, "Our Father Who is in Heaven, Hallowed (kept holy) be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (left, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against our debtors) And lead us (bring us not) into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Your's is the Kingdom and the power and the Glory forever. AMEN (so be it)."
      Would Jesus have taught us to pray, "His will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven," if this wasn't the will of the Father?  Ask yourself, or better yet, ask God, "How His will if for those who are in Heaven."  Ask the Father if there are any sick, lame, diseased, depressed, or blind people in Heaven, where His will is ALWAYS being done.  Now, ask yourself or the Father, whether this is His will for those of us on earth?  This is what Jesus taught us to pray and He wouldn't have taught us to pray something, that wasn't the Father's will.  James 1:5 (Amplified) says, "If any of you is deficient in Wisdom, let him ask of the Giving God, Who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or fault finding, and IT WILL BE GIVEN HIM."
     We must put aside religion's teachings that, "We never know what God is going to do" and discover what God says He will do,  from His Word and His Holy Spirit.  We must discover what God's will is for our lives and how to do God's will in the lives of others, by doing the works of God through Jesus.  We would never go against God's will, but because we haven't known His will, we've violated it many times.

Lesson 3 DOING HIS WILL AND WORKS

     Jesus' followers asked Him, in John 6:28-29 (Amplified), "What are we to do, that we may habitually be working the works of God? What are we to do to carry out what God requires? Jesus replied, This is the work, service that God asks of you; that you believe in the One Whom He sent, that you cleave to, trust in, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger."
     There are probably dozens of views, concerning the above scripture and probably most of these are true to one degree or another.  Some believe that, "Trusting in God's Messenger (Jesus)," means being saved and born-again.  This is most certainly true, but without faith in Jesus for salvation, all is lost.  In order to be able to trust Jesus for other needs that He paid for with His Sacrifice, we must trust Him for salvation,  We have all believed Jesus, to different degrees.
     Jesus spoke about those who believed and those who didn't believe and in the above scripture, He said that doing the works of God was "to believe in the One Whom He had sent."  Some have believed in Jesus,  in order to receive salvation and be born-again.  Others have believed further, and have received the Holy Spirit and His speaking in new tongues.  Some have believed and have gone into the world, preaching the Good News.  Most of us, though, have never really thought of ourselves as being Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God.  2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) says, "So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were, through us. We as Christ's Personal representatives beg you for His sake to lay hold of the Divine favor now offered you and be reconciled to God."
     The Holy Spirit speaks through Paul in 2Corinthians 5:18 (Amplified) saying, "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 has now reconciled us to Himself, but there are many who haven't received the Gift of reconciliation to Him.
     We've been taught that we're not fully forgiven or cleansed and that we need to do works, in order to be reconciled to God.  Jesus said that we're to "believe on the One Whom God has sent."  Jesus was sent to preach and demonstrate God's Kingdom on earth.  We've been faithful to preach the salvation message and lead others to being born-again, but we haven't truly been faithful to establish God's Kingdom here on earth.  John writes in Revelations 11:15 (Amplified), "The seventh angel then blew his trumpet, and there were mighty voices in Heaven shouting, The dominion, Kingdom, sovereignty, rule of the world has now come into the possession and become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ (the Messiah) and He shall reign forever and ever (for the eternities of the eternities)."
     Jesus came to establish a new Kingdom and rule and to displace the kingdom satan had set up.  Jesus came to set the captives free.  Matthew 4:8-9 (Amplified) tells us, "Again, the devil took [Jesus] up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory, splendor, magnificence, pre-eminence and excellence of them. And he said to Him, You will prostrate Yourself before me and do homage and worship me."
     The Kingdom of God is to be preached to all who will hear.  Then through the Holy Spirit, those people will take back the people who are held captive by satan's kingdom, that satan stole from Adam in the Garden of Eden, through deception.  Jesus sent His disciples out to preach and demonstrate the Kingdom of God, in Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified) saying, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive and accept and welcome you, eat what is set before you. And heal the sick in it and say to them, The Kingdom of God has come close to you."
     The Kingdom of God was being glimpsed through the authority and command of Jesus, by those who believed in Him.  These people weren't born-again yet, but they were obedient to His Word and the Kingdom had come close to them.  Through Jesus, we now have the Holy Spirit abiding in our new creation spirits.  The same thing that Jesus told His followers that God required of them, is the very same thing He requires of us now.  Jesus didn't just preach, but He demonstrated the new authority of the Kingdom of God, in power and signs and wonders.
     Jesus prayed in John 17:18 (Amplified). "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."  Jesus gave the purpose for His being sent here, in Luke 4:18-19 (Amplified) where He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me (the Anointed One, the Messiah) to preach the Good News (the Gospel) to the poor; He has sent Me to announce release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth as delivered those who are oppressed, who are down trodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity. To proclaim the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord, the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound."
     This is what and how the Father sent Jesus into the world.  And, just like God sent Jesus, He has sent us.  Jesus said in John 10:37-38 (Amplified), "If I am not doing the works (performing the deeds) of My Father, then do not believe Me (do not adhere to Me and trust Me and rely on Me). But if I do them, even though you do not believe Me or have faith in Me, at least believe the works and have faith in what I do, in order that you may know and understand clearly, that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father, One with Him."
     We are not the Messiah, but we have the Messiah living inside of us.  Jesus brought the Message of the Kingdom not only in Word, but in deed also.  Jesus didn't only teach and preach deliverance, but He demonstrated it by signs and wonders.  Jesus told the Father, "Just as You have sent Me into the world, I have also sent them."  Most of us haven't considered these things, in this light, but it is nonetheless Truth.  The effects of Jesus' Words in John 14:12 (Amplified) to the people of His day, must have had the same effect that it has on us today.  Thus, He said, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father."
     Today, when the Truth of this Word and the demonstration of God's Kingdom operates like it was intended, then we will truly see the deliverance of the nations, being manifested.  Before His Ascension to the Father, Jesus told His disciples in Acts 1:8 (Amplified), "But you shall receive power, ability, efficiency, and might, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth."  This is the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer in John 17.  Just like the Father sent Him (with the same ability, anointing and purpose), Jesus has sent us.
     In Luke 10:9 (Amplified), Jesus says, "Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and physical and mental strength and ability overall the power that the enemy possesses, and nothing shall in any way harm you."  This authority and power comes by the Holy Spirit, but it's not just authority.  It's the ability and power to back it up even to the physical and mental ability to renew our minds by God' Word, becoming Kingdom minded.  No King will send his army forth to conquer an enemy's territory, without first equipping them with everything necessary to overcome that enemy.
     Again, let's read Mark 16:15-20 (Amplified) where Jesus tells His followers, "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 Whom it sets forth will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new languages, they will pick up serpents, and even if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well. So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into Heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the Message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it. Amen (so be it)."
     Just as Jesus was sent by the Father, He sends us.  Jesus said in Verse 17, "These attesting signs will accompany those who believe."  Paul writes in Romans 1:17 (Amplified), "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith, and leading to faith, disclosed through the way of faith, that arouses to more faith, as it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."  We are to be growing our faith, in order to proclaim the Kingdom of God, in power and authority in His Name.  We're supposed to demonstrate God's Kingdom and power and set the captives free.
    
      

Lesson 2 DOING HIS WILL AND WORKS

     James 1:5-8 (Amplified) says, "If any of you is deficient in Wisdom, let him ask of the Giving God Who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproach or fault finding, and it will be given him. Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitation, no doubting); For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything he asks for from the Lord. For being as he is a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute) he is unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, decides."
     The Holy Spirit assures us in the above scripture, that if we lack Wisdom concerning what we're to do or what God's will is, then we are to ask Him for Wisdom.  Paul prayed for the Church (the Church in Colossians, as well as all brethren who love the Lord) in Colossians 1:9 (Amplified),where the Holy Spirit inspired him, saying, "For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it (our love) have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full, deep, clear, knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom, in comprehension into the ways and purposes of God, and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things."
    The largest display of the Church's being double-minded today, is our not knowing where the trials we face come from and from Whom our blessings flow from.  The deceiver has brought doubt and indecision into the Church, leaving us being like James says, "Blown hither and thither, like waves at sea in the wind."  Most of the new creation believers I've spoken with, have been indoctrinated with a religious and worldly Image of our Heavenly Father.  That leaves them not knowing how to react, when trails come their way.
     If it comes from God, then we're supposed to submit to it.  If it comes from the devil, then we are supposed to resist it.  If we don't know where it comes from, then we're left open to the deceiver.  God wants us to know His will on earth.  Jesus taught us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven."  Even if we didn't know whether or not something was "God's will," then we could surely say whether or not that's how Heaven operates.  Right?  How many sick people, do you think there are in Heaven?  How many lame, blind, sick, depressed, hungry, homeless, or naked people do you think there are in Heaven?
     Do you believe that your loved ones, who have gone before you into God's Presence, are sick, homeless or hungry?  It's easier to say, "It must be God's will for me to be sick in this life," than to walk in faith.  Satan goes about "as a roaring lion, seeking to devour" and he does it with lies.  Staying outside the Truth of God's Word, leaves people with no defense against satan's lies.
     Just because you have trials and trouble, doesn't mean you are out of God's will.  It certainly doesn't mean that God is testing your faith, like some would say.  Jesus singularly met more trouble, than the combined Church has endured.  Jesus didn't have trials, because "He was out of God's will!"  Satan brought these things against Him, in order to deceive Jesus into destruction.  When facing these strategies of satan, Jesus didn't sit down and wonder, "Are these from God or satan?"  Jesus simply answered, "IT IS WRITTEN."
     We are supposed to know God's will.  This is Truth.  I might not know what God's Personal will is for each individual, but I do know it's not for that person's destruction.  Every person in the Body of Christ, is part of God's new creation family, but we're each individually unique, in our lives and ministry.  It was God's will for me to move my family from Illinois to New York, but that might not be His will for you.  God's will for you might be to come to the place He called me to build and learn what His will is for you.  The one thing I know about God's will for all of us is, we are to ask the Holy Spirit for Wisdom to walk in His Presence, in liberty and at all times.
     Jesus didn't die and be raised from the dead for only "some of us," but for "all of us."  If Jesus took my sin, then He also took yours.  If Jesus healed my body by His stripes, then He did this for you too.  If Jesus bore the Curse of the Law for me, then He did it for you too.  Jesus didn't do these things for "certain people."  He did these things for everyone.  When we are double-minded, believing Jesus did these for some and not for others, that doesn't change the fact that this has always been God's will for all His children.  Jesus died so that, "All may live."  Everything Jesus did was for all of us, but some don't understand (or might not know) this and are double-minded concerning this, because of errant teaching and doctrine.  James 1:7 says, "Let not this man think he will receive anything from the Lord."
     Many of the teachers coming from seminary and Bible colleges, have learned from denominational teachings.  Generations have been taught from these people and have only learned from them.  The denominations have been built from the differing teachings.  Many times, people who wish to teach from revelation knowledge that is contrary to denominational teachings, are asked to step down from their position in the church.
     Satan has held on tight to what is believed, by what is being taught.  Romans 10:17 (Amplified) 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."
     Faith comes by hearing, so if satan can determine what's being preached, then he can determine how much faith people can come into, in their redemption.  If we hear something long enough (whether or not it's correct), then we will put our faith in it.  If you're being taught that, "God is using trials and tribulations to teach you," then you will place your faith in that and believe it.  Faith comes by hearing.
     Did you ever wonder why Jesus said in Mark 4:23-24 (Amplified) that, "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him 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."
     Notice that, the only measure that God will bring back to you, is according to the Truth you hear."  He won't measure virtue and knowledge to you, according to anything else you're hearing.  If you're hearing doctrines of carnal-minded men, then there is no virtue and knowledge in it to "measure back."
     Jesus preached in parables in Mark 4:11 (Amplified) saying, "To you has been entrusted the Mystery of the Kingdom of God, that is the secret counsels of God which are hidden to the ungodly, but for those outside of our circle, everything becomes a parable."  Some will read this parable, without seeing or hearing the secret counsel and the hidden Mystery of the Kingdom of God.  
     It's nearly impossible to walk in the ways of God, in the manner most believers wish to, without knowing the will of God.  If you believe that God puts sickness on you, in order to teach you something, then you're on your own and limited to only the world's way of dealing.  If you truly believe a sickness was God's will for you, then why would you visit the doctor and try to get out of God's will for your life?  This might be the zenith of being double-minded.  If it's God's will, then why would you even take medicine or go to the doctor to get well?
     We truthfully, don't believe this, but it's the path of least resistance.  Of course, go to the doctors and take the prescribed medicine.  Don't just suffer or die.  But, while you're recovering, get into God's Word, seek God's will and Wisdom for your life.  Get into the real will of God, for your life.  Sickness and disease came with the devil.  Healing comes from Jesus.  When we don't understand God's will and the depth of His Love for us through Jesus, we get caught up in the affairs of the world.  There are some who would reject any teaching about "healing," because they believe we're saying, "They're not good Christians or don't love God."
     I'm not questioning their love and devotion for the Lord, only what they're hearing and putting their faith in.  Most of us didn't know there was so many differences in preaching, when we got saved and born-again.  Otherwise, we would have heeded Jesus' Word to "Be careful what we were hearing."  We were babies, who didn't know "what we were hearing."  Having grown-up in a certain teaching, it was hard for us to train our faith in the Truth of the Word.
     Jesus dealt with this in His ministry.  The people were trained under the Law and didn't want to hear His Words of Grace.  Satan's used this since the beginning and it continues to work.  Our pride gets bruised and our egos hurt, when someone tells us something that goes against our faith.  Our pride doesn't want us to turn loose of the things we've heard and been taught.  The teachers of Jesus' time fought so diligently to hold onto their faith in the Law, that they killed anyone who opposed it.  Religion and traditions are hard to oppose, even by Truth.
     These teachers loved God (like many today) and were Loved by God, but they simply didn't heed what they heard.  Today, we're seemingly always searching for new revelation, without always searching out where it came from.  

Lesson 1 DOING HIS WILL AND WORKS

      John 6:28-29 (Amplified) says, "They then said, What are we to do, that we may habitually be working the works of God? What are we to do to carry out what God requires? Jesus replied, This is the work (service) that God asks of you; That you believe in the One Whom He has sent, that you cleave to, trust in, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger."
     Jesus prayed in John 17:18 (Amplified) saying, "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."  According to these two scriptures, Jesus didn't send us "blind," into this world to do His work.  Jesus didn't send us into the world, without equipping us with all that He had, but with all we needed to overcome the world.  Just as the Father sent Him, Jesus sent us.
     When Jesus came into this earth as the Son of Man, He had to learn "Who He was," from the Word and He had to have faith in what the Word and the Holy Spirit taught Him.  In John 16:15 (Amplified) Jesus says, "Everything that the Father has is Mine, that is what I meant when I said that He, the Spirit, will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you."
     Jesus also says in John 14:11-12 (Amplified), "Believe Me that I Am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the very works themselves, If you cannot trust Me, at least let the works that I do in My Fathers Name convince you. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, If anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and even greater things than these, because I go to the Father."
     The above Words of Jesus, are very strong and of course, Truth for us.  Jesus was sent by the Father with Words, deeds, signs, wonders and power.  And, Jesus said in John 17:18 (Amplified) that, "Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."  Does this mean that we're equipped by the Same Holy Spirit and Father, in order to do the same works, preach and deliver the same Message that Jesus was?  Has the Father, through Jesus, equipped us with the same Super-natural ministry as He gave Jesus?  We we only saved and then left defenseless against the enemy?  Or, are we supposed to carry on, in the same works that Jesus did in His earthly ministry by the Holy Spirit?
     Jesus directed His followers in Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified), "Whenever you go into a town and they receive you and accept you and welcome you, eat what is set before you And heal the sick in it and say to them, the Kingdom of God has come close to you. Behold, I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions,and physical and mental strength and ability over all the power that the enemy possesses, and nothing shall by any way harm you."
     Luke 10:21 (Amplified) says, "In that same hour [Jesus] rejoiced and glorified in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that You have concealed these things, relating to salvation from the wise and understanding and learned, and revealed them to babes the childish, unskilled, and untaught, Yes Father, For such was Your gracious will and choice and good pleasure."
     Now, we come to the real heart of this lesson.  After reading these scriptures that Jesus said, we (as believers) must ask whether we're to take Jesus at His Word and go as He went, do as He did and speak as He spoke?  We ask, "Is it God's will to bless, heal or fill with the Holy Spirit?"  And, we ask, "Are the healings and miracles that Jesus performed, the same things we're to be doing?"
     Jesus' followers asked in John 6:28-29 (Amplified), "What are we to do to carry out what God requires?"  This sounds like a valid question, "What are we to do?"  Jesus simply answered, "Believe in the One Whom God sent and have faith in His Messenger."  Believing in the One Whom God sent, means that we believe in Jesus and His Message to us.  We are born-again by the Same Seed and the Same Father as Jesus.  When reading the Word, we discover that our predecessors in the early Church, did the same works that Jesus did.  But, for some reason we've deemed these things as now having "passed away."
     Many in the Church, question whether it's God's will for us to do these things any longer.  Jesus said that, "I came to do the Father's will" and when He performed miracles, He said, "It's not Me, but the Father in Me Who does the works."  If it was the Father in Jesus, Who did the works, then it had to be His will to do the works.  Jesus never took credit for anything that He did.  He always referred to the Father in Him.
     If the things that Jesus did, were God's will then...then they're still His will today.  Jesus performed miracles, raised the dead, healed maimed people, cleansed the lepers, fed the poor, stopped the storms, multiplied the loaves and fishes, and cast out demons.  These are still God's will for today.  We've come short in our faith and believing, to encompass these other things.  It might sound harsh to say that good Christians have "fallen short" of doing what the Master taught us to do.  We've concluded that Jesus' entire ministry was for "getting people born-again."  Even if we weren't born-again, these things would be impossible for us to do.  God has called us into the impossible, from the beginning though.  If we could simply do these things on our own, then we would need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
     Jesus said in John 10:37-38 (Amplified), "If I am not doing the works (performing the deeds of My Father), then do not believe Me (do not adhere to Me and trust Me, and rely on Me), But if I do them, even though you do not believe Me or have faith in what I do, in order that you may know and understand clearly that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father, One with Him."
     Jesus made an alarming statement for us, even today.  He said, "If I am not doing the works and performing the deeds of My Father, then do not believe Me."  What if today's Church took Jesus' Words seriously?  Can you imagine telling those we minister to,"If I'm not doing the work, performing the deeds of My Father, then do not believe what I"m saying?"  Can the Church actually take Jesus at His Word and go from "faith to faith?"  Paul says in Romans 1:17 (Amplified), "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed through the way of faith, that arouses to more faith, as it is written, the man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."
     Can it be that we have stopped in our faith, with just being born-again?  Has everything other than "Going to Heaven when we die," become irrelevant?  I'm writing these things, in order to challenge your faith.  Have we ever found in God's Word, that after becoming born-again, our faith is finished and complete?  It is wrong for the child of God, to reach deeper into the Life of the Spirit, for those that that are the will of the Father?
    Colossians 1:9 (Amplified) says, "For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it (their love) have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full, deep, clear, knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom, in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God, and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things."  The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write this scripture, for the Colossians and for us.  We are supposed to know God's will and His heart and we're to be filled with Wisdom and insight into all God's purposes and understandings.
     If it wasn't God's will to physically heal and set men free, then Jesus couldn't have done it.  God's will is for all to be healed, physically and spiritually.  

Lesson 300 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)."
     We've been studying God's Word, in order to learn more about the new creation we've become in Christ.  The new creation is an entirely different species, than any that have been on earth.  We've misunderstood this man, because the Only Pattern or Example we have of the new creation, is Jesus Himself.  Jesus was in a place where no other man was or ever would be, so we assume that He was a different kind of man, than we are.
     During His earthly ministry, Jesus was and still is, the Only True Example of this new creation.  He was and still is, the Seed from which the new creation family of God is produced.  Jesus said, "I am the Vine and you are the branches."  Jesus made us so much a part of Himself, making us the same type of being He is.  Don't get me wrong here.  We are not and never will be the Messiah or the Lord, but we've been made in His exact Image and Likeness.
     Paul tells us that "Jesus was the First Born of many brethren," in Romans 8:29-30 (Amplified) where he says, "For those whom He foreknew, of whom He was aware and loved beforehand, He also destined from the beginning, fore-ordaining them to be molded into the Image of His Son and share inwardly His Likeness that He might become the First Born among many brethren. And those whom He thus fore-ordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified, acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself, and those whom He justified, He also glorified, raising them to a Heavenly dignity and condition or state of being."
     When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we were created new in Him and made exactly like Him.  He is our Brother.  When we accepted Him as our Lord, we were raised together with Him and seated together with Him at the right hand of the Father, according to Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) which says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together; giving us joint seating with Him, in the Heavenly sphere, by virtue of our being in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
      This isn't something that the carnal, natural mind can grasp hold of.  In the natural, we are still held down with the unrenewed mind of the old, dead man we used to be.  Some deem it "a heresy," if we hint at the Truth that we are "like Him," because of carnal and unrenewed thinking.  The Church has been stagnate for centuries, because of this thinking.
     In these last days though, the revelation of God's new creation family is coming forth, in order to set the captives free.  If we don't know who we've been made to be in Christ Jesus, then we are unequipped to help mankind in their natural state of being.  We've been diligent to lead others into salvation, but we've left them in the same miserable state they were in, before being born-again.  We have promised them eternal life in Jesus and have given them hope and healing for "when they get to Heaven," but haven't delivered these things for their lives here and now.  If we don't understand who we are now, then we can only promise them thees things, after their earthly life is over.
     This isn't what Jesus taught or did, in His earthly ministry.  In John 14:12 (Amplified) Jesus said, "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, If anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things, because I go to the Father."  If anyone else had said them, then we could assume they were mistaken, but this was Jesus Himself speaking.  Jesus prayed to the Father in John 17:21 (Amplified) saying, "That they all may be one, just as You, Father are in Me and I in You, that they also may be One in Us; So that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me."
     We have become one with Jesus and are called the Body of Christ.  I can't see how we can be "anymore like Him," than being His Body.  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 Himself promised that we will "suffer persecution and tribulation," in this world.  Please understand, that the trials Jesus spoke about, aren't what everyone else is going through.  Everyone on earth is "suffering tribulation."  Before we were saved, we underwent tribulation of one sort or another.  The persecution we now endure as Christians, is the suffering Jesus endured in His earthly ministry.  Jesus didn't suffer what natural man had only to deal with, but He suffered the full force of the enemy.  Satan did everything in his power, to try and stop the works that would reveal God's Grace and God's ability to set the captives free.
     Jesus didn't come to earth, in order to start another religion.  He came to break satan's hold over mankind (spirit, soul and body).  Even natural man could see and believe in God, when they witnessed Jesus' setting others free from sin, sickness and death.  This is what the new creation man was created for.
     We've been taught by man and man's idea of God's Word, for two-thousand years.  Without revelation knowledge, mankind can only build another religion that has no power to back it up.  Jesus didn't only preach about the Father, but He backed up what He preached by signs and wonders.  The Father used these things to prove that He was in Jesus.  We've preached about the resurrection of the dead and God has honored it, because "He performs His Word."  It seem like we've lost faith in God to perform His Word, in this natural realm of life.  We read in Mark 16:20 (Amplified), "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."
     When we preached the Message of salvation and being born-again, God confirmed it by the attesting signs and wonders and people were saved.  When we preached the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, He confirmed it by the attesting signs and wonders and people spoke in tongues.  Do we believe that if we preach healing and miracles, then He will confirm these things too?  The new creation has been created with and by the Same Holy spirit, Who was in Jesus.  It's not another spirit, but the Same Holy Spirit Who lives in us now.  We were born of the Same Father, that Jesus was born of.  It's not another father, but the Same Father Who lives in us now.  We were sent on assignment by God, in order to do to same work that Jesus did.  It's not another assignment, but the same assignment.
     Jesus would never have told us to do these things, if we weren't able to do them.  And, He wouldn't confirm these things, if it wasn't His will and His plan.  Some would falter in their and not go, while others would dismiss these as being "not for us today."  There will always be those, like in the early Church, who will accept God's Word as Truth and then go forth  Acts 8:5-8 (Amplified) says, "Philip, who was a deacon not the Apostle, went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them, the people. And great crowds of people with one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing from time to time For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them, screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health. And there was great rejoicing in that city."
     Philip understood what we've been told is, "Not for us today" and the city rejoiced in liberty.  This didn't pass away.  This is God and He hasn't passed away.  We've been talked out of the Truth, and left without seeing the True Light of our new creation.  We were created for this very purpose and for this time.

Lesson 299 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 favor with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
     In the previous blog, we learned how the new creation being has been created  new in righteousness and without sin.  It's impossible for the religious, carnal mind to understand this.  We weren't just forgiven, but we actually died with Jesus and were raised as new creations, with Jesus in His resurrection.  The wages of sin is death, so when we died with Jesus, the debt was paid (through Him).  All who died with Him, are also free from the Law of Sin and of Death.
     We're still living and functioning in our bodies, so we're never truly seen ourselves as having died with Christ (or as being raised with Him either).  God sees us that way, though, if we've received Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We were created without sin and God  declares us, "Just, holy, righteous, pure and without iniquity."  This might be the hardest stretch of our faith in Him, to actually see ourselves as "without sin."  We've all sinned in our bodies, after being born-again, but we now have a place of being purified and remaining in righteousness, through our union with Jesus, according to 1John 1:9 (Amplified) which says, "If we freely admit 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 and thought and action."
     We've sinned after being born-again, because our flesh and blood bodies have been trained in unrighteousness, by our union with the world.  Even in the growing process, we allow the flesh (carnal minds) to to against the spirit.  Most of us have walked in the world, longer than in the Word.  Having not been renewed, our minds continue thinking like they did, before we were saved.  Our flesh is led by our unrenewed mind and only does what it is either told to do or is allowed to do.
     Like a young child, your flesh and carnal mind are learning to become obedient to the will of the new creation.  If we only walk in the religious aspects of our new creature, then we will always be in conflict with the unrenewed mind.  Your new creation spirit wants to walk upright with the Father, but the unrenewed mind (the flesh) wants to continue in the things it did before being saved.  It's like a spoiled child, not wanting discipline or change.
     Many of the teachings we've received as Christians, only make it easier for the flesh to continue in it's old ways.  We make excuses for our failures saying, "It's God's way of teaching us" or "It must be God's will."  The Holy Spirit reveals this in 1John 5:18 (Amplified), "We know absolutely that anyone born of God does not deliberately and knowingly practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him. Christ's Divine Presence within him preserves him against the evil, and the wicked one does not lay hold or get a grip on him or touch him."
     The above scripture is inline with 1John 2:27 (Amplified) which says, "But as for you, the anointing, the sacred appointment, the unction which you received from Him, abides permanently in you, so then you have need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is True and is no falsehood, so you must abide and live in, never depart from Him, being rooted in Him, knit to Him, just as His anointing has taught you to do."
     Through the Presence of the Holy Spirit within us, we have His anointing to know the difference between the Truth of God's Word and the lies of the wicked one.  As we mature in Jesus and in the Word, the old things of the world will pass away from us.  The fight of the flesh will subside with the renewing of our minds, by God's Word.  So long as we live in this house of flesh, we will constantly need to train it by the Word and not allow it to do like it did before being born-again.  This is the job we have to do on our own, in obedience to the Spirit.
     2Timothy 2:20-21 (Amplified) says, "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also utensils of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble use, and some for menial and ignoble use. So whoever cleanses himself from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupt influences, will then to himself be a vessel set apart fro honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work."
     We're to take God's Word and His Spirit as instructions in growing up, into mature sons and daughters of God.  It's not the pastor's job, nor is is Jesus' job, but it's your responsibility to do what the Word teaches and reveals to you.  It's the indiivdual's job to appropriate the Truth of God's Word and hear the Holy Spirit's Voice, in order to be used by the Master.
     We make excuses why certain people are walking in a different place with the Father.  We also make excuses why certain things happen to some and not to others.  We've drifted away from the Truth in His Word and have followed differing opinions about why things "don't work for us today."  The Word says, "Not all of God's children are walking in the same Light of revelation knowledge."  Some choose not to enter in, because of what we've learned from carnal minded teachers.  Some choose not to enter in, because they don't believe they "need to know these things, in order to go to Heaven."  The Truth is still the same.  We either choose to advance in knowledge, in order to be a vessel fit for the Master's use.  Or, we choose to be a menial vessel.  Timothy teaches us, "Whoever cleanses himself, will then be a vessel set aside for honorable and noble use."
     It depends on the diligence of the one who hears, to cleanse himself "by the washing of water by the Word."  Some are simply content to just "Live right and go to be with the Lord someday."  There's not really anything wrong with this.  Some people strive to become better husbands, wives, friends, and children, attending to their affairs while here on earth.  Others though, like myself, wish to continue in our knowledge and revelation of God's Fullness.  In Philippians 3:10 (Amplified) Paul tells us, "For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him; perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in some way come to know the power out flowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers, and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His Likeness, even to His death, in hope. That if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead even while I'm in the body."
     Paul goes on the encourage and draw us more into the depths of Jesus, in Philippians 3:15 (Amplified), So let those of us who are spiritually mature and full grown have this mind and hold these convictions, and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also."
     There have always been those who carry the stretchers, and those who need to be carried.  This is a part of life, that will always be with us.  I might need to be carried in the future, but for now, I choose to carry, and teach others how to carry people who need to be carried.  I will continue to raise up those who will trust God and will "Take the Land," like Joshua and Caleb.

Lesson 298 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)."
     We have been created anew in Christ Jesus, when we received Him as our Lord and Savior.  1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) says, "It is from Him that you have your Life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God; revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as our Righteousness thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God, and our Consecration, making us pure and holy and our Redemption providing our Ransom from eternal penalty for sin."
     Being created new in Christ Jesus, means that what He is, we are.  This new creation family of God has been created to live and stand in His Presence, just like Jesus Himself.  Religion has failed to see the great difference between the old covenant people and the new creation family of God.  The old covenant people had only a partial righteousness, which was brought about by their obedience to the Law.  Our righteousness is an act of creation, because we were created righteous in Christ Jesus.
     This right standing, justification and consecration have nothing to do with our own works or ability, but it is a Gift of God.  We received this Gift, through the faith and Grace which brought about the new creation.  1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) tells us that, "All who are in Christ Jesus, are born or created in righteousness."  Thus, it says, "But it is from Him that you have your Life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, revealing to us a knowledge of the Divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as our Righteousness."  This plan was "previously hidden, and has now been revealed by the Wisdom from God."  Even with revelation from the Holy Spirit, those who were created in righteousness continue to struggle and work to obtain righteousness, to no avail.
     The righteousness we now enjoy, is actually God's Own righteousness that is granted to us, by our union with Jesus, according to 1Corinthians 2:16 (Amplified) which says, "For who has known or understood the mind, the counsels and purposes of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts and feelings and purposes of His heart."
     We've accepted the teachings of religious mind's of carnal minded men as being Truth, because we've been taught these things for two-thousand years.  Much of what we've learned has only become intellectual understanding, instead of Revelation.  As Christian people, we've found ourselves in the same place of the early Church in Romans 10:2-3 (Amplified), where Paul writes, "I bear them witness that they have a certain zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened according to correct and vital knowledge. For being ignorant of the righteousness of God ascribes which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought and deed, and seeking to establish as righteousness, a means of salvation of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness."
     It's difficult for even today's Church, to understand and submit to righteousness simply by faith in God's Word and not in our own works.  This is called, "Grace."  Grace is righteousness through faith in Jesus' Sacrifice, without doing anything to deserve or merit it on our own.  Romans 10:2 (Amplified) says, "I bear them witness that they have a certain zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to correct and vital knowledge."
     Paul was preaching to Christian people in the above scriptures.  These people had a zeal for God, but not according to correct knowledge.  They followed after the old covenant people concerning righteousness, instead of grace and faith in the new covenant.  These people honored God and were trying to be in right standing with Him, but they were doing it through their own understanding and merit by works.  These people created rules for how they could approach God by their own standards, instead of faith and grace. 
     Paul also spoke about this very thing, to the Church in Galatia, saying in Galatians 3:1-3 (Amplified), "O you poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto Whom right before your eyes, Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified? Let me ask you this one question; Did you receive the Holy Spirit as the results of obeying the Law and doing it's works, or was it by hearing the Message of the Gospel and believing it? Was it from observing a Law of rituals or from a Message of faith? Are you so foolish and so silly and senseless? Having begun your new life spiritually with the Holy Spirit, are you now reaching perfection by dependence on the flesh?"
     Many in today's Church, remain under the influence and the same "fascination, bewitching, or spell," that attracted the Galatians to their own righteousness.  Satan's used this strategy against the Church, for nearly two-thousand.  Man's idea of what makes us righteous, is in direct opposition to the righteousness that God ascribes.  This has been a constant source of condemnation and guilt, holding the Church in bondage to the old man of sin even now.  We set about our own way of earning righteousness by rituals and works, because we're ignorant of God's righteousness.
     We always fall short in our own works and conscience, so we're always aware of our own failings to enter in by faith.  This plan of satan's, has worked well for him for too long.  When we don't measure up to God's righteousness in our own minds, we hold ourselves back from His Presence.  Notice, Paul describes this lack of faith in God's righteousness in the above scripture, saying, "Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you."  Paul is clearly speaking about a demonic influence over the carnal minded Christians, which held them in satan's bondage and under his influence.
     This isn't demon possession, but it the same demonic influence that held them before by guilt and condemnation.  Paul says in Ephesians  6:12 (Amplified), "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."
     These same strategies have held man in bondage for centuries and continues working on the new creation people of God, today.  One of satan's leading strategies is, teaching that "None are righteous, not one."  This reading of the partial Truth, has kept God's family from entering into and partaking of the fullness of God's Grace.  We have more faith in "who we once were," instead of "who He has made us to be now."  The old carnal, unrenewed mind of the new creation, has never been developed by faith in the Finished Work of Jesus Christ.
     If you won't believe you're in right standing (righteous) before God, then you'll never enter into God's Presence and fellowship, until you "feel" like you deserve His mercy and attention.  This is an impossible task and can never be done.  We don't and never will "deserve" the right to come into the Presence of a Holy God, on our own.  This might be the greatest act of your faith in Jesus and His Sacrifice, that you might ever need to face.  Satan had perpetuated his lie that, "Every bad thing that happens to us, is God's judgment for unrighteousness.  When we fail to receive God's Own righteousness, then we accept satan's lie too. 
     We've always felt like we deserve God's punishment for our sins, because of unrighteousness.  This leaves an opening for satan to bring sickness, disease, heartbreak and despair on God's people, because we feel like we deserve it for not being righteous in God's eyes.  We are a new creation and are not under the Law, so we don't need to depend on our works or sacrifice,in order to stay in God's good standing.  We were created righteous and pure, holy, sanctified and perfect, when we were created in Christ Jesus.  Nothing was left out of what Jesus' Sacrifice did.  God left nothing to chance or unfinished in Jesus.  There's nothing for us to do, except put our faith in Jesus and grow in our faith in Him.
     If we could have done it under the Law, then Jesus would not have had to die and be our own Sacrifice Lamb unto God, for us.  This is so different from what we've been taught and believed, that we can only receive it by the Holy Spirit.  Romans 8:1-3 (Amplified) 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."  We must allow the Holy Spirit to dictate the Truth to us, not the dictates of man's religion.  Paul goes on in Verses 2-3, 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, For God has done what the Law could not do, it's power being weakened by the flesh, the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit; Sending His Own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an Offering for sin, God condemned sin in the flesh, subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power overall who accept that Sacrifice."
     Have you ever accepted that Sacrifice?  If you have, then your flesh (body) is dead in God's eyes and the sin of that flesh has died, according to Romans 6:3-4 (Amplified) which says, "Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the Glorious power of the Father, so we too might habitually live and behave in the newness of Life."
 

Lesson 297 The New Creation

     2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person in (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold! the fresh and new has come.  But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
    The new creation family of God has never fully appreciated who we really are, because we've never fully understood what God has done through Jesus.  We call Him "Father" and refer to ourselves as children of God, but we don't feel comfortable or at home, in His Presence.  Religion and culture has taught us to see ourselves as being unacceptable to God.
     We constantly try finding ways to reach Him in our lives, without realizing that God has already made us family.  No one needs to try finding a way into his/her family, because he/she was born into that family.  We still try to perform in certain areas of our lives, in order to be part of God's family or to be accepted in His family.  This leads to a huge problem of our having faith in our prayer lives and in our fellowship with the Father.
     We are the entire reason for creation and "every good thing" God placed on the earth.  We were predestined to be His children, before the foundations of the earth.  Genesis 1-2 tells us that God created everything and said, "It was very good."  Then, when everything was done, God created breathed the Breath of Life into Adam, making mankind a living, speaking spirit.  The bountiful beauty of earth, is useless for anything inhabiting it, outside of humans.  God made these things for us to enjoy.
     "All things were made by Him and for Him, without Him nothing that was made, was made," according to John 1:3,4 (Amplified). Verse 4a continues, "In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men."  2Corinthians 4:6 (Amplified) says, "This Light was the Life of God, and this Light was the Life of man."  "The Light was Life and the God Who spoke the Life, has shined into our hearts," according to Verse 4b which says, "For God Who said, Let Light shine out of the darkness, has shone in our hearts so as to beam forth the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the Majesty and Glory of God, as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
     In Him was Life and this Light was the Life of man.  The God Who spoke Life and Light into being, shines in our hearts.  God didn't simply speak Light and Life to us, but He became Light and Life to us, creating a new creation who previously never existed on earth.  God was with the old covenant people and He sometimes came upon them.  God lives in us and is in the new creation people, who are His family.  When we grasp this difference, then it will make all the difference to our lives.  The old covenant people needed to perform certain rituals and sacrifice bulls and goats to God, in order to come into His Presence.  God's Presence lives inside us now, as the new creation family of God.  We don't to perform certain rituals or offer sacrifices of bulls and goats to God, in order for Him to hear us.  God is Living in and through us, at all times.
     The world and it's cultures has trained us, to see ourselves as still being under the Law, instead of under Grace.  We've been trying to make ourselves acceptable to God, by our works.  We believe God will hear us and perform His Word in our lives, if we do these things.  When we fail, then we start all over again, because the enemy has trained us to do so.  It's delusional for us to believe we can "make ourselves perfect in God's eyes."  Through His Sacrifice, Jesus has already done what man could never do, making us holy, righteous, sanctified, and consecrated to the Father.  Jesus prayed in John 17:18-19 (Amplified), "Just as You sent Me into the world, So for their sake and on their behalf  I sanctify, dedicate, consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified, dedicated, consecrated, made holy in the Truth."
     Listen to Jesus' prayer in the above scripture and listen with your spirit.  Jesus said that, "Just as the Father sent [Him] into the world, He has sent us."  How did the Father send Jesus?  Did He sent Him as "just another sinner" into the world, to become holy?  Or, did God send Jesus, as the One Who was without sin and already holy?  Through Jesus' Sacrifice, He has now sent us into the world, as being sanctified, consecrated, dedicated and holy.
     The "dedication" that Jesus spoke about, is the "tithe, first fruits, sacrifice and the temple."  Jesus said, He dedicated us to the Father.  He wasn't speaking about our being dedicated in our Christian walk, like friends are dedicated to one another.  Jesus is speaking about a dedicated sacrifice, holy unto the Lord.  We can dedicated ourselves to prayer and study in the Word, but this isn't what Jesus spoke of.  Jesus dedicated His Own Blood and Body in His dedication to obedience and that's how we've now been dedicate to God.
     Just like the Father sent Jesus into the world, Jesus has sent us.  At the time you accepted Jesus as your Savior and were born-again, you were created and dedicated to the Father, just like Jesus was when "He was sent into the world."  We are "in the world, but not of the world," just like Jesus said He was.  The world is in sin and darkness, but the new creation people (us) are "no longer of this world."  The new creation people are no longer sinners, living in darkness and sacrificing bulls and goats under the Law, but we've been dedicated as holy instruments into the very house of God.  We're holy, dedicated, sanctified, consecrated, righteous and living Lights, who were sent into the world to bring Light into the darkness.
     Jesus Himself declared we were to be "the Light of the world and the salt of the earth."  He said we are to be lifted up, in order to give Light unto men.  We've tried so hard and have failed at every turn, to become what Jesus has already made us to be, through Him and His Sacrifice.  When a covenant man sinned in the old covenant, then he would bring a sacrifice of bulls and goats before God.  If God received that sacrifice, then the man was restored back, to where his sin was no longer counted against him, because of his faith in the sacrifice.  We too, must have faith in our Sacrifice (Jesus) and believe He dedicated Himself (and us with Him) unto the Father, to be used in what God sent Him to do.  We've not the Savior, of course, but we've been dedicated unto good works and have been made holy by Jesus' works.  We've been dedicated holy and righteous in God's sight, to be used of the Master like Jesus was.
     All of the utensils in the Temple, were dedicated to be used in holy worship and to be used of the Lord.  We've also been dedicated to be used in the holy service of God.  Jesus said that, "As the Father sent [Him], He is now sending us."  He didn't send us like we were before, but as He created us.  We've entered into the world, not as the world is, but as Jesus was when He came to into it.  Jesus' prayer and Sacrifice has created us "new."  We're to go into the world as holy, clean, and righteous, bringing Light into darkness by God's Own Spirit Living within us.
     God didn't command the Light to shine in our hearts, but 2Corinthians 4:6 says, "The God Who commanded the Light to shine, has shined in our hearts."  It isn't just the Light, but the God Who commanded the Light, He Himself now shines in our hearts.  The Light and the One Who commands it, are shining into the darkness of the world through us and through Him, we are supposed to shine forth, like Jesus did.
     We're not just "old sinners, saved by grace."  We were old sinners and by Grace we were saved.  Through His Sacrifice, Jesus did what the Law couldn't do and He sent ut into the world, like God sent Him into the world to bring Light and Life.  We've become a new creations through Jesus and have been sent into the world of sin and darkness, bringing Light and righteousness to all of mankind.  John 1:4 (Amplified) tells us, "Jesus is the Word made flesh."  Through Him, we are houses of flesh, bearing this Living Word.  Through Him, we are vessels of Life and Light into the world like Jesus was in His earthly ministry.
     We stagger at the Truth of what Jesus' Sacrifice has produced in mankind, but the Word declares what man cannot receive in his own carnal mind.  Man can only receive the understanding of what the new creation family of God is, by Truth and Revelation from God.  Our own sin conscience has held us back, from being bold and confidence in the Finished Word of Jesus Christ.  This new creation was what Jesus came to produce as the Seed of righteousness and from this One Seed, a hundred-fold harvest has been reaped from drought.  This hundred-fold return is reproduced in kind as holy, righteous, consecrated, and as vessels dedicated to God's House and as vessels of honor to the Father. 
    

Lesson 296 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 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)."
     One of the greatest deceptions satan has ever perpetuated in the Church, is preventing us from understanding that we're righteous in Christ Jesus' righteousness.  2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) says, "For our sake He made Christ virtually to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of, the righteousness of God, what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him, by His Goodness."
     Romans 1:17 (Amplified) tells us, "For in the Gospel, a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith, disclosed through the way of faith, that arouses to more faith. As it is written,the man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."  We were dead in trespass and sin, but are now made alive and are now living by faith in Christ Jesus.  Whether or not we know it, we are now living by faith.  This isn't another "faith teaching," as some would say, but it is the Truth of the Gospel.
     We were made righteous in Christ Jesus, made alive in Christ Jesus and our faith in Him is both Life and right standing with the Father.  This isn't a new revelation, but is the Truth of our salvation.  Jesus has restored to us, the right to come before our God and Father by our faith in Him, as though sin never existed in our lives.  We've been taught by carnal minded men, which produced religious teachings and doctrines that prevented us from enjoying the privileges that came to us by faith in the Risen Christ.  Many in the Church, have never received the revelation that through Jesus, fellowship and entry into the very Face of God Himself, has been restored to what the Father intended before the foundations of the world.  This was the Father's heart and He predestined these things for His family, from the very beginning.
     We are the very reason for the Heavens and the earth existing.  If God's Own family didn't live here on earth, then it would be another uninhabited planet.  God made every living thing that we see and enjoy here on earth, solely for our pleasure.  He fashioned the beauty of millions of flowers, along with the host of differing and beautiful birds, in order to please and bless His children.
     Most expectant parents purposefully create a nursery, making it an environment of tranquility, comfort and beauty for their child.  God too, created such a place for His children, before they were ever made.  God's family had unlimited access and an open door, to walk with, talk with and enjoy fellowship with Him.  God's children had the right to come to Him, any and all the time  There was no sacrifice or ritual needed to enter into His Presence.  Through our union with Jesus, we've been given the right to do exactly the same thing.
     I don't believe that the family of God has ever truly understood this.  We establish certain times and days where we can "come into His Presence," while establishing acceptable ways to do so, so "He will hear us."  As the new creation, we've been restored open fellowship and entry into the very heart of God, for any and all times.  Do you know that you're always welcome in God's House?  If we really understood that we can talk with Him, walk with Him and fellowship with Him at any time, then it would change our relationship with the Father from religion to reality.
     My Father speaks to me all the time and I'm in constant fellowship with Him.  Paul speaks about this in 2Corinthians 10:3 (Amplified) saying, "For though we walk, live in the flesh, we are not carrying our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons."  Paul was saying that, "My new creation man is living in this earthly house at this time, but my flesh and blood house where I'm living, doesn't dictate what my new creation does."  I've noticed that I can simultaneously drive my truck, pay attention to the road and still pray in my spirit.  We can walk here in our house of flesh and have our lives both be led and conducted, by our new creation man who lives in this house.  We are fashioned and created to simultaneously function in two realms.  We don't live one life in the flesh and one in the spirit.  We live one life in the spirit, that lead the life here on earth, in this earthly house.
     During His earthly walk, Jesus had a Flesh and Blood Body, but it didn't control Him; He controlled it.  Jesus ate, slept, bathed, talked and walked with (and like) other men, but He was led by His Spirit and this is exactly how we're to do as new creation people.  Some would say, "Yes, but He was without sin."  Don't you know that through Him, your sin has been eradicated and God doesn't remember your sins any longer?  Don't you know that the Father has made us one with Him and Jesus, in the new creation?  God sees us, as "sinless," because the Lord bore our sins for us and has made us righteous in His righteousness.  We've been redeemed and restored to a place, where we have total access to our Father, at all times.
     How much time do we spend talking and fellowshiping with the Father?  How much time do we actually spend, listening to and for His Voice and leading?  Do we even understand that we've been restored to the very place that Jesus (the Last Adam) and the first Adam, had with Him?  We don't need to make sacrifices or perform rituals any longer.  We don't have to "hope He will hear us" or wonder if we will be accepted before Him.  We've been granted the privilege of being with Him, all the time.
     If God's people could grasp hold of the Truth of our new creation, then we'd stay in fellowship with Him, at all times.  I can walk in this flesh, while I'm here on earth, just like Adam and Jesus did and be in His Presence and guidance.  The walls of sin or unrighteousness, don't block our fellowship with Him, any longer.  This is more than the carnal mind can grasp, but is nonetheless, the Truth of this new creation family.
     There is no Christian who can become bored or discouraged, when we know that we cam come into God's Presence and be counseled and led by God's Spirit, while we're still living on this earth?  I'm not talking about praying when we're in trouble or asking for things we need.  I'm talking about being in constant fellowship with the One Who leads us, at all times.  We've been taught that, "Not everyone does these things" and it's probably true, but it's because we don't and not because we can't.  God doesn't have any special children.  He only has children.
     In John 17:23 (Amplified) Jesus prayed, "I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united; that the world may know and definitely recognize that You sent Me and that You have Loved them even as You have Loved Me."  Do you dare believed that God Loves you, like He Loves Jesus?  Do you dare believe that He has bestowed to us, the same fellowship and guidance He gave to Jesus?  Do you truly believe that God will hear you, just like He heard and hears Jesus?
     For the most part, we don't believe this, because we don't understand our redemption into the right to come before Him, even as Jesus did.  The only thing Jesus did that isn't for God's new creation family, is being the Sacrifice that brought us back to Him.  Jesus was the only sinless Man on the planet and He was the only Righteous Man Who had the right to come into God's Presence before His death and resurrection.  Through Jesus, we are now sinless and righteous with His Own righteousness and we have unlimited access to the Father.  Jesus said, "I Am the Door."  We enter through Him, in Him, by Him and for Him.  Even though we're living in the flesh, we don't war after the flesh, but by our new creation being that He has made us to be.