John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and favor upon favor and even Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessings and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Romans 8:14 (Amplified) says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) tells us, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst after) Spiritual milk (the Word), that by it you may grow into completed salvation." 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 reproach or fault finding, and it will be given him."
In John 14:11-12,17,26-27 (Amplified), Jesus said some things that the Church has either ignored or simply dismissed as being, "Not for us today" or "These were only for Jesus." Thus, Jesus says, "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 these works that I do in My Father's Name convince you, I assure you (most solemnly I tell you), if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he himself will be able to do the things I do; and even greater will he do than these, because I go to the Father."
Jesus tells us in Verse 17, "The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him, for He lives with you and will be in you." He goes on in Verses 26-27, "But the Comforter, Counselor, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand by, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will send in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf; He will teach you all things, and He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance), everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you (My Own peace I now give and bequeath to you) Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled."
Who directed and moved in and through Jesus? He moved by the Same Holy Spirit and the Same Father that we're supposed to be listening to and directed by. No one Jesus was in contact with, knew what He was doing or thinking. Jesus was simply led by the Holy Spirit of God. Romans 8:14 (Amplified) says, "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, are mature sons of God." We are to set our hearts on God's Word and His Spirit, until we're led by them.
The Church has mostly been led by our pastors and teachers. Although they're Gifts that the Father has sent to and for us, through Jesus, they cannot always know all the Truth the Father has and was directing through Jesus. We're directed to know and understand His will and His Word for ourselves. Your pastor cannot spend your time in the Word, nor can he/she spend time in fellowship with God for you. This is the responsibility of each child of God. If we depend only on the pastor, then we can only know and move in what the pastor knows.
The pastors are to, "Train up the child in the way that he/she should go, and when they are old (mature) they will not depart from it," according to Proverbs 22:6 (Amplified) 2Timothy 3:15-17 (Amplified) says, "And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus (through the leaning if your entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus) in absolute trust and confidence in His power, Wisdom and Goodness. Every Scripture is God breathed (given by His Inspiration), and is profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error, and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
This is the calling of each individual in the Body of Christ. It doesn't matter what the world thinks about the Church, it's what God thinks that counts. Remember what Jesus said about the world and the Holy Spirit, in John 14:17 (Amplified),where He said, "The world cannot receive (welcome or take to heart), because they cannot see Him or know and recognize Him, for He lives with you and will be in you." When we allow the thoughts and manners of the world to dictate our relationship with the Father, we lose all of our Super-natural ability to be of any use to them. This makes God's Word only a ritual and tradition to them.
It requires diligence on the believer's behalf, to train up our spirit to hear the Father's Voice through the Holy Spirit and His Word. There are so many things that direct our attention from hearing anything, but the world. This leaves us without ears to hear. I was a kiln operator at PPG, where the noise was overwhelming. My job depended upon my hearing the P.A. system, but I couldn't control the noise. So I had to train myself to tune out the noise of the machines and hear the P.A. system. This is what we must learn to do, concerning the noises of the world.
Let's listen to God's Word and God's Spirit. Download God's Word on your devices, so that you're continuously hearing the Word and can hear the Father when He speaks and you can recognize His Voice. Hebrews 5:11-14 (Amplified) says, "Concerning this, we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull in your Spiritual hearing and sluggish, even slothful in achieving Spiritual insight. For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God's Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food. For who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskillful in the doctrine of righteousness, of conformity to the Divine will in purpose, thought and action; for he is a mere infant, not able to talk yet. But solid food is for full grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and to distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary, either to Divine or human law."
The Church has allowed contrary laws, human laws to pass, by not speaking up or standing up, when these ran contrary to Divine Laws of God. The Church has remained as infants, who are not able to speak, for the most part. Many of us have been duped into not getting involved in politics, because they're not Spiritual. Nothing could be farther from the Truth though. We're to know and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary to Divine or human laws. If we're to be the light of the world, then we must shine some Light on the world.
Monday, October 8, 2018
Friday, October 5, 2018
Lesson 94 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
We've missed much of what Jesus gave to us by His Sacrifice, because of our misunderstanding what Grace is. Our idea of Grace, was that God felt sorry for us and pitied us. This isn't what Grace is all about. Abraham is called, "The Father of our faith," so we must understand what kind of covenant he had with God. The Law was given 430 years after Abraham, according to Galatians 3:16-17 (Amplified) which says, "Now the Promises (agreements, covenants) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, His Heirs)." God doesn't say that the Promise was made to "his Seeds," as if referring to "many people." God's Promise was given to Abraham and "his Seed," obviously referring to One Individual, Who is none other than Christ Jesus, the Messiah. Verse 17 continues, "This is my argument, the Law, which began 430 years after the covenant concerning the coming Messiah, does not and can not annual the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the Promise and make it void."
Abraham's covenant with God wasn't for Abraham alone (or maybe at all), but was for Jesus, when He was to come. Abraham was Blessed to walk in this covenant, by his faith in God, until Jesus (the Seed) was to come, because the covenant was actually for Jesus. The entire covenant with Abraham was a covenant of Grace and there was no Law at that time.
Abraham simply believed God and was Blessed in all he did, because God supplied his every need, by Grace. Abraham was Blessed with cattle, family, and health. God restored both his and Sarah's bodies, so that the Promised Seed could come through them, by Abraham's faith. Everything Abraham did was Blessed, by Grace and faith. God supplied all his needs and made Abraham great by Grace, because of his faith in Him.
We've somehow missed the full meaning of this covenant. We've remained under the Law, which operated by works, in order to be eligible for Blessing. Abraham didn't perform any works, but he only believed God. Abraham has become our example of faith and provision.
Jesus was the True Recipient of this covenant and all that God Promised to Abraham and his Seed, is now ours to receive, just like Abraham did through faith in God's Grace. This isn't new to mankind, but is what god intended for all His children, when He created Adam in the Garden of Eden. God fully intended to provide for all His children, by His Grace. He never intended for His children to rely on the world to provide for them. Like any Loving father, God intended to take care of His Own.
The only commandment God gave to Adam was, "Do not eat of this tree." Adam was intended to live in God's Grace and provision, walking with his Heavenly Father in perfect fellowship for eternity. God's children were to grow up and live like Abraham did before the Father, in fellowship and Grace. God's great Love was to teach and train them up, like He now desires to teach and train us as His children. This has always been God's will for His family.
We've believed that the Law, was God's will for His people and have forgotten that we are different than those at that time. Those people weren't born-again people and weren't born of God's Spirit. They were just people. God's Love for them and the Promise of the Messiah was still many years in the future. God could only work with them as flesh and blood people and not as spiritual people. The Law was only a school master, to hold the people until the Promise was fulfilled.
We're not just forgiven sinners, like some would have you believe. We're a new creation people, born of God and thus, recipients of the Promise, through Jesus. This is no longer a Promise, but is our Truth! Once a promise is fulfilled, it's no longer a promise, but a truth and a fact. The Promise is now fulfilled in the Risen Christ and it's ours to enjoy. The Father now deals with us in a completely different way, than He did those who were under the Law.
Everything God has Promised, is now fulfilled in Jesus, even to the truth of our live after death. Even though we will cease to live in our mortal body, we already have Eternal Life through Jesus and we've already entered into the realm of God's Glory, through Jesus' Resurrection. Romans 8:9-10 (Amplified) tells us, "But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the Life of the Spirit, if the Holy Spirit of God really dwells within you (directs and controls you); But if anyone does not possess the Holy Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God). But if Christ lives in you, then although your natural bod is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of the righteousness that He imputes to you."
We're to trust and have faith in God's Grace and His Holy Spirit. We're to use the Life of God that is in our spirit, to control and give life to our natural body, while we're on earth. We don't use or need Law to walk with Him, but we need Grace to keep us walking by His Spirit. 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Every Scripture is God breathed, given by His Inspiration, and is profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error, and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action. So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
We're supposed to be led, corrected trained up and complete in Him, by the Word and through the spirit which is born-again by His Spirit. No one needs to tell you when you're in sin or in error, because the Holy Spirit and God's Word will reveal and convict you (not condemn you, but convict you). Before ascending to the Father, Jesus told His followers in John 16:13-15 (Amplified), "But when He (the Spirit of Truth, the Truth Giving Spirit)comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole full Truth). For He will not speak His Own Message (on His Own Authority), but He will tell whatever He hears from the Father; He will give the Message that has been given to Him; and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future), He will honor and Glorify Me, because He will take of, receive, draw upon, what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. 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." Remember, the Promise was made to "the Seed" and not "seeds," as if referring to many. The Seed is Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:16 & 29(Amplified) tell us, "And if you belong to Christ, are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed, then you are Abraham's offspring and spiritual heirs according to Promise."
Now we can understand what Jesus meant when He spoke about the Holy Spirit in John 16:14-15 (Amplified). Jesus said, "He (the Holy Spirit) will take what is Mine and reveal it unto you. Everything that the Father has, is Mine." Romans 8:17 (Amplified) tells us, "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 in His suffering if we are to share His Glory."
This suffering, isn't what Jesus suffered on the cross. This was done in order to redeem and to qualify us for salvation and Promise. Jesus' suffering was His being rejected, misunderstood and His seeing others without the Father of Life of God in them. Jesus was moved by compassion over the needs of others and their lack of understanding about His mission cause Jesus to suffer. We too, because we have the same Holy Spirit living inside us, should have this same kind of suffering or desire to see a world without despair. All people were created by God and when we see them in bondage through unbelief and the world's traditions, then that should cause us to suffer like Jesus did. Then, we can go out to them as God's hands and feet, reaching to them with God's Grace and His salvation. Jesus' Love never left people in the same way He found them and we shouldn't either.
We've missed much of what Jesus gave to us by His Sacrifice, because of our misunderstanding what Grace is. Our idea of Grace, was that God felt sorry for us and pitied us. This isn't what Grace is all about. Abraham is called, "The Father of our faith," so we must understand what kind of covenant he had with God. The Law was given 430 years after Abraham, according to Galatians 3:16-17 (Amplified) which says, "Now the Promises (agreements, covenants) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed (his Offspring, His Heirs)." God doesn't say that the Promise was made to "his Seeds," as if referring to "many people." God's Promise was given to Abraham and "his Seed," obviously referring to One Individual, Who is none other than Christ Jesus, the Messiah. Verse 17 continues, "This is my argument, the Law, which began 430 years after the covenant concerning the coming Messiah, does not and can not annual the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the Promise and make it void."
Abraham's covenant with God wasn't for Abraham alone (or maybe at all), but was for Jesus, when He was to come. Abraham was Blessed to walk in this covenant, by his faith in God, until Jesus (the Seed) was to come, because the covenant was actually for Jesus. The entire covenant with Abraham was a covenant of Grace and there was no Law at that time.
Abraham simply believed God and was Blessed in all he did, because God supplied his every need, by Grace. Abraham was Blessed with cattle, family, and health. God restored both his and Sarah's bodies, so that the Promised Seed could come through them, by Abraham's faith. Everything Abraham did was Blessed, by Grace and faith. God supplied all his needs and made Abraham great by Grace, because of his faith in Him.
We've somehow missed the full meaning of this covenant. We've remained under the Law, which operated by works, in order to be eligible for Blessing. Abraham didn't perform any works, but he only believed God. Abraham has become our example of faith and provision.
Jesus was the True Recipient of this covenant and all that God Promised to Abraham and his Seed, is now ours to receive, just like Abraham did through faith in God's Grace. This isn't new to mankind, but is what god intended for all His children, when He created Adam in the Garden of Eden. God fully intended to provide for all His children, by His Grace. He never intended for His children to rely on the world to provide for them. Like any Loving father, God intended to take care of His Own.
The only commandment God gave to Adam was, "Do not eat of this tree." Adam was intended to live in God's Grace and provision, walking with his Heavenly Father in perfect fellowship for eternity. God's children were to grow up and live like Abraham did before the Father, in fellowship and Grace. God's great Love was to teach and train them up, like He now desires to teach and train us as His children. This has always been God's will for His family.
We've believed that the Law, was God's will for His people and have forgotten that we are different than those at that time. Those people weren't born-again people and weren't born of God's Spirit. They were just people. God's Love for them and the Promise of the Messiah was still many years in the future. God could only work with them as flesh and blood people and not as spiritual people. The Law was only a school master, to hold the people until the Promise was fulfilled.
We're not just forgiven sinners, like some would have you believe. We're a new creation people, born of God and thus, recipients of the Promise, through Jesus. This is no longer a Promise, but is our Truth! Once a promise is fulfilled, it's no longer a promise, but a truth and a fact. The Promise is now fulfilled in the Risen Christ and it's ours to enjoy. The Father now deals with us in a completely different way, than He did those who were under the Law.
Everything God has Promised, is now fulfilled in Jesus, even to the truth of our live after death. Even though we will cease to live in our mortal body, we already have Eternal Life through Jesus and we've already entered into the realm of God's Glory, through Jesus' Resurrection. Romans 8:9-10 (Amplified) tells us, "But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the Life of the Spirit, if the Holy Spirit of God really dwells within you (directs and controls you); But if anyone does not possess the Holy Spirit of Christ, he is none of His (does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God). But if Christ lives in you, then although your natural bod is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of the righteousness that He imputes to you."
We're to trust and have faith in God's Grace and His Holy Spirit. We're to use the Life of God that is in our spirit, to control and give life to our natural body, while we're on earth. We don't use or need Law to walk with Him, but we need Grace to keep us walking by His Spirit. 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) says, "Every Scripture is God breathed, given by His Inspiration, and is profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error, and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action. So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
We're supposed to be led, corrected trained up and complete in Him, by the Word and through the spirit which is born-again by His Spirit. No one needs to tell you when you're in sin or in error, because the Holy Spirit and God's Word will reveal and convict you (not condemn you, but convict you). Before ascending to the Father, Jesus told His followers in John 16:13-15 (Amplified), "But when He (the Spirit of Truth, the Truth Giving Spirit)comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole full Truth). For He will not speak His Own Message (on His Own Authority), but He will tell whatever He hears from the Father; He will give the Message that has been given to Him; and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future), He will honor and Glorify Me, because He will take of, receive, draw upon, what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. 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." Remember, the Promise was made to "the Seed" and not "seeds," as if referring to many. The Seed is Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:16 & 29(Amplified) tell us, "And if you belong to Christ, are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed, then you are Abraham's offspring and spiritual heirs according to Promise."
Now we can understand what Jesus meant when He spoke about the Holy Spirit in John 16:14-15 (Amplified). Jesus said, "He (the Holy Spirit) will take what is Mine and reveal it unto you. Everything that the Father has, is Mine." Romans 8:17 (Amplified) tells us, "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 in His suffering if we are to share His Glory."
This suffering, isn't what Jesus suffered on the cross. This was done in order to redeem and to qualify us for salvation and Promise. Jesus' suffering was His being rejected, misunderstood and His seeing others without the Father of Life of God in them. Jesus was moved by compassion over the needs of others and their lack of understanding about His mission cause Jesus to suffer. We too, because we have the same Holy Spirit living inside us, should have this same kind of suffering or desire to see a world without despair. All people were created by God and when we see them in bondage through unbelief and the world's traditions, then that should cause us to suffer like Jesus did. Then, we can go out to them as God's hands and feet, reaching to them with God's Grace and His salvation. Jesus' Love never left people in the same way He found them and we shouldn't either.
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Lesson 93 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Romans 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is thus the father of us all."
The people under the Law had to do many things, in order to inherit the Blessing. The Law was only for the Hebrew people and those of us who were never under the Law, weren't included or qualified to have a relationship with God. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and says in Matthew 5:17 (Amplified), "Do not think I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them." Man is no longer required by ability or works, to inherit the Blessing of Abraham, but only needs faith in God's Grace that is already done. We're not required any longer to fulfill laws, rituals and traditions, but now, by faith, we simply trust that Jesus has already done all that needs to be done.
Many have misunderstood the use of our faith. Faith isn't trying to get God to do something, but faith is trusting in what He has already done. When we were saved, He didn't have to send Jesus to the cross again. We only had to put faith in what Jesus had done two-thousand years ago. This is the true use of faith. Faith isn't prompting God to do something, but is trust in what is already made available to us by Grace.
We've developed faith in and for being saved, but the other things Jesus did for us, have escaped us. We keep "trying to be healed," by observing certain things in our lives, in order to deserve healing. This is what Grace is all about. Grace is giving us things we don't have to work for or deserve and trusting in God's Goodness that He's already provided for us, just like He did for our salvation.
We certainly did nothing to deserve being made God's children and we certainly didn't deserve cleansing and forgiveness. It was all by faith in God's Grace. In Romans 4:16, Paul tells us that, "Inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith that it might be by Grace." Only by having faith in God's Grace, will we end up with results in our Christian walk. The harder we work and do, in order to "deserve" it, the farther we get from receiving it.
Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospel-a righteousness that 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, that Man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith." By faith in Jesus, we are now just and upright in God's eyes. It's not by anything we have done or deserved, but by having faith in what He has done through Jesus.
Many consider it prideful when you suggest you're justified and righteous. Some even consider it is blasphemous. We continue looking at our lives and works as falling short of what we think righteousness is. The only way to be righteous before God, is by faith in His Grace that He has now ascribed. Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "A righteousness that God has ascribed." This is the only righteousness that God will accept and recognize. God sees our efforts of trying to be righteous, as filthy rags. This is only trying to be righteous by our ow efforts and denying the righteousness that Jesus came and died for, on our behalf.
When we do works, in order to be righteous, we deny what God has ascribed and accepted as right standing with Him. All that God has for us, is already been done and made available to us by faith in His Grace. We can't work our way into healing, anymore than we can work our way into being saved. You can't live good enough to deserve salvation, because it it by Grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation, through your faith."
Theologians have debated and discussed this for centuries, but God's Word is Truth and Spirit. We can change the way we read God's Word and believe it means something different, but we can't change it's Truth. Jesus completely did away with sin and the sin-nature. When Jesus paid the Price for sin, He also did away with the effects of sin in our earthly bodies, which was sickness and despair. Healing, redemption, deliverance and Life through God, are all part of our salvation and must be received by faith in the same Grace that brought about the new birth or new creation man/woman. Jesus didn't leave any part of our redemption to chance, but He redeemed us completely. That is all by the Grace of God and must be received by faith in the entire death and resurrection of Jesus.
Many in today's Church have established their own laws that we must follow, in order to be in a place where we can received what God has Promised. By observing these man-made laws, we've turned from Grace and depended once again, on our own selves. Once a promise has been fulfilled, it's no longer a promise, but a truth. If you tell your child, "We'll go fishing next Saturday," then you've made a promise and your child will look forward to that coming to pass. When Saturday arrives and you take that child fishing, then it's not a promise anymore, but a fact or truth. You don't have to look forward to it any longer, because you are enjoying the fulfillment of the promise.
The things of God has Promised to us, are all "Yes and Amen (So be it) in Christ Jesus," according to 2Corinthians 1:18-19 (Amplified) which says, "As surely as God is trustworthy and faithful and means what He says, our speech and message to you have not been Yes that might mean no. For the Son of God Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who has been preached among you by us, by myself, Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, But in Him is always the Divine Yes. For as many as are the Promises of God, They all find their Yes answer in Him, Christ, for this reason we also utter the Amen, so be it, to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency, to the Glory of God."
God receives Glory, when we simply receive His Promises as "Yes and So be it," by faith in Jesus. They are Promises to the unsaved, but are Truth and fact to those of us who are saved and in His Grace.
Romans 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is thus the father of us all."
The people under the Law had to do many things, in order to inherit the Blessing. The Law was only for the Hebrew people and those of us who were never under the Law, weren't included or qualified to have a relationship with God. Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law and says in Matthew 5:17 (Amplified), "Do not think I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them." Man is no longer required by ability or works, to inherit the Blessing of Abraham, but only needs faith in God's Grace that is already done. We're not required any longer to fulfill laws, rituals and traditions, but now, by faith, we simply trust that Jesus has already done all that needs to be done.
Many have misunderstood the use of our faith. Faith isn't trying to get God to do something, but faith is trusting in what He has already done. When we were saved, He didn't have to send Jesus to the cross again. We only had to put faith in what Jesus had done two-thousand years ago. This is the true use of faith. Faith isn't prompting God to do something, but is trust in what is already made available to us by Grace.
We've developed faith in and for being saved, but the other things Jesus did for us, have escaped us. We keep "trying to be healed," by observing certain things in our lives, in order to deserve healing. This is what Grace is all about. Grace is giving us things we don't have to work for or deserve and trusting in God's Goodness that He's already provided for us, just like He did for our salvation.
We certainly did nothing to deserve being made God's children and we certainly didn't deserve cleansing and forgiveness. It was all by faith in God's Grace. In Romans 4:16, Paul tells us that, "Inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith that it might be by Grace." Only by having faith in God's Grace, will we end up with results in our Christian walk. The harder we work and do, in order to "deserve" it, the farther we get from receiving it.
Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospel-a righteousness that 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, that Man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith." By faith in Jesus, we are now just and upright in God's eyes. It's not by anything we have done or deserved, but by having faith in what He has done through Jesus.
Many consider it prideful when you suggest you're justified and righteous. Some even consider it is blasphemous. We continue looking at our lives and works as falling short of what we think righteousness is. The only way to be righteous before God, is by faith in His Grace that He has now ascribed. Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "A righteousness that God has ascribed." This is the only righteousness that God will accept and recognize. God sees our efforts of trying to be righteous, as filthy rags. This is only trying to be righteous by our ow efforts and denying the righteousness that Jesus came and died for, on our behalf.
When we do works, in order to be righteous, we deny what God has ascribed and accepted as right standing with Him. All that God has for us, is already been done and made available to us by faith in His Grace. We can't work our way into healing, anymore than we can work our way into being saved. You can't live good enough to deserve salvation, because it it by Grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation, through your faith."
Theologians have debated and discussed this for centuries, but God's Word is Truth and Spirit. We can change the way we read God's Word and believe it means something different, but we can't change it's Truth. Jesus completely did away with sin and the sin-nature. When Jesus paid the Price for sin, He also did away with the effects of sin in our earthly bodies, which was sickness and despair. Healing, redemption, deliverance and Life through God, are all part of our salvation and must be received by faith in the same Grace that brought about the new birth or new creation man/woman. Jesus didn't leave any part of our redemption to chance, but He redeemed us completely. That is all by the Grace of God and must be received by faith in the entire death and resurrection of Jesus.
Many in today's Church have established their own laws that we must follow, in order to be in a place where we can received what God has Promised. By observing these man-made laws, we've turned from Grace and depended once again, on our own selves. Once a promise has been fulfilled, it's no longer a promise, but a truth. If you tell your child, "We'll go fishing next Saturday," then you've made a promise and your child will look forward to that coming to pass. When Saturday arrives and you take that child fishing, then it's not a promise anymore, but a fact or truth. You don't have to look forward to it any longer, because you are enjoying the fulfillment of the promise.
The things of God has Promised to us, are all "Yes and Amen (So be it) in Christ Jesus," according to 2Corinthians 1:18-19 (Amplified) which says, "As surely as God is trustworthy and faithful and means what He says, our speech and message to you have not been Yes that might mean no. For the Son of God Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who has been preached among you by us, by myself, Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, But in Him is always the Divine Yes. For as many as are the Promises of God, They all find their Yes answer in Him, Christ, for this reason we also utter the Amen, so be it, to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency, to the Glory of God."
God receives Glory, when we simply receive His Promises as "Yes and So be it," by faith in Jesus. They are Promises to the unsaved, but are Truth and fact to those of us who are saved and in His Grace.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Lesson 92 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Most believers haven't known much about our covenant and the family relationship we have with God our Father. We also know very little about Grace and Truth. The more we try earning or deserving God's Blessing, the more we resist Grace, which is unearned and undeserved favor." The deceiver (satan) has managed to blind our minds to the Truth that sets us free.
Because we don't understand Grace and Truth, we've allowed ourselves to be brought back into the bondage of the Law. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
Jesus also said in Matthew 6:33-34 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own (Sufficient for each day is its own trouble)."
We are instructed to "Seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right)." What is His way of being right and His righteousness? 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) tells us, "For our sake He made Christ virtually to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of the righteousness of God, what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him by His Goodness."
We've been made the righteousness of God, by faith in His Grace, through Jesus. We've been placed back in right standing with God, by faith in His Grace. This is God's way of doing and being right, righteous or in right standing again with Him. We see this same faith and Grace carried out through His Love for us in Ephesians 2:4-5,8 (Amplified) which says, "But God-so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense Love with which He Loved us. Even when we were dead, slain by our own shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; He gave us the very Life of Christ Himself, the same new Life with which He quickened Him, for it is by Grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation." Paul continues in Verse 8 saying, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor), that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation, through your faith. And this salvation is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your striving), but it is the free Gift of God."
God's way of being right (righteous) and His way of salvation (as well as temporal things in this earth) all come by faith in His Love and Grace for us, in Christ Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-32 we're not to worry about food, clothing or shelter, because God cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the fields and He will take care of us too." These things come from God's Grace and we are to receive them by faith.
God will Bless your faith in His Grace to meet your needs, even in this world. We were saved when we placed faith in God's Grace and His Word and His Love for us, through Jesus Christ. We didn't have to sacrifice, do great things to show we changed, observe rules or traditions, but we were only required to believe and apply our faith to His Grace, in order to be born-again. Why do we now feel like we need to do something to deserve healing, Blessing, favor or Grace?
We've allowed ourselves to be brought back under the Law, by believing we must do works, instead of trusting in the completed work Jesus did on the cross. We've exchanged Grace for Law and then wonder why things don't work for us like God's Word says they should. How can we believe that God is a Healer and simultaneously believe He is the One Who is making us sick? This is being double-minded, according to James 1:8 (Amplified) which tells us, "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."
We trusted and put faith in God's Grace and Love, leading to our being salvation, but now we've stopped growing in faith, beyond salvation, to obtain His Grace and mercy. When we continue getting sick as Christians, we feel that "This is God's will for my life" and accept that sickness, without seeking God's Wisdom about it.
All believers need to read and meditate on Psalm 103:1-22 (Amplified), which lays out God's Promises to those who are in Christ Jesus. Verses 2-5 tell us to "Bless and gratefully praise Him and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives everyone of all your iniquities, Who heals each one of all your diseases Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption. Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercy Who satisfies your mouth, your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle's strong, overcoming, soaring."
These are all Spiritual Gifts, favor upon favor, Gift heaped upon Gift, Grace upon Grace and Love to grant them free of charge to all of us (the redeemed). These include the renewing our youth like the eagle, in order to overcome, soar and be strong. Verse 5 tells us that, "He satisfies your mouth, your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation." If you're still a baby in Christ, then your mouth and situation might be less than what you need or desire. If you're a mature Christian, then God's mercy and Grace will supply your needs, as we grow in faith.
We must stop trying to earn and deserve God's Grace and Blessings and simply rest in them, by faith. This is what the Israelites in the Wilderness failed to do and they were prevented from entering into the Promised Land. They wouldn't enter into His rest. As new creation people, we are to enter into His rest. This means we simply, by faith, accept what Jesus has already done for us. We must stop striving to earn it by works and receive it by faith.
Galatians 5:6 (Amplified) says, "For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumsicion counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through Love."
Paul was saying that, "It doesn't matter if you're under Law or Grace (circumcised or uncircumcised), because works don't count for anything-only Love counts." Paul wasn't referring only to our loving others, but he was saying that we must understand God's Love for us. The more we understand God's Love for us, the stronger our faith in Him becomes. Faith works by Love.
Most believers haven't known much about our covenant and the family relationship we have with God our Father. We also know very little about Grace and Truth. The more we try earning or deserving God's Blessing, the more we resist Grace, which is unearned and undeserved favor." The deceiver (satan) has managed to blind our minds to the Truth that sets us free.
Because we don't understand Grace and Truth, we've allowed ourselves to be brought back into the bondage of the Law. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
Jesus also said in Matthew 6:33-34 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own (Sufficient for each day is its own trouble)."
We are instructed to "Seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right)." What is His way of being right and His righteousness? 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) tells us, "For our sake He made Christ virtually to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of the righteousness of God, what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him by His Goodness."
We've been made the righteousness of God, by faith in His Grace, through Jesus. We've been placed back in right standing with God, by faith in His Grace. This is God's way of doing and being right, righteous or in right standing again with Him. We see this same faith and Grace carried out through His Love for us in Ephesians 2:4-5,8 (Amplified) which says, "But God-so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense Love with which He Loved us. Even when we were dead, slain by our own shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; He gave us the very Life of Christ Himself, the same new Life with which He quickened Him, for it is by Grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation." Paul continues in Verse 8 saying, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor), that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation, through your faith. And this salvation is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your striving), but it is the free Gift of God."
God's way of being right (righteous) and His way of salvation (as well as temporal things in this earth) all come by faith in His Love and Grace for us, in Christ Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-32 we're not to worry about food, clothing or shelter, because God cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the fields and He will take care of us too." These things come from God's Grace and we are to receive them by faith.
God will Bless your faith in His Grace to meet your needs, even in this world. We were saved when we placed faith in God's Grace and His Word and His Love for us, through Jesus Christ. We didn't have to sacrifice, do great things to show we changed, observe rules or traditions, but we were only required to believe and apply our faith to His Grace, in order to be born-again. Why do we now feel like we need to do something to deserve healing, Blessing, favor or Grace?
We've allowed ourselves to be brought back under the Law, by believing we must do works, instead of trusting in the completed work Jesus did on the cross. We've exchanged Grace for Law and then wonder why things don't work for us like God's Word says they should. How can we believe that God is a Healer and simultaneously believe He is the One Who is making us sick? This is being double-minded, according to James 1:8 (Amplified) which tells us, "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."
We trusted and put faith in God's Grace and Love, leading to our being salvation, but now we've stopped growing in faith, beyond salvation, to obtain His Grace and mercy. When we continue getting sick as Christians, we feel that "This is God's will for my life" and accept that sickness, without seeking God's Wisdom about it.
All believers need to read and meditate on Psalm 103:1-22 (Amplified), which lays out God's Promises to those who are in Christ Jesus. Verses 2-5 tell us to "Bless and gratefully praise Him and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives everyone of all your iniquities, Who heals each one of all your diseases Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption. Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercy Who satisfies your mouth, your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle's strong, overcoming, soaring."
These are all Spiritual Gifts, favor upon favor, Gift heaped upon Gift, Grace upon Grace and Love to grant them free of charge to all of us (the redeemed). These include the renewing our youth like the eagle, in order to overcome, soar and be strong. Verse 5 tells us that, "He satisfies your mouth, your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation." If you're still a baby in Christ, then your mouth and situation might be less than what you need or desire. If you're a mature Christian, then God's mercy and Grace will supply your needs, as we grow in faith.
We must stop trying to earn and deserve God's Grace and Blessings and simply rest in them, by faith. This is what the Israelites in the Wilderness failed to do and they were prevented from entering into the Promised Land. They wouldn't enter into His rest. As new creation people, we are to enter into His rest. This means we simply, by faith, accept what Jesus has already done for us. We must stop striving to earn it by works and receive it by faith.
Galatians 5:6 (Amplified) says, "For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumsicion counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through Love."
Paul was saying that, "It doesn't matter if you're under Law or Grace (circumcised or uncircumcised), because works don't count for anything-only Love counts." Paul wasn't referring only to our loving others, but he was saying that we must understand God's Love for us. The more we understand God's Love for us, the stronger our faith in Him becomes. Faith works by Love.
Monday, October 1, 2018
Lesson 91 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
God didn't only forgive our sin, but through Jesus, He changed our entire sin nature, according to 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified), which says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the new and fresh has come."
Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden, caused mankind to be separated from God. Adam's sin caused a wall or barrier to be built between God and man. This wall separated God and prevented His ability to communicate Life into the spirit of man. God could no longer give His Spiritual Life into man. Isaiah 59:1-2,20-21 (Amplified) says, "Behold, The Lord's hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear you." Verses 20-21 go on, "He shall come as a Redeemer to Zion and to those in Jacob (Israel) who turn from the Lord. As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord. My Spirit, Who is upon you, and Who writes the Law of God inwardly on the heart, and My Words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your true spiritual children, or out of the mouths of your children's children, says the Lord, from hence forth and forever."
Sin and the Law of Sin and Death have been removed from our lives, through Jesus our Redeemer. We now live under a new creation relationship covenant with our God and Father. Adam's transgression caused man to be cut off from God, which allowed death to come into his spirit. The Word tells us that, "The wages of sin is death," so when sin entered into Adam, death came as a result. The death wasn't only a physical thing, but it did bring physical death. Adam's sin caused separation from God, which resulted in a spiritual death, because the Spirit of God is Life.
Many in today's Church don't understand why "The wages of sin is death." Jesus stated in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." Those listening to Him must have believed, "He is crazy, because we're all alive." Some probably asked themselves, "Does Jesus think He is the only One alive?" Today's Church minister the Living Word of God, in order to bring Life into the dead spirits of those who are without Jesus.
The Law that came through Moses for the people, was based upon their doing certain things, in order that God would do certain things. When they failed to comply with the terms of their covenant, God couldn't comply with His part of it either. It was based on man's good works, in order to keep them in a place where God could still get His Blessing on them. In Deuteronomy 28:14-68 (Amplified) God says, "If you keep all My commands, these Blessings will come upon you." Verses 15-68 list the results or curses that would befall the people, in they failed to keep their part of the covenant.
Many teachings in today's Church are based on the "Laws of Conditions Between God and Believers." We're still trying to receive His Blessings, by our works. James 2:10-11 (Amplified) says, "For whoever keeps the Law as a whole but stumbles and offends in one single instance has become guilty of breaking all of it. For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said you shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become guilty of transgressing the whole Law."
No person, Jesus being the Exception, has ever or could ever fulfill the Perfect Law and do it in perfection. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 (Amplified), "Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them." Once "a man" had completed and fulfilled the Law of Moses, God was able to fulfill the Blessing that were to come upon man for his fulfillment.
We were ingrafted into Jesus at our new birth, so that in Christ, God now sees us as having fulfilled the Law and there's nothing required for us to fulfill. Under the Law, God would do certain things, if the people did certain things. Our fulfilling our part of the agreement (covenant), depended on what God would do.
Many today, still preach that we must do certain things, in order for God to do certain things, resulting in our being sin conscious. If we didn't receive our healing, answered prayer or have peace in our hearts, then we were taught that we weren't doing our part. John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "The Law was given through Moses, but Grace and Truth and Spiritual Blessings came through Christ Jesus."
We're living in a covenant of Grace, by faith in Jesus Christ. Man could never uphold his part of the covenant and his failure to do so, resulted in the Curse or penalty for that failure came upon him. Many have been taught that this is still true for the believer of Christ and we're still taught this principal in today's Church. Man's disobedience and his inability to keep the Law, left God without another choice, but to make a new covenant by and with Himself through Jesus. God couldn't break it and Jesus wouldn't break it. We now have a new covenant of Grace, which only requires our having faith in what Jesus has done for us to walk in the fullness of His Blessing.
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, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger." Our entire covenant of Grace, is based on our faith in God's Messenger, Jesus Christ His Son.
It's difficult to teach people about this covenant of Grace, when we've been taught throughout our Christian walk that "we're failures, because we cannot fulfill the Law." We've been taught that our sickness, weakness, poverty and lack of fellowship with the Father, come from our failure to do the Law. If you allow yourself to get placed under the Law by works, then you have put yourself in a position where Grace is ineffective in your natural life.
Galatians 5:4-6 (Amplified) says, "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). For we, not relying on the Law but through the Holy Spirit's help, by faith, anticipate and wait for the Blessing and Good for which which our righteousness and right standing with God (our conformity to His will in purpose, thought and action) causes us to hope For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through Love."
The works we've been taught about throughout our Christian walk, has resulted in man-made laws that determine God's Goodness in our lives. These laws determine how we must dress, what day we worship, in order for God's Blessing to work in our lives. Some religions mandate their members go door-to-door witnessing about God, in order to maintain good standing with God. I'm not degrading door-to-door witnessing about Christ, but we don't do these works, in order to gain God's favor. This is man's doing works, in order to receive God's Blessings. It's not believing in God's Plan to Bless us, by our faith in Christ Jesus.
Even born-again believers can actually place themselves under the Curse of the Law, when we do things as part of the Law. Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified) says, "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at, scorned or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside. He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God, for whatever a man sows, that and only that is what he will reap For he who sows to his own flesh (works, lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal Life."
Man-made laws established to gain access to God and His righteousness, will only end in destruction and ruin. Only the things of the Spirit will endure. One is Law and religion, while the other is by Grace and faith in Christ Jesus.
The sin barrier has been removed and the new creation family of God has been born. We function through faith in God's Grace, in order to keep us in righteousness in Jesus. Grace only works by faith and Love in our lives. When we try to "get God to perform by our good deeds," as though we've earned or deserved it, we have fallen from Grace and back under self-imposed laws of tradition.
Through faith in His Grace, we now have access into God's Throne of Grace by the Door, Who is Jesus. Our entire walk with the Father, is based on our faith that Jesus accomplished and fulfilled everything that was needed to be done. Jesus accomplished what man could never do under the Law. Righteousness, healing, Spiritual Blessing, peace, rest, fellowship, son ship, liberty, the Holy Spirit, Wisdom, counsel, citizenship in Heaven, ability to pray for and minister to others, and whatever we need from the Father, is our's by Grace and faith in that Grace.
God didn't only forgive our sin, but through Jesus, He changed our entire sin nature, according to 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified), which says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the new and fresh has come."
Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden, caused mankind to be separated from God. Adam's sin caused a wall or barrier to be built between God and man. This wall separated God and prevented His ability to communicate Life into the spirit of man. God could no longer give His Spiritual Life into man. Isaiah 59:1-2,20-21 (Amplified) says, "Behold, The Lord's hand is not shortened at all, that it cannot save, nor His ear dull with deafness, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear you." Verses 20-21 go on, "He shall come as a Redeemer to Zion and to those in Jacob (Israel) who turn from the Lord. As for Me, this is My covenant or league with them, says the Lord. My Spirit, Who is upon you, and Who writes the Law of God inwardly on the heart, and My Words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouths of your true spiritual children, or out of the mouths of your children's children, says the Lord, from hence forth and forever."
Sin and the Law of Sin and Death have been removed from our lives, through Jesus our Redeemer. We now live under a new creation relationship covenant with our God and Father. Adam's transgression caused man to be cut off from God, which allowed death to come into his spirit. The Word tells us that, "The wages of sin is death," so when sin entered into Adam, death came as a result. The death wasn't only a physical thing, but it did bring physical death. Adam's sin caused separation from God, which resulted in a spiritual death, because the Spirit of God is Life.
Many in today's Church don't understand why "The wages of sin is death." Jesus stated in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." Those listening to Him must have believed, "He is crazy, because we're all alive." Some probably asked themselves, "Does Jesus think He is the only One alive?" Today's Church minister the Living Word of God, in order to bring Life into the dead spirits of those who are without Jesus.
The Law that came through Moses for the people, was based upon their doing certain things, in order that God would do certain things. When they failed to comply with the terms of their covenant, God couldn't comply with His part of it either. It was based on man's good works, in order to keep them in a place where God could still get His Blessing on them. In Deuteronomy 28:14-68 (Amplified) God says, "If you keep all My commands, these Blessings will come upon you." Verses 15-68 list the results or curses that would befall the people, in they failed to keep their part of the covenant.
Many teachings in today's Church are based on the "Laws of Conditions Between God and Believers." We're still trying to receive His Blessings, by our works. James 2:10-11 (Amplified) says, "For whoever keeps the Law as a whole but stumbles and offends in one single instance has become guilty of breaking all of it. For He Who said, You shall not commit adultery, also said you shall not kill. If you do not commit adultery but do kill, you have become guilty of transgressing the whole Law."
No person, Jesus being the Exception, has ever or could ever fulfill the Perfect Law and do it in perfection. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 (Amplified), "Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill them." Once "a man" had completed and fulfilled the Law of Moses, God was able to fulfill the Blessing that were to come upon man for his fulfillment.
We were ingrafted into Jesus at our new birth, so that in Christ, God now sees us as having fulfilled the Law and there's nothing required for us to fulfill. Under the Law, God would do certain things, if the people did certain things. Our fulfilling our part of the agreement (covenant), depended on what God would do.
Many today, still preach that we must do certain things, in order for God to do certain things, resulting in our being sin conscious. If we didn't receive our healing, answered prayer or have peace in our hearts, then we were taught that we weren't doing our part. John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "The Law was given through Moses, but Grace and Truth and Spiritual Blessings came through Christ Jesus."
We're living in a covenant of Grace, by faith in Jesus Christ. Man could never uphold his part of the covenant and his failure to do so, resulted in the Curse or penalty for that failure came upon him. Many have been taught that this is still true for the believer of Christ and we're still taught this principal in today's Church. Man's disobedience and his inability to keep the Law, left God without another choice, but to make a new covenant by and with Himself through Jesus. God couldn't break it and Jesus wouldn't break it. We now have a new covenant of Grace, which only requires our having faith in what Jesus has done for us to walk in the fullness of His Blessing.
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, rely on, and have faith in His Messenger." Our entire covenant of Grace, is based on our faith in God's Messenger, Jesus Christ His Son.
It's difficult to teach people about this covenant of Grace, when we've been taught throughout our Christian walk that "we're failures, because we cannot fulfill the Law." We've been taught that our sickness, weakness, poverty and lack of fellowship with the Father, come from our failure to do the Law. If you allow yourself to get placed under the Law by works, then you have put yourself in a position where Grace is ineffective in your natural life.
Galatians 5:4-6 (Amplified) says, "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). For we, not relying on the Law but through the Holy Spirit's help, by faith, anticipate and wait for the Blessing and Good for which which our righteousness and right standing with God (our conformity to His will in purpose, thought and action) causes us to hope For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through Love."
The works we've been taught about throughout our Christian walk, has resulted in man-made laws that determine God's Goodness in our lives. These laws determine how we must dress, what day we worship, in order for God's Blessing to work in our lives. Some religions mandate their members go door-to-door witnessing about God, in order to maintain good standing with God. I'm not degrading door-to-door witnessing about Christ, but we don't do these works, in order to gain God's favor. This is man's doing works, in order to receive God's Blessings. It's not believing in God's Plan to Bless us, by our faith in Christ Jesus.
Even born-again believers can actually place themselves under the Curse of the Law, when we do things as part of the Law. Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified) says, "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at, scorned or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside. He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God, for whatever a man sows, that and only that is what he will reap For he who sows to his own flesh (works, lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal Life."
Man-made laws established to gain access to God and His righteousness, will only end in destruction and ruin. Only the things of the Spirit will endure. One is Law and religion, while the other is by Grace and faith in Christ Jesus.
The sin barrier has been removed and the new creation family of God has been born. We function through faith in God's Grace, in order to keep us in righteousness in Jesus. Grace only works by faith and Love in our lives. When we try to "get God to perform by our good deeds," as though we've earned or deserved it, we have fallen from Grace and back under self-imposed laws of tradition.
Through faith in His Grace, we now have access into God's Throne of Grace by the Door, Who is Jesus. Our entire walk with the Father, is based on our faith that Jesus accomplished and fulfilled everything that was needed to be done. Jesus accomplished what man could never do under the Law. Righteousness, healing, Spiritual Blessing, peace, rest, fellowship, son ship, liberty, the Holy Spirit, Wisdom, counsel, citizenship in Heaven, ability to pray for and minister to others, and whatever we need from the Father, is our's by Grace and faith in that Grace.
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Lesson 90 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share, and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Many in today's Church believe that some of the above things "aren't for us" and/or "aren't needed to get to Heaven, so I don't need to know about them or walk in them." The Father though, thought they were necessary for our full deliverance, otherwise He wouldn't have put them on Jesus, during His earthly walk.
The Curse of the Law still functions in even the lives of born-again believers, today. We continue to walk in the very things that the world walks in, despite our being redeemed from them. Many believers don't understand what the Blessings of Abraham have provided them and believe it doesn't make a difference in their lives. The Blessing God Promised to Abraham, was the Promise of the Holy Spirit, as well as the Blessing in our earthly form. When we received the Holy Spirit as Promised, we received God Himself into our very spirit and natural body.
The indwelling Promise that's within us, lived inside Jesus, Paul, John, Peter and those before us. We have the same Spiritual Blessings at work within us, just like they had. Errant preaching and teaching has left us not understanding these Blessings in our Christian walk. Proverbs 4:7 (Amplified) instructs, "The beginning of Wisdom is; get Wisdom, skillful and Godly Wisdom! For skillful and Godly Wisdom is the principal thing. And with all you have gotten, get understanding, discernment, comprehension, and interpretation."
Many who have Wisdom, which is God's Word, have no comprehension, discernment, interpretation or understanding of what it really means for their life as a new creation in Christ Jesus. We conduct our lives, as though we're still only human, but we're not. We are born of God, filled with the Spirit of God and are children of God. God left nothing to chance, when He sent Jesus to the cross for our sake.
We've never been taught who we are in Christ and conduct our lives believing that the only benefit of being born-again comes when we leave this earth for Heaven. We've abstained from sin (as well as we're able) and have tried walking upright with the Father, but we've neglected the things of the Spirit that would make it easier to walk our earthly lives.
We've mostly neglected the Spiritual Blessing and the Holy Spirit's Presence living inside us. 1Peter 2:24 (Amplified) says, "[Jesus] Personally bore our sins in His Own Body on the tree, as an altar and offered Himself on it, that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed." Isaiah prophesies about Jesus in Isaiah 53:4-5 (Amplified) saying, "Surely, He has borne our griefs, sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses, and carried our sorrows and pains of punishment, yet we ignorantly considered His stricken, smitten, and afflicted of God, as if with leprosy. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities, the chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole."
When did we stop believing that the same Jesus Who bore our sins, didn't bear our disease and peace and well-being? When did we forget that the Father thought everything Jesus did, was important for us? We've stood against sin in our lives and have abstained from sin as we knew it, but somehow we've forgotten that the other things Jesus suffered on Calvary, are no longer important for us. We get sick, depressed, fear punishment from God and continue to carry our own sorrows and pain. Do we believe that these things are valid to our redemption or do we really think that Jesus did these things for nothing?
The Father thought our wellness of heart and mind were equally important or He would never have placed them and allowed Jesus to bear them. We need to learn to resist sickness and disease, just like we learn to resist temptation and sin. The Same Holy Spirit Who works by God's Word to keep us from the evil one, works in the same manner to keep us in all other things included in our Redemption.
We've come to believe that, "Everyone gets sick sometime, just like everyone sins sometimes." We don't have to sin at some time or anytime. If we sin, then it's because we choose to do so, instead of resisting and the same is true in every area of our redemption. When symptoms of sickness come upon us, then the Same Word and Holy Spirit Who keeps us from sin, will also bring to pass His part for healing. We've never been taught to resist sickness, only sin.
Many of the Spiritual Blessings found in John 1:16-17, are never brought to manifestation in our lives, because we continue to see ourselves as being "only human." These Spiritual Blessings come from the inside-out, not from the outside-in. Healing comes from the strength of the new creation spirit and is manifested in the natural man, just like our righteousness and peace with God. If the inward man isn't allowed to live through you, then you still only live through you as a natural man and by your own merits. You cannot be righteous before God, except by faith in His Grace.
Romans 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor) to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants." The same faith that led you to receive and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, is the same faith that inherits the Promise of His full redemption in our natural bodies too. It works from our born-again new creation spirit and is made manifest in our natural man.
Many of today's believers don't resist sickness, but believe that the Father puts it on us, in order to teach us something. This rejects and dishonors what Jesus accomplished for us, on the cross. Even if you succumb to sickness, then you must not allow the enemy to condemn you it in, anymore than if you commit sin after being saved. You go to God's Throne of Grace, receiving mercy and Grace in your time of need and continue to stand and trust in God's Word. You will find that you will get sick fewer and fewer times, just like when you first got saved and yielded less and less to sin.
Satan is a liar and deceiver and his plan is based upon trying our faith, so that if something doesn't work the first time, then we quit trying. This is the entire arsenal satan uses against us. If we don't quit, then we will win. Faith must be allowed to grow in our hearts and in our spirits, so we will be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might. God's Might and strength is in His Word and His Spirit, which abide within our spirit.
Do the things we say, have anything to do with how we believe? Definitely! We speak our faith in either good or bad. We speak what we believe. God cannot bring things that we speak which are contrary to His Promises, to pass in our lives. When we speak sickness, God cannot honor that, but He will not override our right to say those things.
Many in today's Church believe that some of the above things "aren't for us" and/or "aren't needed to get to Heaven, so I don't need to know about them or walk in them." The Father though, thought they were necessary for our full deliverance, otherwise He wouldn't have put them on Jesus, during His earthly walk.
The Curse of the Law still functions in even the lives of born-again believers, today. We continue to walk in the very things that the world walks in, despite our being redeemed from them. Many believers don't understand what the Blessings of Abraham have provided them and believe it doesn't make a difference in their lives. The Blessing God Promised to Abraham, was the Promise of the Holy Spirit, as well as the Blessing in our earthly form. When we received the Holy Spirit as Promised, we received God Himself into our very spirit and natural body.
The indwelling Promise that's within us, lived inside Jesus, Paul, John, Peter and those before us. We have the same Spiritual Blessings at work within us, just like they had. Errant preaching and teaching has left us not understanding these Blessings in our Christian walk. Proverbs 4:7 (Amplified) instructs, "The beginning of Wisdom is; get Wisdom, skillful and Godly Wisdom! For skillful and Godly Wisdom is the principal thing. And with all you have gotten, get understanding, discernment, comprehension, and interpretation."
Many who have Wisdom, which is God's Word, have no comprehension, discernment, interpretation or understanding of what it really means for their life as a new creation in Christ Jesus. We conduct our lives, as though we're still only human, but we're not. We are born of God, filled with the Spirit of God and are children of God. God left nothing to chance, when He sent Jesus to the cross for our sake.
We've never been taught who we are in Christ and conduct our lives believing that the only benefit of being born-again comes when we leave this earth for Heaven. We've abstained from sin (as well as we're able) and have tried walking upright with the Father, but we've neglected the things of the Spirit that would make it easier to walk our earthly lives.
We've mostly neglected the Spiritual Blessing and the Holy Spirit's Presence living inside us. 1Peter 2:24 (Amplified) says, "[Jesus] Personally bore our sins in His Own Body on the tree, as an altar and offered Himself on it, that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed." Isaiah prophesies about Jesus in Isaiah 53:4-5 (Amplified) saying, "Surely, He has borne our griefs, sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses, and carried our sorrows and pains of punishment, yet we ignorantly considered His stricken, smitten, and afflicted of God, as if with leprosy. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities, the chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes that wounded Him we are healed and made whole."
When did we stop believing that the same Jesus Who bore our sins, didn't bear our disease and peace and well-being? When did we forget that the Father thought everything Jesus did, was important for us? We've stood against sin in our lives and have abstained from sin as we knew it, but somehow we've forgotten that the other things Jesus suffered on Calvary, are no longer important for us. We get sick, depressed, fear punishment from God and continue to carry our own sorrows and pain. Do we believe that these things are valid to our redemption or do we really think that Jesus did these things for nothing?
The Father thought our wellness of heart and mind were equally important or He would never have placed them and allowed Jesus to bear them. We need to learn to resist sickness and disease, just like we learn to resist temptation and sin. The Same Holy Spirit Who works by God's Word to keep us from the evil one, works in the same manner to keep us in all other things included in our Redemption.
We've come to believe that, "Everyone gets sick sometime, just like everyone sins sometimes." We don't have to sin at some time or anytime. If we sin, then it's because we choose to do so, instead of resisting and the same is true in every area of our redemption. When symptoms of sickness come upon us, then the Same Word and Holy Spirit Who keeps us from sin, will also bring to pass His part for healing. We've never been taught to resist sickness, only sin.
Many of the Spiritual Blessings found in John 1:16-17, are never brought to manifestation in our lives, because we continue to see ourselves as being "only human." These Spiritual Blessings come from the inside-out, not from the outside-in. Healing comes from the strength of the new creation spirit and is manifested in the natural man, just like our righteousness and peace with God. If the inward man isn't allowed to live through you, then you still only live through you as a natural man and by your own merits. You cannot be righteous before God, except by faith in His Grace.
Romans 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor) to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants." The same faith that led you to receive and believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, is the same faith that inherits the Promise of His full redemption in our natural bodies too. It works from our born-again new creation spirit and is made manifest in our natural man.
Many of today's believers don't resist sickness, but believe that the Father puts it on us, in order to teach us something. This rejects and dishonors what Jesus accomplished for us, on the cross. Even if you succumb to sickness, then you must not allow the enemy to condemn you it in, anymore than if you commit sin after being saved. You go to God's Throne of Grace, receiving mercy and Grace in your time of need and continue to stand and trust in God's Word. You will find that you will get sick fewer and fewer times, just like when you first got saved and yielded less and less to sin.
Satan is a liar and deceiver and his plan is based upon trying our faith, so that if something doesn't work the first time, then we quit trying. This is the entire arsenal satan uses against us. If we don't quit, then we will win. Faith must be allowed to grow in our hearts and in our spirits, so we will be strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might. God's Might and strength is in His Word and His Spirit, which abide within our spirit.
Do the things we say, have anything to do with how we believe? Definitely! We speak our faith in either good or bad. We speak what we believe. God cannot bring things that we speak which are contrary to His Promises, to pass in our lives. When we speak sickness, God cannot honor that, but He will not override our right to say those things.
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Lesson 89/Part 2 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share, and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was give through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Paul admonishes the Church, in Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified) saying, "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at, scorned, disdained, or mocked, by mere prevention's or professions, or by His precepts being set aside. He inevitable deludes himself who attempts to delude God. For whatever a man sows (Jesus told us that "Words are Seeds."), that and only that is what he will reap. For he who sows to his lower nature (flesh, sensuality), will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap Eternal Life."
You've proven that your heart is fertile soil, when you believed and allowed God's Word to come into you and you were born-again. In Proverbs 4:20-27 (Amplified) God says, "My son, attend to My Words (consent and submit to My sayings). Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are Life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the Springs of Life. Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you. Let your eyes look right on with fixed purpose and let your gaze be straight before you. Consider well the path of your feet and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, remove your foot from evil."
Notice, God tells us to, "GUARD YOUR HEART ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE" and "PUT AWAY FALSE, CONTRARY, WILLFUL SPEECH." As Christians, can we speak contrary, dishonest and willful speech, giving these words place in our lives? I believe that the answer is, "Yes." I don't believe our Heavenly Father makes our wrong words come forth from our mouths, but I do believe we have an enemy who will take our faith-filled words, that come out of our unguarded heart, and use them against us. When we're born-again, you have power in your words, to use for the lower nature or the Spirit nature. Both have power, but one is for good and one is for evil.
Jesus spoke to a fig tree and killed it. He spoke to a dead man, giving him Life. Which Word was more powerful? Through Him, we now have power in our words, they are seeds to sow. Our Father gave us a mandated to "Guard your heart against seeds that are sown from another source." Both will determine what you speak (sow) into your Life and the lives of others.
When things aren't right and results aren't what they should be in the lives of God's children, then we should listen to the words we're saying, in order to determine what we've been hearing. We must guard our hearts. God gave Adam the job of tending the Garden of Eden. God sent men into Canaan to spy out the Land which He had already given to them (the Promised Land) in Numbers 13:30-31 (Amplified), which says, "Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it. But his fellow scouts said, We are not able to go up against the people of Canaan for they are stronger than we are. So they brought the Israelites an evil report of the Land which they scouted out." Numbers 14:10 (Amplified) continues, "But all the congregation said to stone Joshua and Caleb with stones, But the Glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of Meeting before all the Israelites."
Notice, the words (seeds) which were spoken into the whole congregation. Only twelve men saw the Land. Two of them (Joshua and Caleb) said "Let's take the Land," while the other ten said, "We cannot take the Land." The words (seeds) of the ten, entered into the hearts of the Israelites (believed to be 2-5 million men, women and children), which produced a harvest of an evil report. This led to the people calling for the stoning of Joshua and Caleb, because these two believed God for the Promise. Words are seeds and we must be careful what we sow with our mouths.
Seeds will grow, despite who sows them. If a Christian sows poison ivy and a non-believer sows poison ivy, then both will reap what they sow. Bring out the Benadryl, because simply being a Christian will not change the seed. One can't sow poison ivy and reap tulips. The Law of Genesis says, "Everything produces after its kind." If you want the Spiritual Blessings to manifest in your life, then you must sow seeds of Blessing, instead of seeds that are contrary or willfully against them. Confess what God says about you and speak in-line with God, instead of contrary to Him. You reap what you sow.
Do a Words study for yourself about what God says about people who speak in opposition what what His Word says. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach, by His Presense. Jesus said that, "The Holy Spirit would lead us into and show us all Truth." Today, even the government, our kid's schools and social media are pushing us to speak only what they deem as politically correct. Words to matter and the Words of a Spirit-filled believer, have the power to change things. When you sow Word Seeds into the heart of a non-believer, those Seeds have the power to get them born-again into a new creation. Do you suppose the power of your words stop at your lips? Guard your heart above all that you guard and don't hear or speak the wrong seed.
Paul admonishes the Church, in Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified) saying, "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at, scorned, disdained, or mocked, by mere prevention's or professions, or by His precepts being set aside. He inevitable deludes himself who attempts to delude God. For whatever a man sows (Jesus told us that "Words are Seeds."), that and only that is what he will reap. For he who sows to his lower nature (flesh, sensuality), will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap Eternal Life."
You've proven that your heart is fertile soil, when you believed and allowed God's Word to come into you and you were born-again. In Proverbs 4:20-27 (Amplified) God says, "My son, attend to My Words (consent and submit to My sayings). Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are Life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the Springs of Life. Put away from you false and dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you. Let your eyes look right on with fixed purpose and let your gaze be straight before you. Consider well the path of your feet and let all your ways be established and ordered aright. Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, remove your foot from evil."
Notice, God tells us to, "GUARD YOUR HEART ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE" and "PUT AWAY FALSE, CONTRARY, WILLFUL SPEECH." As Christians, can we speak contrary, dishonest and willful speech, giving these words place in our lives? I believe that the answer is, "Yes." I don't believe our Heavenly Father makes our wrong words come forth from our mouths, but I do believe we have an enemy who will take our faith-filled words, that come out of our unguarded heart, and use them against us. When we're born-again, you have power in your words, to use for the lower nature or the Spirit nature. Both have power, but one is for good and one is for evil.
Jesus spoke to a fig tree and killed it. He spoke to a dead man, giving him Life. Which Word was more powerful? Through Him, we now have power in our words, they are seeds to sow. Our Father gave us a mandated to "Guard your heart against seeds that are sown from another source." Both will determine what you speak (sow) into your Life and the lives of others.
When things aren't right and results aren't what they should be in the lives of God's children, then we should listen to the words we're saying, in order to determine what we've been hearing. We must guard our hearts. God gave Adam the job of tending the Garden of Eden. God sent men into Canaan to spy out the Land which He had already given to them (the Promised Land) in Numbers 13:30-31 (Amplified), which says, "Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it. But his fellow scouts said, We are not able to go up against the people of Canaan for they are stronger than we are. So they brought the Israelites an evil report of the Land which they scouted out." Numbers 14:10 (Amplified) continues, "But all the congregation said to stone Joshua and Caleb with stones, But the Glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of Meeting before all the Israelites."
Notice, the words (seeds) which were spoken into the whole congregation. Only twelve men saw the Land. Two of them (Joshua and Caleb) said "Let's take the Land," while the other ten said, "We cannot take the Land." The words (seeds) of the ten, entered into the hearts of the Israelites (believed to be 2-5 million men, women and children), which produced a harvest of an evil report. This led to the people calling for the stoning of Joshua and Caleb, because these two believed God for the Promise. Words are seeds and we must be careful what we sow with our mouths.
Seeds will grow, despite who sows them. If a Christian sows poison ivy and a non-believer sows poison ivy, then both will reap what they sow. Bring out the Benadryl, because simply being a Christian will not change the seed. One can't sow poison ivy and reap tulips. The Law of Genesis says, "Everything produces after its kind." If you want the Spiritual Blessings to manifest in your life, then you must sow seeds of Blessing, instead of seeds that are contrary or willfully against them. Confess what God says about you and speak in-line with God, instead of contrary to Him. You reap what you sow.
Do a Words study for yourself about what God says about people who speak in opposition what what His Word says. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach, by His Presense. Jesus said that, "The Holy Spirit would lead us into and show us all Truth." Today, even the government, our kid's schools and social media are pushing us to speak only what they deem as politically correct. Words to matter and the Words of a Spirit-filled believer, have the power to change things. When you sow Word Seeds into the heart of a non-believer, those Seeds have the power to get them born-again into a new creation. Do you suppose the power of your words stop at your lips? Guard your heart above all that you guard and don't hear or speak the wrong seed.
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Lesson 89 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share, and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
The different Graces, Spiritual Blessing and Truths that came through Jesus Christ aren't something we earn or deserve. They are all free Gifts, given by Grace. Every person who receives Jesus as Lord and Savior, has been freely given these things by Grace, but they must be accepted by faith, according to Romans 4:16 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and it depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants." We've all become heirs of the Seed, Who is Jesus, and are all eligible for the Promise." Galatians 3:29 (Amplified) tells us, "If you belong to Christ (are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed), then you are Abraham's offspring and Spiritual heirs according to Promise."
God Promised Abraham that through him, the Promise of the Holy Spirit might be made manifest and by His Seed (Jesus), we could be restored back unto God by faith in this Promise. Galatians 3:14 (Amplified) says, "To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we, through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
Today's Church has fallen short of what the above scriptures are telling us. We've believed that the Promise of the Holy Spirit solely means, "Speaking in Tongues." This is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in our lives, but speaking in Heavenly languages also includes the manifestation of Heaven within us. The Spiritual Blessings means that the Father Himself (and all that He is), can now live in and through us, like He did in Christ Jesus.
The Promises God made to mankind throughout the Bible, are now made Truth in Jesus, by faith. Even though they're made secure in Jesus, they must be received by faith. We've struggled with the Super-natural things Promised to us in God's Word and even though the Promise is now Truth, we still struggle with it in our faith. We strive to find ways of deserving certain Promises and make excuses for the lack of manifestations of the Promises in our lives. We unsuccessfully establish laws of our own, which must be followed in order to make the Promises work. We've believed that if we dress in certain ways or worship on designated days, then we could qualify to receive these manifestations, but these things didn't work.
Of course we're to live differently as born-again believers, but this isn't what qualifies us to receive the Promise. When we were born-again, the Promise of the Holy Spirit was made manifest withing us. This is actually God Himself now living in our spirit and in our natural body. Now, the One Who made the Promise, is living in us to fulfill His Promise. Jesus said that "It wasn't Him, but the Father in Him Who did the works." This is the Promise of the Holy Spirit: a new creation, a new line of being born of the Spirit, now living in this earth. The Spiritual Blessing is God's Own Life and Being, living in us. All that Heaven is, has now become ours and is living in us and through us, by faith.
We've forgotten (or maybe never understood) what this really means in the believer's life. By Grace, we've been granted the ability to speak God's Word in power and purpose and set the captives free. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1-2 (Amplified), "Therefore be imitators of God, copy Him and follow Him Example as well beloved children imitate their father and walk in Love, esteeming and delighting in one another as Christ Loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain Offering and a Sacrifice to God for you so that it became a Sweet Fragrance."
When God worked through Jesus by His Holy Spirit, He Loved the people and restored to order, all that was "out-of-order" in His Kingdom. He gave sight to the blind and healing to the sick. He gave wholeness to the lame and freed the captives. This is the full manifestation of what our Spiritual Blessing is truly about. Through the Holy Spirit, we're to bring the Spiritual Blessing of God to this earth, through faith in His ability, like it was through Jesus. These things are all manifested by faith in His ability through us, by Grace, for the good of all mankind. We can't give to someone else, what we don't believe ourselves.
Yesterday, I wrote about Charles Capps and the ministry of Revelation he was given for the Church, concerning the words we (as Spirit-filled believers) speak. I'm not talking about our only quoting scriptures, but that we keep our words in line with God's Word. Jesus gave "The Parable of the Sower" in Mark 4:14 (Amplified), saying that, "The Sower sows the Word." The "Word" Jesus was speaking about, is God's Word. Jesus said also taught that "all words are Seeds," in this Parable. Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "Faith comes by hearing." Faith in God comes by hearing the Word of God and the Sower sows the Word. Faith in other things, also comes by hearing.
Most of us have read Mark 11:23 many times, but I'd like to present it in a different way today. We've been talking about word being seeds, so let's look at words that aren't in line with God's Word (wrong seeds). Remember that, "Faith comes by hearing." Suppose you've been hearing that, "Sickness is God's way of teaching and correcting you" and you allow this seed to be sown in your heart as faith. Faith comes by hearing and when this is sown continually over some time, then it becomes rooted in your heart. You now believe this in your heart and are speaking it out of your mouth. If you're not doubting these things in your heart, then will they come to pass when you speak them from your mouth? Jesus spoke about the words coming out of your heart, in Matthew 12:37,36 (Amplified), saying, "For by your words you will be justified and acquitted and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced." He said in Verse 36, "But I tell you, on the Day of Judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, non-working) word they speak."
When born-again believers don't understand the Revelation of the power of our words, then we allow the enemy to gain control over certain things in our lives, by not speaking words that line up with the Truth of God's Word. Jesus taught that, "Words are Seeds and our hearts are the soil." Can a born-again man speak an evil response from his heart? Keeping in mind that, "Words are Seeds," let's read Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified), "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at, scorned, disdained, or mocked, by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside. He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God For whatever a man sows, that and only that is what he will reap. For he who sows to his lower nature (flesh, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap Eternal Life."
TO BE CONTINUED.....
The different Graces, Spiritual Blessing and Truths that came through Jesus Christ aren't something we earn or deserve. They are all free Gifts, given by Grace. Every person who receives Jesus as Lord and Savior, has been freely given these things by Grace, but they must be accepted by faith, according to Romans 4:16 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and it depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants." We've all become heirs of the Seed, Who is Jesus, and are all eligible for the Promise." Galatians 3:29 (Amplified) tells us, "If you belong to Christ (are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed), then you are Abraham's offspring and Spiritual heirs according to Promise."
God Promised Abraham that through him, the Promise of the Holy Spirit might be made manifest and by His Seed (Jesus), we could be restored back unto God by faith in this Promise. Galatians 3:14 (Amplified) says, "To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we, through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
Today's Church has fallen short of what the above scriptures are telling us. We've believed that the Promise of the Holy Spirit solely means, "Speaking in Tongues." This is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in our lives, but speaking in Heavenly languages also includes the manifestation of Heaven within us. The Spiritual Blessings means that the Father Himself (and all that He is), can now live in and through us, like He did in Christ Jesus.
The Promises God made to mankind throughout the Bible, are now made Truth in Jesus, by faith. Even though they're made secure in Jesus, they must be received by faith. We've struggled with the Super-natural things Promised to us in God's Word and even though the Promise is now Truth, we still struggle with it in our faith. We strive to find ways of deserving certain Promises and make excuses for the lack of manifestations of the Promises in our lives. We unsuccessfully establish laws of our own, which must be followed in order to make the Promises work. We've believed that if we dress in certain ways or worship on designated days, then we could qualify to receive these manifestations, but these things didn't work.
Of course we're to live differently as born-again believers, but this isn't what qualifies us to receive the Promise. When we were born-again, the Promise of the Holy Spirit was made manifest withing us. This is actually God Himself now living in our spirit and in our natural body. Now, the One Who made the Promise, is living in us to fulfill His Promise. Jesus said that "It wasn't Him, but the Father in Him Who did the works." This is the Promise of the Holy Spirit: a new creation, a new line of being born of the Spirit, now living in this earth. The Spiritual Blessing is God's Own Life and Being, living in us. All that Heaven is, has now become ours and is living in us and through us, by faith.
We've forgotten (or maybe never understood) what this really means in the believer's life. By Grace, we've been granted the ability to speak God's Word in power and purpose and set the captives free. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1-2 (Amplified), "Therefore be imitators of God, copy Him and follow Him Example as well beloved children imitate their father and walk in Love, esteeming and delighting in one another as Christ Loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain Offering and a Sacrifice to God for you so that it became a Sweet Fragrance."
When God worked through Jesus by His Holy Spirit, He Loved the people and restored to order, all that was "out-of-order" in His Kingdom. He gave sight to the blind and healing to the sick. He gave wholeness to the lame and freed the captives. This is the full manifestation of what our Spiritual Blessing is truly about. Through the Holy Spirit, we're to bring the Spiritual Blessing of God to this earth, through faith in His ability, like it was through Jesus. These things are all manifested by faith in His ability through us, by Grace, for the good of all mankind. We can't give to someone else, what we don't believe ourselves.
Yesterday, I wrote about Charles Capps and the ministry of Revelation he was given for the Church, concerning the words we (as Spirit-filled believers) speak. I'm not talking about our only quoting scriptures, but that we keep our words in line with God's Word. Jesus gave "The Parable of the Sower" in Mark 4:14 (Amplified), saying that, "The Sower sows the Word." The "Word" Jesus was speaking about, is God's Word. Jesus said also taught that "all words are Seeds," in this Parable. Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "Faith comes by hearing." Faith in God comes by hearing the Word of God and the Sower sows the Word. Faith in other things, also comes by hearing.
Most of us have read Mark 11:23 many times, but I'd like to present it in a different way today. We've been talking about word being seeds, so let's look at words that aren't in line with God's Word (wrong seeds). Remember that, "Faith comes by hearing." Suppose you've been hearing that, "Sickness is God's way of teaching and correcting you" and you allow this seed to be sown in your heart as faith. Faith comes by hearing and when this is sown continually over some time, then it becomes rooted in your heart. You now believe this in your heart and are speaking it out of your mouth. If you're not doubting these things in your heart, then will they come to pass when you speak them from your mouth? Jesus spoke about the words coming out of your heart, in Matthew 12:37,36 (Amplified), saying, "For by your words you will be justified and acquitted and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced." He said in Verse 36, "But I tell you, on the Day of Judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, non-working) word they speak."
When born-again believers don't understand the Revelation of the power of our words, then we allow the enemy to gain control over certain things in our lives, by not speaking words that line up with the Truth of God's Word. Jesus taught that, "Words are Seeds and our hearts are the soil." Can a born-again man speak an evil response from his heart? Keeping in mind that, "Words are Seeds," let's read Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified), "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at, scorned, disdained, or mocked, by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside. He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God For whatever a man sows, that and only that is what he will reap. For he who sows to his lower nature (flesh, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap Eternal Life."
TO BE CONTINUED.....
Monday, September 24, 2018
Lesson 88 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL We've finished haying for this year!!! Hooray!
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share, and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
The Church has disputed "what is really God's will for us today," for many years. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 (Amplified) saying, "Pray, therefore, like this; 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 forgiven us our debts, as we also forgive (left remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against our debtors. And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
According to Jesus' instruction to pray above, it's God's will is that we live here on earth, like we will live in Heaven. If God's will was for us to pray this way, then we need to understand what His will for us is in Heaven. What do you suppose God's will for us is, when we get to Heaven? Do you suppose we'll have such things as hospitals, doctors, and soup lines in Heaven? Will there be wars to fight or funerals to attend there? Will there be prisons, police or crime in Heaven?
I hope we're not living in Heaven yet, but I also know that the things happening in our lives here on earth, aren't His will for us either. We're still living on a fallen earth and the Curse of the Law is still in affect, but that doesn't mean we're subject to it. Galatians 3:13-14 (Amplified) tells us, "Christ has purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the Curse (doom) of the Law and it's condemnation, by Himself becoming a Curse for us, for it is written in the Scriptures, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)' To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
Who is the Holy Spirit? Isn't He the Same God and Father Who was also in Christ Jesus? Would our Father lead us any differently than He led Jesus? Would His will be any different for us, than it was for Jesus? If this is true, then what Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 wouldn't be Truth and Grace. We're not to look at Jesus as though He was the Only One that Father ever intended to walk this way, but we're to see Jesus as the Example of how all God's children are to be.
I fully understand that we're not the Lord Jesus, but I also understand God writes through Paul in, Romans 8:16-17 (Amplified) saying, "For 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."
We seem to think that Jesus' earthly ministry was "simple for Him, because He was Jesus." Jesus' earthly walk was far more difficult than anyone could ever know. Satan knew exactly Who Jesus was and what Jesus was about, at the time of His earthly ministry. Jesus was the only "real enemy" satan had to deal with and stop, at that time. There weren't two and a half billion Spirit-filled heirs of God satan had to deal with then. Jesus was the Only One and satan constantly focused all of his armies of demons and his weapons of warfare on Jesus' destruction.
The Father didn't exempt Jesus from satan's attacks on earth. Jesus just kept Himself above satan's attacks, by walking in the Word. Religion dismisses many things Jesus did as our Example, believing "they're not important for us to know." This has led to the lowering of Christian's standards for walking with God and has left us open to things that aren't the Father's will for our lives, like it is in Heaven. Jesus was our Example of how to walk in this earth as children of the Most High God.
We find an example of Jesus' earthly walk in John 3:34 (Amplified), but most of us have never paid attention to this scripture. Thus, it says, "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own Message), God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the Gift God makes of His Spirit." When was the last time we've thought about what we're speaking? Do we speak God's Own Words or do we just speak?
If God increased the boundless Gift of His Holy Spirit in us causing the words we spoke to come to pass, then what would the results be today? Would we speak life to a dead man or would be speak death to a live man? Would we speak calm to a storm or would we speak what the Weather Channel speaks and cause destruction? Would we speak cleansing to the leper or would we speak about how badly he smells and stay away from him? Would we speak healing or disease?
God brought Revelation to the Church many years ago, about the words we speak, through Charles Capps. It was the Revelation of the power of our words, as born-again children of God. Many in the Church have rejected this Revelation as "foolishness." We mockingly name this Revelation, "Name it and claim it" or "Blab it and grab it." We've lost sight of Truth, in what we say. We foolishly speak contrary to God's Word and then wonder why things aren't working for us.
God's children have rejected many of God's Revelations, but His Grace continues to watch over our foolishness. Could you imagine how the world would look, if God gave us His Spirit without measure and what we said would come to pass, like it did with Jesus? Jesus only spoke God's Word and His will and God honored what Jesus said with the Power of the Holy Spirit. What would happen in our lives and the lives of those around us, if God honored our words in the same Power He did with Jesus? You might answer, "I don't think it makes a difference what we say." Romans 10:10 (Amplified) tells us, "For with the heart a person believes, adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ and is so justified, declared righteous, acceptable to God, and with the mouth he confesses, declares openly and speaks our freely his faith and confirms his salvation." Salvation doesn't mean going to Heaven when we die. According to The Strong's Concordance (#4991) the word "salvation" means, "rescue, or safety physically or morally, deliver, health, salvation, save, or saving" and (#4992) "defender, defense, salvation."
So, the above scripture means that the things we say from our hearts and out of our mouths, will either bring deliverance or not. Paul tells us to, "Speak out our faith and confirm our salvation." I know you confirmed your saving salvation and were born-again, by confessing Jesus is your Lord, but do you confess Him in your daily walk, by speaking out your faith? Or, do you speak faith-filled words from your heart which God cannot confirm, because they're not His Words?
Don't be so quick to dismiss things they "sound new," when you haven't gone to the Lord about them. God to God's Word and see what He says about idle words, that don't Bless.
The Church has disputed "what is really God's will for us today," for many years. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 (Amplified) saying, "Pray, therefore, like this; 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 forgiven us our debts, as we also forgive (left remitted, and let go of the debts, and have given up resentment against our debtors. And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
According to Jesus' instruction to pray above, it's God's will is that we live here on earth, like we will live in Heaven. If God's will was for us to pray this way, then we need to understand what His will for us is in Heaven. What do you suppose God's will for us is, when we get to Heaven? Do you suppose we'll have such things as hospitals, doctors, and soup lines in Heaven? Will there be wars to fight or funerals to attend there? Will there be prisons, police or crime in Heaven?
I hope we're not living in Heaven yet, but I also know that the things happening in our lives here on earth, aren't His will for us either. We're still living on a fallen earth and the Curse of the Law is still in affect, but that doesn't mean we're subject to it. Galatians 3:13-14 (Amplified) tells us, "Christ has purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the Curse (doom) of the Law and it's condemnation, by Himself becoming a Curse for us, for it is written in the Scriptures, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified)' To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
Who is the Holy Spirit? Isn't He the Same God and Father Who was also in Christ Jesus? Would our Father lead us any differently than He led Jesus? Would His will be any different for us, than it was for Jesus? If this is true, then what Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 wouldn't be Truth and Grace. We're not to look at Jesus as though He was the Only One that Father ever intended to walk this way, but we're to see Jesus as the Example of how all God's children are to be.
I fully understand that we're not the Lord Jesus, but I also understand God writes through Paul in, Romans 8:16-17 (Amplified) saying, "For 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."
We seem to think that Jesus' earthly ministry was "simple for Him, because He was Jesus." Jesus' earthly walk was far more difficult than anyone could ever know. Satan knew exactly Who Jesus was and what Jesus was about, at the time of His earthly ministry. Jesus was the only "real enemy" satan had to deal with and stop, at that time. There weren't two and a half billion Spirit-filled heirs of God satan had to deal with then. Jesus was the Only One and satan constantly focused all of his armies of demons and his weapons of warfare on Jesus' destruction.
The Father didn't exempt Jesus from satan's attacks on earth. Jesus just kept Himself above satan's attacks, by walking in the Word. Religion dismisses many things Jesus did as our Example, believing "they're not important for us to know." This has led to the lowering of Christian's standards for walking with God and has left us open to things that aren't the Father's will for our lives, like it is in Heaven. Jesus was our Example of how to walk in this earth as children of the Most High God.
We find an example of Jesus' earthly walk in John 3:34 (Amplified), but most of us have never paid attention to this scripture. Thus, it says, "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own Message), God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the Gift God makes of His Spirit." When was the last time we've thought about what we're speaking? Do we speak God's Own Words or do we just speak?
If God increased the boundless Gift of His Holy Spirit in us causing the words we spoke to come to pass, then what would the results be today? Would we speak life to a dead man or would be speak death to a live man? Would we speak calm to a storm or would we speak what the Weather Channel speaks and cause destruction? Would we speak cleansing to the leper or would we speak about how badly he smells and stay away from him? Would we speak healing or disease?
God brought Revelation to the Church many years ago, about the words we speak, through Charles Capps. It was the Revelation of the power of our words, as born-again children of God. Many in the Church have rejected this Revelation as "foolishness." We mockingly name this Revelation, "Name it and claim it" or "Blab it and grab it." We've lost sight of Truth, in what we say. We foolishly speak contrary to God's Word and then wonder why things aren't working for us.
God's children have rejected many of God's Revelations, but His Grace continues to watch over our foolishness. Could you imagine how the world would look, if God gave us His Spirit without measure and what we said would come to pass, like it did with Jesus? Jesus only spoke God's Word and His will and God honored what Jesus said with the Power of the Holy Spirit. What would happen in our lives and the lives of those around us, if God honored our words in the same Power He did with Jesus? You might answer, "I don't think it makes a difference what we say." Romans 10:10 (Amplified) tells us, "For with the heart a person believes, adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ and is so justified, declared righteous, acceptable to God, and with the mouth he confesses, declares openly and speaks our freely his faith and confirms his salvation." Salvation doesn't mean going to Heaven when we die. According to The Strong's Concordance (#4991) the word "salvation" means, "rescue, or safety physically or morally, deliver, health, salvation, save, or saving" and (#4992) "defender, defense, salvation."
So, the above scripture means that the things we say from our hearts and out of our mouths, will either bring deliverance or not. Paul tells us to, "Speak out our faith and confirm our salvation." I know you confirmed your saving salvation and were born-again, by confessing Jesus is your Lord, but do you confess Him in your daily walk, by speaking out your faith? Or, do you speak faith-filled words from your heart which God cannot confirm, because they're not His Words?
Don't be so quick to dismiss things they "sound new," when you haven't gone to the Lord about them. God to God's Word and see what He says about idle words, that don't Bless.
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Lesson 87 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share, and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 1:1-2 (Amplified) says, "In many separate Revelations, each of which set forth a portion of the Truth, and in many different ways God spoke of old to our forefathers in and by the prophets. But in the last of these days He has spoken to us in the Person of a Son."
God's way of speaking to us and revealing Himself to us, is by and through the Person of Jesus, His Son. The only way we can come to the Truth of Who He really is, is by knowing and watching Jesus, in His earthly ministry. Under the prophets, we could only see and come to know a portion of the Truth. We've come to many different ways of our understanding of God by the prophets, but our understanding of our Heavenly Father must come by and through Jesus Christ.
God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in these Last days, in a way that the prophets under the old covenant, could only receive a small glimpse of. None would dare speak of God as their "Father" or even hint at being "His Son." The outcry and indignation of the Jews that Jesus spoke to in His earthly ministry, was a result of their not understanding the Truth (not only a portion of the Truth, but the Truth in Bodily Form).
We continue struggling today with the "Old Testament God" and the "New Testament God." Much of our doctrine has been slanted by the Law, instead of Grace. We still expect God to deal with us, like He did with the Old Testament people. The only Example we have of our Heavenly Father, comes by knowing and watching Jesus, as He went about revealing "Father," to those who only knew God and the Law.
Today, many see salvation as a means for going to Heaven and be with the Lord, after leaving the earth in death. Although this is Truth and is Glorious, we've missed the greater Truth. Jesus didn't just come, so that we could go to Heaven and be with Him when we die, but the Greater Truth is that He still operates on this earth through the Church.
Ephesians 4:12-13 (Amplified) says, "His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), that they should do the work of ministering toward building up Christ's Body (the Church) That it might develop until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God, that we might arrive at really mature manhood, the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's Own Perfection, the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him."
The Body of Christ's job is to allow Him to actually live again in this flesh and blood world, through us. Our job isn't just to go to Heaven, but we're to allow Jesus to walk on earth and continue like He did in His Own earthly Body, through us. Through the Father living in the Church, like He did through Jesus, we're to do the work of the Father. Much of our Christian walk has been "trying to be perfect," but the only thing perfect about us, is the One Who lives in us.
Jesus doesn't want to only live in us, but to strive in us and do the same work and will that the Father sent Him to do in His earthly Body. This is our greatest work. We're to allow Him to live again here on earth, in us. We are His Body and He is the Head. The Head directs the Body and we're to receive our orders from the Head and respond to His orders. It must seem to Jesus sometimes, like His Body is paralyzed and cannot or will not respond to His commands any longer.
Just prior to His Ascension, Jesus told His followers in John 14:15-16,26 (Amplified), "If you really love Me, you will keep (obey) My commandments, And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Stand-By, that He may be with you forever." Jesus continues in Verse 26, "But the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-By, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will sent in My Name (in My Place, to represent Me and to act on My behalf), He will teach you all things; And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance of everything I have told you."
According to Mark 16:15-20 (Amplified), the early Church went forth everywhere preaching the Gospel and instructing them to lay hands on the sick and cast out devils. Verse 20 tells us, "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."
The Body was obeying the commands of the Head, in the above scripture. It wasn't like the Body had a stroke, but it obeyed the commands of the Head, Jesus. Jesus wants to lives in this earth through His Body (the Body of Christ, the Church). The Plan and will of Jesus and the Father, have not changed. We, the Body of Christ, has stopped hearing the commands from the Head and have established our own way of doing things. Paul writes in Galatians 2:20 (Amplified), "I have been crucified with Christ, in Him I have shared His crucifixion: it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me: and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in, by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in, the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
We've never truly gotten hold of the Truth that Jesus wants to live in this earth, through His Body (the Body of Christ, the Church), just like He did in the earthly Body He knew before His death on the cross. We must allow ourselves to be His Body. His ministry has never changed from then until now. He only has a different Body to live in and through now. Jesus still wants to do the same things He did then, in this earth through us.
Salvation is not simply about our going to Heaven when we die, but it's about having Jesus live again on the earth, through us (His Body). His life and mission has never changed and we're supposed to be continuing them. Jesus changed us to be like Him, so He could continue His walk here on the earth. Jesus never intended us to be another religion, but to be His Body. It's His hands that we lay on the sick. It's His feet that take this Body, to where He says to go. It's His voice that speaks to devils. It's His Spirit that enables us to do His Work and it's His Life that we're supposed to be living here on earth, like He did in His former Body.
Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." The same things Jesus did in His earthly Body before Calvary, He still does in the Body we've become on this earth. We're the Body of Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (Amplified) says, "In many separate Revelations, each of which set forth a portion of the Truth, and in many different ways God spoke of old to our forefathers in and by the prophets. But in the last of these days He has spoken to us in the Person of a Son."
God's way of speaking to us and revealing Himself to us, is by and through the Person of Jesus, His Son. The only way we can come to the Truth of Who He really is, is by knowing and watching Jesus, in His earthly ministry. Under the prophets, we could only see and come to know a portion of the Truth. We've come to many different ways of our understanding of God by the prophets, but our understanding of our Heavenly Father must come by and through Jesus Christ.
God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in these Last days, in a way that the prophets under the old covenant, could only receive a small glimpse of. None would dare speak of God as their "Father" or even hint at being "His Son." The outcry and indignation of the Jews that Jesus spoke to in His earthly ministry, was a result of their not understanding the Truth (not only a portion of the Truth, but the Truth in Bodily Form).
We continue struggling today with the "Old Testament God" and the "New Testament God." Much of our doctrine has been slanted by the Law, instead of Grace. We still expect God to deal with us, like He did with the Old Testament people. The only Example we have of our Heavenly Father, comes by knowing and watching Jesus, as He went about revealing "Father," to those who only knew God and the Law.
Today, many see salvation as a means for going to Heaven and be with the Lord, after leaving the earth in death. Although this is Truth and is Glorious, we've missed the greater Truth. Jesus didn't just come, so that we could go to Heaven and be with Him when we die, but the Greater Truth is that He still operates on this earth through the Church.
Ephesians 4:12-13 (Amplified) says, "His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), that they should do the work of ministering toward building up Christ's Body (the Church) That it might develop until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God, that we might arrive at really mature manhood, the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's Own Perfection, the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him."
The Body of Christ's job is to allow Him to actually live again in this flesh and blood world, through us. Our job isn't just to go to Heaven, but we're to allow Jesus to walk on earth and continue like He did in His Own earthly Body, through us. Through the Father living in the Church, like He did through Jesus, we're to do the work of the Father. Much of our Christian walk has been "trying to be perfect," but the only thing perfect about us, is the One Who lives in us.
Jesus doesn't want to only live in us, but to strive in us and do the same work and will that the Father sent Him to do in His earthly Body. This is our greatest work. We're to allow Him to live again here on earth, in us. We are His Body and He is the Head. The Head directs the Body and we're to receive our orders from the Head and respond to His orders. It must seem to Jesus sometimes, like His Body is paralyzed and cannot or will not respond to His commands any longer.
Just prior to His Ascension, Jesus told His followers in John 14:15-16,26 (Amplified), "If you really love Me, you will keep (obey) My commandments, And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Stand-By, that He may be with you forever." Jesus continues in Verse 26, "But the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Stand-By, the Holy Spirit Whom the Father will sent in My Name (in My Place, to represent Me and to act on My behalf), He will teach you all things; And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance of everything I have told you."
According to Mark 16:15-20 (Amplified), the early Church went forth everywhere preaching the Gospel and instructing them to lay hands on the sick and cast out devils. Verse 20 tells us, "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."
The Body was obeying the commands of the Head, in the above scripture. It wasn't like the Body had a stroke, but it obeyed the commands of the Head, Jesus. Jesus wants to lives in this earth through His Body (the Body of Christ, the Church). The Plan and will of Jesus and the Father, have not changed. We, the Body of Christ, has stopped hearing the commands from the Head and have established our own way of doing things. Paul writes in Galatians 2:20 (Amplified), "I have been crucified with Christ, in Him I have shared His crucifixion: it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me: and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in, by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in, the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
We've never truly gotten hold of the Truth that Jesus wants to live in this earth, through His Body (the Body of Christ, the Church), just like He did in the earthly Body He knew before His death on the cross. We must allow ourselves to be His Body. His ministry has never changed from then until now. He only has a different Body to live in and through now. Jesus still wants to do the same things He did then, in this earth through us.
Salvation is not simply about our going to Heaven when we die, but it's about having Jesus live again on the earth, through us (His Body). His life and mission has never changed and we're supposed to be continuing them. Jesus changed us to be like Him, so He could continue His walk here on the earth. Jesus never intended us to be another religion, but to be His Body. It's His hands that we lay on the sick. It's His feet that take this Body, to where He says to go. It's His voice that speaks to devils. It's His Spirit that enables us to do His Work and it's His Life that we're supposed to be living here on earth, like He did in His former Body.
Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." The same things Jesus did in His earthly Body before Calvary, He still does in the Body we've become on this earth. We're the Body of Christ.
Monday, September 3, 2018
Friday, August 24, 2018
Lesson 86 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
In the previous blog, we learned that these Spiritual Blessings were Promises that Abraham couldn't received at the time. They were reserved for this generation of the Church or God's Own children by the new birth and the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. Abraham was Promised these things that were to come through his Seed, Who was Jesus Christ. This is no longer a Promise, but a Truth.
So long as it was a Promise, it was something for the future and now that Jesus has come, it's no longer a Promise, but has become Truth in the believer's lives. Many are still waiting for the fulfillment of God's Promise, not realizing the Promise was and is fulfilled in Jesus. This is why John 1:16-17 says, "Out of His fullness we have all received."
Abraham was Blessed by God, but the fullness of the Promise couldn't be fulfilled as far as the Spiritual Blessing was concerned. Abraham wasn't born-again, so the Spiritual Blessing was a future even that God's Promise laid before him. We're recipients of the Grace that came through Jesus and we're not only Blessed with the natural things of the Promise, but we've obtained the Spiritual aspect as well.
God prospered Abraham with the earthly Blessing in all that he did. This is also part of our Blessing of Abraham, but now it goes further into the Spiritual Blessing. Through Jesus, we've been raised with Him and have becomes sons and daughters of God, instead of just servants. God's Grace that delivered Noah and those who heeded His direction, has come to rest upon us as a cloak or mantle upon our lives, not counting our trespasses against us, but putting them under the Blood of Jesus.
These Spiritual Blessings and Gifts, far surpass anything man has ever received from God before. Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's offense (trespass, lapse), death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive God's overflowing Grace (unmerited favor) and the free Gift of righteousness, putting them in in right standing with Himself, reign as kings in life through the One Mane, Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
This free Gift of righteousness is one of the many Spiritual Blessings that came through the fulfillment of the Promise. Romans 5:5 (Amplified) says, "For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be one with Him in sharing His Resurrection by a new life lived for God." When do we share this new life lived for God and reign as kings in life through Jesus? Not when we die and leave this earth, but when we (by faith) accept the fact that we NOW live through Him in this earth; a new life for God.
Satan has deceived the family of God, causing us to think these Spiritual Blessings are for the hereafter. We're now made alive to God through the result of His Promise and we're to reign as kings in this life on earth. Romans 8:11 (Amplified) says, "But if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal, short lived bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you."
Even though sin killed us and God likened our bodies dead and buried with Jesus, God (by His Holy Spirit) has granted life back into our mortal bodies, in order to carry out the things we're to do in this earth for and through Him. We're not only made alive in our spirit, but now that same spirit has given God's Life back to our mortal body.
God and we both, need this earthly body to fulfill the mandate that was given to the new creation family of God. God's family is to go into the world and proclaim the Gospel, lay hands on the sick, cast out devils and preach Christ Jesus to the lost. We need these earthly bodies, in order to do what God's called us to do on this earth. The body has no life once the spirit leave it and this is why the Holy Spirit has restored life back into this mortal body. We're to function in two realms simultaneously, but now this mortal body is to be sustained and led by the Spirit of Promise. Romans 8:16 (Amplified) says, "The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God."
Romans 8:30 (Amplified) tells us, "And those whom He foreordained, He also called, and those whom He called, He also justified, acquitted, made righteous, putting them in right standing with Himself, and those whom He justified He also gloried, raising them to a Heavenly dignity and condition or state of being." This is something He has already done in Jesus and not something He is going to do in the future.
Have you ever seen yourself as "glorified and raised to a Heavenly dignity, condition or state of being?" Have you ever thought of yourself as "being righteous before God?" How do you become justified in the eyes of a Holy God? By faith, you receive "the fullness we have all received, all had a part, and were all supplied with one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift," according to John 1:16-17.
This is the Truth of the Promise that has come to reality in Christ Jesus. This is the Promise of the Spirit made to Abraham and as Abraham was, so now we, by faith, walk in the Truth of that Promise. Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "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."
Let's combine the last part of the above scripture about living by faith, with Romans 6:4-5 (Amplified) which says, "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 that we too might habitually live and behave in newness of life For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we also shall be one with Him in sharing His Resurrection by a new life lived for God."
If we were crucified with Christ and buried with Him, then in order to "live this life in newness for God," we must also have been raised together with Him, even in this mortal body that has newness of life by His Holy Spirit. In Romans 1:17 (Amplified) Paul says this about us, "That through faith are just and upright shall live and live by faith." Paul went on in Galatians 2:20 (Amplified), "I have been crucified with Christ, in Him I have shared His crucifixion; it is no longer I who live, but Christ the Messiah lives in me: and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
Now we have a revelation of what Paul wrote in Romans 1:17, saying, "The just and upright shall live and shall live by faith." Your life in the spirit and body are sustained by your faith in the Truth of the Promise of the Spirit that God made to Abraham for and through Jesus.
In the previous blog, we learned that these Spiritual Blessings were Promises that Abraham couldn't received at the time. They were reserved for this generation of the Church or God's Own children by the new birth and the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. Abraham was Promised these things that were to come through his Seed, Who was Jesus Christ. This is no longer a Promise, but a Truth.
So long as it was a Promise, it was something for the future and now that Jesus has come, it's no longer a Promise, but has become Truth in the believer's lives. Many are still waiting for the fulfillment of God's Promise, not realizing the Promise was and is fulfilled in Jesus. This is why John 1:16-17 says, "Out of His fullness we have all received."
Abraham was Blessed by God, but the fullness of the Promise couldn't be fulfilled as far as the Spiritual Blessing was concerned. Abraham wasn't born-again, so the Spiritual Blessing was a future even that God's Promise laid before him. We're recipients of the Grace that came through Jesus and we're not only Blessed with the natural things of the Promise, but we've obtained the Spiritual aspect as well.
God prospered Abraham with the earthly Blessing in all that he did. This is also part of our Blessing of Abraham, but now it goes further into the Spiritual Blessing. Through Jesus, we've been raised with Him and have becomes sons and daughters of God, instead of just servants. God's Grace that delivered Noah and those who heeded His direction, has come to rest upon us as a cloak or mantle upon our lives, not counting our trespasses against us, but putting them under the Blood of Jesus.
These Spiritual Blessings and Gifts, far surpass anything man has ever received from God before. Romans 5:17 (Amplified) says, "For if because of one man's offense (trespass, lapse), death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive God's overflowing Grace (unmerited favor) and the free Gift of righteousness, putting them in in right standing with Himself, reign as kings in life through the One Mane, Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
This free Gift of righteousness is one of the many Spiritual Blessings that came through the fulfillment of the Promise. Romans 5:5 (Amplified) says, "For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be one with Him in sharing His Resurrection by a new life lived for God." When do we share this new life lived for God and reign as kings in life through Jesus? Not when we die and leave this earth, but when we (by faith) accept the fact that we NOW live through Him in this earth; a new life for God.
Satan has deceived the family of God, causing us to think these Spiritual Blessings are for the hereafter. We're now made alive to God through the result of His Promise and we're to reign as kings in this life on earth. Romans 8:11 (Amplified) says, "But if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal, short lived bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you."
Even though sin killed us and God likened our bodies dead and buried with Jesus, God (by His Holy Spirit) has granted life back into our mortal bodies, in order to carry out the things we're to do in this earth for and through Him. We're not only made alive in our spirit, but now that same spirit has given God's Life back to our mortal body.
God and we both, need this earthly body to fulfill the mandate that was given to the new creation family of God. God's family is to go into the world and proclaim the Gospel, lay hands on the sick, cast out devils and preach Christ Jesus to the lost. We need these earthly bodies, in order to do what God's called us to do on this earth. The body has no life once the spirit leave it and this is why the Holy Spirit has restored life back into this mortal body. We're to function in two realms simultaneously, but now this mortal body is to be sustained and led by the Spirit of Promise. Romans 8:16 (Amplified) says, "The Spirit Himself thus testifies together with our own spirit, assuring us that we are children of God."
Romans 8:30 (Amplified) tells us, "And those whom He foreordained, He also called, and those whom He called, He also justified, acquitted, made righteous, putting them in right standing with Himself, and those whom He justified He also gloried, raising them to a Heavenly dignity and condition or state of being." This is something He has already done in Jesus and not something He is going to do in the future.
Have you ever seen yourself as "glorified and raised to a Heavenly dignity, condition or state of being?" Have you ever thought of yourself as "being righteous before God?" How do you become justified in the eyes of a Holy God? By faith, you receive "the fullness we have all received, all had a part, and were all supplied with one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift," according to John 1:16-17.
This is the Truth of the Promise that has come to reality in Christ Jesus. This is the Promise of the Spirit made to Abraham and as Abraham was, so now we, by faith, walk in the Truth of that Promise. Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "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."
Let's combine the last part of the above scripture about living by faith, with Romans 6:4-5 (Amplified) which says, "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 that we too might habitually live and behave in newness of life For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we also shall be one with Him in sharing His Resurrection by a new life lived for God."
If we were crucified with Christ and buried with Him, then in order to "live this life in newness for God," we must also have been raised together with Him, even in this mortal body that has newness of life by His Holy Spirit. In Romans 1:17 (Amplified) Paul says this about us, "That through faith are just and upright shall live and live by faith." Paul went on in Galatians 2:20 (Amplified), "I have been crucified with Christ, in Him I have shared His crucifixion; it is no longer I who live, but Christ the Messiah lives in me: and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
Now we have a revelation of what Paul wrote in Romans 1:17, saying, "The just and upright shall live and shall live by faith." Your life in the spirit and body are sustained by your faith in the Truth of the Promise of the Spirit that God made to Abraham for and through Jesus.
Thursday, August 23, 2018
Lesson 85 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
The Promises of God through His Word, were contingent upon the Law and obedience to the Law. Natural man couldn't keep the Law, so the fullness of God's Blessing couldn't be realized in the abundance of His covenant. The Spiritual Blessing couldn't be fully realized, until the Holy Spirit came to dwell in the spirit of the new covenant family of God. Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
Abraham walked with God in a state of Grace, but he was unable to receive the fullness of the Promises, until his Seed (Who was Jesus) could come into this earth and restore that which was lost in the Garden of Eden. He could enjoy and prosper int the natural things of this earth, but the Spiritual Blessing was still only a Promise. In Christ Jesus, the Promise is now fulfilled to the new creation family of God.
Hebrews 11:13,14 (Amplified) tells us, "These people (Noah, Abraham, Enoch, Sara, and Abel), all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of God's Promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth." Verse 14 says, "Now those people who talk as they did show plainly that they are in search of a fatherland, (their own country)."
Ephesians 3:18-19 (Amplified) says, "For it is through Him that we both, whether far off or near now have an introduction, access by One Holy Spirit to the Father so that we are able to approach Him. Therefore, you are no longer outsiders, exiles, migrants and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens; but you now share citizenship with the saints, God's Own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself, and you belong to God's Own household."
This was and is the Promise Abraham and the Old Testament saints were looking forward to, but couldn't obtain until the new creation and the birth of the Holy Spirit in mankind. Galatians 3:13-14 (Amplified) says, "Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the Curse (doom of the Law and its condemnation), by Himself becoming a curse for us, for it is written in the scriptures, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (crucified). To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
Many look upon the Day of Pentecost and the speaking of tongues, as the fulfillment of the Promise. True, these people, along with millions more since that day, have entered into the Promise of the new birth by the coming of the Holy Spirit. But, we've failed to understand the Spiritual Gifts that accompanied this Promise of Fulfillment. Many dismiss the new language and the benefits of that language, but that isn't the only Gift that comes with the Promise of the Holy Spirit. The Gifts of the Spirit listed in 1Corinthians 12, aren't necessarily the fulfillment of the Spiritual Gifts John 1:16-17 refers too.
The main Gift we're to recognize is the Gift of Life, which is being born-again and becoming God's children. We're no longer "outsiders," but we're citizens of His Own family and His Kingdom. This was part of God's Promise that Abraham couldn't receive, until Jesus. The Spiritual Gifts found in John 1:16-17 have been fulfilled in those who are born-again (us). Galatians 4:5-7 (Amplified) says, "To purchase the freedom of, to ransom, to redeem, to atone for, those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have son ship conferred upon us, and be recognized as God's sons. And because you really are His sons, God has sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying Abba, Father, Father. Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant), but a son, and if a son, the it follows that you are His heir by the aid of God through Christ as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is thus the father of us all."
The fullness of the Promise comes by faith and then by walking in your inheritance. You must receive it BY FAITH. Even though it's yours already, you'll only enjoy this new found Life in Christ Jesus, as you accept by faith, the things of this Promise of the Holy Spirit. Although we've received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we cannot accept the things He provided for us here, unless we put faith in this Promise.
God has "made good" His Promise of the Holy Spirit that He Promised to Abraham to be "heir of the world." Romans 4:13 (Amplified) says, "For the Promise to Abraham or his posterity, that he should inherit the world, did not come through observing the commandments of the Law, but through the righteousness of faith." When we read about these Spiritual Gifts, Graces, and Spiritual Blessings in John 1:16-17, we sometimes overlook the Power of what was said about, "now."
The Promises of God through His Word, were contingent upon the Law and obedience to the Law. Natural man couldn't keep the Law, so the fullness of God's Blessing couldn't be realized in the abundance of His covenant. The Spiritual Blessing couldn't be fully realized, until the Holy Spirit came to dwell in the spirit of the new covenant family of God. Jesus said in John 10:10 (Amplified), "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
Abraham walked with God in a state of Grace, but he was unable to receive the fullness of the Promises, until his Seed (Who was Jesus) could come into this earth and restore that which was lost in the Garden of Eden. He could enjoy and prosper int the natural things of this earth, but the Spiritual Blessing was still only a Promise. In Christ Jesus, the Promise is now fulfilled to the new creation family of God.
Hebrews 11:13,14 (Amplified) tells us, "These people (Noah, Abraham, Enoch, Sara, and Abel), all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of God's Promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth." Verse 14 says, "Now those people who talk as they did show plainly that they are in search of a fatherland, (their own country)."
Ephesians 3:18-19 (Amplified) says, "For it is through Him that we both, whether far off or near now have an introduction, access by One Holy Spirit to the Father so that we are able to approach Him. Therefore, you are no longer outsiders, exiles, migrants and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens; but you now share citizenship with the saints, God's Own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself, and you belong to God's Own household."
This was and is the Promise Abraham and the Old Testament saints were looking forward to, but couldn't obtain until the new creation and the birth of the Holy Spirit in mankind. Galatians 3:13-14 (Amplified) says, "Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the Curse (doom of the Law and its condemnation), by Himself becoming a curse for us, for it is written in the scriptures, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (crucified). To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
Many look upon the Day of Pentecost and the speaking of tongues, as the fulfillment of the Promise. True, these people, along with millions more since that day, have entered into the Promise of the new birth by the coming of the Holy Spirit. But, we've failed to understand the Spiritual Gifts that accompanied this Promise of Fulfillment. Many dismiss the new language and the benefits of that language, but that isn't the only Gift that comes with the Promise of the Holy Spirit. The Gifts of the Spirit listed in 1Corinthians 12, aren't necessarily the fulfillment of the Spiritual Gifts John 1:16-17 refers too.
The main Gift we're to recognize is the Gift of Life, which is being born-again and becoming God's children. We're no longer "outsiders," but we're citizens of His Own family and His Kingdom. This was part of God's Promise that Abraham couldn't receive, until Jesus. The Spiritual Gifts found in John 1:16-17 have been fulfilled in those who are born-again (us). Galatians 4:5-7 (Amplified) says, "To purchase the freedom of, to ransom, to redeem, to atone for, those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have son ship conferred upon us, and be recognized as God's sons. And because you really are His sons, God has sent the Holy Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying Abba, Father, Father. Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant), but a son, and if a son, the it follows that you are His heir by the aid of God through Christ as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the devotees and adherents of the Law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, who is thus the father of us all."
The fullness of the Promise comes by faith and then by walking in your inheritance. You must receive it BY FAITH. Even though it's yours already, you'll only enjoy this new found Life in Christ Jesus, as you accept by faith, the things of this Promise of the Holy Spirit. Although we've received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we cannot accept the things He provided for us here, unless we put faith in this Promise.
God has "made good" His Promise of the Holy Spirit that He Promised to Abraham to be "heir of the world." Romans 4:13 (Amplified) says, "For the Promise to Abraham or his posterity, that he should inherit the world, did not come through observing the commandments of the Law, but through the righteousness of faith." When we read about these Spiritual Gifts, Graces, and Spiritual Blessings in John 1:16-17, we sometimes overlook the Power of what was said about, "now."
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Lesson 84 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
God made what we call, "Noah's Ark," in order to preserve the Seed. God directed Moses to build an Ark, in order to hold the Ten Commandments and deliver God's Promise to Abraham. The seed of Noah produced the son who sired Abraham, according to Genesis 11:10,27 (Amplified) which says, "This is the history of the generation of Shem (one of Noah's sons); Shem had a son called, Terah." Verse 27 says, "This is the history of the descendants of Terah. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran, and Haran was the father of Lot."
In Genesis 3:15 (Amplified), God says to the serpent, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her Offspring. He will bruise and tread your head under foot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel." God preserved Noah and his family, in order to protect His Promise concerning the Seed. Genesis 6:8-9 (Amplified) says, "But Noah found Grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord. This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a just and righteous man, blameless in his evil generation. Noah walked in habitual fellowship with God."
Genesis 12:1-3 (Amplified) says, "Now in Haran (Noah's grandson) the Lord said to Abram; Go for yourself, for your own advantage away from your country, from your relatives and your father's house, to a land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation; and I will Bless those who bless you (who confer prosperity or happiness upon you), and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be Blessed, and by you will they bless themselves."
A covenant, Promise, and solemn pledge was made between God and Abraham in Genesis 17. God kept His pledge and covenant with Abraham, down through Abraham's children. God Blessed Abraham's offspring from Isaac down through Joseph, in the land of Egypt. After Joseph was made Prime Minister of and died in the land of Egypt, another Pharaoh arose who didn't know Joseph. This Pharaoh set out to destroy all the male Hebrew children, but God once again determined to hold fast to His Promise and His Promised Seed.
Genesis 2:2-3 (Amplified) says, "And the woman became pregnant and bore a son; and when she saw that he was exceedingly beautiful, she hid him three months. And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an Ark or a basket made of bulrushes or papyrus, making it watertight by daubing it with bitumen and pitch. Then she put the child (Moses) in it and laid it among the rushes by the brink of the River Nile."
After becoming a grown man, Moses was exiled because of his connection to the Hebrews in Genesis 2:23-25 (Amplified) which says, "However, after a long time, nearly 40 years, the king of Egypt died; and the Israelites were sighing and groaning because of the bondage. They kept crying, and their cry because of slavery ascended to God. And God heard their sighing and groaning and earnestly remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the Israelites and took knowledge of them and concerned Himself about them (knowing all, understanding, remembering all)."
God honored His Seed, His covenant and His Promise to Abraham, along with the declaration He made in Genesis 3 about the Seed of His Promise. So far, God twice made an Ark, in order to protect and preserve that which was yet to come. Exodus 40:20-21 (Amplified) says, "Moses took the Testimony (the Ten Commandments), and put it into the Ark, and set the poles in the rings of the Ark, and put the Mercy Seat on the Top of the Ark. Moses brought the Ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen and screened the Ark of the Testimony as the Lord had commanded him."
God set up another Ark above, to protect His Promise and His covenant to mankind. Today, the Ark of the covenant the the solemn pledge of God's Promise have been set before us with the veil removed, according to Hebrews 10:19-20 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the Holy of Holies by the Power and Virtue of the Blood of Jesus. By this fresh, new, and Living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain, veil of the Holy of Holies, that is through His flesh."
Jesus has now become the Fullness of the Promise to His Seed and to His pledge is the Last and Only True Ark of the Covenant, through our relationship with the Father. 2Corinthians 1:19-20 (Amplified) says, "For the Son of God, Christ Jesus the Messiah, Who has been preached among you by us (by myself and Silvanus and Timothy), was not Yes and No, but in Him is always the Divine YES. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it), to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency to the Glory of God."
The Promises God made to mankind, from the Garden to the present, are all ours through Christ Jesus. These include those made to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and the prophets, until now. Galatians 3:16, 17 (Amplified) says, "Now the Promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed, his Offspring, His Heirs." God didn't say, "And to his seeds, descendants, or heirs," as if referring to man persons. God said, "And to your Seed, your Descendant, your Heir," in obvious reference to One Individual, Who is none other than Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Verse 17 goes on, "This is my argument, the Law, which began 430 years after the covenant concerning the coming Messiah, does not and cannot annul the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the Promise and make it void." Galatians 3:13-14 (Amplified) says, "Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the curse (doom of the Law and its condemnation) by Himself becoming a curse for us, for it is written in the scriptures, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (crucified) To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we, through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
Galatians 3:23 (Amplified) says, "But the scriptures picture all mankind as sinners shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that the inheritance, Blessing which was Promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah), might be given (released, delivered and committed) to all those who believe (who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him)."
Revelations 11:19 (Amplified) says, "Then the Sanctuary of God in Heaven was thrown open, and the Ark of His Covenant was seen standing inside His Sanctuary---."
God made what we call, "Noah's Ark," in order to preserve the Seed. God directed Moses to build an Ark, in order to hold the Ten Commandments and deliver God's Promise to Abraham. The seed of Noah produced the son who sired Abraham, according to Genesis 11:10,27 (Amplified) which says, "This is the history of the generation of Shem (one of Noah's sons); Shem had a son called, Terah." Verse 27 says, "This is the history of the descendants of Terah. Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran, and Haran was the father of Lot."
In Genesis 3:15 (Amplified), God says to the serpent, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her Offspring. He will bruise and tread your head under foot, and you will lie in wait and bruise His heel." God preserved Noah and his family, in order to protect His Promise concerning the Seed. Genesis 6:8-9 (Amplified) says, "But Noah found Grace (favor) in the eyes of the Lord. This is the history of the generations of Noah. Noah was a just and righteous man, blameless in his evil generation. Noah walked in habitual fellowship with God."
Genesis 12:1-3 (Amplified) says, "Now in Haran (Noah's grandson) the Lord said to Abram; Go for yourself, for your own advantage away from your country, from your relatives and your father's house, to a land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation; and I will Bless those who bless you (who confer prosperity or happiness upon you), and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be Blessed, and by you will they bless themselves."
A covenant, Promise, and solemn pledge was made between God and Abraham in Genesis 17. God kept His pledge and covenant with Abraham, down through Abraham's children. God Blessed Abraham's offspring from Isaac down through Joseph, in the land of Egypt. After Joseph was made Prime Minister of and died in the land of Egypt, another Pharaoh arose who didn't know Joseph. This Pharaoh set out to destroy all the male Hebrew children, but God once again determined to hold fast to His Promise and His Promised Seed.
Genesis 2:2-3 (Amplified) says, "And the woman became pregnant and bore a son; and when she saw that he was exceedingly beautiful, she hid him three months. And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an Ark or a basket made of bulrushes or papyrus, making it watertight by daubing it with bitumen and pitch. Then she put the child (Moses) in it and laid it among the rushes by the brink of the River Nile."
After becoming a grown man, Moses was exiled because of his connection to the Hebrews in Genesis 2:23-25 (Amplified) which says, "However, after a long time, nearly 40 years, the king of Egypt died; and the Israelites were sighing and groaning because of the bondage. They kept crying, and their cry because of slavery ascended to God. And God heard their sighing and groaning and earnestly remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the Israelites and took knowledge of them and concerned Himself about them (knowing all, understanding, remembering all)."
God honored His Seed, His covenant and His Promise to Abraham, along with the declaration He made in Genesis 3 about the Seed of His Promise. So far, God twice made an Ark, in order to protect and preserve that which was yet to come. Exodus 40:20-21 (Amplified) says, "Moses took the Testimony (the Ten Commandments), and put it into the Ark, and set the poles in the rings of the Ark, and put the Mercy Seat on the Top of the Ark. Moses brought the Ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen and screened the Ark of the Testimony as the Lord had commanded him."
God set up another Ark above, to protect His Promise and His covenant to mankind. Today, the Ark of the covenant the the solemn pledge of God's Promise have been set before us with the veil removed, according to Hebrews 10:19-20 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore brethren, since we have full freedom and confidence to enter into the Holy of Holies by the Power and Virtue of the Blood of Jesus. By this fresh, new, and Living way which He initiated and dedicated and opened for us through the separating curtain, veil of the Holy of Holies, that is through His flesh."
Jesus has now become the Fullness of the Promise to His Seed and to His pledge is the Last and Only True Ark of the Covenant, through our relationship with the Father. 2Corinthians 1:19-20 (Amplified) says, "For the Son of God, Christ Jesus the Messiah, Who has been preached among you by us (by myself and Silvanus and Timothy), was not Yes and No, but in Him is always the Divine YES. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it), to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency to the Glory of God."
The Promises God made to mankind, from the Garden to the present, are all ours through Christ Jesus. These include those made to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and the prophets, until now. Galatians 3:16, 17 (Amplified) says, "Now the Promises (covenants, agreements) were decreed and made to Abraham and his Seed, his Offspring, His Heirs." God didn't say, "And to his seeds, descendants, or heirs," as if referring to man persons. God said, "And to your Seed, your Descendant, your Heir," in obvious reference to One Individual, Who is none other than Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Verse 17 goes on, "This is my argument, the Law, which began 430 years after the covenant concerning the coming Messiah, does not and cannot annul the covenant previously established (ratified) by God, so as to abolish the Promise and make it void." Galatians 3:13-14 (Amplified) says, "Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the curse (doom of the Law and its condemnation) by Himself becoming a curse for us, for it is written in the scriptures, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (crucified) To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we, through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."
Galatians 3:23 (Amplified) says, "But the scriptures picture all mankind as sinners shut up and imprisoned by sin, so that the inheritance, Blessing which was Promised through faith in Jesus Christ (the Messiah), might be given (released, delivered and committed) to all those who believe (who adhere to and trust in and rely on Him)."
Revelations 11:19 (Amplified) says, "Then the Sanctuary of God in Heaven was thrown open, and the Ark of His Covenant was seen standing inside His Sanctuary---."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)