John 1:16 (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 heaped upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift."
We spoke previously about coming from one country to another country. If you're coming from Ireland, where they drive on the left side of the road, then when you drive in America, you must drive on the right side of the road, because that's our law. You're no longer in Ireland, so you're not breaking their law. When you've been set free from the Law of Sin and Death, you're no longer under that Law, even though that Law is still valid. You've been removed from the place that Law reigns and you're now in a higher place where the Law of Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. God didn't do away with the Law of Sin and Death, but He superseded it with a Higher Law.
The Law of Gravity is in full effect on the earth, but we've superseded that Law with the Laws of Thrust and Lift and we can fly. This is what happened in the life of the Christian. God's way of doing and being right has superseded the laws that govern natural man. The Laws that govern the Kingdom are Laws that protect and uphold the righteous.
Ignorance of the laws cannot protect you, even though they're meant to do just that. If you ignorantly or stubbornly ignore the laws of America's roads and drive on the left side of the road, then the laws of Ireland wouldn't protect you. You would either be ticketed, fined or arrested for driving on the left side of the road here, because these laws were established to protect you and other drivers. We've been ignorant of God's way of doing and being right for a long time, which has led to our being in violation of them and their inability to protect us.
Many have focused solely on the things of the flesh and have ignored the things of the Spirit. We are to abstain from the sins of the flesh, but we're to govern our lives by the Spirit, according to Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) which says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation, no adjudging guilty of wrong for those who are in Christ Jesus; who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit For while the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, the Law of our new being, has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
This is the Law of our new being. We're now citizens of a different Kingdom and the Laws of that Kingdom protect us while we're here on earth. It's not you who is wrong, but this realm that is wrong. These Laws or God's way of doing and being right, supersede the laws of this world and if we walk in them, then the Law of Sin and Death has no hold on us. If we allow the flesh to dictate to you, then it will convince you that you're only "just human and still an old sinner." If you allow the Spirit to dictate to you, then He will tell you who you really are. In America today, we still hold onto our origin and national past. We are Spanish Americans, African Americans, Italian Americans, Chinese Americans and so forth. We have a difficult time breaking the old nature, in which we were born.
America remains divided, because we cling to these old identities, instead of realizing we're all Americans. The Word says, "A house divided cannot stand." We're more faithful to our own cultures, than to the nation. Satan uses the same principle that keeps America divided, to keep the Laws of the Kingdom from protecting and functioning for us here.
The Church has had an identity crisis for a long time. We're torn between the weakness of the flesh and the strength of the Spirit. We've centered more on the dictates of the flesh and have identified with it, which prevents the new Law from working.
If the person from Ireland comes to America and continues driving on the wrong side of the road, then that person will constantly be in trouble. The laws or rules of the road don't work to his/her advantage or protection. We must make up our minds, which laws are right. If God's Word doesn't work for someone else, doesn't mean His Word isn't true. God's Word is more True, than someone's testimony. It's not true, because someone said so. It's Spirit and Truth, because God said so.
We can drive on the correct side of the road or we can ignore the laws. If you drive on the wrong side of the road and crash your car, then it's not someone else's fault. It's not America's job to change the law for you, but it's your job to change your way of driving. If you refuse to follow America's law of driving on the right side of the road, then it could result in a crash, ticket, revoking of your driver's license or the death or others and yourself. You must either change your way of doing or stop driving.
Many believers have stopped driving and let someone else do their driving, but this isn't the answer. This leads to you're being unable to go anywhere, unless someone can drive you. 1John 2:7-8, 9-10 (Amplified) says, "Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the Message which you have heard, the doctrine of salvation through Christ. Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is True, is realized in Him and in you, because the darkness (moral blindness) is clearing away and the True Light (the Revelation of God in Christ) is already shining."
John continues in Verse 9, telling us what happens when we're driving on the wrong side of the road. Thus, he writes, "Whoever says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother Christian (born-again child of God his Father), is in darkness even until now."
John writes about being on the right side of the road in Verse 10 saying, "Whoever loves his brother believer abides (lives) in the Light, and in it or in Him there is no occasion for stumbling or cause for error or sin."
The Cardinal Law is there to protect us and uphold us in this realm of our lives. When we obey that Law, we fulfill all the other Laws. The first Law that must be fulfilled is, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His way of doing and being right." We must learn to love not only God, but obey His way of doing and being right. If we don't do that, then our love isn't real, but is manufactured by religion.
When we continue trying to live by the Law of Moses, then we nullify and make the Laws of the Kingdom void. The Law of Moses is works, not Grace. When we try living under the Laws of Moses, then we're driving on the wrong side of the road. When we live under the Law, then we negate the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus and set ourselves up for failure, condemnation and guilt. No man has ever fulfilled the Law of Moses, except Jesus.
Jesus told us 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." If you are in Christ Jesus, then God views you as having completed and fulfilled the Law too. If you continue trying to fulfill the Law on your own, then you're placing yourself under the Curse of the Law too, because you're unable to fulfill the Law on your own. Trying to live under the Law, is like driving on the wrong side of the road and will lead to wrecks, revoking of your license, or worse. It's not because "God did it," but because we ignored the new Kingdom Laws of which we're now from. The Law of Moses is still a law and it still works, but we must learn to follow the Law of our new being. In it we will find Blessing, if we get on the right side of the road.
Monday, December 10, 2018
Friday, December 7, 2018
Lesson 117 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 John 8:9 (Amplified), we see the True Identity of God our Father is revealed to His family, through Jesus. Thus, it says, "Then they said to [Jesus], Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me, if you knew Me, you would know My Father also."
Keep this scripture in mind, while reading the New Testament and realize that GOd deals with us differently than He dealt with those under the old covenant. Don't get caught up in trying to walk and live under the Law. We are God's Own children, who live by faith and Grace. This is the Truth that comes through Jesus, according to Romans 4:13 (Amplified), which 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." In Romans 4:16 (Amplified), Paul states this Truth, "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."
If we were still under Law, this Promise would only be to those descendants, but under Grace, it's guaranteed TO ALL who are descendants by Grace. Jesus told His followers in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
The Kingdom of God and His way of doing and being right, is something we need to seek after, "first of all." God Kingdom (the Kingdom of Heaven) has a way of operating, that cannot and does not change. God will not alter His Word or His Kingdom, even for us. God's Word is "forever settled in Heaven," according to Psalm 119:89,130 (Amplified) which says, "Forever O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven, stands firm as the Heavens." Verse 130 tells us, "The entrance and unfolding of Your Word gives Light; their unfolding gives understand, discernment and comprehension to the simple."
Isaiah 1:18-19 (Amplified) says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." It's difficult to be willing and obedient, if you don't know how the Kingdom operates or what we're to be obedient to. This might sound strange to some, but if we're not operating in God's way of doing and being right, then we're not obedient.
God's Kingdom operates on faith and faith alone. We can't work our way into God's Blessing and Promise. We must by faith, simply accept them, by faith in His Word. We've been trying to get to "Heaven to move," by our works, when Heaven has already moved by what Jesus has already done. All of God's Promises operate by faith in Jesus' Finished Word. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "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."
Isaiah 55:8-9 (Amplified) tells us, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." This is why we are to "seek first God's way of doing and being right." God has a way that His Kingdom runs. We're to seek out His ways from God's Word and then walk in that. Jesus had no problem walking in the Promises, because He was always in the Temple, learning and understanding God's ways. Paul walked in the ways of God and knew that God's ways were higher than Saul's ways. When Paul reasoned with God with God's reasoning, he realized that the Law was no longer relevant, but it was now Grace, even to the Gentiles.
Few understood Paul, because he did things by God's way of doing and being right. God's Kingdom isn't some confused, unorthodox Spiritual Land, where we will float around on clouds. God's Kingdom (which we're now a part), has rules, laws, and governments that aren't run by majority rule. God's government rests on the shoulders of Jesus and the shoulders are in the Body. We need to learn the government of God's Kingdom and walk in it. In Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare improper and unlawful on earth, must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth, must be what is already permitted in Heaven."
When you seek first of all God and His way of doing and being right and God's Kingdom, then all of these things besides will be added unto you, according to Matthew 6:33. It's been easier for believers to
In John 8:9 (Amplified), we see the True Identity of God our Father is revealed to His family, through Jesus. Thus, it says, "Then they said to [Jesus], Where is this Father of Yours? Jesus answered, You know My Father as little as you know Me, if you knew Me, you would know My Father also."
Keep this scripture in mind, while reading the New Testament and realize that GOd deals with us differently than He dealt with those under the old covenant. Don't get caught up in trying to walk and live under the Law. We are God's Own children, who live by faith and Grace. This is the Truth that comes through Jesus, according to Romans 4:13 (Amplified), which 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." In Romans 4:16 (Amplified), Paul states this Truth, "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."
If we were still under Law, this Promise would only be to those descendants, but under Grace, it's guaranteed TO ALL who are descendants by Grace. Jesus told His followers in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
The Kingdom of God and His way of doing and being right, is something we need to seek after, "first of all." God Kingdom (the Kingdom of Heaven) has a way of operating, that cannot and does not change. God will not alter His Word or His Kingdom, even for us. God's Word is "forever settled in Heaven," according to Psalm 119:89,130 (Amplified) which says, "Forever O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven, stands firm as the Heavens." Verse 130 tells us, "The entrance and unfolding of Your Word gives Light; their unfolding gives understand, discernment and comprehension to the simple."
Isaiah 1:18-19 (Amplified) says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins be like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land." It's difficult to be willing and obedient, if you don't know how the Kingdom operates or what we're to be obedient to. This might sound strange to some, but if we're not operating in God's way of doing and being right, then we're not obedient.
God's Kingdom operates on faith and faith alone. We can't work our way into God's Blessing and Promise. We must by faith, simply accept them, by faith in His Word. We've been trying to get to "Heaven to move," by our works, when Heaven has already moved by what Jesus has already done. All of God's Promises operate by faith in Jesus' Finished Word. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "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."
Isaiah 55:8-9 (Amplified) tells us, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts." This is why we are to "seek first God's way of doing and being right." God has a way that His Kingdom runs. We're to seek out His ways from God's Word and then walk in that. Jesus had no problem walking in the Promises, because He was always in the Temple, learning and understanding God's ways. Paul walked in the ways of God and knew that God's ways were higher than Saul's ways. When Paul reasoned with God with God's reasoning, he realized that the Law was no longer relevant, but it was now Grace, even to the Gentiles.
Few understood Paul, because he did things by God's way of doing and being right. God's Kingdom isn't some confused, unorthodox Spiritual Land, where we will float around on clouds. God's Kingdom (which we're now a part), has rules, laws, and governments that aren't run by majority rule. God's government rests on the shoulders of Jesus and the shoulders are in the Body. We need to learn the government of God's Kingdom and walk in it. In Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare improper and unlawful on earth, must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth, must be what is already permitted in Heaven."
When you seek first of all God and His way of doing and being right and God's Kingdom, then all of these things besides will be added unto you, according to Matthew 6:33. It's been easier for believers to
Lesson 120 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 favor upon favor and even 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 Spiritual Blessing talked about in the above scripture, begins with the Promise of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has now come into our lives and we have the Spiritual Blessings that couldn't be given to us, while we were spiritually dead in sin and trespasses. Paul writes in Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified), "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being), has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
We know that "the life is in the blood" and that when the blood ceases to flow in any creature (including mankind), that creature dies. We read about the first Passover in Exodus, where death had to pass over the homes where the Israelites covered the entrance of their homes with the blood of the lamb. The blood signified that death has come for all that were in the house, but the destroyer had to pass over that home. The Law of Sin and Death (where sin was-death had rule) required that the blood of an animal was needed to temporarily put-off death.
The Lord Jesus appeared to Paul in 1Corinthians 11:25-26 (Amplified) and instructed Paul to tell the Church this, "Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant, ratified and established in My Blood, Do this, as often as you drink it, to call Me affectionately to remembrance. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes again."
We take the cup of remembrance at communion, in order to continue remembering that by Jesus' Blood (His death), every requirement in the Law of Sin and Death has been met. Jesus made a declaration to the destroyer, that we're off limits to this Law. We don't do this, in order to remind the Lord, because He never forgets. It's not to remind the destroyer either, because he doesn't forget. We, however, do forget and thus, we take communion. The dictates of the flesh tell us that, "We don't deserve protection, but by the dictates of the Spirit, we're reminded that Grace has given us what we do not deserve.
This is the main thing that Romans 8:1 is saying to us. The Law of Sin and Death has met all the requirements in Jesus Christ and everyone who is in Him, has been set apart from the destroyer. The flesh will try telling you that, "You deserve to be destroyed," but if you'll allow the Spirit to dictate to you, then you can always know when taking communion, that Jesus met all the requirements of that Law.
Paul goes on in 1Corinthians 11:29-30 (Amplified), to remind us that when we take communion, while continuing to feel like we should be punished for our sins, then we eat and drink unworthy and have no faith in our Lamb. Thus, he writes, "For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that it is Christ's Body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment), upon himself. That careless and unworthy participation is the reason many of you are weak and sickly and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death."
This dictate is under the Laws that govern Heaven and the spirit world. When we observe the Law of faith and the Law of the Spirit of Life, which is in Christ Jesus, which is the Law of our new being, then we're signifying our observance of the dictates of the Spirit. We know and signify, that we're free of the Law of Sin and Death.
Of course we don't deserve it, but this is what Grace has done for us. Grace has granted to us, that which is unearned and undeserved, the freedom from the Law of Sin and Death. We've misunderstood the Laws that govern the Spirit realm. Even the unclean spirits must abide by these Laws. We've made taking the cup of His Blood, a tradition, instead of Truth.
God's Word tells us that we "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of spirit forces in the spirit realm." The destroyer doesn't care about our fleshly rituals, but only the Truth of the cup of the blood remembrance. Taking this cup doesn't only serve to remind us, but serves notice to the destroyer that we understand the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus and the power of it. Everything we've done is under the Blood of Jesus Christ and the Law of Sin and Death no longer applies to us.
This stand of faith in the Blood of Christ, is one of the most misunderstood and misused laws that govern the Church. Our flesh keeps reminding us about our natural man, but the Spirit keeps reminding us of our new creation being. Whichever one we listen to, determines whether or not the destroyer has place in our lives. According to Jesus' Message to Paul, this is why so many are weak, sick and dead before their time.
Jesus told His followers in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after), first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." God's way of doing and being right, is based on the Spiritual Laws that govern the Spirit realm. Man's idea of communion says, "Don't drink if there is sin in your life," but God's idea of communion is, "This is to remind you that there is no sin in your life."
Does this mean that if I have done something wrong, then the Blood still covers me? The answer to this question is, "Yes." You couldn't be in sin, anymore than when you first received Jesus and the Blood made you off-limits to the destroyer even then. If you've committed sin, then at least be spiritual enough to know that the Blood of Jesus is still cleansing and protecting you. If you do sin now that you're saved, then it's none of the destroyer's business. It's only between you and your Heavenly Father and He will deal with you, by the Kingdom Laws of faith.
We're supposed to be under the Kingdom rule, of our Father. What we do now, is of no use to the destroyer. Sin is not what brings sickness, weakness or premature death to the child of God, but it's our not understanding the Laws governing the Kingdom and it's King, that bring these things. We are supposed to remember His death, when taking the cup.
We've spent a lifetime, trying to govern the flesh-by the flesh. We've made up rules and man-made laws, in order to stop the flesh from doing wrong. Even the Law of Moses did this. We operate in a much higher Law than the old covenant. We live by and through the Law of the Spirit of Life, which is in Christ Jesus. This Law comes through the Holy Spirit and the Word of Truth, into our new creation spirit. We build and strengthen our spirit, through the Holy Spirit and God's Word, whereby we contain the lusts of the flesh, by being strong in the Lord and His Might.
We cannot overcome the flesh, by the flesh. This is man-made religion and has no profit in it, according to John 6:63 (Amplified) where Jesus says, "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." We are to rule the flesh, by the spirit and not by the flesh. The man-made laws of religion, only lead to more condemnation and guilt, which overflows to opening the door to the destroyer. Remember what Paul said in 1Corinthians 11:30 (Amplified), "This careless and unworthy participation is the reason any of you (in the Church) are weak, and sickly and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death." We must believe the Word and not the flesh. Remind yourself that, "By the Blood of Christ Jesus, you're off-limits to the Law of Sin and Death and the destroyer."
The Spiritual Blessing talked about in the above scripture, begins with the Promise of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has now come into our lives and we have the Spiritual Blessings that couldn't be given to us, while we were spiritually dead in sin and trespasses. Paul writes in Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified), "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being), has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
We know that "the life is in the blood" and that when the blood ceases to flow in any creature (including mankind), that creature dies. We read about the first Passover in Exodus, where death had to pass over the homes where the Israelites covered the entrance of their homes with the blood of the lamb. The blood signified that death has come for all that were in the house, but the destroyer had to pass over that home. The Law of Sin and Death (where sin was-death had rule) required that the blood of an animal was needed to temporarily put-off death.
The Lord Jesus appeared to Paul in 1Corinthians 11:25-26 (Amplified) and instructed Paul to tell the Church this, "Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant, ratified and established in My Blood, Do this, as often as you drink it, to call Me affectionately to remembrance. For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes again."
We take the cup of remembrance at communion, in order to continue remembering that by Jesus' Blood (His death), every requirement in the Law of Sin and Death has been met. Jesus made a declaration to the destroyer, that we're off limits to this Law. We don't do this, in order to remind the Lord, because He never forgets. It's not to remind the destroyer either, because he doesn't forget. We, however, do forget and thus, we take communion. The dictates of the flesh tell us that, "We don't deserve protection, but by the dictates of the Spirit, we're reminded that Grace has given us what we do not deserve.
This is the main thing that Romans 8:1 is saying to us. The Law of Sin and Death has met all the requirements in Jesus Christ and everyone who is in Him, has been set apart from the destroyer. The flesh will try telling you that, "You deserve to be destroyed," but if you'll allow the Spirit to dictate to you, then you can always know when taking communion, that Jesus met all the requirements of that Law.
Paul goes on in 1Corinthians 11:29-30 (Amplified), to remind us that when we take communion, while continuing to feel like we should be punished for our sins, then we eat and drink unworthy and have no faith in our Lamb. Thus, he writes, "For anyone who eats and drinks without discriminating and recognizing with due appreciation that it is Christ's Body, eats and drinks a sentence (a verdict of judgment), upon himself. That careless and unworthy participation is the reason many of you are weak and sickly and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death."
This dictate is under the Laws that govern Heaven and the spirit world. When we observe the Law of faith and the Law of the Spirit of Life, which is in Christ Jesus, which is the Law of our new being, then we're signifying our observance of the dictates of the Spirit. We know and signify, that we're free of the Law of Sin and Death.
Of course we don't deserve it, but this is what Grace has done for us. Grace has granted to us, that which is unearned and undeserved, the freedom from the Law of Sin and Death. We've misunderstood the Laws that govern the Spirit realm. Even the unclean spirits must abide by these Laws. We've made taking the cup of His Blood, a tradition, instead of Truth.
God's Word tells us that we "wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers of spirit forces in the spirit realm." The destroyer doesn't care about our fleshly rituals, but only the Truth of the cup of the blood remembrance. Taking this cup doesn't only serve to remind us, but serves notice to the destroyer that we understand the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus and the power of it. Everything we've done is under the Blood of Jesus Christ and the Law of Sin and Death no longer applies to us.
This stand of faith in the Blood of Christ, is one of the most misunderstood and misused laws that govern the Church. Our flesh keeps reminding us about our natural man, but the Spirit keeps reminding us of our new creation being. Whichever one we listen to, determines whether or not the destroyer has place in our lives. According to Jesus' Message to Paul, this is why so many are weak, sick and dead before their time.
Jesus told His followers in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after), first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." God's way of doing and being right, is based on the Spiritual Laws that govern the Spirit realm. Man's idea of communion says, "Don't drink if there is sin in your life," but God's idea of communion is, "This is to remind you that there is no sin in your life."
Does this mean that if I have done something wrong, then the Blood still covers me? The answer to this question is, "Yes." You couldn't be in sin, anymore than when you first received Jesus and the Blood made you off-limits to the destroyer even then. If you've committed sin, then at least be spiritual enough to know that the Blood of Jesus is still cleansing and protecting you. If you do sin now that you're saved, then it's none of the destroyer's business. It's only between you and your Heavenly Father and He will deal with you, by the Kingdom Laws of faith.
We're supposed to be under the Kingdom rule, of our Father. What we do now, is of no use to the destroyer. Sin is not what brings sickness, weakness or premature death to the child of God, but it's our not understanding the Laws governing the Kingdom and it's King, that bring these things. We are supposed to remember His death, when taking the cup.
We've spent a lifetime, trying to govern the flesh-by the flesh. We've made up rules and man-made laws, in order to stop the flesh from doing wrong. Even the Law of Moses did this. We operate in a much higher Law than the old covenant. We live by and through the Law of the Spirit of Life, which is in Christ Jesus. This Law comes through the Holy Spirit and the Word of Truth, into our new creation spirit. We build and strengthen our spirit, through the Holy Spirit and God's Word, whereby we contain the lusts of the flesh, by being strong in the Lord and His Might.
We cannot overcome the flesh, by the flesh. This is man-made religion and has no profit in it, according to John 6:63 (Amplified) where Jesus says, "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." We are to rule the flesh, by the spirit and not by the flesh. The man-made laws of religion, only lead to more condemnation and guilt, which overflows to opening the door to the destroyer. Remember what Paul said in 1Corinthians 11:30 (Amplified), "This careless and unworthy participation is the reason any of you (in the Church) are weak, and sickly and quite enough of you have fallen into the sleep of death." We must believe the Word and not the flesh. Remind yourself that, "By the Blood of Christ Jesus, you're off-limits to the Law of Sin and Death and the destroyer."
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Lesson 119 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."
As we unwrap Christmas this year, let's see what was delivered to us, through this Gift of salvation. We read the phrase, "In Him," many times throughout the New Testament, so let's see exactly what we received In Him. If God's Word is true (and we know that it is), then let's look into what the Father Promised to us, In Him. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) tells us, "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."
The above scripture shows us the fulfillment of all God's Promises to us, came to us in Christ Jesus. This leaves nothing out, that God Promised to us from Genesis to Revelations. These Promises aren't contingent on the Law, performance or works, but on faith and trust in God's Word through Jesus. This is why faith is so important to the child of God today. We've learned so many errant things and unlearning them can be difficult. Paul tells us we must renew our minds, in Romans 12:2 (Amplified) saying, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age), fashioned after and adapted to it's external superficial customs, but be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideals and its new attitude, so that you may prove for yourself what is the Good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is Good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you."
God's Good will is that everyone should be saved and none should perish. His acceptable will is that we're perfect or mature, like He is perfect or mature. If you're born-again, then you're in the will of God. In Him now, we're called to grow up into the place where we know His will for our lives. You can't do this for another person, but you can do it for yourself and prove for yourself what is His will for you.
It's God's will that, "Whosoever believes in and trusts in Jesus should not perish, but have eternal Life," according to John 3:16. This is God's will for the world. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave, thirst for, earnestly desire, the pure unadulterated Spiritual milk (the Word) that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto complete salvation."
Many Christians have never developed beyond the baby stage, because we've been content to let someone else prepare our bottles and feed us, instead of earnestly desiring the Spiritual milk for ourselves. Every baby needs someone to care for and nurture them into maturity, but every baby will grow into adulthood and bring forth responsibility of their own. Thank God for the five-fold ministry that Jesus gave to the Church, but Paul writes in Ephesians 4:12-13,14 (Amplified), "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, 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." Paul goes on in Verse 14, saying, "So then, we may no longer be children, tossed like ships, to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, the prey of the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, gamblers engaged in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead."
Since God gave us teachers, I assume He intends for us to learn. Since we're to learn, like our school days, our teachers assigned homework. In other words, the teachers weren't going to do this for us. Many today only learn from Sunday morning services and have never studied to show themselves approved. They don't know whether the teaching is right or wrong. The five-fold ministry doesn't take the place of the Holy Spirit as our Teacher.
Teachers in school can only teach a class in general. They cannot teach each student according to their vocation in life. It's left up to each student to pursue his or her education, as they progress in life. Many choose to continue their education, beyond high school, to prepare for their future careers. The Church has pastors and teachers who can bring us to a place in God, that is His Good and even acceptable will. We're the only ones who can bring ourselves to the place of being in God's perfect will. When we learn to listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit and walk in His Wisdom, we can become vessels to be used by the Master. God would use anyone and everyone, if we would only learn to hear His Voice.
We read about a man named Ananias in Acts 9:10-11 (Amplified) which says, "Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias, and he answered; Here am I Lord. And the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying there."
We don't read anything about Ananias before or after this meeting with God, but he was obviously a man who spent time with the Master. He didn't just hear God, but he obeyed God. This didn't come from just going to Church on Sundays, but came from spending time and doing his homework. I don't know who Ananias was, but God knew him and he knew God. If was the only time God used Ananias, then he was instrumental in bringing the greatest Apostle and writer of the New Testament into the Church. The above scripture doesn't tell us that Ananias was an apostle or pastor, but this man spent enough time with the Lord, that he knew and obeyed His Voice.
If you've been reading the beginning scripture of John 1:16-17, then you know that, "we were all given, granted, and Blessed with and supplied with favor, Grace, Truth and Gifts." These things weren't supplied with just "some people," but were supplied to "all" and "all have received these things." What you do with what God has supplied you with, is up to you. God wants to use you in a way you can't even imagine, but He has left that in your hands.
There are many doctrines in today's Church and in the land, with some being right and some not so much. When you know God's Word and His Holy Spirit, then you're responsible to know the real things from the false. 1John 2:27 (Amplified) says, "But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction which you received from Him, abides in you permanently, so then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is True and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in), never depart from Him, being rooted in Him, knit to Him just as His anointing has taught you to do." This doesn't mean you don't need a teacher, but the anointing that you've received from Him, will tell you whether what you're being taught is Truth or it's conformity to this age and world.
Ananias was able to determine if he was hearing from God or not, because of the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. Our spirit, through the Holy Spirit, bears witness to the Truth. Much of what we're hearing today from the world and religion, is conformity and compromise. You're called by the Holy Spirit to know the difference. No preacher can take the place of our individual fellowship with the Father and the Word. We must let Him teach and determine what we hear and accept. This doesn't mean you're to be a "Lone Ranger Christian," but you don't have to follow the broad and wide patch that leads to destruction either. You've part of the Body of Christ and each part has a place in which to operate, as it's called. You might not think you're an important part of the Body, like the heart, but it only takes one tiny vein or artery to become plugged and stop the heart. Be who God has called you to be and you'll be in the perfect will of God.
As we unwrap Christmas this year, let's see what was delivered to us, through this Gift of salvation. We read the phrase, "In Him," many times throughout the New Testament, so let's see exactly what we received In Him. If God's Word is true (and we know that it is), then let's look into what the Father Promised to us, In Him. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) tells us, "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."
The above scripture shows us the fulfillment of all God's Promises to us, came to us in Christ Jesus. This leaves nothing out, that God Promised to us from Genesis to Revelations. These Promises aren't contingent on the Law, performance or works, but on faith and trust in God's Word through Jesus. This is why faith is so important to the child of God today. We've learned so many errant things and unlearning them can be difficult. Paul tells us we must renew our minds, in Romans 12:2 (Amplified) saying, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age), fashioned after and adapted to it's external superficial customs, but be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideals and its new attitude, so that you may prove for yourself what is the Good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is Good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you."
God's Good will is that everyone should be saved and none should perish. His acceptable will is that we're perfect or mature, like He is perfect or mature. If you're born-again, then you're in the will of God. In Him now, we're called to grow up into the place where we know His will for our lives. You can't do this for another person, but you can do it for yourself and prove for yourself what is His will for you.
It's God's will that, "Whosoever believes in and trusts in Jesus should not perish, but have eternal Life," according to John 3:16. This is God's will for the world. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave, thirst for, earnestly desire, the pure unadulterated Spiritual milk (the Word) that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto complete salvation."
Many Christians have never developed beyond the baby stage, because we've been content to let someone else prepare our bottles and feed us, instead of earnestly desiring the Spiritual milk for ourselves. Every baby needs someone to care for and nurture them into maturity, but every baby will grow into adulthood and bring forth responsibility of their own. Thank God for the five-fold ministry that Jesus gave to the Church, but Paul writes in Ephesians 4:12-13,14 (Amplified), "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, 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." Paul goes on in Verse 14, saying, "So then, we may no longer be children, tossed like ships, to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, the prey of the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, gamblers engaged in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead."
Since God gave us teachers, I assume He intends for us to learn. Since we're to learn, like our school days, our teachers assigned homework. In other words, the teachers weren't going to do this for us. Many today only learn from Sunday morning services and have never studied to show themselves approved. They don't know whether the teaching is right or wrong. The five-fold ministry doesn't take the place of the Holy Spirit as our Teacher.
Teachers in school can only teach a class in general. They cannot teach each student according to their vocation in life. It's left up to each student to pursue his or her education, as they progress in life. Many choose to continue their education, beyond high school, to prepare for their future careers. The Church has pastors and teachers who can bring us to a place in God, that is His Good and even acceptable will. We're the only ones who can bring ourselves to the place of being in God's perfect will. When we learn to listen to the Voice of the Holy Spirit and walk in His Wisdom, we can become vessels to be used by the Master. God would use anyone and everyone, if we would only learn to hear His Voice.
We read about a man named Ananias in Acts 9:10-11 (Amplified) which says, "Now there was in Damascus a disciple named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias, and he answered; Here am I Lord. And the Lord said to him, Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying there."
We don't read anything about Ananias before or after this meeting with God, but he was obviously a man who spent time with the Master. He didn't just hear God, but he obeyed God. This didn't come from just going to Church on Sundays, but came from spending time and doing his homework. I don't know who Ananias was, but God knew him and he knew God. If was the only time God used Ananias, then he was instrumental in bringing the greatest Apostle and writer of the New Testament into the Church. The above scripture doesn't tell us that Ananias was an apostle or pastor, but this man spent enough time with the Lord, that he knew and obeyed His Voice.
If you've been reading the beginning scripture of John 1:16-17, then you know that, "we were all given, granted, and Blessed with and supplied with favor, Grace, Truth and Gifts." These things weren't supplied with just "some people," but were supplied to "all" and "all have received these things." What you do with what God has supplied you with, is up to you. God wants to use you in a way you can't even imagine, but He has left that in your hands.
There are many doctrines in today's Church and in the land, with some being right and some not so much. When you know God's Word and His Holy Spirit, then you're responsible to know the real things from the false. 1John 2:27 (Amplified) says, "But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction which you received from Him, abides in you permanently, so then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is True and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in), never depart from Him, being rooted in Him, knit to Him just as His anointing has taught you to do." This doesn't mean you don't need a teacher, but the anointing that you've received from Him, will tell you whether what you're being taught is Truth or it's conformity to this age and world.
Ananias was able to determine if he was hearing from God or not, because of the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. Our spirit, through the Holy Spirit, bears witness to the Truth. Much of what we're hearing today from the world and religion, is conformity and compromise. You're called by the Holy Spirit to know the difference. No preacher can take the place of our individual fellowship with the Father and the Word. We must let Him teach and determine what we hear and accept. This doesn't mean you're to be a "Lone Ranger Christian," but you don't have to follow the broad and wide patch that leads to destruction either. You've part of the Body of Christ and each part has a place in which to operate, as it's called. You might not think you're an important part of the Body, like the heart, but it only takes one tiny vein or artery to become plugged and stop the heart. Be who God has called you to be and you'll be in the perfect will of God.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Lesson 118 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."
Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." The laws established in God's Kingdom, are certain and unchangeable in God. When you understand the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven, you will bring God into your life and live according to them here on earth. When we arrive at our final destination (Heaven), these laws will become automatic.
In order to function as citizens of God's Kingdom while we're here on earth, we must operate in His way of doing and being right. These are Kingdom laws, which supersede the natural laws of earth. Jesus said in Matthew 18:18, that "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in Heaven." Most of us have tried doing this, with no results and we gave up on "binding and loosing."
This isn't some experiment that we do, to see if it works. When we know we have authority over the things we're binding and loosing, then we can be successful in our walk with the Father. Jesus says in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified), "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven."
Luke 13:11-12,16 (Amplified) tells us, "And there was a woman there who for eighteen years had had an infirmity caused by a spirit (a demon of sickness). She was bent completely forward and utterly unable to straighten herself up or to look forward. And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, Woman, you are released from your infirmity." Verse 16 tells us that the scribes and pharisees complained about Jesus healing this woman on the Sabbath, saying, "Jesus said to those around Him, And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom satan has kept bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"
Jesus recognized that the bondage this woman suffered, wasn't permitted by the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven and therefore, what Jesus loosed , what what was already loosed and declared unlawful in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus knew that the demon of sickness was unlawful in the Kingdom of Heaven. Knowing this, Jesus could lawfully this woman and could have faith in the act too. When Jesus moved by God's way of doing and being right, He had faith and power to bring this act to pass.
Today, we've been taught that, "Sometimes, God is the One Who binds people, in order to teach them something." When we don't understand the laws of the Kingdom of God, then we can only "hope it will work." Jesus said in Luke 11:20-22 (Amplified), "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has already come upon you. When the strong man, fully armed from his courtyard, guards his own dwelling, his belongings are undisturbed, his property is at peace and is secure. But when one stronger than he attacks him and conquers him, he robs him of his whole armor on which he had relied and divides up and distributes all his goods as plunder (spoil)."
The King James Version describes the same incident as "binding the strong man." We know that the stronger than he, who binds him, is God. So, according to the laws that govern the Kingdom, this one that was guarding his good, was the devil and Jesus had the right to bind him and spoil his goods. Looking again to Matthew 18:18, the one who was holding the goods, was holding them illegally and was therefore bound on earth, by following the laws of the Kingdom (God's way of doing and being right).
Jesus teaches about Light, in Luke 11:34-36 (Amplified) saying, "Your eye is the lamp of your body, when your eye (your conscience) is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body is full of light. But when it is not sound and is not fulfilling its office, your body is full of darkness. Be careful, therefore that the light that is in you is not darkness. If your entire body is illuminated (having no part dark), it will be wholly bright with light, as when a lamp with its bright rays gives you light."
The Psalmist writes in Psalm 119:130 (Amplified), "The entrance and unfolding of Your Words give light; their unfolding gives understanding, discernment and comprehension to the simple." Christians have somehow allowed the dark to come into us, by different teachings we've received. Many believers don't know what is of God and what is not of God. This is darkness that has crept into the Church over the years. How great is this darkness? Psalm 119:113 (Amplified) says, "I hate the thoughts of undecided in religion (double-minded people), but Your Law do I love."
We've mixed Law and Grace together, resulting with neither working according to the covenant of God's family. Most of us believe the Truth that, we are saved by Grace, but continue teaching and trying to walk by Law. Many are unsure whether sickness is permitted in the Kingdom of Heaven or is God still using the Law to teach those under Grace. We don't seem to have a clear light or eye, when it comes to knowing the rules and laws of God's Kingdom, which we are now part of. If it is God's will in Heaven, then Jesus taught us to pray, "His will be done also on earth." Is this the way we think the Kingdom of God will work for all of eternity?
The Psalmist asks, "If your eye be dark, then how great is your darkness?" Jesus taught in Matthew 4:23-24 (Amplified), "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear, will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you, and more besides will be given to you who hear."
There are laws that govern Heaven and God's Kingdom, which we need to know and understand. Romans 8:1,2 (Amplified) tells us that there are two laws we must know and adhere to, saying, "Therefore there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictate of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." If you're allowing the flesh to dictate according to how you walked before being born-again, then your flesh will keep you under condemnation. If you're listening to the Spirit of God, through your spirit, then the Holy Spirit will no longer condemn you. Verse 2 says, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, the Law of our new being has freed me from the Law of Sin and Death."
The Law of our new being in Christ Jesus, is the law of the Kingdom of God. These laws are put into place, in the life of the true believer, by the Law of faith. Romans 3:27 (Amplified) tells us, "What then becomes of our pride and boasting? It is excluded (banished, ruled out entirely). On what principle? On the principle of doing good deeds? No! but on the principle of faith." The King James Version says, "By the Law of faith," instead of the principle of faith. The word, "faith," according to The Strong's Concordance #3551, means, "Usage, regulations or fig. a principle." The Law of faith is one of the laws or principles that govern Heaven.
Faith isn't some man-made teaching in today's Church, but it's one of the main laws that govern God's Kingdom (of which we belong). This has nothing to do with man-made laws or regulations found in the Church. It's a Heavenly law, by which we receive from our inheritance. Let's carefully read Romans 4:16 (Amplified) again, which says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it may be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants." The law of faith is vitally important for God's children. We received the Gift of salvation, by this Kingdom law of faith.
Our healing, righteousness, cleansing from sin, acceptance as God's children, our eternal home and our very life are received by faith. God's Word tells us that, "The just shall live by faith." Everything we receive from the Father, comes by faith. Jesus said we're to "Know and seek after first of all God and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right)," in Matthew 6:33. We're made righteous, by faith. God's way of doing and being right (or righteous), can only come by the law of faith.
Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." The laws established in God's Kingdom, are certain and unchangeable in God. When you understand the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven, you will bring God into your life and live according to them here on earth. When we arrive at our final destination (Heaven), these laws will become automatic.
In order to function as citizens of God's Kingdom while we're here on earth, we must operate in His way of doing and being right. These are Kingdom laws, which supersede the natural laws of earth. Jesus said in Matthew 18:18, that "Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in Heaven." Most of us have tried doing this, with no results and we gave up on "binding and loosing."
This isn't some experiment that we do, to see if it works. When we know we have authority over the things we're binding and loosing, then we can be successful in our walk with the Father. Jesus says in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified), "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven."
Luke 13:11-12,16 (Amplified) tells us, "And there was a woman there who for eighteen years had had an infirmity caused by a spirit (a demon of sickness). She was bent completely forward and utterly unable to straighten herself up or to look forward. And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, Woman, you are released from your infirmity." Verse 16 tells us that the scribes and pharisees complained about Jesus healing this woman on the Sabbath, saying, "Jesus said to those around Him, And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom satan has kept bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"
Jesus recognized that the bondage this woman suffered, wasn't permitted by the laws of the Kingdom of Heaven and therefore, what Jesus loosed , what what was already loosed and declared unlawful in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus knew that the demon of sickness was unlawful in the Kingdom of Heaven. Knowing this, Jesus could lawfully this woman and could have faith in the act too. When Jesus moved by God's way of doing and being right, He had faith and power to bring this act to pass.
Today, we've been taught that, "Sometimes, God is the One Who binds people, in order to teach them something." When we don't understand the laws of the Kingdom of God, then we can only "hope it will work." Jesus said in Luke 11:20-22 (Amplified), "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has already come upon you. When the strong man, fully armed from his courtyard, guards his own dwelling, his belongings are undisturbed, his property is at peace and is secure. But when one stronger than he attacks him and conquers him, he robs him of his whole armor on which he had relied and divides up and distributes all his goods as plunder (spoil)."
The King James Version describes the same incident as "binding the strong man." We know that the stronger than he, who binds him, is God. So, according to the laws that govern the Kingdom, this one that was guarding his good, was the devil and Jesus had the right to bind him and spoil his goods. Looking again to Matthew 18:18, the one who was holding the goods, was holding them illegally and was therefore bound on earth, by following the laws of the Kingdom (God's way of doing and being right).
Jesus teaches about Light, in Luke 11:34-36 (Amplified) saying, "Your eye is the lamp of your body, when your eye (your conscience) is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body is full of light. But when it is not sound and is not fulfilling its office, your body is full of darkness. Be careful, therefore that the light that is in you is not darkness. If your entire body is illuminated (having no part dark), it will be wholly bright with light, as when a lamp with its bright rays gives you light."
The Psalmist writes in Psalm 119:130 (Amplified), "The entrance and unfolding of Your Words give light; their unfolding gives understanding, discernment and comprehension to the simple." Christians have somehow allowed the dark to come into us, by different teachings we've received. Many believers don't know what is of God and what is not of God. This is darkness that has crept into the Church over the years. How great is this darkness? Psalm 119:113 (Amplified) says, "I hate the thoughts of undecided in religion (double-minded people), but Your Law do I love."
We've mixed Law and Grace together, resulting with neither working according to the covenant of God's family. Most of us believe the Truth that, we are saved by Grace, but continue teaching and trying to walk by Law. Many are unsure whether sickness is permitted in the Kingdom of Heaven or is God still using the Law to teach those under Grace. We don't seem to have a clear light or eye, when it comes to knowing the rules and laws of God's Kingdom, which we are now part of. If it is God's will in Heaven, then Jesus taught us to pray, "His will be done also on earth." Is this the way we think the Kingdom of God will work for all of eternity?
The Psalmist asks, "If your eye be dark, then how great is your darkness?" Jesus taught in Matthew 4:23-24 (Amplified), "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend. And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure of thought and study you give to the truth you hear, will be the measure of virtue and knowledge that comes back to you, and more besides will be given to you who hear."
There are laws that govern Heaven and God's Kingdom, which we need to know and understand. Romans 8:1,2 (Amplified) tells us that there are two laws we must know and adhere to, saying, "Therefore there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictate of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." If you're allowing the flesh to dictate according to how you walked before being born-again, then your flesh will keep you under condemnation. If you're listening to the Spirit of God, through your spirit, then the Holy Spirit will no longer condemn you. Verse 2 says, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, the Law of our new being has freed me from the Law of Sin and Death."
The Law of our new being in Christ Jesus, is the law of the Kingdom of God. These laws are put into place, in the life of the true believer, by the Law of faith. Romans 3:27 (Amplified) tells us, "What then becomes of our pride and boasting? It is excluded (banished, ruled out entirely). On what principle? On the principle of doing good deeds? No! but on the principle of faith." The King James Version says, "By the Law of faith," instead of the principle of faith. The word, "faith," according to The Strong's Concordance #3551, means, "Usage, regulations or fig. a principle." The Law of faith is one of the laws or principles that govern Heaven.
Faith isn't some man-made teaching in today's Church, but it's one of the main laws that govern God's Kingdom (of which we belong). This has nothing to do with man-made laws or regulations found in the Church. It's a Heavenly law, by which we receive from our inheritance. Let's carefully read Romans 4:16 (Amplified) again, which says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it may be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and valid and guaranteed to all his descendants." The law of faith is vitally important for God's children. We received the Gift of salvation, by this Kingdom law of faith.
Our healing, righteousness, cleansing from sin, acceptance as God's children, our eternal home and our very life are received by faith. God's Word tells us that, "The just shall live by faith." Everything we receive from the Father, comes by faith. Jesus said we're to "Know and seek after first of all God and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right)," in Matthew 6:33. We're made righteous, by faith. God's way of doing and being right (or righteous), can only come by the law of faith.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Lesson 116 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."
When reading about "Spiritual Blessing," many automatically think about our being in Heaven when we receive it. God says that through our Gift of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit we now receive the Blessing of the Spirit, while in this natural body. These Blessings come from the Father into our new creation man, in order to function in the Spirit while we're still on this earth.
None of the Gifts that came through Jesus, are needed when we get to Heaven with the Father, because everything there is already done. I'm not talking specifically about the Gifts of the Spirit in 1Corinthians 12, but we won't have need of them in Heaven either. We won't need the Gifts of healing or the Gift of miracles or any other Gift, in Heaven. I'm speaking here about the "Gifts heaped upon Gift" from John 1:16. We have overlooked the Super-natural in this life, by looking for the spectacular. Most of what God does in our lives, goes unnoticed by many of us.
The Christmas Gift of Jesus Christ has never been unwrapped by those to whom it was sent. We've admired the Gift and adored it, but have never really unwrapped it, in order to find what was inside. God Himself was wrapped in flesh and swaddling clothes, making it possible for Him to walk on this earth as God again. Jesus' earthly Body allowed God Himself to dwell among His family as Father. He could again live and walk in us and be our God and we could be His people.
The Gift we received through Jesus, is the very ability and Presence of God in our natural man. God can reveal Himself to the world, through us. In Him, we live and move and have our being. The Greatest Gift (aside from His Love), is that we now have the Gift of Life. Before Jesus, we were dead in sin and trespass, but now we're alive unto God. We've been restored back into being His very Own children, as the righteousness of God Himself.
All of the Gifts that came in the wrapped Form of Jesus, have now been unwrapped at His Resurrection and given to God's family. For centuries, satan has kept us ignorant of who we have been made to be by the Great Sacrifice of Jesus, causing us to believe it's for when we die and go to Heaven. Death has already come, when we were crucified with Christ and we're now living the Life of the Spirit in Him.
Ephesians 2:5-6 (Amplified) says, "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. And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together, giving us joint seating with Him in the Heavenly sphere, by virtue of our being in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
God sees us now through Jesus, as already being there with Him and He is here with us. We've been dispatched as ambassadors of Christ, into the world. We are Christ's Personal representatives appointed by the Father to reveal Him to the world, like Jesus did. 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) says, "So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We, as Christ's Personal representatives, be you for His sake to lay hold of the Divine favor now offered you and be reconciled to God."
We cannot be sent as ambassadors, unless we have a place to be sent from. In the heart and mind of god, we're already the citizens of Heaven and God's Kingdom. We're sent from God, to reveal His Kingdom here on earth. No one in God's Kingdom is without power and the ability to reveal God in all His Glory. We've been taught to believe that, "If you lead a good life here, then you can go to Heaven when you leave this earth." God says, that "Through Jesus, we are already of His Kingdom, just like Jesus was." God has sent us to reveal Himself and His Kingdom to the world.
Every ambassador is supplied by the kingdom from which they were sent, to complete their task. When America sends ambassadors to other countries, then America supplies them with all they will need to survive and thrive there. The other country doesn't freely feed, house and care for them. God fully intends to supply our need, according to His riches in Glory through and by our Gift of Jesus.
God's Christmas Gift to mankind is much more than we have believed. There was never anything like the new creation people on this earth, before Jesus. We are truly a new creation from another world or Kingdom. We're not those under the Law, who only had the Spirit of God descend upon them for a moment. We now have God's Spirit Living inside our spirit and He has come to abide there forever.
Image what the Old Testament prophets would have been like, if the Holy Spirit lived in them, instead of only coming on them. We're Blessed above all people on earth, because we're not limited to only the jurisdiction of this earthly realm. Our ability is only limited by God's ability and He has not limits. Jesus said that we have eyes, "but we don't see." He said we have ears, "but don't hear." We need to have the eyes of our understanding opened to the full Truth of the Gift heaped upon Gift and allow God to actually Live through us, like He desires.
1John 3:2-3 (Amplified) tells us, "Beloved, we are even here and now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be hereafter, but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall, as God's children, resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him Just as He really is. And everyone that has this hope, resting on Him, cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure, chaste, undefiled, guiltless."
We are called to govern ourselves by the Word and the Spirit of Truth and to put ourselves in a place where God can actually reveal Himself through us, to the world. He has given us the Spirit of Truth and has given us His Word, which is Spirit, to feed our new creation spirit, into maturity and Truth.
If you're born-again, then you shouldn't need someone to tell you what is evil or good, because we have the Spirit of Truth living in us and through us. Don't stop pursuing God, just because someone else has stopped doing so. Delve into the Gift that was given and unwrap it, until you've discovered all the Gifts that this One Gift has provided.
When reading about "Spiritual Blessing," many automatically think about our being in Heaven when we receive it. God says that through our Gift of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit we now receive the Blessing of the Spirit, while in this natural body. These Blessings come from the Father into our new creation man, in order to function in the Spirit while we're still on this earth.
None of the Gifts that came through Jesus, are needed when we get to Heaven with the Father, because everything there is already done. I'm not talking specifically about the Gifts of the Spirit in 1Corinthians 12, but we won't have need of them in Heaven either. We won't need the Gifts of healing or the Gift of miracles or any other Gift, in Heaven. I'm speaking here about the "Gifts heaped upon Gift" from John 1:16. We have overlooked the Super-natural in this life, by looking for the spectacular. Most of what God does in our lives, goes unnoticed by many of us.
The Christmas Gift of Jesus Christ has never been unwrapped by those to whom it was sent. We've admired the Gift and adored it, but have never really unwrapped it, in order to find what was inside. God Himself was wrapped in flesh and swaddling clothes, making it possible for Him to walk on this earth as God again. Jesus' earthly Body allowed God Himself to dwell among His family as Father. He could again live and walk in us and be our God and we could be His people.
The Gift we received through Jesus, is the very ability and Presence of God in our natural man. God can reveal Himself to the world, through us. In Him, we live and move and have our being. The Greatest Gift (aside from His Love), is that we now have the Gift of Life. Before Jesus, we were dead in sin and trespass, but now we're alive unto God. We've been restored back into being His very Own children, as the righteousness of God Himself.
All of the Gifts that came in the wrapped Form of Jesus, have now been unwrapped at His Resurrection and given to God's family. For centuries, satan has kept us ignorant of who we have been made to be by the Great Sacrifice of Jesus, causing us to believe it's for when we die and go to Heaven. Death has already come, when we were crucified with Christ and we're now living the Life of the Spirit in Him.
Ephesians 2:5-6 (Amplified) says, "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. And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together, giving us joint seating with Him in the Heavenly sphere, by virtue of our being in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
God sees us now through Jesus, as already being there with Him and He is here with us. We've been dispatched as ambassadors of Christ, into the world. We are Christ's Personal representatives appointed by the Father to reveal Him to the world, like Jesus did. 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) says, "So we are Christ's ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us. We, as Christ's Personal representatives, be you for His sake to lay hold of the Divine favor now offered you and be reconciled to God."
We cannot be sent as ambassadors, unless we have a place to be sent from. In the heart and mind of god, we're already the citizens of Heaven and God's Kingdom. We're sent from God, to reveal His Kingdom here on earth. No one in God's Kingdom is without power and the ability to reveal God in all His Glory. We've been taught to believe that, "If you lead a good life here, then you can go to Heaven when you leave this earth." God says, that "Through Jesus, we are already of His Kingdom, just like Jesus was." God has sent us to reveal Himself and His Kingdom to the world.
Every ambassador is supplied by the kingdom from which they were sent, to complete their task. When America sends ambassadors to other countries, then America supplies them with all they will need to survive and thrive there. The other country doesn't freely feed, house and care for them. God fully intends to supply our need, according to His riches in Glory through and by our Gift of Jesus.
God's Christmas Gift to mankind is much more than we have believed. There was never anything like the new creation people on this earth, before Jesus. We are truly a new creation from another world or Kingdom. We're not those under the Law, who only had the Spirit of God descend upon them for a moment. We now have God's Spirit Living inside our spirit and He has come to abide there forever.
Image what the Old Testament prophets would have been like, if the Holy Spirit lived in them, instead of only coming on them. We're Blessed above all people on earth, because we're not limited to only the jurisdiction of this earthly realm. Our ability is only limited by God's ability and He has not limits. Jesus said that we have eyes, "but we don't see." He said we have ears, "but don't hear." We need to have the eyes of our understanding opened to the full Truth of the Gift heaped upon Gift and allow God to actually Live through us, like He desires.
1John 3:2-3 (Amplified) tells us, "Beloved, we are even here and now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be hereafter, but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall, as God's children, resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him Just as He really is. And everyone that has this hope, resting on Him, cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure, chaste, undefiled, guiltless."
We are called to govern ourselves by the Word and the Spirit of Truth and to put ourselves in a place where God can actually reveal Himself through us, to the world. He has given us the Spirit of Truth and has given us His Word, which is Spirit, to feed our new creation spirit, into maturity and Truth.
If you're born-again, then you shouldn't need someone to tell you what is evil or good, because we have the Spirit of Truth living in us and through us. Don't stop pursuing God, just because someone else has stopped doing so. Delve into the Gift that was given and unwrap it, until you've discovered all the Gifts that this One Gift has provided.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Lesson 115 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17,18 (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."
Verse 18 says, "No man has ever seen God at any time; the Only Unique Son, or the Only Begotten God, Who is in the bosom (in the intimate) Presence of the Father, He has declared Him, He has revealed Him, and brought Him out where He can be seen, He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known."
The Gift that was wrapped in the flesh of Jesus, was none other than God Himself. We can actually see the Father Himself, when we unwrap this Gift. Today, so many confuse the "unseen God" of the Law and the "revealed Father" Who was given as a Gift to mankind through the birth of Jesus. The Greatest Gift wrapped in the flesh of Jesus, was the unfailing Love of God. God gave Himself to us in this Gift of Jesus Christ.
When we see beyond the veil of the flesh of Jesus, we can actually see God the Father. Many have never seen the Truth that God's Gift to us, is Himself. We've read many scriptures lightly and have never meditated on them in our spirit. Paul writes about the Greatest Gift in 1Corinthians 13:13 (Amplified), saying, "And so faith, hope and Love abide (faith, conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and Divine things); hope-joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love-true affection for God and man, growing out of God's Love for and in us; these three, but the Greatest of these is LOVE."
This awesome Gift of Love is none other than God Himself living in us. Faith can be weak of infant like, hope can be set aside by circumstances, but Love (which is God Himself) can never fail. This is why the Greatest of all these Gifts, is Love. Romans 5:5 (Amplified) says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's Love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." This isn't just God's Love, but it's God Himself in the manifestation of His Spirit. This is why "Love never fails," because God is Love.
According to John 1:18, the only way to see God or actually know Him as "Father," is to see beyond the veil of flesh, which was Jesus and see the Father working through Him. If you can know Jesus, then you can see God, because He has revealed Him to us and unwrapped Him to be known. We've somehow seen Jesus as being separate from the Father. God is One. When you see Jesus, you see God, according to 1John 5:7 (Amplified), which says, "So there are three witnesses in Heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One."
As we unwrap God's Gift this Christmas Season, let's not just leave Him in swaddling clothes or wrapped in flesh, but let's unwrap God's Gift and allow i to reveal the True Gifts that were inside. Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) reminds us, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given." God's Gift was so perfect, innocent, and precious and holds all the Gifts, favor, Truth, Spiritual Blessing and Grace for us.
These Gifts are already ours, but it takes faith to unwrap this Gift and see what's inside. 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."
We must apply faith and unwrap this Gift, to see the Father Himself Who is wrapped inside this Gift. It's God's will that you have these Gifts and they are already yours, but you must, by faith, receive them by looking beyond the veil of His flesh and into His Spirit. Jesus revealed these Gifts to the world, while He was still wrapped in flesh, but only to a limited ability. Now, by His dying and being free of the veil of His flesh, Jesus can reveal and distribute these Gifts to all who will believe.
We can only see the Truth, by looking beyond the traditions of man. I enjoy the Christmas songs and lights on the tree. I put up a nativity with my grandchildren, but I enjoy unwrapping the Gift and receiving what's inside. The pretty wrappings are wonderful to see, but until I remove them, I can only see so much. Most of what the Father gave to us, is still unseen.
There are many Promises of this Great Christmas Day, in God's Word like in Isaiah 9:1 (Amplified) says, "But in the midst of judgment there is the Promise and the certainty of the Lord's deliverance and there shall be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time the Lord brought into contempt the land of Zebulum and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time He will make it Glorious, by the way of the Sea of Galilee, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations."
Many of the Gifts wrapped in the flesh and blood body of Messiah, are stated throughout the Old and New Testaments. We read in Isaiah 52,53,54 and 55, that "He bore our iniquities, our trespasses, our sickness, our disease, our 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." The Gifts that He contained for us in His coming, are now ours in His Resurrection.
We only need to unwrap the Gift, to find the many Promises God made to and for us. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "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."
As we celebrate the Birth of Jesus and remember His death and resurrection, we must celebrate the things He gave to and for us, while we're here on earth. Through His Own death, we have Life. This Life is a Free Gift from God. In this Life, which is actually His Life within us, are all of the attributes and Gifts of God Himself living in and through us. They only need to be realized and accepted.
It's up to each of us to receive and accept these Gifts. They're already ours and belong to every child of God, but you must by faith, receive and inherit them. John 1:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a part 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 Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ." God's Promises are Truth for us today, if we're born-again.
Verse 18 says, "No man has ever seen God at any time; the Only Unique Son, or the Only Begotten God, Who is in the bosom (in the intimate) Presence of the Father, He has declared Him, He has revealed Him, and brought Him out where He can be seen, He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known."
The Gift that was wrapped in the flesh of Jesus, was none other than God Himself. We can actually see the Father Himself, when we unwrap this Gift. Today, so many confuse the "unseen God" of the Law and the "revealed Father" Who was given as a Gift to mankind through the birth of Jesus. The Greatest Gift wrapped in the flesh of Jesus, was the unfailing Love of God. God gave Himself to us in this Gift of Jesus Christ.
When we see beyond the veil of the flesh of Jesus, we can actually see God the Father. Many have never seen the Truth that God's Gift to us, is Himself. We've read many scriptures lightly and have never meditated on them in our spirit. Paul writes about the Greatest Gift in 1Corinthians 13:13 (Amplified), saying, "And so faith, hope and Love abide (faith, conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and Divine things); hope-joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love-true affection for God and man, growing out of God's Love for and in us; these three, but the Greatest of these is LOVE."
This awesome Gift of Love is none other than God Himself living in us. Faith can be weak of infant like, hope can be set aside by circumstances, but Love (which is God Himself) can never fail. This is why the Greatest of all these Gifts, is Love. Romans 5:5 (Amplified) says, "Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's Love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us." This isn't just God's Love, but it's God Himself in the manifestation of His Spirit. This is why "Love never fails," because God is Love.
According to John 1:18, the only way to see God or actually know Him as "Father," is to see beyond the veil of flesh, which was Jesus and see the Father working through Him. If you can know Jesus, then you can see God, because He has revealed Him to us and unwrapped Him to be known. We've somehow seen Jesus as being separate from the Father. God is One. When you see Jesus, you see God, according to 1John 5:7 (Amplified), which says, "So there are three witnesses in Heaven; the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One."
As we unwrap God's Gift this Christmas Season, let's not just leave Him in swaddling clothes or wrapped in flesh, but let's unwrap God's Gift and allow i to reveal the True Gifts that were inside. Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) reminds us, "For unto us a Child is born, to us a Son is given." God's Gift was so perfect, innocent, and precious and holds all the Gifts, favor, Truth, Spiritual Blessing and Grace for us.
These Gifts are already ours, but it takes faith to unwrap this Gift and see what's inside. 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."
We must apply faith and unwrap this Gift, to see the Father Himself Who is wrapped inside this Gift. It's God's will that you have these Gifts and they are already yours, but you must, by faith, receive them by looking beyond the veil of His flesh and into His Spirit. Jesus revealed these Gifts to the world, while He was still wrapped in flesh, but only to a limited ability. Now, by His dying and being free of the veil of His flesh, Jesus can reveal and distribute these Gifts to all who will believe.
We can only see the Truth, by looking beyond the traditions of man. I enjoy the Christmas songs and lights on the tree. I put up a nativity with my grandchildren, but I enjoy unwrapping the Gift and receiving what's inside. The pretty wrappings are wonderful to see, but until I remove them, I can only see so much. Most of what the Father gave to us, is still unseen.
There are many Promises of this Great Christmas Day, in God's Word like in Isaiah 9:1 (Amplified) says, "But in the midst of judgment there is the Promise and the certainty of the Lord's deliverance and there shall be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time the Lord brought into contempt the land of Zebulum and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time He will make it Glorious, by the way of the Sea of Galilee, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations."
Many of the Gifts wrapped in the flesh and blood body of Messiah, are stated throughout the Old and New Testaments. We read in Isaiah 52,53,54 and 55, that "He bore our iniquities, our trespasses, our sickness, our disease, our 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." The Gifts that He contained for us in His coming, are now ours in His Resurrection.
We only need to unwrap the Gift, to find the many Promises God made to and for us. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "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."
As we celebrate the Birth of Jesus and remember His death and resurrection, we must celebrate the things He gave to and for us, while we're here on earth. Through His Own death, we have Life. This Life is a Free Gift from God. In this Life, which is actually His Life within us, are all of the attributes and Gifts of God Himself living in and through us. They only need to be realized and accepted.
It's up to each of us to receive and accept these Gifts. They're already ours and belong to every child of God, but you must by faith, receive and inherit them. John 1:16-17 (Amplified) tells us, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a part 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 Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ." God's Promises are Truth for us today, if we're born-again.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
Lesson 114 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."
Over this Christmas season, the Church needs to enjoy and rejoice in unwrapping the Christmas Gift of Jesus. The Father gave the world the first Christmas Gift over two-thousand years ago, but many have left it unwrapped or in the same flesh wrappings it came in. We rejoice over a Gift many have never dared to unwrap and see what's inside that Gift. Through the Epistles, we read "in Christ Jesus," but we've never truly unwrapped what is in Christ Jesus for us and the world.
We stand at the manger adoring the child born to Mary, but we never understand that this Child is a Gift wrapped in flesh. Inside the adorning or wrapping of the flesh, is God Himself Who is being delivered to those He Loves. Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) tells us, "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 7:14 (Amplified) says, "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel, God with us."
In this Christmas Gift, is the Very Presence of God Himself. He has made Himself a Gift to us and we see how God feels about His Promises wrapped in the Gift He sent, in Psalm 12:6 (Amplified) which says, "The Words and Promises of the Lord are pure Words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over." Our Heavenly Father sent all His Promises to us, in One Gift, His Son Jesus. Jesus became a Promise Box to God's family and He was covered or wrapped in a body of flesh and blood, so we could see God, know God and appreciate the Gifts as He unwraps it in our presence.
Isaiah speaks of some of the Gifts wrapped in this Promise Box of flesh, in the above scripture. Paul writes about the flesh wrapping being removed in 2Corinthians 5:15-16 (Amplified), which says, "And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value). No, even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh."
Paul had obviously removed the outer wrappings of the flesh and was rejoicing in the Gifts that were wrapped in it. We learn from John 1:16-17 (Amplified) that, "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." These are some of the things wrapped up in the Gift God delivered to mankind in Bethlehem on Christmas morning. When we open the Gift, like God did on the Cross, we can fully see what was in the package.
Hebrews 10:20 (Amplified) says, "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' flesh was the actual veil of the True Holy of Holies and when we look beyond it, we can see the fullness of things meant for us and reserved for us there. The Gifts once wrapped in Jesus' flesh are now opened and revealed to us, the ones for whom these Gifts were actually for. We only see the Glory at it's outward beauty, when we look at the Gift, without unwrapping it.
We carefully wrap the gifts we're planning to put under the tree. The children cannot see what's inside these presents, until they remove the wrapping. When the outer wrapping is removed, they can rejoice over the true gift held within them. Inside the veil of flesh of Jesus Christ, we find the True Gifts our Heavenly Father sent to us on that First Christmas, but we must unwrap it.
One of the Gifts this Package holds for us, is the Gift of Righteousness, according to Romans 5:17 (Amplified) which says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense), death reigned through the one, much more surely will those who receive God's overflowing Grace (unmerited favor), and the free Gift of Righteousness putting them into right standing with Himself, reign as kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
This Gift of Righteousness is seen only when we unwrap the package of the flesh. Many only read and focus on Romans 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, No, not one." This was true before Jesus was given to us, but now through God's Gracious Gift, we have all received the free Gift of Righteousness, when we look inside the Package of His flesh.
Let's look again at John 1:16-17 (Amplified) to see what was wrapped in this Gift, born to a virgin two-thousand years ago. When we see Jesus on the cross and not see Him after the cross, we leave the Gift still unwrapped and unseen of it's true contents. 1Corinthians 2:9-10 (Amplified) says, "But on the contrary, as the scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared, made and keeps ready for those who love Him, who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed.Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the Holy Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God, the Divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny."
God has unveiled and revealed them, through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit will reveal the Gifts that are unwrapped by the Resurrected Christ, beyond the veil or the wrappings of the flesh, to us. Paul writes in 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified), "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view, in terms of natural standards of value. No, even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh." The True and Living Christ has been unwrapped.
Over this Christmas season, the Church needs to enjoy and rejoice in unwrapping the Christmas Gift of Jesus. The Father gave the world the first Christmas Gift over two-thousand years ago, but many have left it unwrapped or in the same flesh wrappings it came in. We rejoice over a Gift many have never dared to unwrap and see what's inside that Gift. Through the Epistles, we read "in Christ Jesus," but we've never truly unwrapped what is in Christ Jesus for us and the world.
We stand at the manger adoring the child born to Mary, but we never understand that this Child is a Gift wrapped in flesh. Inside the adorning or wrapping of the flesh, is God Himself Who is being delivered to those He Loves. Isaiah 9:6 (Amplified) tells us, "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 7:14 (Amplified) says, "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel, God with us."
In this Christmas Gift, is the Very Presence of God Himself. He has made Himself a Gift to us and we see how God feels about His Promises wrapped in the Gift He sent, in Psalm 12:6 (Amplified) which says, "The Words and Promises of the Lord are pure Words, like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times over." Our Heavenly Father sent all His Promises to us, in One Gift, His Son Jesus. Jesus became a Promise Box to God's family and He was covered or wrapped in a body of flesh and blood, so we could see God, know God and appreciate the Gifts as He unwraps it in our presence.
Isaiah speaks of some of the Gifts wrapped in this Promise Box of flesh, in the above scripture. Paul writes about the flesh wrapping being removed in 2Corinthians 5:15-16 (Amplified), which says, "And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake. Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value). No, even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh."
Paul had obviously removed the outer wrappings of the flesh and was rejoicing in the Gifts that were wrapped in it. We learn from John 1:16-17 (Amplified) that, "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." These are some of the things wrapped up in the Gift God delivered to mankind in Bethlehem on Christmas morning. When we open the Gift, like God did on the Cross, we can fully see what was in the package.
Hebrews 10:20 (Amplified) says, "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' flesh was the actual veil of the True Holy of Holies and when we look beyond it, we can see the fullness of things meant for us and reserved for us there. The Gifts once wrapped in Jesus' flesh are now opened and revealed to us, the ones for whom these Gifts were actually for. We only see the Glory at it's outward beauty, when we look at the Gift, without unwrapping it.
We carefully wrap the gifts we're planning to put under the tree. The children cannot see what's inside these presents, until they remove the wrapping. When the outer wrapping is removed, they can rejoice over the true gift held within them. Inside the veil of flesh of Jesus Christ, we find the True Gifts our Heavenly Father sent to us on that First Christmas, but we must unwrap it.
One of the Gifts this Package holds for us, is the Gift of Righteousness, according to Romans 5:17 (Amplified) which says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense), death reigned through the one, much more surely will those who receive God's overflowing Grace (unmerited favor), and the free Gift of Righteousness putting them into right standing with Himself, reign as kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
This Gift of Righteousness is seen only when we unwrap the package of the flesh. Many only read and focus on Romans 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, No, not one." This was true before Jesus was given to us, but now through God's Gracious Gift, we have all received the free Gift of Righteousness, when we look inside the Package of His flesh.
Let's look again at John 1:16-17 (Amplified) to see what was wrapped in this Gift, born to a virgin two-thousand years ago. When we see Jesus on the cross and not see Him after the cross, we leave the Gift still unwrapped and unseen of it's true contents. 1Corinthians 2:9-10 (Amplified) says, "But on the contrary, as the scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared, made and keeps ready for those who love Him, who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed.Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the Holy Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God, the Divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny."
God has unveiled and revealed them, through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit will reveal the Gifts that are unwrapped by the Resurrected Christ, beyond the veil or the wrappings of the flesh, to us. Paul writes in 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified), "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a purely human point of view, in terms of natural standards of value. No, even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a Man, yet now we have such knowledge of Him that we know Him no longer in terms of the flesh." The True and Living Christ has been unwrapped.
Friday, November 16, 2018
Lesson 113 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, Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and 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."
Acts 11:26 (Amplified) says this about the Christians in the early Church, "And when he had found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year they assembled together with and were guests of the Church of Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians." Acts 26:28 (Amplified) tells us, "Then Agrippa said to Paul, You think it a small task to make a Christian of me just offhand to induce me with little ado and persuasion at a very short notice." 1Peter 4:16 (Amplified) says, "For if one is ill-treated and suffers as a Christian which he is contemptuously called, let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is deemed worthy to suffer in His Name."
The term, "Christian," means more than a title and is an identification of the same anointing and character that Jesus had here on earth. The world today, identifies us by our denomination, instead of the anointing. We refer to our Lord Jesus as "Christ," which is identifying Him by His Own anointing. Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One. As Christians, we're also identified by this same anointing in the Holy Spirit, which is the Anointing. One cannot be saved and not be anointed, because it's the Presence of the Holy Spirit living in us, Who is the Anointing. This identifying distinction sets the Church apart from all different men on this planet. The new creation man is those who are anointed, Christians.
The word "Christian," according to The Strong's Concordance #5545 means, "A unguent, or smearing, i.e. figi, the specific endowment, (Chrison) of the Holy Spirit, anointing, unction." #5546 says, "Krist-tos, a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ, Christian." #5547, #5548 say, "Krist-os, Anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus Christ." #5530 says, "Akin, through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil (by impl) to consecrate to an office or religious service, anoint, to handle, to furnish what is needed; give an oracle, graze, touch slightly, light upon, to employ or by extension, to act toward one in a given manner, entreat, use."
The above words all describe a Christian, as one who is anointed by the Holy Spirit to strengthen and furnish what is needed. 1John 2:20,27 (Amplified) say, "But you have been anointed by (you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from the Holy One), and you know all the Truth (or you know all things)." Verse 27 says, "But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction which you have received from Him), abides permanently in you; so then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is True and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him, being rooted in Him, knit to Him, just as His anointing has taught you to do."
Most of us have been taught that God's Anointing is only for "certain people." This was true under the old covenant, where for the most part, only kings, priests, prophets and certain leaders were under the Anointing (it only came upon them) at certain instances. Under the new family of God though, the Anointing doesn't only come upon us, but lives within our own spirit, forever. This is the Anointing or Presence of the Holy Spirit that has now become one with our new creation spirit and abides within us forever.
This Anointing was so prevalent in the early Church, that they were called, "the Anointed ones" or "Christians." The Anointing was manifested in such a way that the signs and wonders followed the members of the early Church everywhere and they were called, "Jesus followers." We've been talked out of this outward revealing of God's Anointing and believe it's only for certain people. If you're born-again, then the Same Spirit, the Same Anointing and the Same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is living within you and through you. Paul says 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, in adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in, the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
The Holy Spirit says this in Hebrews 10:38 (Amplified), "But the just shall live by faith, My righteous servant shall live by his conviction respecting man's relationship to God and Divine things, and by holy fervor born of faith and co-joined with it, and if any man draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him."
A Christian is one who is now anointed by and in the Father, by the indwelling Spirit of God. A Christian is one who lives by his/her "faith and holy fervor born of faith in God and Divine things without drawing back in fear." A Christian depends on the Anointing, to furnish whatever is needed to reveal Jesus, to the world. A Christian is an anointed who and a reflection of our Lord Jesus.
We are no longer only human, as some in the past have taught. You are a new creation who is born of the Holy Spirit and filled with His Anointing and the Super-natural ability to set the captives free. Don't allow the enemy to deceive you into thinking that God's ability can't work in and through you, like it did in the early Church. Hebrews 5:11-12 (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 first principles of God's Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food."
Acts 11:26 (Amplified) says this about the Christians in the early Church, "And when he had found him, he brought him back to Antioch. For a whole year they assembled together with and were guests of the Church of Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians." Acts 26:28 (Amplified) tells us, "Then Agrippa said to Paul, You think it a small task to make a Christian of me just offhand to induce me with little ado and persuasion at a very short notice." 1Peter 4:16 (Amplified) says, "For if one is ill-treated and suffers as a Christian which he is contemptuously called, let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is deemed worthy to suffer in His Name."
The term, "Christian," means more than a title and is an identification of the same anointing and character that Jesus had here on earth. The world today, identifies us by our denomination, instead of the anointing. We refer to our Lord Jesus as "Christ," which is identifying Him by His Own anointing. Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One. As Christians, we're also identified by this same anointing in the Holy Spirit, which is the Anointing. One cannot be saved and not be anointed, because it's the Presence of the Holy Spirit living in us, Who is the Anointing. This identifying distinction sets the Church apart from all different men on this planet. The new creation man is those who are anointed, Christians.
The word "Christian," according to The Strong's Concordance #5545 means, "A unguent, or smearing, i.e. figi, the specific endowment, (Chrison) of the Holy Spirit, anointing, unction." #5546 says, "Krist-tos, a Christian, i.e. follower of Christ, Christian." #5547, #5548 say, "Krist-os, Anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus Christ." #5530 says, "Akin, through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil (by impl) to consecrate to an office or religious service, anoint, to handle, to furnish what is needed; give an oracle, graze, touch slightly, light upon, to employ or by extension, to act toward one in a given manner, entreat, use."
The above words all describe a Christian, as one who is anointed by the Holy Spirit to strengthen and furnish what is needed. 1John 2:20,27 (Amplified) say, "But you have been anointed by (you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from the Holy One), and you know all the Truth (or you know all things)." Verse 27 says, "But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction which you have received from Him), abides permanently in you; so then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is True and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him, being rooted in Him, knit to Him, just as His anointing has taught you to do."
Most of us have been taught that God's Anointing is only for "certain people." This was true under the old covenant, where for the most part, only kings, priests, prophets and certain leaders were under the Anointing (it only came upon them) at certain instances. Under the new family of God though, the Anointing doesn't only come upon us, but lives within our own spirit, forever. This is the Anointing or Presence of the Holy Spirit that has now become one with our new creation spirit and abides within us forever.
This Anointing was so prevalent in the early Church, that they were called, "the Anointed ones" or "Christians." The Anointing was manifested in such a way that the signs and wonders followed the members of the early Church everywhere and they were called, "Jesus followers." We've been talked out of this outward revealing of God's Anointing and believe it's only for certain people. If you're born-again, then the Same Spirit, the Same Anointing and the Same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is living within you and through you. Paul says 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, in adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in, the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
The Holy Spirit says this in Hebrews 10:38 (Amplified), "But the just shall live by faith, My righteous servant shall live by his conviction respecting man's relationship to God and Divine things, and by holy fervor born of faith and co-joined with it, and if any man draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him."
A Christian is one who is now anointed by and in the Father, by the indwelling Spirit of God. A Christian is one who lives by his/her "faith and holy fervor born of faith in God and Divine things without drawing back in fear." A Christian depends on the Anointing, to furnish whatever is needed to reveal Jesus, to the world. A Christian is an anointed who and a reflection of our Lord Jesus.
We are no longer only human, as some in the past have taught. You are a new creation who is born of the Holy Spirit and filled with His Anointing and the Super-natural ability to set the captives free. Don't allow the enemy to deceive you into thinking that God's ability can't work in and through you, like it did in the early Church. Hebrews 5:11-12 (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 first principles of God's Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food."
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Lesson 112 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 favor upon favor and even 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."
Yesterday, I asked the reader, "What is a Christian," hoping to evoke some thought. Some would say that "it's being born-again, saved or converted." These are all true, but what were we born into, saved into or been converted to? Now that you've been born-again, what are you? Some would answer, "I'm a child of God and going to Heaven when I leave this earth." That's true, but who are you now as a child of God?
God made man in His Image and Likeness and made him a spirit man. God formed a body from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils, the Breath of Life. God's Spirit man, became a living being, according to Genesis 2:7 (Amplified). Man was to walk simultaneously in two separate realms. He is a spirit living in a natural body and has life in both realms. Man's natural body was sustained by the life of the Spirit and his spirit was the center of his being. When Adam fell from his place in the Garden, his life in the spirit was shut-off from God and his natural sense began to dominate his entire existence. He was still a spirit, but was disconnected from the Life Source of God, in his spirit.
When we received Jesus Christ, the Last Adam, as our Lord and Savior, we were born-again or connected again to God, by His Spirit. What was the life of Adam supposed to be, before his sin in the Garden? Was he only human, as some still say today? Or, was he a different kind of man from the start? When we were born-again, we became the kind of creation made from the DNA of our Heavenly Father once again. We are no longer only human, but we're a new creation, according to 2Corinthians 5:17.
So, what is a child of God? What is it, that we were born-again to be? Are we only flesh and blood people or are we Spirit of God people, living in and ruling over the house of flesh in which we live? Who are we? We understand and know so little about the realm of the Spirit, that we function only in this natural state, until we die physically or leave this earth. We've spent very little time trying to understand who we have become, that we've settled for only being human.
When I was young, there was a movie called "Tarzan." It was about a boy who was raised by gorillas and believed he was a gorilla who wasn't covered with hair. As a human, Tarzan was a superior race, but he settled for being a gorilla, because he didn't know who he really was. He learned to excel at being an ape, but he was still beneath what he was supposed to be. You might excel at being a human being and live below the standards of a new creation man or woman. You might be living through your flesh, instead of your spirit.
We've done like those in the old covenant, using only certain things to correct and control the flesh. We've mostly failed to train our spirits to rule the flesh by the Spirit of God's Word. 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 was speaking about the food of the spirit-born man and this is what reveals to us, "who we really are." The flesh has no idea who we are and the flesh and is the inferior part (ape-like man in Tarzan's case) that has raised us until now. We've been content to be just a better class of ape (like Tarzan did), because we haven't known who we really are now.
Through the Holy Spirit and God's Word (which is Spirit), we can finally come to the knowledge of our true identity in Christ Jesus. The Law of Genesis says that, "Everything produces after kind." We know this in the natural realm of life on earth. If we sow an acorn, then we will get an Oak tree, because the seed produces after kind. 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) says, "You have been regenerated (born-again), not from a mortal origin (sees, sperm), but from One that is Immortal, by the Ever Living and Lasting Word of God."
We can see God's Law of Genesis is true in the natural realm, but do we think it's true in the Spirit realm? Dogs produce dogs and cats produce cats. Corn produces corn and acorns produce Oak trees, so wouldn't the Seed of God produce children like Him? Jesus knew Who He was and didn't depend on the Law of Moses or the Scribes to tell Him Who He was. In Luke 2:52, we read the account of Jesus being in the Temple at age 12, where "He was growing in Wisdom and stature and favor with God and man."
Jesus made it a priority in His life, to find out Who He was as the Son of God and not just the son of Mary and Joseph. He didn't stop being Mary's son, but He walked simultaneously in both realms with Mary and with God. We've never really understood what we were born to be in God's eyes. We still see ourselves as "old sinners, saved by Grace," instead of new creation children of God, who are filled by righteousness. We've never taken our rightful place on this planet, because we're still ruled by the world's idea of who we are. We've been walking by the dictates of the flesh, instead of the new creation man of God.
Tarzan felt inferior to the apes who raised him, until he came to the knowledge of who he really was. He finally came to the place of ruling over the apes, as King of the Jungle. He always was over the animals in the jungle, but he didn't know it. We've been made to rule over this world and everything in it by our new identity in the Father, but we just don't know this. The flesh is only the house that our new creation person lives in, while we're on earth. We're to live in and rule in two realms at the same time.
I've heard someone say, "It's hard to soar like an eagle like the Psalm says, when you live in a chicken house." God is revealing to His children in these Last Days, what our true identity is and who He has created us to be. Many are coming from religion to Revelation, in these Last Days. It's only natural that others will look at us and speak against us, because they don't understand us. Many spoke this way about Jesus, Paul, Peter, John and many others who saw their true identity, but many others rejoiced.
As the dimness wears off and the True Light of what Jesus has actually done dawns on God's children, this earth will see an awakening like never before. Romans 8:19 (Amplified) says, "For even the whole creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known (waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their son ship)." Could this be the time?
Yesterday, I asked the reader, "What is a Christian," hoping to evoke some thought. Some would say that "it's being born-again, saved or converted." These are all true, but what were we born into, saved into or been converted to? Now that you've been born-again, what are you? Some would answer, "I'm a child of God and going to Heaven when I leave this earth." That's true, but who are you now as a child of God?
God made man in His Image and Likeness and made him a spirit man. God formed a body from the dust of the earth and breathed into his nostrils, the Breath of Life. God's Spirit man, became a living being, according to Genesis 2:7 (Amplified). Man was to walk simultaneously in two separate realms. He is a spirit living in a natural body and has life in both realms. Man's natural body was sustained by the life of the Spirit and his spirit was the center of his being. When Adam fell from his place in the Garden, his life in the spirit was shut-off from God and his natural sense began to dominate his entire existence. He was still a spirit, but was disconnected from the Life Source of God, in his spirit.
When we received Jesus Christ, the Last Adam, as our Lord and Savior, we were born-again or connected again to God, by His Spirit. What was the life of Adam supposed to be, before his sin in the Garden? Was he only human, as some still say today? Or, was he a different kind of man from the start? When we were born-again, we became the kind of creation made from the DNA of our Heavenly Father once again. We are no longer only human, but we're a new creation, according to 2Corinthians 5:17.
So, what is a child of God? What is it, that we were born-again to be? Are we only flesh and blood people or are we Spirit of God people, living in and ruling over the house of flesh in which we live? Who are we? We understand and know so little about the realm of the Spirit, that we function only in this natural state, until we die physically or leave this earth. We've spent very little time trying to understand who we have become, that we've settled for only being human.
When I was young, there was a movie called "Tarzan." It was about a boy who was raised by gorillas and believed he was a gorilla who wasn't covered with hair. As a human, Tarzan was a superior race, but he settled for being a gorilla, because he didn't know who he really was. He learned to excel at being an ape, but he was still beneath what he was supposed to be. You might excel at being a human being and live below the standards of a new creation man or woman. You might be living through your flesh, instead of your spirit.
We've done like those in the old covenant, using only certain things to correct and control the flesh. We've mostly failed to train our spirits to rule the flesh by the Spirit of God's Word. 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 was speaking about the food of the spirit-born man and this is what reveals to us, "who we really are." The flesh has no idea who we are and the flesh and is the inferior part (ape-like man in Tarzan's case) that has raised us until now. We've been content to be just a better class of ape (like Tarzan did), because we haven't known who we really are now.
Through the Holy Spirit and God's Word (which is Spirit), we can finally come to the knowledge of our true identity in Christ Jesus. The Law of Genesis says that, "Everything produces after kind." We know this in the natural realm of life on earth. If we sow an acorn, then we will get an Oak tree, because the seed produces after kind. 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) says, "You have been regenerated (born-again), not from a mortal origin (sees, sperm), but from One that is Immortal, by the Ever Living and Lasting Word of God."
We can see God's Law of Genesis is true in the natural realm, but do we think it's true in the Spirit realm? Dogs produce dogs and cats produce cats. Corn produces corn and acorns produce Oak trees, so wouldn't the Seed of God produce children like Him? Jesus knew Who He was and didn't depend on the Law of Moses or the Scribes to tell Him Who He was. In Luke 2:52, we read the account of Jesus being in the Temple at age 12, where "He was growing in Wisdom and stature and favor with God and man."
Jesus made it a priority in His life, to find out Who He was as the Son of God and not just the son of Mary and Joseph. He didn't stop being Mary's son, but He walked simultaneously in both realms with Mary and with God. We've never really understood what we were born to be in God's eyes. We still see ourselves as "old sinners, saved by Grace," instead of new creation children of God, who are filled by righteousness. We've never taken our rightful place on this planet, because we're still ruled by the world's idea of who we are. We've been walking by the dictates of the flesh, instead of the new creation man of God.
Tarzan felt inferior to the apes who raised him, until he came to the knowledge of who he really was. He finally came to the place of ruling over the apes, as King of the Jungle. He always was over the animals in the jungle, but he didn't know it. We've been made to rule over this world and everything in it by our new identity in the Father, but we just don't know this. The flesh is only the house that our new creation person lives in, while we're on earth. We're to live in and rule in two realms at the same time.
I've heard someone say, "It's hard to soar like an eagle like the Psalm says, when you live in a chicken house." God is revealing to His children in these Last Days, what our true identity is and who He has created us to be. Many are coming from religion to Revelation, in these Last Days. It's only natural that others will look at us and speak against us, because they don't understand us. Many spoke this way about Jesus, Paul, Peter, John and many others who saw their true identity, but many others rejoiced.
As the dimness wears off and the True Light of what Jesus has actually done dawns on God's children, this earth will see an awakening like never before. Romans 8:19 (Amplified) says, "For even the whole creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God's sons to be made known (waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their son ship)." Could this be the time?
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Lesson 111 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 favor upon favor and even 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."
Being born-again is an act of faith in Jesus Christ and is trusting that He has bore our sin and iniquities. We accept Jesus as our Sacrifice and Savior and put our faith in the fact the the Son of God lives and died in our place. Romans 10:9-10 (Amplified) says, "Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the Truth that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in and relies on) Christ and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out) freely his faith and confirms his salvation."
Paul writes about those who've placed their faith in Jesus and have become born again in 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) saying, "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 fresh and new has come." 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual milk, that by it you ay be nurtured and grow into completed salvation."
According to the above scriptures then, "What is a Christian?" I know that the moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become Christians, but "What does that mean?" There are probably dozens of pat answers that we could provide to answer this question and they would all be true, but I'm asking if we truly know what a Christian really is.
There is a daycare and preschool in our church building, which includes children from 3 months to 3 year olds. When the children reach 3 years old, then they graduate to the preschool class. Do they go to preschool in order to become human beings, or are they human beings when they're born? Of course, they're human beings at conception, but they have no idea what a human being is. If you asked most of the preschoolers, "Are you a human being?" then they probably couldn't provide an answer to that question. We have no concept about what being a human really is, at that age. They grow into the truth of what that means, from the parent's and teacher's training.
We lead others to a becoming born-again and in the family of God, but we never bring them into the realization of what a Christian really is. We skip the Growing up part and just think they know who and what they are now. Many of them remain baby Christians for their entire life on this earth, without having any concept of what it means to be a new creation being. They will tell you that they are saved and will go to Heaven when they leave this earth, but they still can't tell you who they are in Christ Jesus, here on this earth.
They daycare and preschool children are taught to share their toys and might receive a time-out for not complying to the rules, but they still don't know that they're human beings. They remember the lessons learned in daycare and preschool, even when they're grown. They grow into the realization that they're more than daycare and preschool kids, because they're taught how to be adults and good human beings. It would be considered abusive and uncaring, if they weren't taught these things.
Those who have just become born-again are Christians, but they have no idea what that really means. They might identify with certain denominations, but they still don't know who they are. We live out our new creation life, according to the standards of this world, without realizing who and what we've been created to be, in Christ Jesus. Our new identity is measured by our old identity, because we have never been able to grasp the Truth of who we've now become in Him. We try to make the flesh comply to what we think a Christian is, but that doesn't work. We must understand that being born-again is a Spiritual birth.
Most baby Christians have only been fed the milk of God's Word and have never heard the meat of God's Word. Many of the baby Christians remain in daycare and preschool, during their entire Christian walk. Many have never been taught who they really are in Christ Jesus and children of God. We don't become Christians when we get to Heaven. When you get saved, Heaven comes to earth by the Holy Spirit. Now, we must know who we really are and that only comes by reading, hearing and believing God's description of His new creation children. Natural man can't teach you, beyond natural man's knowledge.
We can only understand the Spiritual Truth of our new creation identity, by God's Word which is Spirit and by the Holy Spirit Who is our Teacher. Natural man has tried to conform the new creation man into his image, because he doesn't know who he is in the spirit. Conforming the spirit to the image of the flesh, reduces the new creation being to vanity, confusion and frustration.
We must find out who we are as new creation beings, by the training of the One Who has given us Life. Jesus tells us 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." In order to understand the new creation, Spirit born child of God we've become, we must learn from the Holy Spirit. When the flesh teaches the Spirit, it always results in our doing works and trying to become what God has already birthed us to be. You are already a Christian. Now, you must discover what a Christian really is.
When God gave you Life, He also gave you righteousness, justification and access to His Throne of Grace. He gave us an open door of unbroken fellowship with Himself, a new citizenship and promotion into a Royal Family, as Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus. Jesus isn't ashamed to call us, "Brothers and Sisters," and He rejoices in our family rights. He has diffused His Holy Spirit with our newborn spirits and have actually become one with and in us. We are of the Same Spirit and the Same Royal Family as Jesus.
This is our new identity and our new creation privileges in Jesus. We've even been given the Power of Attorney to His Name, on this earth.
Being born-again is an act of faith in Jesus Christ and is trusting that He has bore our sin and iniquities. We accept Jesus as our Sacrifice and Savior and put our faith in the fact the the Son of God lives and died in our place. Romans 10:9-10 (Amplified) says, "Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the Truth that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in and relies on) Christ and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out) freely his faith and confirms his salvation."
Paul writes about those who've placed their faith in Jesus and have become born again in 2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) saying, "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 fresh and new has come." 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual milk, that by it you ay be nurtured and grow into completed salvation."
According to the above scriptures then, "What is a Christian?" I know that the moment we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become Christians, but "What does that mean?" There are probably dozens of pat answers that we could provide to answer this question and they would all be true, but I'm asking if we truly know what a Christian really is.
There is a daycare and preschool in our church building, which includes children from 3 months to 3 year olds. When the children reach 3 years old, then they graduate to the preschool class. Do they go to preschool in order to become human beings, or are they human beings when they're born? Of course, they're human beings at conception, but they have no idea what a human being is. If you asked most of the preschoolers, "Are you a human being?" then they probably couldn't provide an answer to that question. We have no concept about what being a human really is, at that age. They grow into the truth of what that means, from the parent's and teacher's training.
We lead others to a becoming born-again and in the family of God, but we never bring them into the realization of what a Christian really is. We skip the Growing up part and just think they know who and what they are now. Many of them remain baby Christians for their entire life on this earth, without having any concept of what it means to be a new creation being. They will tell you that they are saved and will go to Heaven when they leave this earth, but they still can't tell you who they are in Christ Jesus, here on this earth.
They daycare and preschool children are taught to share their toys and might receive a time-out for not complying to the rules, but they still don't know that they're human beings. They remember the lessons learned in daycare and preschool, even when they're grown. They grow into the realization that they're more than daycare and preschool kids, because they're taught how to be adults and good human beings. It would be considered abusive and uncaring, if they weren't taught these things.
Those who have just become born-again are Christians, but they have no idea what that really means. They might identify with certain denominations, but they still don't know who they are. We live out our new creation life, according to the standards of this world, without realizing who and what we've been created to be, in Christ Jesus. Our new identity is measured by our old identity, because we have never been able to grasp the Truth of who we've now become in Him. We try to make the flesh comply to what we think a Christian is, but that doesn't work. We must understand that being born-again is a Spiritual birth.
Most baby Christians have only been fed the milk of God's Word and have never heard the meat of God's Word. Many of the baby Christians remain in daycare and preschool, during their entire Christian walk. Many have never been taught who they really are in Christ Jesus and children of God. We don't become Christians when we get to Heaven. When you get saved, Heaven comes to earth by the Holy Spirit. Now, we must know who we really are and that only comes by reading, hearing and believing God's description of His new creation children. Natural man can't teach you, beyond natural man's knowledge.
We can only understand the Spiritual Truth of our new creation identity, by God's Word which is Spirit and by the Holy Spirit Who is our Teacher. Natural man has tried to conform the new creation man into his image, because he doesn't know who he is in the spirit. Conforming the spirit to the image of the flesh, reduces the new creation being to vanity, confusion and frustration.
We must find out who we are as new creation beings, by the training of the One Who has given us Life. Jesus tells us 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." In order to understand the new creation, Spirit born child of God we've become, we must learn from the Holy Spirit. When the flesh teaches the Spirit, it always results in our doing works and trying to become what God has already birthed us to be. You are already a Christian. Now, you must discover what a Christian really is.
When God gave you Life, He also gave you righteousness, justification and access to His Throne of Grace. He gave us an open door of unbroken fellowship with Himself, a new citizenship and promotion into a Royal Family, as Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Jesus. Jesus isn't ashamed to call us, "Brothers and Sisters," and He rejoices in our family rights. He has diffused His Holy Spirit with our newborn spirits and have actually become one with and in us. We are of the Same Spirit and the Same Royal Family as Jesus.
This is our new identity and our new creation privileges in Jesus. We've even been given the Power of Attorney to His Name, on this earth.
Friday, November 9, 2018
Lesson 110 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-18 (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 Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Verse 18 goes on to reveal to us, Who and What God is now through Jesus Christ, saying, "No man has ever seen God at any time; the Only Unique Son (or the Only Begotten Son), Who is in the Bosom (in the Intimate Presence of the Father), He has declared Him He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and has made Him known."
Understanding God, the Father, as He really is, goes beyond what religion tells us, we must first see Jesus, as He was when the world could see Him physically. We've mostly seen God through the eyes of religious leaders and through the old covenant. We've missed seeing God as He is now through the Redemptive work of Jesus, because we've misinterpreted Jesus during His earthly ministry. James 4:7-8 (Amplified) says, "So be subject to God, Resist the devil (stand firm against him), and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you, recognize that you are sinners, get your soiled hands clean, realize that you have been disloyal, wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts of your spiritual adultery."
We usually see "spiritual adultery," as meaning serving other gods or idolatry, but above it means being, "disloyal, wavering, having divided interests and sin, in a way we seldom think of sin." We've taken God's Name and become His children, when we received His Son Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but we speak of Him with divided interests, disloyalty and being wavering individuals. These things are spiritual adultery to God.
When we see Jesus in His earthly ministry, we see how Jesus reveals to us what our Father's nature, desire, heart and will is for His people. We cannot physically see Jesus now, in His Heavenly ministry as High Priest, but we could see Him as a Man, during His earthly ministry. This earthly Man Jesus, was the Very Image of our Father. This is the only way to physically see God. How can we see Him in the flesh and misinterpret Who He is to us now, is beyond me. How could we possibly say we know Jesus and have no idea about Who God really is?
During His earthly ministry as a flesh and Blood Man, Jesus tells us Who "God with us," is, but we've failed to see that. We've been like James said, "wavering and disloyal individuals, with divided interests." Are we really so fearful that we do like those in the Wilderness did, distrusting God to the point of spiritual adultery? God showed Himself as their Deliverer, Provider and Protector, but they still didn't trust Him. Those in the Wilderness were disloyal and wavering individuals. Most of today's Church still blame God for our sickness, disease, calamities, trials and tests and bondage, and fail to recognize Who He really is.
The only way to see God, until we're finally home and in His Presence in Heaven, is to see Jesus. We have never read in God's Word that Jesus brought about sickness, disease, hardships or trials in His earthly ministry. Jesus Himself said, "When you see Me, you have seen the Father, the Father and I are One." Man's teachings have produced the Church's inability to distinguish between God and the enemy. James tells us in the King James Version of the above scripture, "Submit yourselves to God." Both versions say we're to "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
The way our Heavenly Father is presented in today's Church, makes it difficult to know when we're supposed to submit and when we're to resist. If you don't know whether it's God or the enemy, then how do you know when to submit or when to resist? If we submit to the wrong one, then we could end up in more trouble. If we resist the wrong one, then we could also be resisting God's will and purpose for us. If we don't know whether to submit or resist, then we've put faith into a place where it can't work.
It doesn't matter if you're a preacher, apostle, prophet or anything else in the Body of Christ, you are going to have trials. This is part of your walk with the Father on this side of Glory. You must know where these trials comes from and once you know the source of your problems, you'll know when to resist. Jesus prayed, "Lead them not into temptation or trials and tests, but deliver them from the evil one or the evil." We must believe that Jesus meant what He prayed and that God hear and did what Jesus prayed.
If God is trying us and satan is also trying us, the where do we go for help and deliverance? If we don't know who is trying you, then we are wavering individuals with divided interests, like James describes. It would be easy to stand in the pulpit and preach, "Whatever will be-will be." This places no responsibility on the hearer or preacher and says that, "Whatever goes on in the believer's life, must be God's will for us."
You might have been taught this as a baby Christian, but as you grow in the Lord and in His Presence, you must come to know Him for yourself and not through someone else's relationship with Him. Paul writes about the relationship between a husband and wife, in Ephesians 5:32 (Amplified), "This Mystery is very great, but I speak concerning the relationship of Christ and the Church." I did not come to know my wife by asking others what they thought about her or by listening to others describing the relationship they have with their own wives. I came to know my wife, by fellowship and intimacy that no one else could ever know.
Every person in the Body of Christ, is supposed to know Him for themselves. You might think that God is the One Who makes you sick or gives you a disease. That might be someone else's relationship with Him, but I know Him better than that, by His Word, His Personal Revelation through Jesus and by my intimate fellowship with Him. You have the distinct privilege of coming into His Presence at any time and simply talking with Him. Don't simply take someone else's relationship with Him, but make it your personal quest in life, to know Him for yourself.
Many believers think the revelation I have with my Father, is "strange." It must seem strange and totally different, to those who are simply walking in someone else's idea of Who He is. God still gives Revelation to those who seek Him and fellowship with Him. It's not a new revelation that no one else has ever heard, but it's the Light of the Revelation that He gives in His Word. Wisdom is the principal thing, according to Proverbs where God directs us to, Therefore get Wisdom, but with all of your getting, get understanding."
Wisdom without understanding, is just walking in what someone else tells us and not thinking for ourselves. I don't walk in religion, but in the Revelation of Who He is. When trials and tests come, I know who is bringing them and I use the Word of God and His Holy Spirit to resist. I know that when sickness of disease tries to come into my body, they are from the enemy and that Jesus bore my sickness and disease, so I resist. I know that if fear tries to come upon me, that "God didn't give me a spirit of fear, but of Love, Power and a sound mind," so I resist it by faith in His Word.
You might believe that God puts these things on His family, but ask yourself, "What husband would do this to his wife, whom he loves?" Then go to God's Word and you will see that God isn't your problem, He is your Answer. God has always been our Answer. If you don't know God for Who He really is, then you can't distinguish between who is bringing sickness, fear, bondage or disease on you and Who is your Deliverer and Provider.
God told Moses to send out twelve spies to the Promised Land, in Numbers 13 & 14. These men were from the twelve tribes of Israel, chosen from the two and one half million people God delivered from Egypt. All twelve returned and agreed that what God about the Land was, "True." But, ten of the twelve decided that the problem was bigger than the Promise, so they transmitted their ideas to the people. The two and a half million people never saw the Promised Land for themselves, but they believed the ten spies instead of God and never entered the Promised Land. They died in the Wilderness. Joshua and Caleb were the two spies who believed God more than the problem, so the people tried to stone them for their faith.
The greatest part of our Redemption is that we're able to enter into God's Presence at any time, without guilt, shame or cowardliness. We can come before Him as righteous, stainless and white, because of Jesus. And, because of Jesus, we are always welcome in His Presence. Let's use this privilege, to learn of Him for ourselves.
Verse 18 goes on to reveal to us, Who and What God is now through Jesus Christ, saying, "No man has ever seen God at any time; the Only Unique Son (or the Only Begotten Son), Who is in the Bosom (in the Intimate Presence of the Father), He has declared Him He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and has made Him known."
Understanding God, the Father, as He really is, goes beyond what religion tells us, we must first see Jesus, as He was when the world could see Him physically. We've mostly seen God through the eyes of religious leaders and through the old covenant. We've missed seeing God as He is now through the Redemptive work of Jesus, because we've misinterpreted Jesus during His earthly ministry. James 4:7-8 (Amplified) says, "So be subject to God, Resist the devil (stand firm against him), and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you, recognize that you are sinners, get your soiled hands clean, realize that you have been disloyal, wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts of your spiritual adultery."
We usually see "spiritual adultery," as meaning serving other gods or idolatry, but above it means being, "disloyal, wavering, having divided interests and sin, in a way we seldom think of sin." We've taken God's Name and become His children, when we received His Son Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but we speak of Him with divided interests, disloyalty and being wavering individuals. These things are spiritual adultery to God.
When we see Jesus in His earthly ministry, we see how Jesus reveals to us what our Father's nature, desire, heart and will is for His people. We cannot physically see Jesus now, in His Heavenly ministry as High Priest, but we could see Him as a Man, during His earthly ministry. This earthly Man Jesus, was the Very Image of our Father. This is the only way to physically see God. How can we see Him in the flesh and misinterpret Who He is to us now, is beyond me. How could we possibly say we know Jesus and have no idea about Who God really is?
During His earthly ministry as a flesh and Blood Man, Jesus tells us Who "God with us," is, but we've failed to see that. We've been like James said, "wavering and disloyal individuals, with divided interests." Are we really so fearful that we do like those in the Wilderness did, distrusting God to the point of spiritual adultery? God showed Himself as their Deliverer, Provider and Protector, but they still didn't trust Him. Those in the Wilderness were disloyal and wavering individuals. Most of today's Church still blame God for our sickness, disease, calamities, trials and tests and bondage, and fail to recognize Who He really is.
The only way to see God, until we're finally home and in His Presence in Heaven, is to see Jesus. We have never read in God's Word that Jesus brought about sickness, disease, hardships or trials in His earthly ministry. Jesus Himself said, "When you see Me, you have seen the Father, the Father and I are One." Man's teachings have produced the Church's inability to distinguish between God and the enemy. James tells us in the King James Version of the above scripture, "Submit yourselves to God." Both versions say we're to "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
The way our Heavenly Father is presented in today's Church, makes it difficult to know when we're supposed to submit and when we're to resist. If you don't know whether it's God or the enemy, then how do you know when to submit or when to resist? If we submit to the wrong one, then we could end up in more trouble. If we resist the wrong one, then we could also be resisting God's will and purpose for us. If we don't know whether to submit or resist, then we've put faith into a place where it can't work.
It doesn't matter if you're a preacher, apostle, prophet or anything else in the Body of Christ, you are going to have trials. This is part of your walk with the Father on this side of Glory. You must know where these trials comes from and once you know the source of your problems, you'll know when to resist. Jesus prayed, "Lead them not into temptation or trials and tests, but deliver them from the evil one or the evil." We must believe that Jesus meant what He prayed and that God hear and did what Jesus prayed.
If God is trying us and satan is also trying us, the where do we go for help and deliverance? If we don't know who is trying you, then we are wavering individuals with divided interests, like James describes. It would be easy to stand in the pulpit and preach, "Whatever will be-will be." This places no responsibility on the hearer or preacher and says that, "Whatever goes on in the believer's life, must be God's will for us."
You might have been taught this as a baby Christian, but as you grow in the Lord and in His Presence, you must come to know Him for yourself and not through someone else's relationship with Him. Paul writes about the relationship between a husband and wife, in Ephesians 5:32 (Amplified), "This Mystery is very great, but I speak concerning the relationship of Christ and the Church." I did not come to know my wife by asking others what they thought about her or by listening to others describing the relationship they have with their own wives. I came to know my wife, by fellowship and intimacy that no one else could ever know.
Every person in the Body of Christ, is supposed to know Him for themselves. You might think that God is the One Who makes you sick or gives you a disease. That might be someone else's relationship with Him, but I know Him better than that, by His Word, His Personal Revelation through Jesus and by my intimate fellowship with Him. You have the distinct privilege of coming into His Presence at any time and simply talking with Him. Don't simply take someone else's relationship with Him, but make it your personal quest in life, to know Him for yourself.
Many believers think the revelation I have with my Father, is "strange." It must seem strange and totally different, to those who are simply walking in someone else's idea of Who He is. God still gives Revelation to those who seek Him and fellowship with Him. It's not a new revelation that no one else has ever heard, but it's the Light of the Revelation that He gives in His Word. Wisdom is the principal thing, according to Proverbs where God directs us to, Therefore get Wisdom, but with all of your getting, get understanding."
Wisdom without understanding, is just walking in what someone else tells us and not thinking for ourselves. I don't walk in religion, but in the Revelation of Who He is. When trials and tests come, I know who is bringing them and I use the Word of God and His Holy Spirit to resist. I know that when sickness of disease tries to come into my body, they are from the enemy and that Jesus bore my sickness and disease, so I resist. I know that if fear tries to come upon me, that "God didn't give me a spirit of fear, but of Love, Power and a sound mind," so I resist it by faith in His Word.
You might believe that God puts these things on His family, but ask yourself, "What husband would do this to his wife, whom he loves?" Then go to God's Word and you will see that God isn't your problem, He is your Answer. God has always been our Answer. If you don't know God for Who He really is, then you can't distinguish between who is bringing sickness, fear, bondage or disease on you and Who is your Deliverer and Provider.
God told Moses to send out twelve spies to the Promised Land, in Numbers 13 & 14. These men were from the twelve tribes of Israel, chosen from the two and one half million people God delivered from Egypt. All twelve returned and agreed that what God about the Land was, "True." But, ten of the twelve decided that the problem was bigger than the Promise, so they transmitted their ideas to the people. The two and a half million people never saw the Promised Land for themselves, but they believed the ten spies instead of God and never entered the Promised Land. They died in the Wilderness. Joshua and Caleb were the two spies who believed God more than the problem, so the people tried to stone them for their faith.
The greatest part of our Redemption is that we're able to enter into God's Presence at any time, without guilt, shame or cowardliness. We can come before Him as righteous, stainless and white, because of Jesus. And, because of Jesus, we are always welcome in His Presence. Let's use this privilege, to learn of Him for ourselves.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Lesson 109 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 believers remain in the dark, concerning God's will for mankind. Some quote the Old Testament, others quote the New Testament, while others don't know any scriptures about God's will for us today. We are looking from Law to Grace, but cannot seem to separate the two things. The Holy Spirit gives us the entire picture of God's will, through the Life and ministry of Jesus. John 1:18 (Amplified) says, "No man has ever seen God at any time; the Only Unique Son, or the Only Begotten God, Who is in the bosom (in the intimate Presence of the Father), He has declared Him, He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and has made Him known."
When we see and know Jesus, we have seen and known the Father. Many cannot differentiate between the old covenant God and the new family Father. We seemingly forget that we're not the same people that God dealt with in the old covenant, but we are a new creation family. God didn't change. He changed us, in Christ Jesus. God no longer deals with us from the outside-in, but from the inside-out. Those under the Law, were still Spiritually dead and separated from God, because Adam's transgression brought death.
God's Grace has granted His new creation family, the things man could never keep in his fallen sin nature. God didn't change, but He changed us instead. Jesus' death and resurrection brought about more than our just "going to Heaven when we die." Jesus brought Heaven back to earth. If it was just about going to Heaven when we die, then God would have taken us to Heaven immediately after our being born-again. We've been created in His Image and Likeness, so we can continue the work that needs to be done, here on earth.
Christians have the responsibility to who and what we have been called and created to be. We are ambassadors of Christ and are His Personal representatives, declaring His Divine favor to the world and reconciling the world back to God. 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) says, "It is our privilege through the Power of His Name to break down the strongholds of the enemy and restore righteousness and God's will once again to mankind through Grace in Jesus and the Father."
We've allowed the enemy to deceive us into thinking that, "If god wants something done, then He will just do it" and "We have no real purpose here on earth." There are so many things that the Body of Christ is responsible for on this earth, but has never taken up. We've been slack in voting for Christian leaders and haven't accepted the responsibility we have to do so. Many have decided that, "God will place whoever He wants into office, so why bother voting or praying for these persons."
We have the responsibility of knowing what God's will is and adjusting our way of thinking and doing His will. There are so many things happening in this world, that are not God's will. It's certainly God's will that we are born-again, but what happens to them after they're born-again? Do they just join a fellowship somewhere and refrain from anything else? Or, do they grow into mature sons and daughters of God, taking responsibility on this earth for God's Kingdom?
Jesus told His followers in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at, and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." What is His way of doing and being right? We read above in John 1:18, that Jesus revealed the Father to mankind, in a way that we can now see Him. What do you see?
When you see Jesus in His earthly ministry, do you see One Who is full of anger and bringing sickness on mankind? Or, do you see a Loving Father Who has come to bring us out of sickness and bondage? Do you see One Who condemns man for his failures, or One Who ministers Grace in our time of need? If you don't know Jesus as the Father has sent Him, then you don't know the One Who sent Him. The difference between God and "Father," is in His Power of Love to change us into His children and not just His people. When we become His children, our entire relationship with Him has changed. Many in the Body of Christ, still see God as only being God and not Father. God's entire reason for sending Jesus, was to bring us back as family, so He could suspend the judgment called for by Adam's disobedience. THIS IS GRACE AT IT'S BEST.
As we grow into mature sons and daughters of God, we're to take responsibility for our actions, by being led by His Spirit and corrected by His Word. We're to know Him, His Voice and His Word, in our every day lives. Baby Christians still do many things that aren't right, but that's what babies do. When we grow into mature Christians, we're required by family right, to adjust our lives by His Word.
Even the world has different standards which to judge between babies and adults. Babies get away with many things, because they don't know any better, but more is expected from them, as they grow into mature adults. This is what taking responsibility for who we are and the same is true in the Kingdom. Christians can't expect the world to know the difference between what they think is right and what "right" really is. The world sees many laws that have been placed on this nation as being right, but they're not right as the Father's way of doing and being right. We're responsible to bring about God's way, by voting for those who will make judgments and laws according to God's way. God has created a new kingdom here on earth, and we're responsible for holding it firm, by His Word and the not the world's word.
Proverbs 14:34 (Amplified) tells us, "Uprightness and right standing with God, moral and Spiritual rectitude in every area and relationship, elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to the people."
Proverbs 29:2 (Amplified) says, "When the uncompromisingly righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh." Part of our responsibility as Christian people, is to place righteous men and women into places of authority and then pray for God to lead them. The above scripture tells us that, "Walking in righteousness exalts a nation and turning from it brings distress and bondage from the enemy." We must become responsible to elect and pray for the people who hold office in our nation. The laws and statutes of this nation should reflect the laws and statutes of our Heavenly Father.
Continue praying for our government and leaders, as well as those in all nations. Don't side with ungodly people and place them in authority.
Many believers remain in the dark, concerning God's will for mankind. Some quote the Old Testament, others quote the New Testament, while others don't know any scriptures about God's will for us today. We are looking from Law to Grace, but cannot seem to separate the two things. The Holy Spirit gives us the entire picture of God's will, through the Life and ministry of Jesus. John 1:18 (Amplified) says, "No man has ever seen God at any time; the Only Unique Son, or the Only Begotten God, Who is in the bosom (in the intimate Presence of the Father), He has declared Him, He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and has made Him known."
When we see and know Jesus, we have seen and known the Father. Many cannot differentiate between the old covenant God and the new family Father. We seemingly forget that we're not the same people that God dealt with in the old covenant, but we are a new creation family. God didn't change. He changed us, in Christ Jesus. God no longer deals with us from the outside-in, but from the inside-out. Those under the Law, were still Spiritually dead and separated from God, because Adam's transgression brought death.
God's Grace has granted His new creation family, the things man could never keep in his fallen sin nature. God didn't change, but He changed us instead. Jesus' death and resurrection brought about more than our just "going to Heaven when we die." Jesus brought Heaven back to earth. If it was just about going to Heaven when we die, then God would have taken us to Heaven immediately after our being born-again. We've been created in His Image and Likeness, so we can continue the work that needs to be done, here on earth.
Christians have the responsibility to who and what we have been called and created to be. We are ambassadors of Christ and are His Personal representatives, declaring His Divine favor to the world and reconciling the world back to God. 2Corinthians 5:20 (Amplified) says, "It is our privilege through the Power of His Name to break down the strongholds of the enemy and restore righteousness and God's will once again to mankind through Grace in Jesus and the Father."
We've allowed the enemy to deceive us into thinking that, "If god wants something done, then He will just do it" and "We have no real purpose here on earth." There are so many things that the Body of Christ is responsible for on this earth, but has never taken up. We've been slack in voting for Christian leaders and haven't accepted the responsibility we have to do so. Many have decided that, "God will place whoever He wants into office, so why bother voting or praying for these persons."
We have the responsibility of knowing what God's will is and adjusting our way of thinking and doing His will. There are so many things happening in this world, that are not God's will. It's certainly God's will that we are born-again, but what happens to them after they're born-again? Do they just join a fellowship somewhere and refrain from anything else? Or, do they grow into mature sons and daughters of God, taking responsibility on this earth for God's Kingdom?
Jesus told His followers in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at, and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." What is His way of doing and being right? We read above in John 1:18, that Jesus revealed the Father to mankind, in a way that we can now see Him. What do you see?
When you see Jesus in His earthly ministry, do you see One Who is full of anger and bringing sickness on mankind? Or, do you see a Loving Father Who has come to bring us out of sickness and bondage? Do you see One Who condemns man for his failures, or One Who ministers Grace in our time of need? If you don't know Jesus as the Father has sent Him, then you don't know the One Who sent Him. The difference between God and "Father," is in His Power of Love to change us into His children and not just His people. When we become His children, our entire relationship with Him has changed. Many in the Body of Christ, still see God as only being God and not Father. God's entire reason for sending Jesus, was to bring us back as family, so He could suspend the judgment called for by Adam's disobedience. THIS IS GRACE AT IT'S BEST.
As we grow into mature sons and daughters of God, we're to take responsibility for our actions, by being led by His Spirit and corrected by His Word. We're to know Him, His Voice and His Word, in our every day lives. Baby Christians still do many things that aren't right, but that's what babies do. When we grow into mature Christians, we're required by family right, to adjust our lives by His Word.
Even the world has different standards which to judge between babies and adults. Babies get away with many things, because they don't know any better, but more is expected from them, as they grow into mature adults. This is what taking responsibility for who we are and the same is true in the Kingdom. Christians can't expect the world to know the difference between what they think is right and what "right" really is. The world sees many laws that have been placed on this nation as being right, but they're not right as the Father's way of doing and being right. We're responsible to bring about God's way, by voting for those who will make judgments and laws according to God's way. God has created a new kingdom here on earth, and we're responsible for holding it firm, by His Word and the not the world's word.
Proverbs 14:34 (Amplified) tells us, "Uprightness and right standing with God, moral and Spiritual rectitude in every area and relationship, elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to the people."
Proverbs 29:2 (Amplified) says, "When the uncompromisingly righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan and sigh." Part of our responsibility as Christian people, is to place righteous men and women into places of authority and then pray for God to lead them. The above scripture tells us that, "Walking in righteousness exalts a nation and turning from it brings distress and bondage from the enemy." We must become responsible to elect and pray for the people who hold office in our nation. The laws and statutes of this nation should reflect the laws and statutes of our Heavenly Father.
Continue praying for our government and leaders, as well as those in all nations. Don't side with ungodly people and place them in authority.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)