Developing the New Creation Lesson 74

      2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether), the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away."  

     Believers have asked me, "Why do Christians need to read God's Word?"  Do we do it, because it's a religious duty or because it makes us feel like we're doing a good work and win approval or is it the only way we can find out who we've been created to be in Jesus?  If we're new creations, then who are these new creation men and women and what is his/her function?  Jesus told His followers in John6:63(Amp), "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."

     Our Heavenly Father is a Spirit, according to John4:24(Amp), which says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and Truth (reality)."  We are Spiritual beings, according to Col.2:9-10(Amp), which says, "For in Him the whole fullness of Deity, the Godhead continues to dwell in bodily form giving complete expression of the Divine nature And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of Life, in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-and reach full Spiritual stature. And He is the Head of all rule and authority, of every angelic principality and power."  Eph.2:19(Amp) says, "Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants and aliens), excluded from the rights of citizenship, but now you share citizenship with the saints (God's Own people), consecrated and set apart for Himself, and you belong to God's Own household."

     Your Father is a Spirit, you are a spirit, God's Word is Spirit and Life, and the reflection viewed from the mirror of God's Word is the new creation spirit you've now become.  Gal.5:25(Amp) says, "If we live by the Holy Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. If by the Holy Spirit we have our Life in God, let us go forward, walking in line, and our conduct controlled by the Spirit."  The man/woman is the mirror is the new creation being, who is born of God, His Word, and His Holy Spirit.  The mirror that reflects this back to us, is God's Own Word, which reveals who we've now become in Him.

     James1:23-25(Amp) says, "For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his own natural face in a mirror For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. But he who looks carefully into the faultless Law (the Law of Liberty), and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it (the mirror of the Word) being not a heedless listener who forgets, but an active doer who obeys, he shall be Blessed in his doing, his life of obedience."

     Paul writes about the mirror in 2Cor.3:18(Amp), saying, "And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continue to behold in the Word of God as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord are constantly being transfigured into His Very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of Glory to another, for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit."  

    Christians read and study God's Word, in order to feed our new creation man/woman. 1Pet.2:2(Amp) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual milk of the Word, that by it you may be nurtured and grow into completed salvation."  The new man/woman in the mirror, is the new creation spirit we've now become in Jesus.  Our Father is Spirit, Jesus is Spirit, the Word is Spirit, the Holy Spirit is Spirit and we 're also a spirit.

     The mirror of God's Word reflects back to us, who we've become in Christ and not who we once were.  The only way we'll know who and what we are created to be, is through the Perfect Law of Liberty.  The world can't tell us who we are, because it's still dead to God.  Our flesh can't tell us who we are, because it "conveys no benefit and there's no profit in it."  We read God's Word and listen to the Voice of our Heavenly Father, in order to know who our new creation spirit has become.

     There have been many things said of Christians and about our Spirit Father, but if we don't feed on the Spiritual milk of God's Word and the meat of the Word, then we will remain babes who aren't able to talk yet.  The world and some in the Church tell us that we're "still old sinners," "God is testing and proving us by trials, in order to make us grow," but the Spirit and God's Word prove us and make us grow.

     Jesus said in John15:20-21(Amp), "Remember that I told you, a servant is not greater than his master (is not superior to him). If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My Word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours. But they will do all this to you, inflict all this suffering on you because of your bearing My Name and on My Account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me."  Those under the Law and in the world, didn't know or understand Jesus as a Man, as the Messiah, or by His Spirit.  The world and religion aren't much different today.  The only way to know who we've become in this new creation, is to look long and hard into the Mirror of God's Word and the Perfect Law of Liberty.

     1John3:2(Amp) says, "Beloved, we are even here and now God's children: it is not yet disclosed and 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 in our natural fleshly body, but our new creation spirit man is made like and resembles Him just as He really is."  THIS IS THE MAN in the Mirror.  

Developing the New Creation Lesson 73

     2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether). The old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."  

     If we simply believe what the above scripture reveals to us, then we can discover what the Father has in-store for those He created through Jesus.  After giving the Great Commission, Jesus continued in Mark16:17-18(Amp) saying, "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; In My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages, they will pick up serpents, and even if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they shall lay their hands on the sick and they will get well."

     The only limits placed of the working of miracles and having the Spiritual of God manifested, is that they're "for those who believe."  Can it be the true nature of God's new creation men and women of God, that these Spiritual demonstrations are limited only by what or if we believe?  Is this really the true identity of this new creation children of God?  Jesus didn't say in the above scripture that, "These are only for the early Church, for only the Apostles", or that He "doesn't do these things any longer."  The only restrictions Jesus placed on these attesting signs, is that they are for those who believe.

     Has the Church "adapted to and fashioned by the world's view, with it's rituals and customs," like Paul wrote in Rom.12:2, instead of realizing who we've become in Jesus?  The world needs to see the Manifestation of God, especially in these Last Days before Jesus' return.  We can't bring order or salvation to the lost, through religion and rituals.  The Super-natural Presence of God is essential for this time.  There is now a worldwide awakening in the Church and God is raising up a people who will dare to believe in the impossible, because they believe Matt.19:36, which tells us that, "With God, all things are possible."

     The worldwide Church is dealing with demonic and spiritual enemies that we're not used to dealing with.  These demonic forces will only heed the Power of God's Word and the Power of Jesus' Name and His Blood, coming forth from the lips the God's new creation children.  The Holy Spirit is beginning a move that will change everything, but only those who dare to "take the land," will enter into this move of the Spirit.  Only Joshua and Caleb believed God's Word and that they should "take the land" and they were the only two who entered the Promised Land.

     God Himself testifies in Heb.11, about those "who through faith, subdued nations and turned things around."  If this kind of faith still alive in today's Church?  Or, have we all lost sight of it?  Are those today who could attack a giant with nothing more than a sling shot or are we still relying on our own form of religion, having adapted to this age?

     The End-time Awakening is presently occurring in certain areas, but it will soon spread out to cover the entire earth.  Will we be those who believe and demonstrate the Super-natural signs and wonders of God to the lost?  We don't put faith in our own ability and power, but we put our faith in the Greater One Who lives in us.  We might fail in our own might, but we can do all things in Him and the Power of His Might.

     This kind of faith has mostly been seen in small portions of the Body of Christ, but it is meant for all who will believe.  It will take a bold faith and the willingness to withstand the criticism of both the world and some in the Church, in order to step into the calling and Anointing that is now living in every born-again believer.

     Paul instructs the Church in Rom.12:2Amp), saying, "Do not be conformed to this world (age), fashioned after and adapted to it's external, superficial customs, but be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of your mind."  We're to be internal and Super-natural, instead of eternal and superficial.  Many today, have stopped in our faith of the Super-natural things of the Lord.

     We've adapted to the world's view of God, instead of what the Word tells us about Him.  Many will be critical, believing that if we walk and believe in God's Promises, then we're foolish.  Some will believe it's over-the-top to walk in God's Blessing, instead of the Curse.  Others still have unrenewed minds and believe you can never know God's will.  Paul goes on in the above scripture saying, "When you renew our mind by God's Word, you can prove for yourself what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God for yourself."  Is this true or was Paul just trying to fill pages in his letter to the Church?

     It's difficult to truly walk in the Truth of God's Word, when we don't know if we're in God's will or are fighting against His will.  We can't exercise faith, when we're in doubt and are confused about what we're doing.  Is it still God's will to heal?  We need to know and be assured about His will.  Jesus said, "I came not to do My will, but the will of the Father, and when you see Me, you have seen the Father."  If Jesus did it, then it was and is, always the Father's will.

     1John5:14-15(Amp) says, "And this is the confidence, the assurance, the privilege of boldness which we have in Him; we are sure that if we ask anything, make any request according to His will, in agreement with His Own Plan, He listens to and hears us. And if, since we positively know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know with settled and absolute knowledge that we have granted us as our present possessions the requests made of Him."  This is still True for us today, whether or not some choose not to believe it.  We must renew our minds by God's Word, until we know God's will for ourselves.     

    

Developing the New Creation Lesson 72

     2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether), the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."

     The above scripture is an awesome revelation, about the newborn child of God.  Many think it means that we are saved and forgiven, but this isn't the full description of the new creation.  We were created new, which means that the person we once were, doesn't exist in God's eyes and we are a new creation.  The Father doesn't identify us by the flesh and carnal person we once were, but by the brand new being we now are.

     Most of us still identify ourselves by the old person, who is forgiven.  Through faith in Jesus though, we've been raised up from the dead together with Him and are new, resurrected creations.  Genesis tells us that, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  They didn't exist, until this time and the same is true about the new creation man/woman.  The new creation being didn't exist, until God created us new in Christ.  We must go to God's Word and discover who we've become, in order to fully understand and acknowledge this marvelous act of Love.

     The world tells us that we're not made new,  but are simply forgiven.  We've been born new of God's Word and the Spirit and like the heavens and earth, we don't have a past or sin, but are altogether new.  The only part of our old man/woman that remains, is lodged in our mind and memory, which didn't get created when our spirit did.  Most of us still live with the memories of who we used to be, but the old man/woman no longer exists in God's eyes.  This is why Paul instructs us to renew our minds by the Truth of God's Word.  When we read God's Word, we will begin to see ourselves like the Father now sees us and begin walking in the newness of Life.

     Many believe it's foolish and "over the top," to believe we're new creations, but it's pleasing in God's eyes and an act of faith in what Jesus has done.  Many believe it's prideful to think of ourselves as righteous before God, but it's pleasing and acceptable in His sight.  Coming before God's Throne of Grace as sinners, violates the very Laws of the Kingdom.  No sinner can come before His Throne, but is limited to the outer court.  Only the High Priest could come into God's Presence and that was only once a year and by sacrifice.  Jesus is our High Priest and provided Himself as a Sacrificial Lamb for all time and for all who will believe in Him.

     Jesus said in John 10:9(Amp), "I Am the Door."  He also said in John14:6(Amp), I Am the Way and the Truth and the Life, no one came to the Father except through Me."  It's unlawful by the Laws that govern God's Kingdom, to come to God by any other way, except through Jesus.  We had to be created in Him, because only He has the right, Righteousness or right standing to enter into the Very Presence of God.  Our old man/woman could never become righteous on our own, but we were made to be the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus.  When we were created new, we were created in righteousness, with the Righteousness of Jesus Himself.  We must believe in what Jesus has done, in order to understand we are righteous in God's sight.

     Most have thought this could only be true when we put off these bodies of sin and flesh and are glorified.  If we wait until we die to become righteous before God, then we'll never make it.  God's Word says that, None were righteous, no not one."  We had to be created new, in order to enter in before God's Presence.  This has already been done, when Jesus was raised and judged by God Himself.  If we believe in the full power of this Truth and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then we were judged in Him and have been found not guilty, like He was.

     The unrenewed mind of the flesh, will not allow us to believe this Truth, so we must renew our minds by God's Word.  We must believe God's Word, instead of the carnal feelings and the religious teachings of the world.  We spend our lives trying to become righteous in God's eyes, when our Sacrifice Lamb has already done it for us.  This keeps us from putting faith in God's answering our prayer or being able to "come boldly before Him."  It's not an act of our being good enough to enter in, but and act of putting faith in what the Father has done for us, by Grace.  Grace is already ours, but we must put faith in what Jesus has done, in order to walk in that Grace.  We are new creation who never existed before Jesus went to the cross, was judged for our sins and was justified by Almighty God Himself, Who pronounced Him innocent and pure before the Father.  We are in Christ Jesus and have been judged and found innocent of sin and righteous.

     The old man/woman was crucified with Christ and is now dead in God's sight.  Our old, unrenewed mind will keep us under condemnation, but he/she no longer has power over us.  The decisions we make as new creations, determine how we approach our new creation lives.  We will either come boldly before God's Throne of Grace or try to sneak in another way.  We must renew our minds with Truth, so we can enter into the Rest, that Jesus has already provided.  The unrenewed mind will continue condemning us about who we used to be, before receiving Jesus, but this is not longer who we are.

    

Developing the New Creation Lesson71

     2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); The old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."  Notice, this scripture doesn't use the future tense, saying, "The fresh and new will come," but says it "has come."  We've been taught that this happens when we die and go to Heaven, but it happened already, when we received Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  The guilt and condemnation we have from mistakes we made in our past lives, have hindered our walk with God and held us in bondage.

     Heb.9:14(Amp) says, "How much more surely shall the Blood of Christ, Who by virtue of His Eternal Spirit (His Own preexistent, Divine Personality), has offered Himself as a  unblemished Sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the Ever Living God."  1John3:20-21(Amp) says, "Whenever our hearts in tormenting, self accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us, for we are in God's hands; For He is Above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows, perceives, understands everything, nothing is hidden from Him. And beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us (if they don't make us feel guilty and condemn us), we have confidence, complete assurance and boldness before God."
     When we accept the Truth of what Jesus' Sacrifice has completed for us, we can live free from the guilt and condemnation of who we were before we were created new in Him.  Jesus made us new creations, new creatures altogether, who have no past lives.  The Truth of what Jesus' Finished Works and what salvation holds for us, must be accepted by faith in His Sacrifice and Grace.

     We must renew our minds by God's Word and Truth, in order to be free from the old man who determined who we were before being born-again.  James1:22-25(Amp) tells us, "But be doers of the Word, obey the Message and not merely merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth; For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his own natural face in a mirror, For he thoughtfully observes himself and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. But he who looks carefully into the faultless Law of Liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets, but an active doer who obeys, he shall be Blessed in his doing (his life of obedience)."
     The faultless Law of Liberty is the covenant God has with His new creation people, and is based on our faith in the Sacrifice of Jesus Himself.  James tells us in the scripture above, that being and active doer of the Word, is and act of obedience.  When we receive the new creation life, we see who we've been made to be in Jesus, reflected back to us through faith in God's Word.

     This Grace is an act of God's Love and is a Gift that brings complete deliverance to us, when we receive it by faith.  It has nothing to do with our feelings or emotions, but is a simple act of faith in Jesus.  We can't develop in this new creation man/woman by listening to our conscience or feelings.  We must believe more in what God says about who we've now been made to be, rather than what our carnal mind tells us.  We'll have little confidence that God will hear or fulfill the requests we've made in prayer, if we live under the condemnation of who we once were.  Our conscience will burden us with the guilt, that is no longer ours.

     How can we forget all the sinful things we've done?  We must look into the faultless Law of Liberty and believe what God says, instead of the accusations satan makes against us.  We cannot enjoy God's free Gift of Grace, when we only remember who we once were, instead of who God has made us to be in Jesus.  Everything we have or enjoy, is by this free Gift of Grace.  It has nothing to do with what we deserve, but comes from faith in God's Love for us and the Finished Work of Jesus.  He bore what we deserve, so we can receive what we didn't deserve.  We've been made God's new creation family, through God's Love and the Blood of a Perfect Lamb Sacrifice, Jesus.

     We're not just forgiven sinners, when we have faith in what Jesus has done and in God's Promises, but we're brand new beings who have no past or stain of sin.  We've been made righteous with His Righteousness and are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ Jesus, by faith and Grace.  It must be accepted by faith in God's Word, not be feeling or emotions.  In order to develop our new creation being, we must believe what God says about us, instead of what the world, religion or our consciences say.  We must accept the faultless Law of Liberty.

     We must silence the guilt from our condemning consciences, by renewing our minds with God's Word, according to James1:22-23(Amp), which says, "Betraying yourselves into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth."  James goes on in Verse23, saying that, "Accepting this Truth, is obedience to God."  Jesus said in John8:31-32(Amp), "If you abide in My Word, hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them, you are truly My disciples And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."

     Grace doesn't mean that we live in sin.  God's Grace provided the cleansing of the old man/woman/s conscience, so that satan can't keep us bound with guilt and condemnation.  We've been man free in Christ Jesus, by faith in God's free Gift of Grace.  

Developing the New Creation Leson 70

      2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); The old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."  

     Understanding who we've now become in Jesus, determines how we approach God in faith and prayer.  The worldview and God's view of Christians, are completely different.  One is perception and the other is Truth.  Paul writes to the Church, in Rom.12:2(Amp), "Do not be conformed to this world (age), fashioned after and adapted to its 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 yourselves what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing that is good and acceptable and perfect in His eyes for you."

     We've been taught that we're still sinners and not the Righteousness of God.  The external, superficial customs of the world, tell us that we "can't be righteous, until we get to Heaven," but God's Word says that we've been created new, are righteous and cleansed by the Blood of Jesus.  We've adapted to and conformed to this world (age), because of man-made religion, when the Power of Jesus' Sacrifice has already provided our liberty from the guilt and condemnation of who we used to be, before making Jesus our Savior.

     It requires spending time in God's Word, to discover who and what we've been made to be in our new creation being.  The above scripture says that we can "know and approve for ourselves, what God's Perfect will is for us."  What has God called us to be and what has He called us to do?  What is His Perfect, Good and acceptable will for our lives?

     Many in today's Church, don't know or understand what God's will is.  Paul prays for all of us who make us God's Body (the Church), in Col.1:9-10(Amp), saying, "For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it (their love in the Holy Spirit, Verse8) have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full, deep and clear knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom, in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things, that you may walk, live and conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him and desiring to please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing and increasing in and by the knowledge of God, with fuller, deeper and clearer insight, acquaintance and recognition."

     Paul continued praying for the Church in Colossus and for all in God's Church, through the rest of the chapter.  This prayer is for all who will accept the Truth of his prayer.  The Revelation given to Paul, reveals who the new creation man/woman is made to be and what we're capable of doing and how we can know God's will and heart.

     Religion and the world tell us that "no one can know God's will or heart.  We've been erroneously  taught by carnal minded, man-made religion and customs.  Paul writes about the Israelites and those who came up under the Law, in Rom.10:2-3(Amp), saying, "I bear them witness that they have a certain zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to correct and vital knowledge. For being ignorant of the Righteousness that God ascribes, which makes one acceptable to Him in word, deed, and thought, and seeking to establish a righteousness, a means of salvation of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's Righteousness."

     These people had a "zeal and enthusiasm" for God, but they were without the correct and vital knowledge of Him.  Many today have a zeal for God, but lack a correct and vital knowledge of Who He really is and who He has made us to be.  Many decide to establish our own way of doing things, which results in our being disobedient and  not being submissive to God.  

     It's one thing to read God's Word and another to believe what we've read.  Many have read what God's Word says about the new creation family of God, but are waiting to take our place in His family.  We look more on the flesh, with it's unrenewed mind, to accomplish what we desire to be in Christ.  Jesus did all the hard work on the cross.  Our job is to believe in what He has done and enter into the Rest of God, by faith in what God's Grace has already provided for us.

     Our old minds must be renewed, so we can know what we've been created to be.  Before being saved, we were trained and brought up in this natural environment.  Now that we've been born-again, our natural minds have become stumbling blocks to Spiritual things and insight into them.  Our mind has retained things we still need and use in this world.  We still know how to spell, drive, dress ourselves and do these necessary natural things, but the Spiritual knowledge we need, only comes through God's Word and His Holy Spirit, Who lives in our new creation spirit man/woman.

     There's a big difference between the earth and the world.  The world system was established after Adam's fall.  It was and is, anti-God.  This is why our unrenewed minds must be changed and brought into submission to God's Word.  Our trying to reach and know God by the world's standard, is futile and useless, according to Rom.8:7(Amp), which says, "That is because the mind of the flesh with its carnal thoughts and purposes, is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law, indeed it cannot." 

      

Developing the New Creation Lesson 69

     2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."  When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we weren't just forgiven.  We were made new creations, without sin or guilt from our past lives and complete in Him, without the stain of sin in our new man/woman.  Jesus' complete Sacrifice didn't cover our sins, like those in the old covenant, but completely removed them.  We were created new and are righteous and holy in God's sight.

     The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church, about renewing our minds with God's Word.  This is something each born-again person does on his/her own.  Paul wrote about studying to show ourselves approved in 2Tim.2:15(Amp), saying, "Study and be eager and do your upmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing (rightly handling) and skillfully teaching the Word of Truth."

     Here's what Paul told the Church in Rome, saying in Rom.12:2(Amp), "Do not be conformed to this world (age), fashioned after and adapted to it's external (superficial) customs, but be transformed (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind, by it's new ideals and it's new attitude so that you may prove for yourself what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight."

     Every new creation person are responsible to do this on his/her own.  The only things remaining from our old man/woman are the memories stored in our minds over the years in the world.  We thought like those who were unsaved and lost, until we became new creations in Christ Jesus.  Our renewed minds still remember the things our flesh enjoyed and participated in, before we were born-again.  Our old man/woman has stored memories our flesh partook of.

     Eph.4:22-24(Amp) says, "Strip yourselves of your former nature, put off and discard your old unrenewed self which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion. And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind, having a fresh mental and Spiritual attitude and put on the new nature, the regenerate self created in God's Image, God like in true Righteousness and Holiness."

     After reading the above scripture, we can understand why Paul warned us about "adapting to this world (age) and it's external and superficial customs."  The worldview of Christianity and what The Bible tells us about Christianity, are two very different things.  Some Christians haven't renewed their minds by God's Word and don't understand the new creation person they've become in Jesus.  They struggle with their past lives, along with the guilt and condemnation of their old man/woman, because they haven't renewed their minds by the Truth of the new creation being they've become.

     The mind didn't get born-again when our spirit did, so it still think like it did before.  We were trained up by the world, the good and bad, and our carnal mind is still hostile towards God and His Word, according to Rom.8:7(Amp), which says, "That is because the mind of the flesh with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile to God and it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot."  Our carnal mind will stayed fixed on who we once were, with the habits of our old man/woman.  We must train it by our new creation spirit, as described by God's Word and His Spirit. 

     Paul describes our looking into the Word of God, like looking into a mirror, in 2Cor.3:17-18(Amp), saying, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). All of us as with unveiled face, because we continued to behold in the Word of God as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His Very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit."   

     The worldview of a Christian, is an old sinner saved by Grace.  God's Word says that Christians are new creations, who are without any stain or blemish of sin, to the Glory of God.  We seldom see ourselves like God sees us, because we haven't renewed our minds, which were programmed by the flesh.  The world establishes habits and thoughts in our minds, which must be replaced by God's Word and the Holy Spirit.  

     We weren't born as flesh and blood people, with corrupt minds.  Everything in our minds aren't wrong, but the things that oppose God are.  Learning to drive a vehicle isn't offensive to God,  The old, sinful things our minds learned over time, must be replaced by our new creation mind of Christ.  We retain such things as spelling and doing math, because they're not in opposition to God or His Word.  The condemnation and guilt that our mind continues to bring up, must be renewed and replaced by God's Word, which tells us that we've been made new and without sin, in Jesus.  

     God never intended that we are miserable in this life, but wants us to fully enjoy life, even more than we ever thought was possible.  We can be new creation people, who enjoy camping with out family or going to the fair with our friends.  These things aren't sinful.  Jesus said in John10:10, "I have come that you may enjoy life abundantly, to the fullest."   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developing the New Creation Lesson 68

      2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he IS A NEW CREATION (A NEW CREATURE ALTOGETHER); the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."  The only way we know how understand and develop this new creation being, is through God's Word.  Our carnal minds can't accept or receive the Truth that we've been made new creations in Christ Jesus.  Our carnal way of thinking keeps us skeptical about being totally forgiven.  We're unsure of the standing we have with our Heavenly Father and live in the bondage of guilt and condemnation.  The only way to stop our consciences from condemning us, is by knowing and putting faith and trust, in the Fullness of Jesus' Sacrifice.

     We've not become righteous or children of God on our own.  The only thing we've done is to receive Jesus as our Lord and by Grace and faith, receive our new identity in Him.  We judge our righteousness, by our mistakes and failures.  Our righteousness can and will fail, but God never fails.  The above scripture tells us that we were "ingrafted in Christ," so we've become what He is.  He is Righteous and in Him, we've become righteous with His Righteousness and not our own.

     Jesus died on Calvary's cross for us, because we couldn't do it for ourselves.  This changed everything for mankind.  Jesus took all the wrath and punishment that we deserved and when He was judged, we were judged.  When He was judged, we were judged.  When Jesus was justified, by faith in Him, we were justified.  When He died, we also died and when He was raised, we were raised.  When Jesus became the Curse and was raised into the Blessing, we were redeemed from the Curse and the Blessing is now upon all who are in Christ Jesus.

      We've been waiting for God to do something, when in reality, He has already done it all for us.  When Jesus went to the cross in our place, it was as if we went to the cross.  Everything Jesus did was for us.  He didn't need to be forgiven, because He was without sin.  He took our sins and iniquities.  He was innocent and was justified by the Father.  Those who put our faith in Jesus' Substitution work, are also justified.

     God's Word tells us about Jesus, Who was yet to come, in Is.53:11(Amp), saying, "He, Jesus, shall see the fruit of the travail of His Soul and be satisfied; by His knowledge of Himself which He possesses and imparts to others, shall My uncompromisingly Righteous One, My Servant, justify many and make many righteous (upright and in right standing with God). For He shall bear their iniquities and their guilt with the consequences, says the Lord."

     The world's view and The Bible's view of Christianity, are very different.  Of course, we try living clean, moral lives, but that's not the extent of God's Life that now lives in us.  The early Church placed their faith in the Finished Work of Jesus and changed the world.  Those in the Upper Room  prayed in Acts4:29(Amp), saying, "And now Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants full freedom to declare Your Message fearlessly. While You stretch our Your hand to cure and perform signs and wonders through the Authority and by the Power of the Name of Your Holy Child and Servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage."

     The Cancel Culture came for them, but didn't stop their pursuit of Truth.  Jesus cannot be canceled.  When was the last time you felt a building shake when you prayed?  When was the last time, the Holy Spirit followed your prayers with signs and wonders?  The world's view of who we are and God's view of who we are in Christ, are two separate things.  Even if we don't acknowledge or walk in the Truth of God's Word, it is still Truth.  Do we really expect God to show up when we pray or is it simply a formality?  We need to have faith in our prayers, so the world can see that our "God is not dead, but is surely Alive."

     Many believers think that trusting in God this far, is "over-the-top."  The Father thinks that this is how all of His newly created children are to live.  When someone has their prayers answered, we look upon them as being "special."  All of God's children are special and prayer is as much a part of our lives with Him, as breathing.  This is part of developing the new creation.  

     We must learn to trust in God's hearing our prayers and answering them, by His Ability.  Many look upon prayer, like playing the lottery, with a one in two trillion chance of having our prayers answered.  Prayer should be an assurance in our lives and not a chance.  Jesus said in John15:7(Amp), "If you live in Me (abide vitally united to Me), and My Words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."

     The above scripture hasn't passed away and isn't for a few in the early Church, but is for "everyone who lives and abides vitally united to Jesus."  His Words "continue to live in our hearts."  This isn't "over-the-top" to Him, but is His invitation to enter into His Throne Room of Grace and have our prayers answered.  This is God's view of the new creation children of God.  When we settle for the world's view, instead of God's view, then we're disappointed by God's lack of response to our unbelief.  

       

Developing the New Creation Lesson 67

      2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether). The old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."

     In order to discover who and what your new identity in Christ is, we must go to God's Word.  Our new creation man/woman is the born-again spirit that is now in our fleshly body, and only God's Word can show us who we've become.  1John3:2(Amp) says, "Beloved, we are ever here and now God's children; it is not yet disclosed, made clear to us 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."

    We're living in these natural bodies, but our spirit has been created new, by faith in Jesus.  Our natural bodies will be changed into whatever the visible Body Jesus now has, because "we will be like Him."  We must go to God's Word, in order to know our true identity and what we've become in Christ, while we're still in this natural body.  Our natural body didn't undergo a transformation when we were born-again, only our spirit did.  The natural man/woman still looks, thinks, and feels like it did before.

     Paul writes about the new creation man/woman in Rom.8:4,7(Amp), saying, "So that the righteous and just requirements of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh, but in the ways of the Spirit. Our lives governed not by the standards and according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit."  Our new creation spirit must hear and know God's Word and the Holy Spirit.  Paul goes on in Verse 7, about how God's Word reveals the difference between the Mind of Christ and the mind of the flesh, saying, "That is because the mind of the flesh with it's carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile to God; for it does not submit itself to God's Law, indeed it cannot."

     Our carnal mind cannot submit to God, His Word, or His Spirit.  The new creation man/woman is a spirit being, just like God is, according to what Jesus tells us in John4:24(Amp), saying, "God is a Spirit, a Spiritual Being, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)."  Jesus went on in John6:63(Amp) saying, "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."  God's Word is Spiritual Life and Light, to the new creation man/woman.  

     The only way to truly identify who we've now become in Jesus, is through the Word.  Our carnal minds can't accept what the Spirit of Truth tells us about our new identity.  Our carnal mind will tell us that we're "still sinners," but God's Word reveals that Jesus has created us new, righteous and just.  Our carnal mind tells us that "God won't hear our prayers," but 1John5:14-15(Amp) tells us, "And this is the confidence, assurance, the privilege of boldness which we have in Him; we are sure that if we ask anything, make any request according to His will (in agreement with His Own Plan), He listens to and hears us. And if since we positively know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know with settles and absolute knowledge that we have granted us as our present possessions the requests made of Him."

     Our carnal minds won't accept these Truths, but our new creation spirit will rejoice and stay in faith, when hearing them.  Is it possible to really know God's will?  Colossians1:9(Amp) says, "For this reason we also from the day we heard it (your love in the Holy Spirit), have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full, deep, and clear knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom, in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God, and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things."

     If we wait until we "feel" righteous enough to enter into God's Presence, then we'll never enter it.  We need to have faith that Jesus' Sacrifice made our new creation man/woman holy, sanctified, consecrated and sinless, so we can enter boldly into God's Throne Room of Grace.  The carnal mind keeps us from expecting our prayers to be answered and believing God's Blessing will work in our lives.  The carnal mind will never accept what God has done.  We discover our new creation identity in God's Word and we receive it by faith in God's Grace and Love for us.

     Rom.5:17(Amp) says, "For if because of one mans' trespass (lapse, offense), death reigned through that one [Adam], much more surely will those who receive God's overflowing Grace (unmerited favor), and the free Gift of Righteousness, putting them in right standing with Himself, reign as kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One."  Only our new born, new creation spirit man/woman can accept and believe these Words of deliverance.

     We've been born of the Spirit, but try walking in the flesh and carnal minds, which leaves of disappointed, without fellowship with God and unanswered prayers.  1John5:14(Amp) says, "This is the assurance, confidence, privilege we have in Him, by faith in His Grace and Truth and free Gift of Righteousness through Jesus."  We can only trust in the Words of Truth that Jesus brought into our lives, by Revelation knowledge through our spirit.  Our carnal mind will fight against the Truth and keep us down trodden and of no use to God's Kingdom.      

Developing the New Creation Lesson 66

      2Cor.5:17(Amp) tells us, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."  

     We find out who we've now been created to be, from God's Word.  So many believers still see themselves after who they were before being saved, instead of who they've been created to be in Christ Jesus.  Some believe it's "prideful," to think we're more than just forgiven sinners, saved by Grace.  We cannot walk in the new creation man/woman, until we know and believe what Jesus has done by His Sacrifice.

     When we read the Word with a carnal mind, we won't see why we qualify for God's Blessing.  We read about how God dealt with those in The Old Testament and think He deals that way with those in the new covenant.  We're afraid of exalting ourselves, without understanding that Jesus Himself has exalted us, by His death and Resurrection.  We've been made new creations through faith in Jesus.  We're no longer orphans, but are sons and daughters in God's Own family.

     We call God "Father," but act like we don't belong in His Kingdom and family.  We believe He's an "angry God," thinking He will punish us like He did those in the old covenant.  Religion only teaches about God's Grace, by a carnal mind, without seeing who we've now become through Jesus.  This leaves us without confidence that we're now part of God's family.

     Jesus said in John6:63(Amp), "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."  Reading God's Word through a carnal mind, leaves us seeing ourselves more the way we once were, with the weakness of the flesh, instead of who God has created us to be by the Power of Jesus' Sacrifice. 

     We must read God's Word and receive the Holy Spirit's Revelation of it, so we can understand who we've now become in Jesus.  We're no longer in the Outer Courts, but have the privilege of entering God's Throne Room of Grace.  We're fearful of God punishing us for our every mistake, instead of understanding the Grace and mercy God has for His family.  This isn't an excuse for living like heathens, but is growing into the knowledge of Christ and His Sacrifice.  Only God's Word can reveal the Majesty and Power of Calvary's cross.

     The genealogy of sin we received from Adam, has been changed and we've become one body, by Jesus' Sacrifice.  We no longer have the carnal and fleshly identities, but have a new identity in Christ.  God no longer deals with us by physical punishment, like those in the old covenant.  God deals with His family, by the Word and the Spirit.  We've become new creations of God and He uses His Word and His Spirit, to teach and discipline us.

     If God was "out to get us," then He would have done it before we were saved and were still living sinful lives.  Those under the old covenant were still dead in trespass and sin, because Jesus hadn't yet shed His Blood for them.  They didn't have the privilege of the new birth.

     When we put more faith in what Jesus has done, instead of what we have done, then we can accept who He has made us to be.  And, when we do this, we won't have faith enough to allow the Father to do what He desires in and through our lives.  Heb.11:1(Amp) says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed), of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality (faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses)."  Rom.8:7(Amp) says, "That is because the mind of the flesh with it's carnal thoughts and purposes, is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law, indeed it cannot."

     We walk in our new creation identity, by having faith in what God's Word says about how He sees us now in Christ.  We must have more faith in what God's Word says about us, rather than what the world and religion says about us.  We cannot accept our new identity by anything other than faith.  It's NOW FAITH and not works, self-designating, fasting, or religion.  We need to renew our minds by God's Word, because our carnal mind will keep us under condemnation and won't allow us to accept the Truth of God's Word.

     God made us new creations and we must believe and trust in, the Finished Work of Jesus.  We are created to know God's will, His thoughts, and His Purposes by the Word and Spirit.  Jesus said that, "The Words (Truths) I speak to you are Spirit and Life."  Our flesh can't rejoice in His Truth, only our spirit can.

 

    

Developing the New Creation Lesson 65

      2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether), the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."  

     Citizens of America have certain privileges and rights, but most haven't read the Constitution or The Declaration of Independence, so they don't know what rights they really have.  We depend on lawyers and politicians to tell us our rights and because we don 't know those right for ourselves, we forfeit many of our liberties and rights.

     God's Word tells us that we are now citizens of His Kingdom and have certain privileges and rights, because we are children of the Most High God and citizens of God's Kingdom.  The Bible is our Constitution and Bill of Rights.  We read and study God's Word, in order to discover who we are in Christ and what our rights are in this life.  Peter sheds some light on why we're to read God's Word, in 2Pet.1:3(Amp), saying, "For His Divine Power has bestowed upon us all things that are requisite and suited to life and Godliness, through the full personal knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His Own Glory and excellence."

     Many believers have never studied God's Word, in order to walk in "the full personal knowledge of Him."  We're content to have others seek God for us and to walk in what they interpret His Word to say.  The scripture indicates that we need to have a full, personal knowledge of God for ourselves.  There are many things being taught today about our Heavenly Father and Who He is, that aren't true.  So, it's important that we know Him for ourselves.

     God gave the five-fold ministry to the Church to teach us, but this doesn't take the place of our full personal knowledge of Him.  This only comes by spending time studying His Word and seeking fellowship with Him for ourselves.  Those who don't have a full personal knowledge of God, tell us that, "God puts sickness on you, in order to teach you" or "God is testing you, by putting this disease on you."  We can't allow the opinion of others to be rooted and grounded, in our new creation spirit man/woman.

     James1:13,16-17(Amp) says, "Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God is incapable of being tempted by what is evil and He Himself tempts no one."  Verses 16-17 go on, "Do not be misled, my beloved brethren. Every Good Gift and every Perfect, free, large full Gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all that gives Light, in the shining of Whom there can be no variation, rising or setting, or shadow cast by His turning as in an eclipse."

     Many things befall Christians in this life, that are not God's will for them.  We seemingly forget that we have an enemy who is out to "steal, kill and destroy."  We are children of the Light and belong to God and His Kingdom, so we're enemies of satan and his kingdom of darkness.  We must know where these bad things originate from, so we can rise above the trials and persecution, knowing God will deliver us out of this.

     When we're confused about the source of these afflictions and trials, then it's nearly impossible to keep faith in our deliverance.  James1:5-8(Amp) instructs us, saying, "If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the Giving God, Who gives to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or fault finding, and it will be given him. Only it must be in faith that he asks, no doubting, without wavering or hesitation, For the one who wavers, hesitates, doubts, is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything he asks for from the Lord. For being as he is a man of two minds, hesitating, dubious, irresolute, he is unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, decides."

     Trials come upon us, because we're children of God and threats to the enemy.  They also come upon us, because we're still in this world.  We're not of this world, but we're still in it.  We have God's Word living in us, so we're threats to satan.  The world is deceived, but we're no longer of this world.  Jesus gives "The Parable of the Sower," in Mark4:17(Amp) saying, "And they have no real root in themselves (no full, personal knowledge of Him [Jesus]), and so they endure for a little while; then when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Word, they immediately are offended (become displeased, indignant, resentful) and they stumble and fall."

     The enemy tries to steal away the Word that is in us, so we'll become unfruitful and will no longer be a danger to his kingdom.  When we don't know the source of our trials, we become passive.  We don't resist or have faith to stand on God's Word, if we don't have a full personal knowledge of our Father.  When we only have second-hand knowledge of God, believing that, "It must be God's will."

     This is a dangerous place to walk in, because if we believe it is God, then we have nowhere to go for help and allow satan to glorify himself without resisting.  We must "Put on the Armor of God," so we'll be able to quench the fiery darts of the enemy.  We need the knowledge of God and His Word of deliverance, which is the Sword of the Spirit.

Developing the New Creation Lesson 64

      2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether), the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."

     We can know what God's Grace has provided for His family, when reading Rom.1:17(Amp), which says, "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."

     Much has been said about growing our faith and living by faith.  We can't put faith in what we don't know.  We grow from faith to faith, by reading His Word and seeing what His Promises have provided us, through Grace.  We need to understand what Grace has provided us, in Jesus.  Eph.2:5(Amp) says, "Even when we were dead (slain by our own shortcomings and trespasses), He made us alive (the just shall live by faith). Together in fellowship and union with Christ; He gave us the very Life of Christ Himself, the Same new Life which He quickened Him, for it is by Grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved, delivered from judgement and made partakers of Christ's salvation."

     God has already provided our salvation, two-thousand years before we were born.  We were saved at the very moment we put faith in what Jesus provided for us and put faith in God's Grace.  We weren't made new creations by our works, but by putting faith in God's Grace, which provided our salvation in Jesus.  Jesus is the Source of Grace, that our faith is in.  When Paul wrote about our "going from faith to faith," he was referring to our continually growing  in God's Word, so we can discover all that Jesus has provided us, by His crucifixion.  Grace for salvation was provided two-thousand years before we put faith in it and became saved.  We accessed God's Grace and became new creations, by faith.  This same Grace also provided our righteousness, sanctification, consecration and access to our inheritance in Jesus.  It's not what we do, but faith in what Jesus has done and provided by Grace.

     Paul writes about the part that faith plays, in what God's Grace has provided for us, in Rom.5:2(Amp) saying, "Through Him also we have our introduction (our access, entrance), faith into this Grace (state of God's favor) in which we firmly stand, And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the Glory of God."  This isn't by our doing, but by having faith in what Jesus has already done, when He bought and paid for it by His Blood.  Grace isn't an excuse for sin, but is a Gift of righteousness.  

     Jesus provided everything we will ever need for here and hereafter, at His death on the cross and His Resurrection.  It comes by Grace and is accepted by faith in Him.  He bore our sickness and disease.  Grace has already provided our healing and when we put faith in it, then we access what Jesus already provided.  This is going from faith to faith.  When we read God's Word and put faith in what His Grace has already made ours through Jesus, then we're going from faith to faith, unto completed salvation.

     Through Jesus, God has extended His Grace to the entire world, but many have never put faith in His invitation of that Grace and remain unsaved.  John3:16(Amp) says, "For God so greatly Love and dearly prized the world that He even gave up His Only Begotten, Unique Son, so that whoever believes, trusts in, clings to, relies on Him, shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost), but have Eternal, Everlasting Life."

     God has extended His Grace to the whole world, but it must be accessed by faith in Jesus.  We don't earn it, work for it or deserve it, but it is a free Gift of Grace by faith in Jesus.  Now that we've accepted this Grace by faith, we must go from faith to faith and accept everything Grace has provided us, through Jesus.  When the Father made us a new creation being, He provided everything Jesus paid for and bought by His Sacrifice, for us.  

     We continue asking the Father for things that He already provided by Grace.  We must understand the Amazing Grace that provided our inheritance and made us joint heirs in Christ Jesus.  This isn't only for when we get to Heaven, but for while we remain on earth.  Jesus Paid the Price for our complete salvation and it's ours when we believe in what He has done.

     We try to be good enough to deserve God's Blessing in our lives, but Eph.3:14(Amp) tells us, "To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come on the Gentiles, so that we, through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."  We keep "trying to be Blessed," not recognizing that God's Blessing is already ours, by faith in the Grace that Jesus provided by His Sacrifice.

     There's nothing we need for our earthly lives, that God's Grace hasn't already provided in Jesus, according to 2Pet.1:3(Amp), which says, "For His Divine Power has bestowed upon us all things that are requisite and suited to life and Godliness, through the full, personal knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His Own Glory and excellence (virtue)."

     It's already been offered by Grace and by the full knowledge of Him."  We must put faith in the Finished Work of Calvary.    

Developing the New Creation Lesson 63

     2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether), the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."

     When looking at both our past and present lives, we realize that we're far from being perfect.  We continue trying to produce righteous, instead of accepting the Righteousness of God gave us by Grace when we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  Rom.8:1(Amp) gives us insight into how to live by faith in Christ Jesus, 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 dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit."

     The dictates of the flesh will keep us bound by our past lives and the mistakes we make in our new creation life with God.  We know that we don't deserve God's Promises, His faithfulness or the Love He has for us.  We try coming to a place in our flesh, where we deserve His Blessing.  The flesh will always hold us in condemnation, but when we learn to listen to the dictates of the Spirit of Grace, we can by faith, accept what Jesus has done for us, instead of trying to do so by works.

     This isn't an invitation to continue in sin and what the old man/woman used to walk in.  This is an invitation to leave our old man/woman and develop the new creation person who has been made righteous in Jesus.  Grace is something that we don't deserve.  It's a free Gift from God, that we receive by faith in Jesus.  If we do works to "deserve it," then it's no longer Grace.

     The dictates of the Spirit will always remind us what Jesus has done and not what we have done.  We must spend time in fellowship with our Heavenly Father and in His Word, in order to walk after the dictates of the Spirit.  We shouldn't read only The Old Testament, identifying with those in the old covenant who were disciplined for their failure.  We need to identify with what Jesus did, when He bore the chastisement for our iniquities and took our punishment.  The people in the old covenant had to walk by the blood of animals, which only covered their sin, but our covenant is based on the Blood of Jesus, which completely removed even the stain of sin and made us righteous before God.

     When we sin, we need to confess it before God, instead of allowing the flesh to condemn us.  We need to listen to the Holy Spirit Who is "Righteous to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness," according to 1John1:9(Amp), which says, "If we freely admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just, True to His Own nature and Promises and will forgive our sins, dismiss our lawlessness and will continuously cleanse us from all unrighteousness, everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought and action."

     This isn't an invitation to live in sin, but it's the bridge that will keep us in His Perfect will, so His Blessing can continue to do what He purposes in our lives.  The Holy Spirit will always point us to God's Word and who we've now become by the Sacrifice of Jesus and not to who we once were in this flesh and blood body.  We all still make mistakes as we grow in this Grace and faith in Jesus.  Paul instructs us to renew our minds with God's Word, so we can forget who we once were in Rom.12:2(Amp), which says, "Do not be conformed to this world (age), fashioned after and adapted to it's external superficial customs, but be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of your mind, by it's new ideals and it's 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."  In order to renew our minds to the new creation being we've become in Christ, we must study God's Word and listen to what His Holy Spirit says about us.

     Some use Grace as an excuse to continue living in the sin they lived in before being born-again and never renew their minds to the new man/woman they are in Christ Jesus.  This is being conformed and adapted to the world with it's external and superficial customs.  Others have adapted to the customs of the world.  They don't listen to the dictates of the Spirit and refuse to believe the Truth that they're no longer just unworthy sinners.  These aren't God's will for our lives.

     Those who use Grace to continue sinning, are deceiving themselves by the world's idea of Grace.  Those who receive Grace, but continue to hold onto the condemnation and guilt of who they once were, haven't allowed Grace to renew their minds by the Word and Spirit.  These fall short of what God's Grace came to do in our lives.  Psalm23:3(Amp) says, "He [God] refreshes and restores my life (myself). He leads me in paths of Righteousness (uprightness and right standing with Him), not for my earning it, but for His Name's sake."

     We represent God to the world and it's for His Name's sake that we follow after and listen to the Spirit, in our earthly walk with Him.  When we conform and adapt to the world's ideals and customs, we bring reproach to His name, not ours.  We must be willing to develop into what God has created us to be, refusing to walk after the dictates of the flesh and walking after the dictates of the Spirit.  We must study God's Word, in order to learn who this new creation being is and how we're to act in today's world.  We don't need religion, but relationship with God.  We're part of a royal family, born of God and living in God and His Word.

     

       

      

Developing the New Creation Lesson 62

     2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."  

     The new creation person is born from the Seed of God's Word and is saved by Grace, through faith in this Word.  Many today believed that salvation only means we're forgiven of our sins and will go to Heaven, when we leave this earth.  The word "saved" or "salvation" means much more than the Church has understood.  The Strong's Concordance tells us it means, according to #4990 "a deliverer, i.e. God or Christ, savior," #4982 "safe, to save, i.e. deliver or protect, lit. or fig. heal, preserve, save self, do well, be or make whole."

     1Pet.2:2(Amp) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual mile (the Word of God), that by it you may be nurtured and grow into completed salvation."  This indicates that there's much more to our salvation, than just forgiveness and going to Heaven.  Rom.1:17(Amp) says, "For in the Gospel a Righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed through the way of faith, that arouses to more faith.As it is written, the man who through faith is just and upright and shall live by faith."

     The KJV says, "We go from faith to faith."  Our faith in God and His Word is a growing process, which takes us from only believing salvation is our going to Heaven, to living in God's Blessings and in His Presence while we're still in this body on earth.  We became new creation children of God, when we accepted His Gift of Life through Jesus, but most of us haven't continued going from faith to faith.  Many become born-again, but never mature from what Peter called "newborn babies" in Christ.

     Many believers have been taught that these things "aren't for us today, but only for the early Church," but God's Word is for all who will believe in what Jesus bought and paid for, by His Sacrifice on our behalf.  Gal.3:13-14(Amp) says, "Christ purchased our freedom, redeeming us from the Curse (doom of the Law) and it's condemnation, by Himself becoming a Curse for us, for it is written in the scriptures, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified). To the end that through their receiving Christ Jesus, the Blessing Promised to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might all receive the realization of the Promise of the Holy Spirit."

     Jesus paid for and has bought us all back (redeemed) us from the the Curse of the Law, by His Blood.  It only takes faith in His Redemption, for us to live in the Blessing.  Few have allowed their faith to reach into this Power of Redemption, because of the weakness of our flesh.  We feel the symptoms in our flesh and feel sick and then allow those feelings to negate the Promise.  Then we accept that which the Curse continues trying to perform in our lives.

     Our getting sick doesn't mean we're not good Christians, but means that we haven't yet grown into completed salvation.  Our salvation was, and is, complete in Him, so we can't give up too soon on the Promise.  We live by faith daily, in this provided Salvation.  The Curse of the Law is still working in the earth and will try coming on anyone who doesn't use faith to rise above it.  It takes faith and patience to do this, according to Heb.10:36(Amp), which says, "Do not therefore fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus received and came away and enjoy to the full what is Promised." 

     We can't become discouraged when we don't seem to receive what the Promise says "is ours."  The enemy knows the Word will work, if we hold fast to it in faith and he's determined to talk us out of God's Promises.  This is why we need endurance and patience.  Jesus gave "The Parable of the Sower," in Mark4 and said this in Verse15, "The ones along the path are those who have the Word sown in their hearts, but when they hear, satan comes at once and by force takes away the Message which is sown in them."  Verse17 says that, "Satan comes to take with persecution and trouble, and the trouble and persecution arises on account of the Word in order that it not bring forth the Promise."

     As we grow from faith to faith and become more mature children of God, we establish His Kingdom on this earth for all mankind to see.  Sadly, the world hasn't seen much difference between Christians and themselves.  They haven't seen the Super-natural Power of God's Presence and His Blessing in our lives, so they think we're just another religion.  The world needs to witness God working in and through us, in order to believe.  God is going to reveal Himself in such a way, through His Church, that no one will able to deny it.  Signs and wonders will follow the Church, as God proves out His Word and Presence, to the unbelievers.  It will take faith and boldness to do what God is going to do, but He has a people in the land that He can move through.  Eph.3:10(Amp) tells us, "The purpose is that through the Church, the complicated, many sided Wisdom of God in all it's infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities, principalities and powers in the heavenly sphere."

    

    

Developing the New Creation Lesson 61

      The only way to grow into the mature sons and daughters of God we were created to be, is learning to trust in His Word.  The less we trust in God's Promises, the less strength we have to receive what He Promised.  Although all of His Promises are "Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus," they must be received by faith in those Promises.  We've become new creations and the Blessing of Abraham came on us the moment we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We don't "try" to be Blessed, but are already Blessed.

     In Heb.4:2(Amp), God speaks to those in the Wilderness and to us today, saying, "Therefore, While the Promise of entering His Rest still holds and is offered today, let us be afraid to distrust it lest any of you should think he has come too late and has come of reaching it."  This is one of the Promises Paul writes about in 2Cor.1:20(Amp), which 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."

     Like those in the Wilderness, this can be said about us today.  Heb.4:2(Amp) says, "For indeed we have had the Glad tidings (Gospel of God), proclaimed to us just as truly as they, the Israelites of old did when the good news of deliverance from bondage came to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them because it was not mixed with faith."

     How much faith have we mixed with all of God's Promises, He has bestowed upon us today?  We develop the new creation man/woman, by developing faith in God's Word and Promises, so we can enter into His Promises.  When we were born-again by faith in God's Promise through Jesus, all of these Promises came into our new being.  1Pet.2:2(Amp) says, "Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure, unadulterated Spiritual milk (of the Word), that by it you may be nurtured and grow into complete salvation.

     Our salvation was complete when we were born-again by the Word of God, but we must grow into the completeness of it by receiving the Promises it holds for us, BY FAITH.  One of the first things we do with our newborn baby, is teach them to talk.  When we are born-again, we're to learn how to talk, by listening to our Heavenly Father and speaking His Word as He teaches us to speak.  John3:34(Amp) tells us about the earthly ministry of Jesus, saying, "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims His Own Message), God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the Gift God makes of His Spirit."

     Do we speak God's Own Word or do we speak contrary to His Promises?  Do we mix faith in and trust in His Promises or do we listen and trust in what the world and tradition tell us?  We must mix faith with the words we speak concerning God's Promises.  Charles Capps wrote a small book about mixing faith in the Promises of God, where he called the tongue, "the mixer."  The people God delivered from Egypt spoke contrary to God's Promise and didn't mix faith in what He said, which resulted in their dying in the Wilderness and not entering His Promised Land (Rest).

     The teachings about, "Saying what God says," have been made available to the Body of Christ.  Those in the Wilderness trusted in the words of ten spies, instead of what God said.  The words spoken from the mouths of the new creation children of God, carry power to deliver or to stay in the Wilderness.  This teaching got lost to many of God's children, because we didn't want to hear it or didn't understand it.  It's difficult to receive the Promise of healing for our body, when we say, "God made me sick."  Many believe that God's Promises have passed away.  We know that God's Word will never pass away, because it's forever settled in Heaven and is Eternal.  God's Word is True.

     If we're to receive all that Jesus has done for us and all of God's Promises, then we must mix faith in His Promises and order our words to line up with Him.  We can't continue speaking contrary to God's Word and expect Him to honor it.  Psalm12:3-4(Amp) says, "May the Lord cut off all flattering lips and The tongues that speak proud boasting Those who say, with our tongues we prevail, our lips are our own to command at our will, who is lord and master over us?"

    When we speak contrary to God's Promises, we're saying that "God's Word isn't true" and that "It doesn't matter what we say."  Our Father teaches us to speak, just like an earthly father teaches hi baby to speak, by listening to what they hear.  One can know what is spoken in a home, by listening to what children speak.  The children might not understand the meaning of their words, but they speak what they hear.  

     We're to speak the Words our Heavenly Father speak.  This is the language of the new creation and the language of God's Kingdom.  God's Word rules over all things and when we keep our tongues and mouths filled with His Word, then He can bring them to pass in our lives.  God won't bring His Promises to pass in our lives, when we disagree with them and declare, "They're not for us today."  We must check the words we speak and refuse to speak words that don't line-up with God's Promises.    

Developing the New Creation Lesson 60

     2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether), the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."

     We were studying Grace and faith, in the previous blog.  Many have become confused by things they've been taught from a carnal or natural way of understanding the Word.  Scripture tells us that faith cannot produce anything that Grace has not provided.  Faith doesn't "make" God do anything that He hasn't Promised.  We read about how Grace and faith lead to salvation, in Eph.2:8(Amp), which says, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation through your faith; And this salvation is not of yourselves (not of your own doing, it came not from your own striving), but is the Gift of God." 

     Grace has already made salvation available, to everyone who puts faith in that Grace through Jesus and accepts the Gift He has provided.  Jesus did all the work, Grace made the free Gift of His Work available.  Faith reached into God's Grace and accepted what God has already made available, by His Grace.  The same principle of Grace and faith, work hand-in-hand throughout all of God's Promises and we know that all of His Promises are "Yes and Amen to the Glory of God," according to 2Cor.1:20(Amp).

     Our faith didn't do anymore than believe what God's Word said and accepted His free Gifts.  Rom.5:17(Amp) says, "For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) [Adam], death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive God's overflowing Grace (unmerited favor) and the free Gift of righteousness, putting them into right standing with God Himself, reign as kings in life through the One Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."

     Grace has provided the free Gift of righteousness, faith simply accepts what God has offered, without striving or struggling for it.  God's Word describes it as being "simple and easy," like God intended it to be.  Religion has made it difficult to receive, because we knew we didn't deserve it.   We tried making ourselves worthy by works, instead of receiving what Jesus has done for us, BY FAITH.  This isn't just true for salvation, but for all of God's Promises.  They are offered by Grace and received by faith in Jesus and His Sacrifice.  Trying to receive them by any other means, results in failure and leads us to believe the world's idea of "You never know what God will do."

     We all want to walk in health and healing, in this world.  We try praying and crying and when it doesn't happen, we say, "It must not be God's will" or "God is testing me."  Jesus paid for our healing, when He paid for everything else.  Grace provides healing and faith accepts what Grace has already made available.  Healing might be harder for us to accept by faith, because the natural body hurts and reminds us what is wrong.  We seem to put more faith in how we feel, rather than in the Promise of healing by Grace.

     Rom.1:17(KJV) says we're to go from "faith to faith."  This comes from trusting in God's Word.  The combination of Grace and faith work for our salvation, so we extend our faith into other Promises of God.  God's Grace offers what Jesus bought and paid for on the cross.  It's already ours by faith in Him.

     Paul writes to the church in 1Cor.6:11(Amp) concerning the world and who we were before Jesus and His Sacrifice and then who we've now become in Him.  Thus, it says, "And such some of you were once. But you were washed clean, purified by a complete Atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin, and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified, pronounced righteous by trusting in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit of God."  We were made all of these things that Paul writes about, by Grace and faith in the Grace offered.  We are now what God says we are, in Jesus.  The question is, "Will you accept it and live in it, by faith in God's Word?"  Or will you remain what religion says about our being "Just sinners saved by Grace?"  

     It's not pride, but is faith and trust in what Jesus made us to be in Him.  Our faith must be higher than what our carnal minds will allow us to receive.  There is no faith in God's Word, in our carnal mind, according to Rom.8:7(Amp), which says, "That is because the mind of the flesh, with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile to God for it does not submit itself to God's Laws, indeed it cannot."

     Many in today's Church have mostly heard the carnal opinions of men/women, about what God's Word says.  Not everyone who is saved, will choose to walk by faith into the Promises of God, even though they're already ours by Grace and the Sacrifice of Jesus.  Some though will grow up from faith to faith, going beyond the carnal mind.  Jesus stepped out beyond what the scribes taught and was ridiculed, even though He was right.  Some will never believe God for more than what they're currently walking in.  They're saved, righteous, consecrated, holy, healed and are to reign as kings in this life, but they don't know that these are already theirs by Grace, through Jesus.

Developing the New Creation Lesson 59

     2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."

     The new creation man/woman is developed by knowing and understanding what Grace has provided us, by the new birth.  Many things that we've heard taught and preached, have held back the new creation.  Satan fears the person who knows who he/she has become, when being born-again and receiving Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  We must know that who we've now become, is and was, because of Jesus Christ.  Everything He has done is ours by faith and not by works.

     We find the Promises God made to His people throughout the Word and these only come by faith in what Jesus did for us on Calvary's cross and by His Resurrection.  The Promise of healing is now no longer a Promise, but a fact.  The Blessing has already become fact, in the life of the believer.  Many have stumbled over this Truth, because we try to "deserve" them.  We don't receive these things because we deserve them, but because Jesus died in order to give them to us, by Grace.  Through His death and Resurrection, Grace has provided every Promise.

     We've gone wrong, by thinking it has to do with our being perfect enough to deserve them.  In reality, it only takes faith in what Jesus has done and then receiving what He has done for us.  We could never become righteous with God on our own.  Rom.3:10(Amp) says, "As it is written, None is Righteous (just and truthful and upright and conscientious), no not one."  Notice how one is left in this scripture, it  says, "none is righteous."  Jesus provided for us on the cross and Grace has made it a Truth, by faith in Jesus.  We learn how this new Righteousness was made manifest to us who will believe in Rom.3:21-22,23-24(Amp), which says, "But now the Righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the prophets. Namely, the Righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and in confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and it is meant for all who believe, For there is no distinction."

     In order to be righteous in God's eyes, we must by faith, believe that in Jesus, we were made righteous with His Righteousness.  This is an act of faith in what Grace has already provided us, in Jesus.  This doesn't come by striving to do works, in order to become righteous in our own selves.  It is already been done by Jesus.  Everything God has Promised, has already been done and paid for by the Blood of Jesus.  Jesus took our place, in order to put us in His place with the Father.  Jesus took our sin and gave us His Righteousness.  He took all of our sickness and disease and gave us His Own healing and deliverance.  We're only required to simply trust and put faith in Jesus' Sacrifice for us.

    Paul continues in Verses 23-24, writing, "All are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His Grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the Redemption which is provided in Christ Jesus."  The Church has spent centuries trying to become what Jesus has already made us to be.  We must simply believe in what He has already provided us.

     Heb.11:6(Amp) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must necessarily believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out."  The only way to come near to Him, is by righteousness and the only way we can become righteous, is by believing in Jesus to make us righteous.  Without faith in Jesus, we cannot be pleasing and near to Him.  We're not acceptable to Him, in our own righteousness.

     Paul continues writing about Jesus in Rom.3:25-26(Amp), saying, "Whom God put forward before the eyes of all as a Mercy Seat and Propitiation by His Blood, the cleansing and Life-giving Sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, TO BE REVEALED THROUGH FAITH. This was to show God's Righteousness, because in His Divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season), that He Himself is Righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has true faith in Jesus."

     Faith isn't a teaching, but is the way of life for the believer.  Many scoff at "faith teachings," like they're foolishness, but "without faith, it is impossible to please God."  Everything we get from God our Father, is by faith in what Grace has provided, in Jesus.  Many don't receive this Truth, because they don't "feel" worthy or "good enough to deserve it."  We didn't get what we deserve, thank God!  We deserved to die in our sin and pass into judgment because of it.  By Grace, Jesus was sent to take our place and now by Grace and faith in Jesus, we can receive God's Righteousness and favor.  We didn't get what we deserve, but what our Heavenly Father wished us to have.

     We can now do works of righteousness for mankind, instead of works to become righteous.  We do this by faith in the Finished Work of Jesus and by faith in what He has provided by Grace and His Sacrifice.  Everything we will ever need, both here and when we get to Heaven, has now been provided for by the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God.  Jesus said in John10:9(Amp), "I Am the Door, anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out freely and will find pasture."

     Rom.5:2(Amp) says, "Through Him also we have our access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this Grace, state of God's favor in which we firmly and safely And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the Glory of God." 

      

Developing the New Creation Lesson 58

     2Cor.5:17(Amp) says, "Therefore, if any person is ingrafted in Christ Jesus (the Messiah), he is a new creation (a new creature altogether), the old previous moral and Spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."

     The new creation man/woman is born of God and has the very nature of God within our newly created spirit, by the new birth.  Jesus said in John6:63(Amp), "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 that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."

     We can better understand Who the Word is, by reading John1:1-4(Amp), which says, "In the beginning (before all time), was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men."  Everything came into existence through Jesus and without Him, "not one thing came into being."

     Many Christians wonder why we see so little of the miraculous Presence of God, in the world today.  We know that, "without the Word, not one thing has come into being."  How many things would come into being in our lives today, if we would read and speak God's Word, instead of accepting the world's idea which tells us that, "God doesn't do these things anymore?"  

     We, the new creation persons, didn't come into being, until we believed and spoke the Word, Jesus, into our lives.  When we believed and confessed the Word, like in Genesis, Life and Light came into being and we were created new creations.  Why do we think that the Word of Life only worked in this one thing?  The Words of Jesus produced Spirit and Life.  The flesh has not profit in it.  Speaking contrary to God's Word will not produce Life or Light in our lives.

     Few Christians spend time in God's Word, so the Spirit and Life have very little effect in the new creation spirit man/woman.  Our spirit is fed and produces Life, not only in the spirit realm, but in the natural body too.  Prov.4:22-23(Amp) speaks about God's Word, saying, "For they are Life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart (spirit) with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it (your spirit) flow the springs of Life."  

     Many don't believe that we should watch our words, believing that it's "foolishness," but Jesus cautioned us against hearing and speaking contrary to the Word.  Prov.8:8-9(Amp) says, "All the Words of My mouth are righteous, upright and in right standing with God; there is nothing contrary to Truth or crooked in them. They are all plain to him who understands and opens his heart (spirit), and right to those who find knowledge and live by it."

     Are the words we're speaking, line up with God's Word?  Are you speaking contrary to what God's Word says and speaks to us?  Are we adhering to Jesus' directions in Mark4:23-24(Amp), where He says, "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."

     The measure we receive, is left up to those who hear what the Spirit is saying.  John3:34(Amp) says, "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the Words of God (proclaims God's Own Message). God does not give His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the Gift God makes of His Spirit."  If the new creation people, who are born of God, were careful to speak God's Own Word, then God would be able to trust us with a greater measure of His Spirit.  

     Prov.18:21(Amp) says, "Death and Life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it, for death or Life."  Jesus spoke to a fig tree and it died.  He spoke to a dead man and the man lived.  What are we speaking and to what or whom are we speaking too?  Are we speaking God's Words, which He can honor or are they inoperative, contrary words that will profit nothing, both in our lives and the lives of those we speak them to?  Do our words bring Life and healing or death and oppression?  Words of Life bring Life, while words of death, come from the enemy to bring destruction and death in our lives.  We mustn't give the enemy any place in our lives, by giving him our words to use against us.

     Jesus contended with satan in Luke 4.  Jesus used the Word of God to defeat everything the enemy tried using against Him.  Paul writes about the Armor of God in Eph.6:16-17(Amp) saying, "Lift up over all the covering shield of faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God." 

     We must keep our words in-line with God's Word and allow the self-fulfilling Power of that Word work in our lives.  Speaking contrary to God's Word, gives God nothing to work with to provide deliverance in our lives.