2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
2Corinthians 12:1 (Amplified) says, "True, there is nothing to be gained by it, but (as I am obliged) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelation of the Lord."
We've mostly been taught about the above scripture, concerning Paul's "thorn in the flesh." We've not heard much about how that "thorn in the flesh" was "a messenger of satan," sent to buffet and harass Paul. Many any of us have heard though, that God gave Paul this thorn of the flesh, in order to keep Paul humble. May God give us understanding and open our eyes to see the Truth of His Word, and not religion. Paul says Jesus directly gave him the revelation of the new creation in a vision. He also says that his "thorn in the flesh" was a demon spirit satan sent to take away the Message by force."
Jesus was preaching the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:15 (Amplified) and says, "The one 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. It was God, Who gave the revelation about the new creation to Paul. Satan did everything he could to stop Paul and "steal" the Word that Paul was preaching and sowing in the people's hearts. Paul speaks about the persecution he had undergone, in order to preach this revelation to the world, in 2Corinthians 11. Most of us wouldn't have endured the persecution Paul underwent. We probably would have quit preaching the Word and returned home. Not Paul. Despite the trouble and strife satan stirred up against him, Paul stated in 2Corinthians 12:1,9 (Amplified), "True, there is nothing to be gained by it (boasting of his infirmities, or weaknesses of his natural man) (but as I am obligated) to boast, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord." In Verse 9, Paul tells about asking the Lord to "remove this messenger" from him and the Lord actually gave him revelation of "more grace" and it's ability to deliver him. By revelation, Paul states that "when he was weak as a natural man, is when God's strength is greater."
Remember, the same Paul who wrote these previous Verses, is also the Paul who wrote 2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) which says, "For God Who said, Let Light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the Majesty and Glory (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). However we possess this precious treasure (the Divine Light of the Gospel) in (frail, human) vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
We can now understand what Paul meant in 2Corinthians 12:9 (Amplified), saying, "Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in (your) weaknesses. Therefore I will all the more glory in my weaknesses and infirmities that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes make a tent over and dwell) upon me."
In 2Corinthians 12:1 (Amplified), Paul wrote, "I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord." This is a continuing revelation that reached beyond the cross and continues even unto "being seated together with Jesus in the Heavenlies," according to Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) where Paul says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
Paul goes "on in visions and revelations" of Jesus and he instructs the Church (us) to continue on with him, as he shares this revelation in 2Corinthians 3:18 (Amplified), "AND ALL OF US; as with unveiled face, (because we) continued to behold (in the Word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His Very Own Image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, (for this comes) from the Lord (Who is) the Spirit."
Many of us in the Church, have only a limited revelation of the cross and not much beyond the remission of sin. Some do not even have a clear revelation of this and continue to refer to themselves as "only forgiven sinners." For many, the revelation of our righteousness in Christ has been blinded by the god of this world. For many more, the revelation of Jesus' Sacrifice has been limited to "going to Heaven when we die."
Much of our "revelation" has been derived from the four Gospels. That revelation was limited, because it wasn't time to reveal the Mystery of God, to the world. It was only after Paul was "taken into the third Heaven" and given the "revelation of this Mystery that was hidden in God,"that we received even a glimpse of the new creation. We still concentrated on the sins of the flesh, rather than the righteousness of the new man, who had been created within our spirit. Of course, the sins of the flesh must cease and be done away with, but it's done by the power of the Spirit of God that is now within our new creation man. Laws and rituals try to control the flesh from the outside only.
Reading through Paul's letters to the Church, we see him writing more about learning "who we are," rather than "who we were." His idea of weakness was that the flesh has no power in it. Only the new man has power, because the Holy Spirit lives within him or her. We've allowed ourselves to return to the bondage of the world, by denying the power from within. Until we "come to further revelations" (like Paul preached and wrote about), we've reached the limits of our understanding of who Jesus really made us to be.
Paul wrote to the Church in Galatians 3:2-3 (Amplified), "Let me ask you this one question; Did you receive the Holy Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing (the Message of the Gospel) and believing it? Was it from observing a Law of rituals or from a Message of faith? Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun (your new life spiritually) with the Holy Spirit; are you now reaching perfection (by dependence) on the flesh?"
I am truly impressed by the faith of the early Church, after the heard the Gospel. They received what was preached by faith and received the moves and miracles of the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 5:15-16 (Amplified) which says, "So that they (even) kept carrying out the sick into the streets and placing them on couches and sleeping pads, (in the hope) that as Peter passed by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them. And the people also from the towns and hamlets around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those troubled with foul spirits, and they were all cured."
Today, what are we preaching that is so different from what they preached?"
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Monday, October 9, 2017
Lesson 272 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); old things (previous moral and spiritual condition) have passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
If possible, then momentarily try not to look upon Jesus as "the Lord," but as "the man." Jesus was and is the perfect Example of the new creation man. "Jesus was born without sin," according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) which says, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God."
Because Jesus was without sin, God could now actually indwell this human being, without the consequence of destroying Jesus with His Presence. As Jesus, the Man, became the Temple of God, He could allow God to live and move through Him. In John 10:10 (Amplified) Jesus said, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
At this time, Jesus was the only "Living" Spirit on the planet. All were dead (spiritually) in trespass and sin. Jesus was the Perfect Example of a new creation man. He was a flesh and blood Man and was the actual Living Temple of God Himself. There had never been a natural man who was made "one" with the very Spirit of God residing in Him. The Last Adam (Jesus), was and is today, the True Example of the new creation.
While it's True that Jesus is Lord of all, He is also what the Word calls Him, "the Firstborn of many brethren." Romans 8:29 (Amplified) says, "For those whom He foreknew (of whom He was aware and Loved beforehand) He also destined from the beginning (fore ordaining them) to be molded into the Image of His Son (and share inwardly His Likeness) that He might become the Firstborn of many brethren."
Jesus was born of the Word of God and not by man's sperm, which means he was without the sin that came from "fallen man." John 1:14 (Amplified) says, "And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we (actually) saw His glory (His honor, His majesty) such glory as an Only Begotten Son receives from His Father, full of grace (favor, loving kindness) and Truth."
The above scripture tells us that the "man" Jesus was the "Only Begotten Son of God." After His resurrection, Romans 8:29 refers to Him as, "the Firstborn among many brethren." Jesus was without sin, so God could actually indwell Him and live in Him. Jesus wasn't only the Word of God, but He was born of the Word, according to 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) which says, "You have been regenerated (born-again) not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm) but from One that is immortal by the Ever Living and Lasting Word of God."
The Seed (Word) that gave birth to Jesus, is the Same Seed (Word) that gave birth to you and me, in this natural body. The new creation living in this body, is the same kind of new creation Spirit, Who lived in the sinless Body of Jesus. Paul says that the Father now sees us as sinless too in Romans 6:11 (Amplified), "Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God (living in unbroken fellowship) with Him in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and Death."
Natural man cannot conceive in his mind, the Truth about being sinless in the Eyes of a Holy God. We're still more in tune with who we were, instead of who we now are in Christ Jesus. We've actually been made righteousness enough that God makes His home within our spirit. It seems unthinkable to the mind of natural man, that God makes this old body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. But, this is exactly what God has done in this new creation. He didn't just forgive the sin, but He created a new creation from this fallen man. God din't recreate us, but He raised our dead spirits to a new life. God created a new, sinless, righteous, holy and joint spirit with His Own Spirit. He created us from dead and useless spirits, and calls us His sons and daughters.
The new creation man was even more amazing than the first creation. When God created man, even the angels were amazed at God's "making a man higher than the angels" and His giving man "dominion over the works of God's Hands." Psalm 8:4-6 (Amplified) asks, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of (earth born) man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a littler lower than God (or Heavenly beings) and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your Hands, You have put all things under his feet."
The first Adam (man) God created was so amazing, but couldn't compare with God's new creation that was made "a little lower than God." Through Jesus, the new creation is made in union with God, as joint heirs and God's Own dwelling place on earth. This is the new creation that Jesus came to be and is the Seed from which we are to grow. John 1:3-4 (Amplified) says "Al things were made and came into existence through Him (the Word) 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."
If possible, then momentarily try not to look upon Jesus as "the Lord," but as "the man." Jesus was and is the perfect Example of the new creation man. "Jesus was born without sin," according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) which says, "For our sake He made Christ (virtually) to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become (endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of) the righteousness of God."
Because Jesus was without sin, God could now actually indwell this human being, without the consequence of destroying Jesus with His Presence. As Jesus, the Man, became the Temple of God, He could allow God to live and move through Him. In John 10:10 (Amplified) Jesus said, "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy, I came that they may have and enjoy Life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)."
At this time, Jesus was the only "Living" Spirit on the planet. All were dead (spiritually) in trespass and sin. Jesus was the Perfect Example of a new creation man. He was a flesh and blood Man and was the actual Living Temple of God Himself. There had never been a natural man who was made "one" with the very Spirit of God residing in Him. The Last Adam (Jesus), was and is today, the True Example of the new creation.
While it's True that Jesus is Lord of all, He is also what the Word calls Him, "the Firstborn of many brethren." Romans 8:29 (Amplified) says, "For those whom He foreknew (of whom He was aware and Loved beforehand) He also destined from the beginning (fore ordaining them) to be molded into the Image of His Son (and share inwardly His Likeness) that He might become the Firstborn of many brethren."
Jesus was born of the Word of God and not by man's sperm, which means he was without the sin that came from "fallen man." John 1:14 (Amplified) says, "And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we (actually) saw His glory (His honor, His majesty) such glory as an Only Begotten Son receives from His Father, full of grace (favor, loving kindness) and Truth."
The above scripture tells us that the "man" Jesus was the "Only Begotten Son of God." After His resurrection, Romans 8:29 refers to Him as, "the Firstborn among many brethren." Jesus was without sin, so God could actually indwell Him and live in Him. Jesus wasn't only the Word of God, but He was born of the Word, according to 1Peter 1:23 (Amplified) which says, "You have been regenerated (born-again) not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm) but from One that is immortal by the Ever Living and Lasting Word of God."
The Seed (Word) that gave birth to Jesus, is the Same Seed (Word) that gave birth to you and me, in this natural body. The new creation living in this body, is the same kind of new creation Spirit, Who lived in the sinless Body of Jesus. Paul says that the Father now sees us as sinless too in Romans 6:11 (Amplified), "Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God (living in unbroken fellowship) with Him in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:2 (Amplified) says, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life (which is) in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and Death."
Natural man cannot conceive in his mind, the Truth about being sinless in the Eyes of a Holy God. We're still more in tune with who we were, instead of who we now are in Christ Jesus. We've actually been made righteousness enough that God makes His home within our spirit. It seems unthinkable to the mind of natural man, that God makes this old body, the temple of the Holy Spirit. But, this is exactly what God has done in this new creation. He didn't just forgive the sin, but He created a new creation from this fallen man. God din't recreate us, but He raised our dead spirits to a new life. God created a new, sinless, righteous, holy and joint spirit with His Own Spirit. He created us from dead and useless spirits, and calls us His sons and daughters.
The new creation man was even more amazing than the first creation. When God created man, even the angels were amazed at God's "making a man higher than the angels" and His giving man "dominion over the works of God's Hands." Psalm 8:4-6 (Amplified) asks, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of (earth born) man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a littler lower than God (or Heavenly beings) and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your Hands, You have put all things under his feet."
The first Adam (man) God created was so amazing, but couldn't compare with God's new creation that was made "a little lower than God." Through Jesus, the new creation is made in union with God, as joint heirs and God's Own dwelling place on earth. This is the new creation that Jesus came to be and is the Seed from which we are to grow. John 1:3-4 (Amplified) says "Al things were made and came into existence through Him (the Word) 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."
Friday, October 6, 2017
Lesson 271 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
Because there have been so few examples of who and what the new creation being really is, we've fashioned or have allowed ourselves to be fashioned after man's idea of who we truly are.
God said in Genesis 1:26-27 (Amplified), "Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image, after Our Likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air the (tame) beasts, and over all of the earth and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in Truth (reality)."
Man was created first of all, a spirit, according to Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) which says, "The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life, and man became a living being." Luke 3:21-22 (Amplified) says, "Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and (while He was still) praying, the (visible) Heaven was opened And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in Bodily Form like a dove, and a Voice came from Heaven saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!"
In John 17:21-22 (Amplified) Jesus prayed, "That they all may be one, (Just) as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, So that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One."
2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) tells us, "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) However, we possess this previous treasure (the Divine Light of the Gospel) in frail, human vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
I have listed the above scriptures, in order to cast a new light on the new creation man. There are many more such scriptures that reveal this truth, but these are a good place to begin understanding the "Glorious Gospel" that was given to Paul. Most of us view ourselves as "forgiven sinners who are saved from perdition and the penalty of sin." This is some of the Truth, but it isn't all the Truth. We're not just forgiven of sin, but we've actually been cleansed and purified from sin, by the death, resurrection and the Blood of Jesus. The Law of Sin and Death was paid for by Jesus' being made to be sin with our sin. "We were made righteous with His righteousness," according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified). We were also crucified (died) the death that He suffered and therefore, in Him, we fulfilled the same Law of Sin and and Death. When we were born-again and became part of the new creation family of God, we weren't just "forgiven sinners," but we were truly new creations.
God created man in His Image and Likeness. Man was first created a spirit and not a flesh and blood being. The Image and Likeness of God was the spirit, not the flesh. The great difference between the first Adam (or man) and the Last Adam (Jesus), was that the first Adam was a spirit like God and the Last Adam was "One Spirit with God." As the new creation family, we are "One Spiirt with Him" and not just "like Him." The Last Adam (Jesus) was One and the Same Spirit with Him.
God has now become infused with His Spirit and our spirit. Now, as new creation family, He and I are One and the same spirit. God didn't live in Adam, but only with Adam. We though, don't live with God, but we actually live in God and God in us. This wasn't what the original man was. He was an independent spirit, like God. God said, "Let Us make man in Our Image." We weren't simply created "a spirit," we already were a spirit. Like Jesus, we were created new, when God's Spirit entered into our dead spirit and infused Himself into our spirit. We have now become "one with Him."
In order to fully understand the difference between the first and Last Adam, we must understand it from the Spiritual aspect and not from the senses. Jesus was "born" a Flesh and Blood Man. Jesus had a Spirit, just like we have (or are) a spirit. Until Jesus received the Holy Spirit at His baptism, He was just like we are...a man. Even though Jesus was the Son of God, He didn't do any Super-natural deeds until He was infused in the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus said, after being baptized in John 12:45 (Amplified), "And whoever sees Me sees Him Who sent Me." Jesus also said in John 17:23 (Amplified), "I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them (even) as You have loved Me."
In the new creation, the spirit of man is made one with the Spirit of God and is united in His Love. We are united in His Love and our natural bodies have become the Temple of God (where God lives in and through). This new creation man isn't "just forgiven," but is made new by God's Own Self living and abiding in and through our spirit. This is the Mystery that Paul was sent to preach to the Jews and Gentiles. This is the "Mystery hidden in God," that is now sent into the world.
This Mystery is being made clear to the Church in Corinth, in 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) which says, "But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God (revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine Plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as) our righteousness (thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God), and our Consecration (making us purse and holy) and our Redemption (providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin)."
Paul goes on in 1Corinthians 6:19-20 (Amplified), "Do you not know that your body is the temples (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received (as Gift) from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a Price (purchased with a Preciousness and paid for, made His Own). So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body."
Jesus prayed to the Father about the believer who was to come through His death and resurrection, in John 17:22 (Amplified), saying, "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." Paul preached about the Church, from the revelation he was given by God, in 2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) saying, "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, so as (to beam forth) the light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this Precious Treasure (this Divine Light of the Gospel) in frail, human vessels of earth that the grandeur and the exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
Even Jesus said, "It is not Me, but the Father in Me, that does the work." The glory and honor given Him, was also in a "frail human vessel of earth." The glory and majesty that Jesus portrayed, was "the Father in Him." As new creation sons and daughter and family of God, we have this same majesty and glory abiding in us.
Because there have been so few examples of who and what the new creation being really is, we've fashioned or have allowed ourselves to be fashioned after man's idea of who we truly are.
God said in Genesis 1:26-27 (Amplified), "Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our Image, after Our Likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air the (tame) beasts, and over all of the earth and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His Own Image, in the Image and Likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them."
John 4:24 (Amplified) says, "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in Truth (reality)."
Man was created first of all, a spirit, according to Genesis 2:7 (Amplified) which says, "The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life, and man became a living being." Luke 3:21-22 (Amplified) says, "Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and (while He was still) praying, the (visible) Heaven was opened And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in Bodily Form like a dove, and a Voice came from Heaven saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!"
In John 17:21-22 (Amplified) Jesus prayed, "That they all may be one, (Just) as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, So that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One."
2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) tells us, "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) However, we possess this previous treasure (the Divine Light of the Gospel) in frail, human vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
I have listed the above scriptures, in order to cast a new light on the new creation man. There are many more such scriptures that reveal this truth, but these are a good place to begin understanding the "Glorious Gospel" that was given to Paul. Most of us view ourselves as "forgiven sinners who are saved from perdition and the penalty of sin." This is some of the Truth, but it isn't all the Truth. We're not just forgiven of sin, but we've actually been cleansed and purified from sin, by the death, resurrection and the Blood of Jesus. The Law of Sin and Death was paid for by Jesus' being made to be sin with our sin. "We were made righteous with His righteousness," according to 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified). We were also crucified (died) the death that He suffered and therefore, in Him, we fulfilled the same Law of Sin and and Death. When we were born-again and became part of the new creation family of God, we weren't just "forgiven sinners," but we were truly new creations.
God created man in His Image and Likeness. Man was first created a spirit and not a flesh and blood being. The Image and Likeness of God was the spirit, not the flesh. The great difference between the first Adam (or man) and the Last Adam (Jesus), was that the first Adam was a spirit like God and the Last Adam was "One Spirit with God." As the new creation family, we are "One Spiirt with Him" and not just "like Him." The Last Adam (Jesus) was One and the Same Spirit with Him.
God has now become infused with His Spirit and our spirit. Now, as new creation family, He and I are One and the same spirit. God didn't live in Adam, but only with Adam. We though, don't live with God, but we actually live in God and God in us. This wasn't what the original man was. He was an independent spirit, like God. God said, "Let Us make man in Our Image." We weren't simply created "a spirit," we already were a spirit. Like Jesus, we were created new, when God's Spirit entered into our dead spirit and infused Himself into our spirit. We have now become "one with Him."
In order to fully understand the difference between the first and Last Adam, we must understand it from the Spiritual aspect and not from the senses. Jesus was "born" a Flesh and Blood Man. Jesus had a Spirit, just like we have (or are) a spirit. Until Jesus received the Holy Spirit at His baptism, He was just like we are...a man. Even though Jesus was the Son of God, He didn't do any Super-natural deeds until He was infused in the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus said, after being baptized in John 12:45 (Amplified), "And whoever sees Me sees Him Who sent Me." Jesus also said in John 17:23 (Amplified), "I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them (even) as You have loved Me."
In the new creation, the spirit of man is made one with the Spirit of God and is united in His Love. We are united in His Love and our natural bodies have become the Temple of God (where God lives in and through). This new creation man isn't "just forgiven," but is made new by God's Own Self living and abiding in and through our spirit. This is the Mystery that Paul was sent to preach to the Jews and Gentiles. This is the "Mystery hidden in God," that is now sent into the world.
This Mystery is being made clear to the Church in Corinth, in 1Corinthians 1:30 (Amplified) which says, "But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God (revealed to us a knowledge of the Divine Plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as) our righteousness (thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God), and our Consecration (making us purse and holy) and our Redemption (providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin)."
Paul goes on in 1Corinthians 6:19-20 (Amplified), "Do you not know that your body is the temples (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received (as Gift) from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a Price (purchased with a Preciousness and paid for, made His Own). So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body."
Jesus prayed to the Father about the believer who was to come through His death and resurrection, in John 17:22 (Amplified), saying, "I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one (even) as We are One." Paul preached about the Church, from the revelation he was given by God, in 2Corinthians 4:6-7 (Amplified) saying, "For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, so as (to beam forth) the light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God (as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed) in the Face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this Precious Treasure (this Divine Light of the Gospel) in frail, human vessels of earth that the grandeur and the exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."
Even Jesus said, "It is not Me, but the Father in Me, that does the work." The glory and honor given Him, was also in a "frail human vessel of earth." The glory and majesty that Jesus portrayed, was "the Father in Him." As new creation sons and daughter and family of God, we have this same majesty and glory abiding in us.
Friday, September 29, 2017
Lesson 270 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
1Corinthians 1-3 (Amplified) says, "However, Brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual (men), but as to non-spiritual (men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates), as to mere infants (in the new life) in Christ (unable to talk yet) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough (to be ready for it); but even yet strong enough (to be ready for it) For are you still (unspiritual, having the nature) of the flesh (under the control of ordinary impulses) For as long as (there are) envying and jealousy and wranglings and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?"
Paul was writing to the Church in Corinth who were already born-again and should have been growing in the knowledge of God. Paul chastised them for their lack of growth and maturity, because they should have been much further in the things of the new creation man. The dispute over who was the "better preacher" or who was "the most sought after minister," is similar to what today's denominational churches. Paul saw how the Church in Corinth had stopped in their spiritual growth and had fallen back into traditions and rituals. Those who ministered in the Church at that time, had only a portion of the Truth of Paul's revelation. He expected them to have a more clear and growing Truth of the new man, by combining the revelation he received with their traditions.
Today, we have come upon the same thing. Many have exchanged the Super-natural things of God and have returned to tradition and formality. We've don't need to discard the good traditional things that we've walked in, but we should combine them with further revelation. We don't stop with not sinning, but we must go onto training the senses to move in the things of the Spirit. Of course, the Church should certainly mature in our not sinning, but that should be a starting point.
When the sins of the old man have been put in their proper place, the developing of the new man can grow from "faith to faith." Paul speaks to the Church in Corinth about their making judgments in court cases and civil judgments. As the "called out ones," we are taking our court cases to the unrighteous courts of the land and aren't trusting the Holy Spirit to judge in righteousness. Dare I say that this is still the case for most of the Church, today. When was the last time you saw a people go to the preacher and Elders of the church, to settle a lawsuit? Even if the church decided a case and it didn't set well with the one who lost the case, then they would still go to the courts of the land for restitution. Paul went on in 1Corinthians 6:2,5-6 (Amplified) saying, "Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will (one day) judge and govern the world? And if the world (itself) is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try (such petty matters) of the smallest courts of justice?"
The new creation people haven't understood the authority of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Paul goes in in Verses 5-6, "I say this to move you to shame. Can it be that there really is not one man among you who (in action is governed by piety and integrity and) is wise and competent enough to decide (the private grievances, disputes, and quarrels) between members of the brotherhood? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before (Gentile judges who are) unbelievers (without faith or trust in the Gospel of Christ)?"
Arriving to the place where we can actually trust in our clergy to make Godly decisions in our "private grievances and disputes," is a long way from where we are today, but this is where Paul expected those Christians to do. The new creation family is something that many of us haven't looked at from the Laws that govern the Kingdom they belong to. We're still wavering between the world and the Kingdom. Paul was given this revelation and tried bringing the people to a place, where they were only dependent on God's Word and the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean we are supposed to ignore the Laws of the Land, but we're to walk above those laws by a Higher Law. The Laws of the Land tell us "not to steal and kill." These laws shouldn't be deterrents for the Church, because the Laws of the Kingdom already forbid these things. We shouldn't be afraid to steal, because we're afraid of arrest and jail time, but because the Word says, "Thou shall not steal."
We have much to learn about ourselves as new creation people. As the Holy Spirit gives us revelation, we are to grow in Truth. In God's Kingdom, there are Laws that govern His people. We've haven't learned or sought out these "Higher Laws," in order to walk in them. One of these Higher Laws, is the Laws that govern our words. Many see governing their words as "bondage" or as "foolishness." Jesus said in Mark 11:23 (Amplified), "Truly, I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him."
We've been trained in the world to have more faith in the negative words we speak, rather than having more faith in Jesus' Words. We speak words of the world with faith in our hearts, without even thinking about it. These words come to pass in our lives, without our ever being cognizant of it. Even though these are not God's Words, they are faith filled words. We speak words of sickness, death, divorce and lack. We speak words about our children "being lost in drugs" or "belonging to the world." Then we doubt God's Word, when we speak "healing, life, the Blessing and the redemption of our children," even though these are Spiritual Laws and they work.
The new creation man has power in his and her words, that will change things in our lives and in our own family for the good of the Kingdom. There is also power in our words the enemy can use against us, when we speak contrary to our covenant. The world uses political correctness and other things it deems "offensive", to control our words. The world finds it offensive, for us to speak God's Word in public. Most of the authority and peace of the new creation life, must begin with the individual believer's words. Don't be concerned about what someone else says, but only about what you say. Believe what you say will come to pass and it will change the way you speak.
1Corinthians 1-3 (Amplified) says, "However, Brethren, I could not talk to you as to spiritual (men), but as to non-spiritual (men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates), as to mere infants (in the new life) in Christ (unable to talk yet) I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough (to be ready for it); but even yet strong enough (to be ready for it) For are you still (unspiritual, having the nature) of the flesh (under the control of ordinary impulses) For as long as (there are) envying and jealousy and wranglings and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?"
Paul was writing to the Church in Corinth who were already born-again and should have been growing in the knowledge of God. Paul chastised them for their lack of growth and maturity, because they should have been much further in the things of the new creation man. The dispute over who was the "better preacher" or who was "the most sought after minister," is similar to what today's denominational churches. Paul saw how the Church in Corinth had stopped in their spiritual growth and had fallen back into traditions and rituals. Those who ministered in the Church at that time, had only a portion of the Truth of Paul's revelation. He expected them to have a more clear and growing Truth of the new man, by combining the revelation he received with their traditions.
Today, we have come upon the same thing. Many have exchanged the Super-natural things of God and have returned to tradition and formality. We've don't need to discard the good traditional things that we've walked in, but we should combine them with further revelation. We don't stop with not sinning, but we must go onto training the senses to move in the things of the Spirit. Of course, the Church should certainly mature in our not sinning, but that should be a starting point.
When the sins of the old man have been put in their proper place, the developing of the new man can grow from "faith to faith." Paul speaks to the Church in Corinth about their making judgments in court cases and civil judgments. As the "called out ones," we are taking our court cases to the unrighteous courts of the land and aren't trusting the Holy Spirit to judge in righteousness. Dare I say that this is still the case for most of the Church, today. When was the last time you saw a people go to the preacher and Elders of the church, to settle a lawsuit? Even if the church decided a case and it didn't set well with the one who lost the case, then they would still go to the courts of the land for restitution. Paul went on in 1Corinthians 6:2,5-6 (Amplified) saying, "Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will (one day) judge and govern the world? And if the world (itself) is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try (such petty matters) of the smallest courts of justice?"
The new creation people haven't understood the authority of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Paul goes in in Verses 5-6, "I say this to move you to shame. Can it be that there really is not one man among you who (in action is governed by piety and integrity and) is wise and competent enough to decide (the private grievances, disputes, and quarrels) between members of the brotherhood? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before (Gentile judges who are) unbelievers (without faith or trust in the Gospel of Christ)?"
Arriving to the place where we can actually trust in our clergy to make Godly decisions in our "private grievances and disputes," is a long way from where we are today, but this is where Paul expected those Christians to do. The new creation family is something that many of us haven't looked at from the Laws that govern the Kingdom they belong to. We're still wavering between the world and the Kingdom. Paul was given this revelation and tried bringing the people to a place, where they were only dependent on God's Word and the Holy Spirit. This doesn't mean we are supposed to ignore the Laws of the Land, but we're to walk above those laws by a Higher Law. The Laws of the Land tell us "not to steal and kill." These laws shouldn't be deterrents for the Church, because the Laws of the Kingdom already forbid these things. We shouldn't be afraid to steal, because we're afraid of arrest and jail time, but because the Word says, "Thou shall not steal."
We have much to learn about ourselves as new creation people. As the Holy Spirit gives us revelation, we are to grow in Truth. In God's Kingdom, there are Laws that govern His people. We've haven't learned or sought out these "Higher Laws," in order to walk in them. One of these Higher Laws, is the Laws that govern our words. Many see governing their words as "bondage" or as "foolishness." Jesus said in Mark 11:23 (Amplified), "Truly, I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him."
We've been trained in the world to have more faith in the negative words we speak, rather than having more faith in Jesus' Words. We speak words of the world with faith in our hearts, without even thinking about it. These words come to pass in our lives, without our ever being cognizant of it. Even though these are not God's Words, they are faith filled words. We speak words of sickness, death, divorce and lack. We speak words about our children "being lost in drugs" or "belonging to the world." Then we doubt God's Word, when we speak "healing, life, the Blessing and the redemption of our children," even though these are Spiritual Laws and they work.
The new creation man has power in his and her words, that will change things in our lives and in our own family for the good of the Kingdom. There is also power in our words the enemy can use against us, when we speak contrary to our covenant. The world uses political correctness and other things it deems "offensive", to control our words. The world finds it offensive, for us to speak God's Word in public. Most of the authority and peace of the new creation life, must begin with the individual believer's words. Don't be concerned about what someone else says, but only about what you say. Believe what you say will come to pass and it will change the way you speak.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Lesson 269 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
We've nearly lost the Truth of the new creation reality, because we've been taught by the world system for so long. It seems like many have put the things of their new man or woman into the future after we die and get to Heaven. The Truth is that we've been reinstated by our relationship with the Father through Jesus and have inherited our position that belonged to man from the beginning. Jesus taught and spoke a Truth in Matthew 6:31-34 (Amplified) that is so far above what we've ever come to believe and what we know of our Christian faith, but without revelation from the Holy Spirit, it's difficult for us to understand. The people had been listening to Jesus speak about the covenant and giving Kingdom teachings. He spoke not only about "Heavenly things," but about the provision and care of God's people here on this earth.
Thus, Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying; What are we going to eat? or, what are we going to have to drink? or, what are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathens) wish for and crave and diligently seek all those things, and your Heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble."
We have gleaned many things from the above scriptures, but I don't believe we've reached the full Truth of them. God, Who is now our Father, has declared that He intends to take care of us, not only in Heaven, but also while we're on earth. Food, clothing, drink, and shelter aren't things we will "seek" in Heaven. These are things we need, while we're here on earth. Jesus said that, "The Father knows we need these things" and told us to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and all of these things taken together will be given to you besides."
Jesus didn't say that we could have "one or the other of these things," but He said, "All these things taken together." This includes both our Heavenly home (where we'll live for eternity after leaving earth) and our here on earth. Many will say this is "foolishness" and some will call it "crazy nonsense," but to Jesus, it was a matter of fact and Truth. When Jesus preached about the new covenant and relationship with God, the people found these things difficult to understand. Today, the new creation people can understand that we're not like the covenant people of the Law. Through revelation of the Holy Spirit, we understand the Truth about our being sons and daughters of faith.
God's "way of doing and being right" is our way of life, by the birth of the new creation in Jesus. God's new creation family isn't only covenant, but we are family. We are "His way of being right," because we've been made right or now by faith in Jesus, stand righteousness or in right standing as the Father's children. Jesus said that, "When we seek first of all God's way of doing and being right (righteous), then all these other things would also come to us."
Our Father has a way of doing things and being right, in His Word and in His Kingdom. The words, "being right" are simply the "way of righteousness" that returns us to right standing with our Father and the Kingdom we are now part of, by the new birth. This is so different from what many have been taught, that many will dismiss it as "carnal or foolish." God took care of the people of the old covenant, for the duration of the old covenant. He fed them manna, gave them non-bitter water to drink, provided shelter and beyond. He took them into a Land that "flowed with milk and honey." All these things are needs we have, while on earth every day.
God speaks about the Israelites in the Wilderness, who wouldn't believe Him to care for them and to rest in His provisions for them in Hebrews 4:9-10 (Amplified). God was displeased at their lack of faith in His ability to provide for their daily needs, saying, "So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete, Sabbath-rest reserved for the (true), people of God. For he who has once entered (God's) rest also has ceased from (the weariness and pain) of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His Own."
I believe that our Father wishes to do far more for His children, than He could do for those of the old covenant. If God took care of them under the blood of bulls and goats, then isn't the relationship we have with Him through the Blood of Jesus stronger? Somehow, we've put God off as being only God after we leave here. If God could provide for His people here on earth, who were under the old covenant, then don't we think He can and will care for His Own children today? Has God lost something over the years, that has weakened His ability to deal with things here in life?
God's way of doing and being right (His righteousness) is seeking first the Kingdom of God. As new creation children of God, we've obtained His righteousness, through faith in Jesus. We must learn about His way of doing." The Amplified Bible simply says, "Seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right)." God has a way of doing and He also has a way of being right. God's Kingdom that we now belong to, there is a way of doing things that must be His way. His Kingdom works of different Laws and principles, than this world's system operates in. All of His Laws are more sure and superior, to man's laws that govern here.
We came into Jesus' righteousness, when we received Him as our Lord and Savior. We couldn't become righteous or in right standing with Him, by any other means. Now that we've come into His Kingdom and His righteousness, we must learn to operate in His way of doing and being right. There is a way of doing right and being right, in His Kingdom. This isn't a religious term or some teaching of man, but an actual way that is right and lawful, according to the Terms and Laws that govern God's Kingdom (of which we now belong).
Have you ever noticed that Jesus walked in a different set of Laws, than the other people of His time did? Jesus walked in the Laws of the Kingdom. He walked in God's way of doing and being right. We've never learned how to walk in "His way of doing." We've barely begun to understand His way of righteousness.
We've been waiting to become His sons and daughters and waiting to become righteous. We haven't understood that we are now already His sons and daughters and that we are His righteous ones. We don't inherit the Kingdom when we get to Heaven, we have already inherited the Kingdom of God and are to bring it to this earth. Through our new creation, we have a way of doing, that is superior to the world's way of doing.
We must call upon the Holy Spirit to reveal to us, how to walk in the Kingdom Laws and way that liberate mankind, instead of being content to walk in what the world tells us we're to walk in. We already have His way of being right, righteous, in right standing, the right to stand in His Presence, through our union with Jesus Christ. Now, we must seek after His way of doing and bring the Kingdom of God into focus, for the world to see.
In Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified) Jesus instructs, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive and accept and welcome you, eat what is set before you. And heal the sick in it and say to them, The Kingdom of God has come close to you." This is His way of doing and this is how the Kingdom functions. The Kingdom could only "come close" to them then, but through Jesus and the new creation, the Kingdom has now come to do "on earth as it is in Heaven."
We've nearly lost the Truth of the new creation reality, because we've been taught by the world system for so long. It seems like many have put the things of their new man or woman into the future after we die and get to Heaven. The Truth is that we've been reinstated by our relationship with the Father through Jesus and have inherited our position that belonged to man from the beginning. Jesus taught and spoke a Truth in Matthew 6:31-34 (Amplified) that is so far above what we've ever come to believe and what we know of our Christian faith, but without revelation from the Holy Spirit, it's difficult for us to understand. The people had been listening to Jesus speak about the covenant and giving Kingdom teachings. He spoke not only about "Heavenly things," but about the provision and care of God's people here on this earth.
Thus, Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry and be anxious, saying; What are we going to eat? or, what are we going to have to drink? or, what are we going to have to wear? For the Gentiles (heathens) wish for and crave and diligently seek all those things, and your Heavenly Father knows well that you need them all. But seek (aim at and strive after) first of His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble."
We have gleaned many things from the above scriptures, but I don't believe we've reached the full Truth of them. God, Who is now our Father, has declared that He intends to take care of us, not only in Heaven, but also while we're on earth. Food, clothing, drink, and shelter aren't things we will "seek" in Heaven. These are things we need, while we're here on earth. Jesus said that, "The Father knows we need these things" and told us to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and all of these things taken together will be given to you besides."
Jesus didn't say that we could have "one or the other of these things," but He said, "All these things taken together." This includes both our Heavenly home (where we'll live for eternity after leaving earth) and our here on earth. Many will say this is "foolishness" and some will call it "crazy nonsense," but to Jesus, it was a matter of fact and Truth. When Jesus preached about the new covenant and relationship with God, the people found these things difficult to understand. Today, the new creation people can understand that we're not like the covenant people of the Law. Through revelation of the Holy Spirit, we understand the Truth about our being sons and daughters of faith.
God's "way of doing and being right" is our way of life, by the birth of the new creation in Jesus. God's new creation family isn't only covenant, but we are family. We are "His way of being right," because we've been made right or now by faith in Jesus, stand righteousness or in right standing as the Father's children. Jesus said that, "When we seek first of all God's way of doing and being right (righteous), then all these other things would also come to us."
Our Father has a way of doing things and being right, in His Word and in His Kingdom. The words, "being right" are simply the "way of righteousness" that returns us to right standing with our Father and the Kingdom we are now part of, by the new birth. This is so different from what many have been taught, that many will dismiss it as "carnal or foolish." God took care of the people of the old covenant, for the duration of the old covenant. He fed them manna, gave them non-bitter water to drink, provided shelter and beyond. He took them into a Land that "flowed with milk and honey." All these things are needs we have, while on earth every day.
God speaks about the Israelites in the Wilderness, who wouldn't believe Him to care for them and to rest in His provisions for them in Hebrews 4:9-10 (Amplified). God was displeased at their lack of faith in His ability to provide for their daily needs, saying, "So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete, Sabbath-rest reserved for the (true), people of God. For he who has once entered (God's) rest also has ceased from (the weariness and pain) of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His Own."
I believe that our Father wishes to do far more for His children, than He could do for those of the old covenant. If God took care of them under the blood of bulls and goats, then isn't the relationship we have with Him through the Blood of Jesus stronger? Somehow, we've put God off as being only God after we leave here. If God could provide for His people here on earth, who were under the old covenant, then don't we think He can and will care for His Own children today? Has God lost something over the years, that has weakened His ability to deal with things here in life?
God's way of doing and being right (His righteousness) is seeking first the Kingdom of God. As new creation children of God, we've obtained His righteousness, through faith in Jesus. We must learn about His way of doing." The Amplified Bible simply says, "Seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right)." God has a way of doing and He also has a way of being right. God's Kingdom that we now belong to, there is a way of doing things that must be His way. His Kingdom works of different Laws and principles, than this world's system operates in. All of His Laws are more sure and superior, to man's laws that govern here.
We came into Jesus' righteousness, when we received Him as our Lord and Savior. We couldn't become righteous or in right standing with Him, by any other means. Now that we've come into His Kingdom and His righteousness, we must learn to operate in His way of doing and being right. There is a way of doing right and being right, in His Kingdom. This isn't a religious term or some teaching of man, but an actual way that is right and lawful, according to the Terms and Laws that govern God's Kingdom (of which we now belong).
Have you ever noticed that Jesus walked in a different set of Laws, than the other people of His time did? Jesus walked in the Laws of the Kingdom. He walked in God's way of doing and being right. We've never learned how to walk in "His way of doing." We've barely begun to understand His way of righteousness.
We've been waiting to become His sons and daughters and waiting to become righteous. We haven't understood that we are now already His sons and daughters and that we are His righteous ones. We don't inherit the Kingdom when we get to Heaven, we have already inherited the Kingdom of God and are to bring it to this earth. Through our new creation, we have a way of doing, that is superior to the world's way of doing.
We must call upon the Holy Spirit to reveal to us, how to walk in the Kingdom Laws and way that liberate mankind, instead of being content to walk in what the world tells us we're to walk in. We already have His way of being right, righteous, in right standing, the right to stand in His Presence, through our union with Jesus Christ. Now, we must seek after His way of doing and bring the Kingdom of God into focus, for the world to see.
In Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified) Jesus instructs, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive and accept and welcome you, eat what is set before you. And heal the sick in it and say to them, The Kingdom of God has come close to you." This is His way of doing and this is how the Kingdom functions. The Kingdom could only "come close" to them then, but through Jesus and the new creation, the Kingdom has now come to do "on earth as it is in Heaven."
Monday, September 25, 2017
Lesson 268 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether) the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
The new creation people have been taught that we are the as before our new birth. Because we've been taught this for so long, we've come to believe we're no different than the old covenant people. It's never easy to oppose centuries of teachings. We've become so entrenched in the misinformation we've been taught, that we fight against making any changes to it. It's not that what we've doing to fight is wrong, by what we are fighting against.
Change doesn't come easy to those who've set their hearts in what they're doing. Even during Jesus' ministry, people fought against the changes He taught. They didn't do this because they didn't love God, but because they thought Jesus was teaching against everything knew. Trying to bring revelation knowledge into religion, is always in opposition to what carnal man has learned. Because as in the Law, everything we hear is different, our minds try to understand what only our spirits can receive.
The new creation man and woman is different than any other creature on this planet and that's why he is called "a new creation." We've tried patterning the new creation after the old man and the first creation man.
There was never a Man Who was actually filled with God Himself, before Jesus. After Adam's fall in the Garden, man had been cut off in his spirit, from the Father. As a matter of fact, God was no longer "their Father." Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father" and the people considered that blasphemy. As new creation people, we are no longer a covenant people by the Blood of Jesus. We have become God's Own children. We read this in the Word, but somehow, we don't seem to understand the full revelation of it in our spirits.
Everything has changed by this new birth. We've been connected to God once again, in the very same way that Jesus was and still is. The indwelling Spirit of God within us, has made us something the world has never before seen. Satan's tried hard to prevent this revelation from being preached and received. We've believed the parts of God's Word that pertain to our going to Heaven someday. We fail to understand that we are already citizens of Heaven, even while we're still in this body and on this earth. We seemingly believe that when a person dies, he is a spirit, but we fail to realize how he is a spirit, while he's still here on earth.
Not having the revelation of being a spirit and believing we've become a spirit when we die, leaves us walking in the carnal understanding of our new creation being. We've come to believe that the only benefit of the new birth, is going to Heaven when we die. We've failed to realize that we are infused with Him and that He dwells within us all the time.
When the new creation people fail to understand that God's entire Word is True, it limits God's ability to do only a few things in our lives. The Israelites didn't believe the things God said to them in the Wilderness and this caused them to remain there for forty long years. After forty years, the unbelieving peoples died and God would have a new generation who would believe Him. This same principal is true for us, today. Many times, we're disappointed in God for "not coming through in times of trouble" in our lives and we say, "It must not have been God's will." This is a carnal excuse for our not believing what He has said in His Word for us today.
We believe what 2Corinthians 5:21 says about "Jesus became sin with our sin," while simultaneously struggling with the same Truth that, "We've become righteous with His righteousness." If one part of the scripture is True, then why do we struggle to believe the other part is True? It has come into our thinking through the world's teaching, and it has prevented the Church from entering into the Truth of the new creation. So long as the enemy can keep us from God's Presence, we will continue struggling and trying to enter in. This has been satan's strategy all along. He wants to keep the new creation people (the Church, the Called Ones) in the world's idea of religion, instead of relation.
I understand what many believe about what this revelation implies, but this is the revelation that Jesus gave Paul, while in God's Presence, according to 2Corinthians 12. Paul went all over his portion of the earth, teaching this great Truth. Many saw it as "foolishness," while others received it as "complete deliverance." It was the same revelation, but it depended on whether or not the person hearing it, would believe it. This is and was, the very same Message that Jesus Himself preached, during His Own earthly ministry. God isn't limited to "being God only after you die," but He is God while we are here on earth too. As far as God is concerned, you were crucified with Jesus and are already dead to the world, by the Law of Sin and Death.
The Price has been paid and you are already free to walk in the Law of the Spirit and Life in Christ Jesus. A Christian person doesn't die when the body stops working, but only leaves one house and enters into his "celestial house made without hands in the Heavenly Sphere." 2Corinthians 5:5 (Amplified) says that "our dying, mortal body is swallowed up by life." Our mortal bodies have been decaying and dying, from the very moment we began living. Now, as new creations, those decaying bodies that have been holding us back, have been "swallowed up by Life" and are no longer subject to futility. We all understand that it doesn't matter how well you care for your natural body, it still gets older. Paul said, "Though the outer man is perishing, our inward man is renewed daily." Our new creation man is a Living spirit and is where the glory and Presence of the Holy Spirit now resides. This new creation man is to display God's Presence, through this mortal body.
The inability to acknowledge God in this natural realm, has led to misery for generations in the Church. We read about what God intends for the Church to do, before the world and the devil, in Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided, Wisdom of God with all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the Heavenly sphere." This isn't for after the Church is no longer here, but while the Church IS HERE. Satan should be able to know a Christian, just as surely as he knew Jesus while He was on earth. The same Spirit of God Who lived in Jesus, is the same Holy Spirit Who lives in us now. Satan didn't only recognize Jesus by His mortal Body, but by His indwelt Spirit that was infused with God's Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit Who lives in the new creation people of God.
We've never seen ourselves the way the Word portrays us or the way the Father sees us. We are the tangible Presence of God, on this earth. In order to keep us in check, satan has portrayed us to ourselves as "like those who came before us." It's only the revelation from the Father, that can raise the Church up into what He intended for us to be, in His new family. Many of us know God and even call Him, "Father," but not very many of us act like He's truly our Father. Our relationship with the Mighty Creator has changed from those "of old," because we're now His new creation family.
We must dare to believe Him to be God, Who now even lives in us. We must allow God to reveal Himself through us, to the world. There's so much God wants to do through us, but we have limited Him by unbelief, in our natural body and realm. We must allow God to use our natural self, to reveal Himself through. He needs your humanity, your hands, your feed, and your body to operate through and do the things He wants to do here on earth. It's true that we all need God, but it is also true, that God needs you. We are His Body.
The new creation people have been taught that we are the as before our new birth. Because we've been taught this for so long, we've come to believe we're no different than the old covenant people. It's never easy to oppose centuries of teachings. We've become so entrenched in the misinformation we've been taught, that we fight against making any changes to it. It's not that what we've doing to fight is wrong, by what we are fighting against.
Change doesn't come easy to those who've set their hearts in what they're doing. Even during Jesus' ministry, people fought against the changes He taught. They didn't do this because they didn't love God, but because they thought Jesus was teaching against everything knew. Trying to bring revelation knowledge into religion, is always in opposition to what carnal man has learned. Because as in the Law, everything we hear is different, our minds try to understand what only our spirits can receive.
The new creation man and woman is different than any other creature on this planet and that's why he is called "a new creation." We've tried patterning the new creation after the old man and the first creation man.
There was never a Man Who was actually filled with God Himself, before Jesus. After Adam's fall in the Garden, man had been cut off in his spirit, from the Father. As a matter of fact, God was no longer "their Father." Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father" and the people considered that blasphemy. As new creation people, we are no longer a covenant people by the Blood of Jesus. We have become God's Own children. We read this in the Word, but somehow, we don't seem to understand the full revelation of it in our spirits.
Everything has changed by this new birth. We've been connected to God once again, in the very same way that Jesus was and still is. The indwelling Spirit of God within us, has made us something the world has never before seen. Satan's tried hard to prevent this revelation from being preached and received. We've believed the parts of God's Word that pertain to our going to Heaven someday. We fail to understand that we are already citizens of Heaven, even while we're still in this body and on this earth. We seemingly believe that when a person dies, he is a spirit, but we fail to realize how he is a spirit, while he's still here on earth.
Not having the revelation of being a spirit and believing we've become a spirit when we die, leaves us walking in the carnal understanding of our new creation being. We've come to believe that the only benefit of the new birth, is going to Heaven when we die. We've failed to realize that we are infused with Him and that He dwells within us all the time.
When the new creation people fail to understand that God's entire Word is True, it limits God's ability to do only a few things in our lives. The Israelites didn't believe the things God said to them in the Wilderness and this caused them to remain there for forty long years. After forty years, the unbelieving peoples died and God would have a new generation who would believe Him. This same principal is true for us, today. Many times, we're disappointed in God for "not coming through in times of trouble" in our lives and we say, "It must not have been God's will." This is a carnal excuse for our not believing what He has said in His Word for us today.
We believe what 2Corinthians 5:21 says about "Jesus became sin with our sin," while simultaneously struggling with the same Truth that, "We've become righteous with His righteousness." If one part of the scripture is True, then why do we struggle to believe the other part is True? It has come into our thinking through the world's teaching, and it has prevented the Church from entering into the Truth of the new creation. So long as the enemy can keep us from God's Presence, we will continue struggling and trying to enter in. This has been satan's strategy all along. He wants to keep the new creation people (the Church, the Called Ones) in the world's idea of religion, instead of relation.
I understand what many believe about what this revelation implies, but this is the revelation that Jesus gave Paul, while in God's Presence, according to 2Corinthians 12. Paul went all over his portion of the earth, teaching this great Truth. Many saw it as "foolishness," while others received it as "complete deliverance." It was the same revelation, but it depended on whether or not the person hearing it, would believe it. This is and was, the very same Message that Jesus Himself preached, during His Own earthly ministry. God isn't limited to "being God only after you die," but He is God while we are here on earth too. As far as God is concerned, you were crucified with Jesus and are already dead to the world, by the Law of Sin and Death.
The Price has been paid and you are already free to walk in the Law of the Spirit and Life in Christ Jesus. A Christian person doesn't die when the body stops working, but only leaves one house and enters into his "celestial house made without hands in the Heavenly Sphere." 2Corinthians 5:5 (Amplified) says that "our dying, mortal body is swallowed up by life." Our mortal bodies have been decaying and dying, from the very moment we began living. Now, as new creations, those decaying bodies that have been holding us back, have been "swallowed up by Life" and are no longer subject to futility. We all understand that it doesn't matter how well you care for your natural body, it still gets older. Paul said, "Though the outer man is perishing, our inward man is renewed daily." Our new creation man is a Living spirit and is where the glory and Presence of the Holy Spirit now resides. This new creation man is to display God's Presence, through this mortal body.
The inability to acknowledge God in this natural realm, has led to misery for generations in the Church. We read about what God intends for the Church to do, before the world and the devil, in Ephesians 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "(The purpose is) that through the Church the complicated, many-sided, Wisdom of God with all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the Heavenly sphere." This isn't for after the Church is no longer here, but while the Church IS HERE. Satan should be able to know a Christian, just as surely as he knew Jesus while He was on earth. The same Spirit of God Who lived in Jesus, is the same Holy Spirit Who lives in us now. Satan didn't only recognize Jesus by His mortal Body, but by His indwelt Spirit that was infused with God's Spirit. This is the same Holy Spirit Who lives in the new creation people of God.
We've never seen ourselves the way the Word portrays us or the way the Father sees us. We are the tangible Presence of God, on this earth. In order to keep us in check, satan has portrayed us to ourselves as "like those who came before us." It's only the revelation from the Father, that can raise the Church up into what He intended for us to be, in His new family. Many of us know God and even call Him, "Father," but not very many of us act like He's truly our Father. Our relationship with the Mighty Creator has changed from those "of old," because we're now His new creation family.
We must dare to believe Him to be God, Who now even lives in us. We must allow God to reveal Himself through us, to the world. There's so much God wants to do through us, but we have limited Him by unbelief, in our natural body and realm. We must allow God to use our natural self, to reveal Himself through. He needs your humanity, your hands, your feed, and your body to operate through and do the things He wants to do here on earth. It's true that we all need God, but it is also true, that God needs you. We are His Body.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Lesson 267 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) by 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."
2Corinthians 5:2 (Amplified) says, "Here indeed, in the (present abode, body) we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over (we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out) with our Heavenly dwelling."
We are new creation people who are still living in the old house (dwelling) that we did before we were born-again. Many of us still have an affection for the "old homestead," the flesh (or house) we now live in was fashioned by the former tenant.
Jesus said that, "In this world, you will have tribulation," but He continued, "Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." Even though we are in the world, we are not "of the world." In Him, we can walk through this world, as "over comers." I've been watching the hurricanes on the Weather Channel, as the wind destroy everything in the wake of the hurricanes and water floods people's homes and cars. While watching these storms, I was reminded of something the Lord told me years ago. He said to me, "You may not be able to stop all the storms that come to this world, but if you will only walk in the eye of the hurricane, then you can still be at peace."
In the eye of the hurricane, the weather is calm. The hurricane's outer bands hold the destructive winds, tornadoes and pounding rains. As God told me this, I was reminded of Psalm 91:7-8 (Amplified) which says, "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be (yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High) as you witness the reward of the wicked."
In order to walk in the eye of the hurricane, one must keep moving with the storm and not simply wait for it to pass over. To do this, you must learn to hear the Voice of the Lord and move as He says to move. I'm not speaking literally about your walking across the Atlantic Ocean during a hurricane, but in life's storms, we must stay at peace, in the Presence of God. In John 14:27 (Amplified), Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Jesus tells us that we have a say about whether we will be fearful and afraid. Jesus is the EYE of the hurricane. If we will walk in Him during the storms of life, then we can walk in Psalm 91 and be safe in Him. After all, He is our PEACE.
In order to do this, we must renovate the old things that the former tenant left in this house. The old man had no inkling of Who Jesus really is or what the Word says to do. In Ephesians 5:24-25 (Amplified) Paul says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ Loved the Church, and gave Himself up for her. So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word."
The Word will wash out and cleanse the senses. When God's Word is fed into the carnal mind of man, and changes and cleans the thinking of the old man, thus renewing the thinking to the Holy Spirit. We don't have a problem with the body, only where you tell the body and allow the body to go. I can't do or go anywhere, my head didn't tell it too. It won't even get up and go to work, unless I tell it too. When Paul speaks about the flesh, he's speaking about the senses and a carnal mind, not the house. I built a house 35 years ago and I'm still living there. It has never moved from the foundation. Not once. It doesn't move without help.
Our walk with God has been determined by how many of the old man's possessions we have kept in the house we now live in. The amount of renovation is determined by the new occupant. Some seem to like the old recliner and have decided to keep it in the house. This is the place we make ourselves comfortable and allow ourselves to relax. This is as far as some will take the renovating process. Others, though, will renovate the entire house. As long as the house is painted and welcoming on the outside, many will be satisfied. That's alright, I guess, because it is their house and they're the ones who have to live there.
Don't get tired and decide that your house is "as good as the house down the road." We often judge ourselves by what the other churches are doing or not doing, and then we can justify sitting down in that recliner. Some preach about the Holy Spirit and speaking in unknown tongues, while others do not. Because the other churches aren't teaching about these things, doesn't mean we've arrived and can sit and relax because we do. Speaking in tongues is a starting point to greater things of God and not a completion. It's a place in the renovation process of the old house, by the Spirit of God. Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified), "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret Truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
This is a starting place to receiving the revelation knowledge (the hidden things of God) from the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 4:7 (Amplified) says, "The beginning of Wisdom is; get wisdom (skillful and Godly wisdom) (For skillful and Godly wisdom is the principal thing) And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation)." This is what speaking in tongues is for..."TO GET WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING."
This is the language of the new creation man and is speaking in the Spirit for the Wisdom and the counsel of God. If this is used properly, then it will open revelation and insight into the mysteries of GOd. Since they are Spiritual insight and wisdom, they must be received in your spirit and transferred into your mind and put into control of the senses that once led us the wrong way.
2Corinthians 5:2 (Amplified) says, "Here indeed, in the (present abode, body) we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over (we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out) with our Heavenly dwelling."
We are new creation people who are still living in the old house (dwelling) that we did before we were born-again. Many of us still have an affection for the "old homestead," the flesh (or house) we now live in was fashioned by the former tenant.
Jesus said that, "In this world, you will have tribulation," but He continued, "Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." Even though we are in the world, we are not "of the world." In Him, we can walk through this world, as "over comers." I've been watching the hurricanes on the Weather Channel, as the wind destroy everything in the wake of the hurricanes and water floods people's homes and cars. While watching these storms, I was reminded of something the Lord told me years ago. He said to me, "You may not be able to stop all the storms that come to this world, but if you will only walk in the eye of the hurricane, then you can still be at peace."
In the eye of the hurricane, the weather is calm. The hurricane's outer bands hold the destructive winds, tornadoes and pounding rains. As God told me this, I was reminded of Psalm 91:7-8 (Amplified) which says, "A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only a spectator shall you be (yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High) as you witness the reward of the wicked."
In order to walk in the eye of the hurricane, one must keep moving with the storm and not simply wait for it to pass over. To do this, you must learn to hear the Voice of the Lord and move as He says to move. I'm not speaking literally about your walking across the Atlantic Ocean during a hurricane, but in life's storms, we must stay at peace, in the Presence of God. In John 14:27 (Amplified), Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My (Own) peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled)."
Jesus tells us that we have a say about whether we will be fearful and afraid. Jesus is the EYE of the hurricane. If we will walk in Him during the storms of life, then we can walk in Psalm 91 and be safe in Him. After all, He is our PEACE.
In order to do this, we must renovate the old things that the former tenant left in this house. The old man had no inkling of Who Jesus really is or what the Word says to do. In Ephesians 5:24-25 (Amplified) Paul says, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ Loved the Church, and gave Himself up for her. So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word."
The Word will wash out and cleanse the senses. When God's Word is fed into the carnal mind of man, and changes and cleans the thinking of the old man, thus renewing the thinking to the Holy Spirit. We don't have a problem with the body, only where you tell the body and allow the body to go. I can't do or go anywhere, my head didn't tell it too. It won't even get up and go to work, unless I tell it too. When Paul speaks about the flesh, he's speaking about the senses and a carnal mind, not the house. I built a house 35 years ago and I'm still living there. It has never moved from the foundation. Not once. It doesn't move without help.
Our walk with God has been determined by how many of the old man's possessions we have kept in the house we now live in. The amount of renovation is determined by the new occupant. Some seem to like the old recliner and have decided to keep it in the house. This is the place we make ourselves comfortable and allow ourselves to relax. This is as far as some will take the renovating process. Others, though, will renovate the entire house. As long as the house is painted and welcoming on the outside, many will be satisfied. That's alright, I guess, because it is their house and they're the ones who have to live there.
Don't get tired and decide that your house is "as good as the house down the road." We often judge ourselves by what the other churches are doing or not doing, and then we can justify sitting down in that recliner. Some preach about the Holy Spirit and speaking in unknown tongues, while others do not. Because the other churches aren't teaching about these things, doesn't mean we've arrived and can sit and relax because we do. Speaking in tongues is a starting point to greater things of God and not a completion. It's a place in the renovation process of the old house, by the Spirit of God. Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 14:2 (Amplified), "For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret Truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding)."
This is a starting place to receiving the revelation knowledge (the hidden things of God) from the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 4:7 (Amplified) says, "The beginning of Wisdom is; get wisdom (skillful and Godly wisdom) (For skillful and Godly wisdom is the principal thing) And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation)." This is what speaking in tongues is for..."TO GET WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING."
This is the language of the new creation man and is speaking in the Spirit for the Wisdom and the counsel of God. If this is used properly, then it will open revelation and insight into the mysteries of GOd. Since they are Spiritual insight and wisdom, they must be received in your spirit and transferred into your mind and put into control of the senses that once led us the wrong way.
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Lesson 266 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself (received us into harmony, received us into favor with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
2Corinthians 5:2 (Amplified) says, "Here indeed, in this (present abode, body) we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over (we yearn to put in our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out) with our Heavenly dwelling."
The new creation people are still living in the old house (dwelling) that we did before being born-again. Like many before us, we seem to have an affinity for the "old homestead" or the place we grew up in. I recently returned to Illinois and visited the residence I lived in before being saved. Many memories flooded over me, as I saw where my wife and I raised our children, even though the barn and house had been torn town and replaced with a housing addition. All the old memories were just that, memories. The old homestead no longer existed.
I realized how the body I'm currently living in, is similar to my old homestead in Illinois. I was a new resident living in someone else' house and only memories existed from the old one. The first things I needed to do now, was clear out the old furnishings and replace them with new furnishings. Then, I would make new memories that come with living in this home.
This might sound sentimental and foolish to some, but this is exactly what has happened to us when we were born-again. Your body (home), where the new creation man now lives, is the same body (home) that had a former resident. Our body wasn't made "new," when we received Jesus and the memories that were made there, are still present. We look back to the place where our memories were and try holding onto some of them. When we do this, it's difficult to move on in the things of God.
Christians are faced with renovating our old house, while we're still away from our new home (Heaven). The old house needs to be completely renovated, because the man who once lived there, had different likes and dislikes than the new creation man (who now lives there) has. The renovation process comes in varying degrees in an old house. Sometimes, we put on new siding or paint, in order to bring curb appeal. These things are what other people see when they look at it.
The inside of the house is what really needs to be changed, but no one sees that and it's usually the last thing that gets changed. When people see that the outside looks good, they assume that the inside has also been renovated and is different. This works as long as no one goes inside the house. Jesus referred to this kind of living as "white washed sepulchers." Jesus said that the "outside was clean and painted, but the inside was full of dead men's bones."
The greatest work needed in this old house, is restoring and cleaning out the remnants of the old man, who used to live there. The memories aren't ours, but his. The furnishings aren't ours, but his. The vision he had for the decor, aren't ours, but were his. Sometimes, we clean out some of the furnishing, but leave some of the ideas that used to live there and that are from the former occupant. Ephesians 4:23-24 (Amplified) tells us, "Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude And put on the new nature (the regenerated self) created in God's Image (God like) in true righteousness and holiness."
We find a truth (that gets ignored much of the time) about the new man, in Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified) which says, "Where there is no vision (n redemptive revelation of God) the people perish; but he who keeps the Law (of God-which includes that of man) blessed, happy, fortunate and enviable is he."
I think that many Christians don't see that the new residence needs repaired or they stop renovating too quickly. Our "vision" of the redemptive work of Jesus, stops at being born-again. It's true we are saved and belong to the Father, but we contain our vision of redemption to only those things. We're not just redeemed when we leave this earth and go to Heaven, but we're redeemed now, here on earth (read the lesson on The Law of the Kinsman Redeemer). The outside of the former occupant's house has been cleaned up, but we only replaced the carpets inside.
Some of the old furnishings, might be a quick temper or unforgiveness that he harbored. The old furnishings might be a lack of knowledge about who we are now in Christ Jesus and this might lead to lack of vision for the redemption of Christ. Restoration work is tiring and we might wish to simply sit down and rest. It seems like the change is never complete. Every time I move a picture from the wall, I see a hole behind it that was never repaired. This reminds me about Ephesians 4:23 (Amplified) which says "Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind."
This renovation will never be completely done, until we move into our new house (Heaven). Just like any other house, there's always maintenance that must be done, in order to keep the house livable. We can't simply be content to simply kick-back and let things go. Our senses might still be comfortable, with the things of the old tenant, but they still must be removed and replaced. Remember, it's not really the house, but the tenant, who messed up that house. The senses (the soulish part of you) has been in charge of the house of flesh. It only knows what the former tenant trained it to do and these things have become habit.
It's not your actual flesh, but your senses that must be trained differently. In Hebrews 5:14 (Amplified) Paul says, "But solid food is for full grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law." Your body can only do what you allow it to do and you can "train it," by your renewed mind or senses. As you learn to think by the Word of God, your body will begin to move by the Word," according to Romans 8:14 (Amplified) which says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
2Corinthians 5:2 (Amplified) says, "Here indeed, in this (present abode, body) we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over (we yearn to put in our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out) with our Heavenly dwelling."
The new creation people are still living in the old house (dwelling) that we did before being born-again. Like many before us, we seem to have an affinity for the "old homestead" or the place we grew up in. I recently returned to Illinois and visited the residence I lived in before being saved. Many memories flooded over me, as I saw where my wife and I raised our children, even though the barn and house had been torn town and replaced with a housing addition. All the old memories were just that, memories. The old homestead no longer existed.
I realized how the body I'm currently living in, is similar to my old homestead in Illinois. I was a new resident living in someone else' house and only memories existed from the old one. The first things I needed to do now, was clear out the old furnishings and replace them with new furnishings. Then, I would make new memories that come with living in this home.
This might sound sentimental and foolish to some, but this is exactly what has happened to us when we were born-again. Your body (home), where the new creation man now lives, is the same body (home) that had a former resident. Our body wasn't made "new," when we received Jesus and the memories that were made there, are still present. We look back to the place where our memories were and try holding onto some of them. When we do this, it's difficult to move on in the things of God.
Christians are faced with renovating our old house, while we're still away from our new home (Heaven). The old house needs to be completely renovated, because the man who once lived there, had different likes and dislikes than the new creation man (who now lives there) has. The renovation process comes in varying degrees in an old house. Sometimes, we put on new siding or paint, in order to bring curb appeal. These things are what other people see when they look at it.
The inside of the house is what really needs to be changed, but no one sees that and it's usually the last thing that gets changed. When people see that the outside looks good, they assume that the inside has also been renovated and is different. This works as long as no one goes inside the house. Jesus referred to this kind of living as "white washed sepulchers." Jesus said that the "outside was clean and painted, but the inside was full of dead men's bones."
The greatest work needed in this old house, is restoring and cleaning out the remnants of the old man, who used to live there. The memories aren't ours, but his. The furnishings aren't ours, but his. The vision he had for the decor, aren't ours, but were his. Sometimes, we clean out some of the furnishing, but leave some of the ideas that used to live there and that are from the former occupant. Ephesians 4:23-24 (Amplified) tells us, "Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude And put on the new nature (the regenerated self) created in God's Image (God like) in true righteousness and holiness."
We find a truth (that gets ignored much of the time) about the new man, in Proverbs 29:18 (Amplified) which says, "Where there is no vision (n redemptive revelation of God) the people perish; but he who keeps the Law (of God-which includes that of man) blessed, happy, fortunate and enviable is he."
I think that many Christians don't see that the new residence needs repaired or they stop renovating too quickly. Our "vision" of the redemptive work of Jesus, stops at being born-again. It's true we are saved and belong to the Father, but we contain our vision of redemption to only those things. We're not just redeemed when we leave this earth and go to Heaven, but we're redeemed now, here on earth (read the lesson on The Law of the Kinsman Redeemer). The outside of the former occupant's house has been cleaned up, but we only replaced the carpets inside.
Some of the old furnishings, might be a quick temper or unforgiveness that he harbored. The old furnishings might be a lack of knowledge about who we are now in Christ Jesus and this might lead to lack of vision for the redemption of Christ. Restoration work is tiring and we might wish to simply sit down and rest. It seems like the change is never complete. Every time I move a picture from the wall, I see a hole behind it that was never repaired. This reminds me about Ephesians 4:23 (Amplified) which says "Be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind."
This renovation will never be completely done, until we move into our new house (Heaven). Just like any other house, there's always maintenance that must be done, in order to keep the house livable. We can't simply be content to simply kick-back and let things go. Our senses might still be comfortable, with the things of the old tenant, but they still must be removed and replaced. Remember, it's not really the house, but the tenant, who messed up that house. The senses (the soulish part of you) has been in charge of the house of flesh. It only knows what the former tenant trained it to do and these things have become habit.
It's not your actual flesh, but your senses that must be trained differently. In Hebrews 5:14 (Amplified) Paul says, "But solid food is for full grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law." Your body can only do what you allow it to do and you can "train it," by your renewed mind or senses. As you learn to think by the Word of God, your body will begin to move by the Word," according to Romans 8:14 (Amplified) which says, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God."
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Lesson 265 The New Creation I'm home from Illinois, where I buried my brother-in-law of 60 years on Saturday. Thanks for the prayers.
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
This new creation is a spirit. Your body is still in a state of decay. The old man (your dead spirit) was content to live in this house (your body), in the same condition it was in. Your new man was created by and in Jesus and isn't content with leaving the body in it's same state of decay. Your new creation man realizes that this house (the flesh) is now the temple of God and isn't "your own" any longer. 1Corinthians 6:19-20 (Amplified) says, "Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received (as a Gift) from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a Price (purchased with a Preciousness and paid for, made His Own) so then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body."
The body (which is the house of the spirit) didn't change, when we were born-again. It still has the same desires and furnishing of the old man, that lived there. Galatians 5:17,22-24,25 (Amplified) says, "For the desires of the flesh (house) are opposed to the Holy Spirit, and the (desires of the) Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other (continually withstanding and in conflict with each other) so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do."
Paul goes on to list the desires of the old tenant who used to live in this house and with the furnishings that were in the house. "The new man, who is living in this house," Paul says in Verses 22-24, "is refurnishing and renovating this space by the Holy Spirit." This is like "Fixer Upper." It's renewing the old house and turning it into one that's desirable to the Lord and those around us. Paul writes in Verse 25, "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, our conduct controlled by the Spirit)."
Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew) that we might do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)." God has great plans for His new creation family, that we have never really seen yet. By our not having seen what the Father has for us, we've lived in this house of flesh and have only painted or made some cosmetic repairs on it. We have adorned it with some different clothing and outer layers of paint, but we've continued furnishing it with the same furnishings of the old tenant.
This leaves us struggling to live in this house with the old, stained and torn things that the former tenant was content to live with. In Ephesians 4:22-24 (Amplified) Paul 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 lust 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 (Godlike) in true righteousness and holiness."
"True righteousness" is the righteousness that comes by faith in Christ Jesus and isn't the righteousness that comes by works, from the former tenant. The temple of God (which you are), is furnished by the things of the temple in God's order. All of the furnishings of this new house (this temple of the Holy Spirit) come only from the grace and righteousness which He Alone furnishes.
This temple of God can only be furnishes by faith in Jesus Christ. Many have changed some of the furnishings, while leaving some of them. We have believed that if we changed some things, then we could be "alright" as Christians. We could only furnish the new creation temple, by what we could think or even ask in the natural carnal realm. Faith is to the "constant worker" in this temple is is constantly beautifying it, by the things of the Father. Only faith in God, can furnish this new temple with righteousness. The previous, old tenant tried furnishing it with the natural man's ideas of righteousness, but the Holy Spirit is cleansing the temple of the old man's furnishings.
The former tenant could only "ask and think" by the carnal, natural mind of the world. The new creation man who now lives in this house of flesh, can by faith and the Spirit, reach out into the realm of Spirit and bring Spiritual things into this temple of God, according to Ephesians 3:20 (Amplified) which says, "Now to Him Who by (in consequence of) the (action of His) power that is at work within us, is able to (carry out His purpose and) do super abundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely beyond your highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams)." The things Paul just listed are connected to the carnal, unrenewed mind of the old man, who used to live in the house that is now God's temple. The old, unrenewed mind is limited as to what we ask, think, pray, desire or even dream. The new creation man however, can by faith, reach into the very realm of the Spirit. Our new creation man can receive the things God planned for us. Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)."
The new man who lives in this temple of God, can "ask and think" by the new creation union with the Spirit of God and can by Spirit and faith reach beyond the realm of the carnal mind of its former tenant. We now have the mind of Christ, and can reach into the very heart of the Father. The new creation man can "see" into the realm of God's Spirit, by revelation into God's Word and can furnish this old house with the furnishings for the temple. God isn't a "slum Lord." He intends to live in us with the splendor and glory of the furnishings of the glorious temple of God.
The only way to truly see who we now are in Christ, is by faith in God's Word, concerning our new identity. The former tenant's residual carnal, worldly thinking and ideas, can only be elevated into this new identity who now lives here by the renewing of the mind with God's Word and by the Holy Spirit's revelation of God's Word. We must refurnish this house, now God's temple, by renewing our minds to "think, ask, pray, desire, and see" into the "unseen realm of God." This is where all of our furnishings for this new temple of God, are "laid up for us beforehand by God Himself."
This is one of the main reasons I believe like I do about my personal health and my state of mind. I don't believe that my Father ever intended to furnish this temple with sickness and disease. What someone else does with his house, is between him and the Father. I intend to glorify God in this body, not only by not smoking, not drinking, and not cussing. These are just "painting" the house. I plan to complete renovate both the inside and the outside.
This new creation is a spirit. Your body is still in a state of decay. The old man (your dead spirit) was content to live in this house (your body), in the same condition it was in. Your new man was created by and in Jesus and isn't content with leaving the body in it's same state of decay. Your new creation man realizes that this house (the flesh) is now the temple of God and isn't "your own" any longer. 1Corinthians 6:19-20 (Amplified) says, "Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received (as a Gift) from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a Price (purchased with a Preciousness and paid for, made His Own) so then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body."
The body (which is the house of the spirit) didn't change, when we were born-again. It still has the same desires and furnishing of the old man, that lived there. Galatians 5:17,22-24,25 (Amplified) says, "For the desires of the flesh (house) are opposed to the Holy Spirit, and the (desires of the) Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other (continually withstanding and in conflict with each other) so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do."
Paul goes on to list the desires of the old tenant who used to live in this house and with the furnishings that were in the house. "The new man, who is living in this house," Paul says in Verses 22-24, "is refurnishing and renovating this space by the Holy Spirit." This is like "Fixer Upper." It's renewing the old house and turning it into one that's desirable to the Lord and those around us. Paul writes in Verse 25, "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, our conduct controlled by the Spirit)."
Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew) that we might do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)." God has great plans for His new creation family, that we have never really seen yet. By our not having seen what the Father has for us, we've lived in this house of flesh and have only painted or made some cosmetic repairs on it. We have adorned it with some different clothing and outer layers of paint, but we've continued furnishing it with the same furnishings of the old tenant.
This leaves us struggling to live in this house with the old, stained and torn things that the former tenant was content to live with. In Ephesians 4:22-24 (Amplified) Paul 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 lust 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 (Godlike) in true righteousness and holiness."
"True righteousness" is the righteousness that comes by faith in Christ Jesus and isn't the righteousness that comes by works, from the former tenant. The temple of God (which you are), is furnished by the things of the temple in God's order. All of the furnishings of this new house (this temple of the Holy Spirit) come only from the grace and righteousness which He Alone furnishes.
This temple of God can only be furnishes by faith in Jesus Christ. Many have changed some of the furnishings, while leaving some of them. We have believed that if we changed some things, then we could be "alright" as Christians. We could only furnish the new creation temple, by what we could think or even ask in the natural carnal realm. Faith is to the "constant worker" in this temple is is constantly beautifying it, by the things of the Father. Only faith in God, can furnish this new temple with righteousness. The previous, old tenant tried furnishing it with the natural man's ideas of righteousness, but the Holy Spirit is cleansing the temple of the old man's furnishings.
The former tenant could only "ask and think" by the carnal, natural mind of the world. The new creation man who now lives in this house of flesh, can by faith and the Spirit, reach out into the realm of Spirit and bring Spiritual things into this temple of God, according to Ephesians 3:20 (Amplified) which says, "Now to Him Who by (in consequence of) the (action of His) power that is at work within us, is able to (carry out His purpose and) do super abundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely beyond your highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams)." The things Paul just listed are connected to the carnal, unrenewed mind of the old man, who used to live in the house that is now God's temple. The old, unrenewed mind is limited as to what we ask, think, pray, desire or even dream. The new creation man however, can by faith, reach into the very realm of the Spirit. Our new creation man can receive the things God planned for us. Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) says, "For we are God's (Own) handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus (born anew) that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them (living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live)."
The new man who lives in this temple of God, can "ask and think" by the new creation union with the Spirit of God and can by Spirit and faith reach beyond the realm of the carnal mind of its former tenant. We now have the mind of Christ, and can reach into the very heart of the Father. The new creation man can "see" into the realm of God's Spirit, by revelation into God's Word and can furnish this old house with the furnishings for the temple. God isn't a "slum Lord." He intends to live in us with the splendor and glory of the furnishings of the glorious temple of God.
The only way to truly see who we now are in Christ, is by faith in God's Word, concerning our new identity. The former tenant's residual carnal, worldly thinking and ideas, can only be elevated into this new identity who now lives here by the renewing of the mind with God's Word and by the Holy Spirit's revelation of God's Word. We must refurnish this house, now God's temple, by renewing our minds to "think, ask, pray, desire, and see" into the "unseen realm of God." This is where all of our furnishings for this new temple of God, are "laid up for us beforehand by God Himself."
This is one of the main reasons I believe like I do about my personal health and my state of mind. I don't believe that my Father ever intended to furnish this temple with sickness and disease. What someone else does with his house, is between him and the Father. I intend to glorify God in this body, not only by not smoking, not drinking, and not cussing. These are just "painting" the house. I plan to complete renovate both the inside and the outside.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Lesson 264 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
From the very beginning of the Church, God has established His Presence through His people. Like it was with Adam, satan has diligently worked to bring the Church under his power. The Church was begun by the Super-natural ability of God and used sings, wonders, deliverance, and miracles to establish God's Kingdom. Constantine named Christianity Rome's religion, stopping persecution of the Church. While that was good, religion began taking over the Church and most of the Super-natural things of God was replaced by the natural.
Today, the Church is being persecuted around the world, because the enemy wants complete control. Satan wants to destroy any venue that has a cross on it. He wants to stamp out every remind of Jesus Christ, using fear and hardship and persecution. The Church doesn't understand that we "don't wrestle with flesh and blood, but against principalities and power of the rulers of this age," according to Ephesians 6:11. We've tried holding onto our faith in Christ, by the natural laws of this planet. We've replaced the power of God, for the elections and politics of this world.
Like with Constantine of old, through His mercy God has raised up men and women who are sympathetic to the Church and established rights for the Christian Church. When these people died, they've been replaced by those who the world, has put into office. The enemy again, begins to try and choke out the liberty in the Church. Satan has used small increments to try and remove any trace of God, from the eyes of the people.
Prayer in public schools has been removed. Bibles have been removed from school curriculum and libraries and isn't tolerated in workplaces, or even in some churches. Most of us cannot discern between what's right and what isn't right. Our nation has passed laws that forbid churches to preach against sin.
This is God's WAKE-UP CALL TO THE CHURCH, in these last days, before Jesus' return. Many accept the separation between Church and State as being part of the Constitution, but it is not. We've been deceived or talked into accepting accepting other gods into Christianity, as though we all serve the same God by a different name. All these things have been designed by the enemy, and we've been oblivious to his plan.
We don't cast out demons anymore, we simply institutionalize and call the people "insane." We replace deliverance with reform classes like AA, even though trying to control the flesh by the flesh isn't working. Our cities have become places where "Only the strong survive." If the world and the Church have ever needed the Super-natural things of God, then it's now. Much of the natural church preaches that, "God no longer does these things" or that "those things for only for the early Church."
Many of today's Church, believes that Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, are heretical. Signs and wonders are rarely witnessed, especially in America's Church. Most new believers have never been encouraged to grow up into the things the Father intended for His Church. The carnal minded ministries of today, have rejected the very Presence of the Holy Spirit and have replaced Him with our own ideas. Our prayer life has diminished to a few feeble mutterings, that produce no results.
We've tried becoming more like the world, instead of having the world drawn to us, God's Church. The Holy Spirit and the Super-natural Presence of God are what will draw the world to the Church. Jesus didn't preach the things that were "popular in that day," but what was Truth. Jesus' ministry upset the religious orders of the time. He built a foundation of revelation knowledge and power, that has existed for two-thousand years. It seems like the only thing today's Church can rely on is, "We're going to Heaven when we die." This is Truth, but it is only A TRUTH. The other things Jesus taught are Truth, too. It's an absolute that you will be healed when you get to Heaven, but being healed here, will not only change those who are sick. It will reveal God to those who need healing in the world.
None of the things that Jesus and the Holy Spirit taught have "passed away," but they are still very much, the heart of the Father. It should be clear to the Church, that these things are the will of God, by one thing Jesus said in John 6:18,20 (Amplified) where He said, "For I have come down from Heaven not to do My Own will and purpose, but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me." Jesus goes on in Verse 20, "For this is My Father's will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trust in and relies on Him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up (from the dead) at the last day."
If you are born-again, then you already have this eternal Life living in you. You truly are a new creation man or woman. We are to use this eternal Life, to benefit others and set the captives free, while we're still on this earth. This eternal Life is the Very Life of God, that is imparted to anyone who believes and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior of his life. We are supposed to "go forth" in this new Life and power of the One Who indwells us. This new Life isn't a "retirement plan," for when we leave this planet. It's a commission Jesus gave to do the works of God's Kingdom and save a dying world.
Many seem to look at the Super-natural things as being only from the demonic realm. If you believe in the Super-natural things that the world has come to accept and believe, then why would you struggle to believe in the Super-natural things of God? After all, isn't God the One Who created all things? If satan can "produce" the Super-natural, then why can't the Super-natural things of God be more real and acceptable to us? The only way to deal with the things that are pleasuring the people of this earth, is by the Super-natural Spirit of our God. We keep trying to deal with flesh and blood, forgetting that our enemy is a spirit. We cannot defeat satan with natural ability. That's a waste of time. We must do what Paul instructed in Ephesians 6 and begin waging warfare in the spirit realm, using the Super-natural weapons of our warfare.
This isn't a condemnation of the Church (the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ), but it's a challenge. We must wake up the spirit God created new in us and lives within us. Like Joshua and Caleb, we must take the Land that God has given us. God will fight the battle, if we will only GO!
From the very beginning of the Church, God has established His Presence through His people. Like it was with Adam, satan has diligently worked to bring the Church under his power. The Church was begun by the Super-natural ability of God and used sings, wonders, deliverance, and miracles to establish God's Kingdom. Constantine named Christianity Rome's religion, stopping persecution of the Church. While that was good, religion began taking over the Church and most of the Super-natural things of God was replaced by the natural.
Today, the Church is being persecuted around the world, because the enemy wants complete control. Satan wants to destroy any venue that has a cross on it. He wants to stamp out every remind of Jesus Christ, using fear and hardship and persecution. The Church doesn't understand that we "don't wrestle with flesh and blood, but against principalities and power of the rulers of this age," according to Ephesians 6:11. We've tried holding onto our faith in Christ, by the natural laws of this planet. We've replaced the power of God, for the elections and politics of this world.
Like with Constantine of old, through His mercy God has raised up men and women who are sympathetic to the Church and established rights for the Christian Church. When these people died, they've been replaced by those who the world, has put into office. The enemy again, begins to try and choke out the liberty in the Church. Satan has used small increments to try and remove any trace of God, from the eyes of the people.
Prayer in public schools has been removed. Bibles have been removed from school curriculum and libraries and isn't tolerated in workplaces, or even in some churches. Most of us cannot discern between what's right and what isn't right. Our nation has passed laws that forbid churches to preach against sin.
This is God's WAKE-UP CALL TO THE CHURCH, in these last days, before Jesus' return. Many accept the separation between Church and State as being part of the Constitution, but it is not. We've been deceived or talked into accepting accepting other gods into Christianity, as though we all serve the same God by a different name. All these things have been designed by the enemy, and we've been oblivious to his plan.
We don't cast out demons anymore, we simply institutionalize and call the people "insane." We replace deliverance with reform classes like AA, even though trying to control the flesh by the flesh isn't working. Our cities have become places where "Only the strong survive." If the world and the Church have ever needed the Super-natural things of God, then it's now. Much of the natural church preaches that, "God no longer does these things" or that "those things for only for the early Church."
Many of today's Church, believes that Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues, are heretical. Signs and wonders are rarely witnessed, especially in America's Church. Most new believers have never been encouraged to grow up into the things the Father intended for His Church. The carnal minded ministries of today, have rejected the very Presence of the Holy Spirit and have replaced Him with our own ideas. Our prayer life has diminished to a few feeble mutterings, that produce no results.
We've tried becoming more like the world, instead of having the world drawn to us, God's Church. The Holy Spirit and the Super-natural Presence of God are what will draw the world to the Church. Jesus didn't preach the things that were "popular in that day," but what was Truth. Jesus' ministry upset the religious orders of the time. He built a foundation of revelation knowledge and power, that has existed for two-thousand years. It seems like the only thing today's Church can rely on is, "We're going to Heaven when we die." This is Truth, but it is only A TRUTH. The other things Jesus taught are Truth, too. It's an absolute that you will be healed when you get to Heaven, but being healed here, will not only change those who are sick. It will reveal God to those who need healing in the world.
None of the things that Jesus and the Holy Spirit taught have "passed away," but they are still very much, the heart of the Father. It should be clear to the Church, that these things are the will of God, by one thing Jesus said in John 6:18,20 (Amplified) where He said, "For I have come down from Heaven not to do My Own will and purpose, but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me." Jesus goes on in Verse 20, "For this is My Father's will and His purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in and cleaves to and trust in and relies on Him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up (from the dead) at the last day."
If you are born-again, then you already have this eternal Life living in you. You truly are a new creation man or woman. We are to use this eternal Life, to benefit others and set the captives free, while we're still on this earth. This eternal Life is the Very Life of God, that is imparted to anyone who believes and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior of his life. We are supposed to "go forth" in this new Life and power of the One Who indwells us. This new Life isn't a "retirement plan," for when we leave this planet. It's a commission Jesus gave to do the works of God's Kingdom and save a dying world.
Many seem to look at the Super-natural things as being only from the demonic realm. If you believe in the Super-natural things that the world has come to accept and believe, then why would you struggle to believe in the Super-natural things of God? After all, isn't God the One Who created all things? If satan can "produce" the Super-natural, then why can't the Super-natural things of God be more real and acceptable to us? The only way to deal with the things that are pleasuring the people of this earth, is by the Super-natural Spirit of our God. We keep trying to deal with flesh and blood, forgetting that our enemy is a spirit. We cannot defeat satan with natural ability. That's a waste of time. We must do what Paul instructed in Ephesians 6 and begin waging warfare in the spirit realm, using the Super-natural weapons of our warfare.
This isn't a condemnation of the Church (the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ), but it's a challenge. We must wake up the spirit God created new in us and lives within us. Like Joshua and Caleb, we must take the Land that God has given us. God will fight the battle, if we will only GO!
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Lesson 263 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ has reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
I'm unsure when and how it began, but the Super-natural Church (Body of Christ) has become a mostly secular religion, to the world. As I reviewed the Word of God, I discovered how even those who weren't born-again, went out in the power of God, with healing and miracles following. Jesus was speaking to seventy of His disciples and followers in Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified). These people had witnessed the working of His ministry and He said to them, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive and accept and welcome you, eat what is set before you, And heal the sick in it and say to them, The Kingdom of God has come close to you." These people had only "come close," but today, God's Kingdom has come into being in the Church by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and Jesus' Sacrifice.
The seventy returned from the task Jesus had given in Luke 10:17-19 (Amplified) which says, "The seventy returned with joy saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name. And He said to them, I saw satan falling like a lightning (flash) from Heaven. Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power that the enemy (possesses) and nothing shall in any way harm you."
God's Word tells us that the Church was born from the Super-natural. While reading through the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, we can't help but see the Super-natural working in and through the Church. We see the power of Super-natural prayer in Acts 4:31-32 (Amplified) where Peter and John had been arrested and temporarily jailed for healing the man at the gate of the temple. The rulers and the members of the Sanhedrin (the Council) gathered at the gate, after hearing about the Super-natural healing of this man and said, "In order that it may not spread further among the people and the nation, let us warn them and forbid them with a stern threat to speak anymore to anyone in this Name (or about this Person)."
When the people heard about this declaration, they devised a prayer that comes straight from God's Word, saying, "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." When was the last time you saw a "place shaken," by prayer?
As we read further, we see the Super-natural power of God working through His new creation Church, as they walked in His Spirit. Acts 5:12-13,14-42 (Amplified) says, "Now by the hands of the Apostles (special messengers) numerous and startling signs and wonders were being performed among the people, and by common consent they all met together (at the Temple) in the covered porch (walk) called Solomon's And none of those who were not of their number dared to join and associate with them, but the people held them in high regard and praised and made much of them."
Verses 14-42 show us how the disciples continued in the Super-natural, even in the midst of threats and punishments being made towards them. Not everyone wants to walk in this Super-natural Presence of the Father and many will dismiss it, because it interferes with their own agenda. It's beyond me, how we will ever come to the place where the Presence of God is being manifested. One would think the Church would not only embrace this, but that we would seek after it with everything we have.
Today, though, we seem to pacify the flesh, by not speaking about the Spirit. We've become like the Sanhedrin in the above scripture, without even noticing. Jesus said that we are "In the world, but we are not of the world." We are called to abide in the flesh and walk in the Spirit. We can't leave our fleshly bodies and remain here on earth, but we can stay in the flesh and bring Heaven here. Jesus had a flesh and blood Body, but He was led by the Holy Spirit. He was in the world, but not of the world. Jesus told His disciples and those who believed and followed Him, in Mark 16:17 (Amplified), "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe in My Name."
Why do many call those who teach the things Jesus preached and taught, "fanatics?" What has happened to us over the last years, that makes us so "superior" to the early Church and the world, that we no longer need the Super-natural intervention of God to build His Body? Have we arrived to a place, where we think we can change the world without Him? Don't we recognize and understand that we are dealing with the dark side of the supernatural in today's world? Do we really believe we can defeat the power of darkness, with just another new "program?"
Let's return to what the Church is and what we're called to in this world. Without the Super-natural power of God, we're just another organization that meets on Sundays or just another social club that pays it's dues, in order to keep the lights on. I'm not writing these things, in order to make you angry, but to propel you into seeking God and His Presence for yourself.
I'm unsure when and how it began, but the Super-natural Church (Body of Christ) has become a mostly secular religion, to the world. As I reviewed the Word of God, I discovered how even those who weren't born-again, went out in the power of God, with healing and miracles following. Jesus was speaking to seventy of His disciples and followers in Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified). These people had witnessed the working of His ministry and He said to them, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive and accept and welcome you, eat what is set before you, And heal the sick in it and say to them, The Kingdom of God has come close to you." These people had only "come close," but today, God's Kingdom has come into being in the Church by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and Jesus' Sacrifice.
The seventy returned from the task Jesus had given in Luke 10:17-19 (Amplified) which says, "The seventy returned with joy saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name. And He said to them, I saw satan falling like a lightning (flash) from Heaven. Behold! I have given you authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and (physical and mental strength and ability) over all the power that the enemy (possesses) and nothing shall in any way harm you."
God's Word tells us that the Church was born from the Super-natural. While reading through the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, we can't help but see the Super-natural working in and through the Church. We see the power of Super-natural prayer in Acts 4:31-32 (Amplified) where Peter and John had been arrested and temporarily jailed for healing the man at the gate of the temple. The rulers and the members of the Sanhedrin (the Council) gathered at the gate, after hearing about the Super-natural healing of this man and said, "In order that it may not spread further among the people and the nation, let us warn them and forbid them with a stern threat to speak anymore to anyone in this Name (or about this Person)."
When the people heard about this declaration, they devised a prayer that comes straight from God's Word, saying, "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." When was the last time you saw a "place shaken," by prayer?
As we read further, we see the Super-natural power of God working through His new creation Church, as they walked in His Spirit. Acts 5:12-13,14-42 (Amplified) says, "Now by the hands of the Apostles (special messengers) numerous and startling signs and wonders were being performed among the people, and by common consent they all met together (at the Temple) in the covered porch (walk) called Solomon's And none of those who were not of their number dared to join and associate with them, but the people held them in high regard and praised and made much of them."
Verses 14-42 show us how the disciples continued in the Super-natural, even in the midst of threats and punishments being made towards them. Not everyone wants to walk in this Super-natural Presence of the Father and many will dismiss it, because it interferes with their own agenda. It's beyond me, how we will ever come to the place where the Presence of God is being manifested. One would think the Church would not only embrace this, but that we would seek after it with everything we have.
Today, though, we seem to pacify the flesh, by not speaking about the Spirit. We've become like the Sanhedrin in the above scripture, without even noticing. Jesus said that we are "In the world, but we are not of the world." We are called to abide in the flesh and walk in the Spirit. We can't leave our fleshly bodies and remain here on earth, but we can stay in the flesh and bring Heaven here. Jesus had a flesh and blood Body, but He was led by the Holy Spirit. He was in the world, but not of the world. Jesus told His disciples and those who believed and followed Him, in Mark 16:17 (Amplified), "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe in My Name."
Why do many call those who teach the things Jesus preached and taught, "fanatics?" What has happened to us over the last years, that makes us so "superior" to the early Church and the world, that we no longer need the Super-natural intervention of God to build His Body? Have we arrived to a place, where we think we can change the world without Him? Don't we recognize and understand that we are dealing with the dark side of the supernatural in today's world? Do we really believe we can defeat the power of darkness, with just another new "program?"
Let's return to what the Church is and what we're called to in this world. Without the Super-natural power of God, we're just another organization that meets on Sundays or just another social club that pays it's dues, in order to keep the lights on. I'm not writing these things, in order to make you angry, but to propel you into seeking God and His Presence for yourself.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Lesson 262 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
Luke 11:1 (Amplified) says, "Then [Jesus] was praying in a certain place; and when He stopped, One of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, Just as John taught His disciples."
At this point in His ministry, Jesus' disciples had witnessed many miracles and Super-natural things happen. These men had walked with Jesus, long enough to realize that His power came from God. They knew that Jesus' strength came from praying to and hearing from God, and so they implored, "Teach us to pray, Lord." There have been numerous occasions after I wrote about the Super-natural ability of the new creation family of God, that people say they are, "extremism." Prayer is one of the most Super-natural functions of the Church. Many times though, we disregard prayer as being Super-natural, because we've adopted man's ideas about it.
One must believe that God is there, before even beginning to pray. This is itself, an act of believing in the Super-natural. No one would pray, if he or she didn't believe "Someone was listening." When we pray, we're praying to a Super-natural Being, Who is invisible to the natural man. When we pray, we must not only believe He will hear us, but that He will intervene into the natural realm and correct things in the natural realm that might be going wrong in our lives.
Why would anything in the new creation, Super-natural man, be more extreme than answered prayers? I truly believe that unbelief in a person's heart, is the main reason so many prayers are unanswered. We still lack a full understanding of who we are now, as new creation people and as children of God.
Any time you step out in faith and break from the natural Church, you've stepped into a place they do not understand. This doesn't mean you are "wrong" or "foolish," even though you might appear that way to their eyes. You're actually accepting by faith, that Jesus is Real and He is there for you. Answered prayer should be the first sign that a believer is growing up. Many times, we pray more in hope, than in faith. God has been down-played in the world's ideas about the Super-natural things of God and this has crept into the Church as well.
Jesus told His disciples and followers that prayer was His Source of power. In John 5:20 (Amplified), He instructed them to study prayer more closely, saying, "The Father dearly loves the Son and discloses to (show) Him everything that He Himself does. And He will disclose to Him (let Him see) greater things yet than these, So that you may marvel and be full of wonder and astonishment."
We seemingly think that Jesus was the Only One Who could hear from and obey the Father's Voice. The world has taught that miracles followed Jesus only because, "He was Jesus." Of course, we don't wish to take anything away from Who Jesus was, but the things He did, were the things that were to follow the new creation after His resurrection. We need to grab hold of the truth of who we are in Him.
Jesus passes this Truth to His followers and commands them to do these things, in Mark 16:15-20 (Amplified) which says, "And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the Good News (the Gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race). He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Who sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death) but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; They will pick up serpents; and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will get well. So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into Heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the Message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it) Amen (so be it)."
Which was more Super-natural? The new birth or the signs that accompanied it? Both are a Super-natural walk for the new creation family of God. We've dismissed the miracles and healing part of Jesus' command, as a result of the world and natural man's ideas concerning God. Ephesians 2:6 -7(Amplified) says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly Sphere (by virtue of us being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." The next Verse explains why this is so important in the new creation person's life. Thus, it says, "He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in (His) kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus."
We must not only teach about "becoming born-again," but we must also "set at liberty all who are bound by the devil." We've been diligent to preach salvation, but we haven't raised these new believers in the knowledge about who they have become in Christ Jesus.
Being saved and born-again, is undoubtedly the most important Message for an individual, but in order for them to demonstrate Jesus to the world, we must teach them who they have become in Him. Mark 16:19 (Amplified) says, "And after [Jesus] had spoke to them, He was taken up into Heaven and He sat at the right hand of God." Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says that, "He raised us up together with Him, and made us to sit down together with Him." We are NOW in Him. All that Jesus was and is, He has given to us.
In these last days, we must understand the need for revealing the Super-natural things of God, to the world. It's not any more Super-natural to pray, than it is to heal the sick. Both things are displays of our faith in the ability of a Super-natural God, Who cares for and delivers His people. James 1:18 (Amplified) tells us, "And it was of His Own (free) will that He gave us birth (as sons) by (His) Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures (a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself)." James 1:22 (Amplified) also tells us, "But be doers of the Word (obey the Message) and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves (into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth)."
We have betrayed ourselves through deception that is "reasoning contrary to the Truth." The things of God are eternal. They do not "pass away" and they never "go out of style," simply because someone says they do. We must place our faith into having our prayers answered. Prayer is what brings the Super-natural Presence of God, into the natural realm. We've mostly "hoped"that God will answer our prayers. Prayer should be the greatest and most integral part of our relationship with the Father. Many have dismissed the "Faith teachings," but these are the most important teachings available to the Church. It's not simply our having faith, but it's Who we have faith in.
Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) 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)." Especially in these last days, we need to learn how to approach God in faith again. Praying isn't like playing the lottery, but should a certainty in the believer's life. Unanswered prayer demonstrates our lack of faith, in the One Who has called us. We never seem to know how our Heavenly Father will respond to our prayers. We leave room in our prayers, in case He doesn't answer them. We might not pray for others, in order to protect our pride (it would be embarrassing if we prayed for someone and it didn't work). We must examine ourselves, because He isn't to blame for unanswered prayer. His prayers are "Yes, and Amen." We must put God back in place, as God.
Luke 11:1 (Amplified) says, "Then [Jesus] was praying in a certain place; and when He stopped, One of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, Just as John taught His disciples."
At this point in His ministry, Jesus' disciples had witnessed many miracles and Super-natural things happen. These men had walked with Jesus, long enough to realize that His power came from God. They knew that Jesus' strength came from praying to and hearing from God, and so they implored, "Teach us to pray, Lord." There have been numerous occasions after I wrote about the Super-natural ability of the new creation family of God, that people say they are, "extremism." Prayer is one of the most Super-natural functions of the Church. Many times though, we disregard prayer as being Super-natural, because we've adopted man's ideas about it.
One must believe that God is there, before even beginning to pray. This is itself, an act of believing in the Super-natural. No one would pray, if he or she didn't believe "Someone was listening." When we pray, we're praying to a Super-natural Being, Who is invisible to the natural man. When we pray, we must not only believe He will hear us, but that He will intervene into the natural realm and correct things in the natural realm that might be going wrong in our lives.
Why would anything in the new creation, Super-natural man, be more extreme than answered prayers? I truly believe that unbelief in a person's heart, is the main reason so many prayers are unanswered. We still lack a full understanding of who we are now, as new creation people and as children of God.
Any time you step out in faith and break from the natural Church, you've stepped into a place they do not understand. This doesn't mean you are "wrong" or "foolish," even though you might appear that way to their eyes. You're actually accepting by faith, that Jesus is Real and He is there for you. Answered prayer should be the first sign that a believer is growing up. Many times, we pray more in hope, than in faith. God has been down-played in the world's ideas about the Super-natural things of God and this has crept into the Church as well.
Jesus told His disciples and followers that prayer was His Source of power. In John 5:20 (Amplified), He instructed them to study prayer more closely, saying, "The Father dearly loves the Son and discloses to (show) Him everything that He Himself does. And He will disclose to Him (let Him see) greater things yet than these, So that you may marvel and be full of wonder and astonishment."
We seemingly think that Jesus was the Only One Who could hear from and obey the Father's Voice. The world has taught that miracles followed Jesus only because, "He was Jesus." Of course, we don't wish to take anything away from Who Jesus was, but the things He did, were the things that were to follow the new creation after His resurrection. We need to grab hold of the truth of who we are in Him.
Jesus passes this Truth to His followers and commands them to do these things, in Mark 16:15-20 (Amplified) which says, "And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the Good News (the Gospel) to every creature (of the whole human race). He who believes (who adheres to and trusts in and relies on the Gospel and Him Who sets forth) and is baptized will be saved (from the penalty of eternal death) but he who does not believe (who does not adhere to and trust in and rely on the Gospel and Him Who it sets forth) will be condemned. And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; They will pick up serpents; and (even) if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick and they will get well. So then the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into Heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God. And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the Message by the attesting signs and miracles that closely accompanied it) Amen (so be it)."
Which was more Super-natural? The new birth or the signs that accompanied it? Both are a Super-natural walk for the new creation family of God. We've dismissed the miracles and healing part of Jesus' command, as a result of the world and natural man's ideas concerning God. Ephesians 2:6 -7(Amplified) says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the Heavenly Sphere (by virtue of us being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)." The next Verse explains why this is so important in the new creation person's life. Thus, it says, "He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in (His) kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus."
We must not only teach about "becoming born-again," but we must also "set at liberty all who are bound by the devil." We've been diligent to preach salvation, but we haven't raised these new believers in the knowledge about who they have become in Christ Jesus.
Being saved and born-again, is undoubtedly the most important Message for an individual, but in order for them to demonstrate Jesus to the world, we must teach them who they have become in Him. Mark 16:19 (Amplified) says, "And after [Jesus] had spoke to them, He was taken up into Heaven and He sat at the right hand of God." Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says that, "He raised us up together with Him, and made us to sit down together with Him." We are NOW in Him. All that Jesus was and is, He has given to us.
In these last days, we must understand the need for revealing the Super-natural things of God, to the world. It's not any more Super-natural to pray, than it is to heal the sick. Both things are displays of our faith in the ability of a Super-natural God, Who cares for and delivers His people. James 1:18 (Amplified) tells us, "And it was of His Own (free) will that He gave us birth (as sons) by (His) Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of first fruits of His creatures (a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself)." James 1:22 (Amplified) also tells us, "But be doers of the Word (obey the Message) and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves (into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth)."
We have betrayed ourselves through deception that is "reasoning contrary to the Truth." The things of God are eternal. They do not "pass away" and they never "go out of style," simply because someone says they do. We must place our faith into having our prayers answered. Prayer is what brings the Super-natural Presence of God, into the natural realm. We've mostly "hoped"that God will answer our prayers. Prayer should be the greatest and most integral part of our relationship with the Father. Many have dismissed the "Faith teachings," but these are the most important teachings available to the Church. It's not simply our having faith, but it's Who we have faith in.
Hebrews 11:6 (Amplified) 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)." Especially in these last days, we need to learn how to approach God in faith again. Praying isn't like playing the lottery, but should a certainty in the believer's life. Unanswered prayer demonstrates our lack of faith, in the One Who has called us. We never seem to know how our Heavenly Father will respond to our prayers. We leave room in our prayers, in case He doesn't answer them. We might not pray for others, in order to protect our pride (it would be embarrassing if we prayed for someone and it didn't work). We must examine ourselves, because He isn't to blame for unanswered prayer. His prayers are "Yes, and Amen." We must put God back in place, as God.
Friday, September 8, 2017
Lesson 261 The New Creation
2Corinthians 5:17-18 (Amplified) tells us, "Therefore, if any person is (ingrafted) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed. Behold, the fresh and new has come. But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself (received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself) and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation (that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him)."
This generation has one of the greatest examples of renewing the mind, because of the technological advances that incorporate all of our lives. Many of us are trying to clean up our computers and make them faster. We are constantly being bombarded by spam and pop-ups, that have nothing to do with what we're searching for or doing on our laptops.
Your brain is the greatest computer that has ever been designed. It was formed from the very beginning, to be filled with God's Wisdom and the things from God. After Adam's fall in the Garden, man's soul began directing him, instead of his spirit. The soul programmed man's brain, that controlled the natural man. We all have some understanding about computers, in this day and age (Yes, even me) and most of us have had trouble, trying to keep unwanted things from our computers.
In this new creation man, the brain is able to receive billions of date instantly and has already been programmed by the unregenerate mind or soul. At any moment, our computer brain will "pop-up" with some unwanted, unsolicited data that had been fed into it, during our previous life, before being born-again. Now, we have the job of cleaning up the mind and brain, in order to receive new date from a different source of information. Our old man was at one time, connected only to the natural realm of information. Your brain has stored all this input in it's memory bank and still remembers everything that was fed into it over your lifetime.
As new creations,our mind is again connected to God's Spirit and is transmitting new information, that contradicts previous data stored in its memory bank from the natural realm. We clean up the brain of the new creation, by renewing the mind that feeds info to the brain. The brain controls the natural body, so the info being fed into it, will determine the actions of the flesh.
If you had a computer that only sat on your desk, then you could pay bills, keep records, and balance your accounts at your convenience. But, if you take that same computer and connect it to the internet, then you've obtained access to infinitely more information (both good and bad). It's up to the owner of the computer, to determine what is or is not fed into it.
Our computer (brain) has been opened up again to the infinite things of God's Spirit realm. As we try digesting all the information coming in, we decide what goes into the memory bank and what doesn't. Most of the information is contrary to the information that has been stored there. We're constantly being bombarded with different things stored in our memory bank and are in need of some kind of device that will clean up unwanted things.
Everything we glean from the Spirit of God and His Word, seems contrary to the natural mind of man. If the mind rejects this information, then it refuses to transmit it to the brain. This results in our living by the dictates of the flesh or the same fallen state of man. Renewing the mind of the new creation, depends on the amount of time we spend on feeding new information into it and how much of it we want to receive and transmit to the brain. Your body can't do anything that your brain doesn't tell it to do. Your body can't do anything on it's own, because it can't do anything without direction from the brain. Such influences like drugs and alcohol, will tell or allow the body to do things it normally wouldn't do. These are a few of the pop-ups that satan uses to bring man into bondage, for use in his kingdom.
Keeping our soul under subjection, depends on whether we feed data from the Word or the world into it. Your mind didn't get saved, when you were born-again. For years, the Church has been taught that when we got saved, everything about us was new. Your spirit received Life and communion with the Spirit of God again. Your spirit-man is sealed by the integrity of the Sacrifice Jesus made for it, by His Blood.
Your soul (mind, will, emotions, intellect) is the same as it was. Even though God has deemed it already dead by the Identity in Jesus, your natural body still can only do what it has been programmed to do throughout your lifetime. It's memory bank is filled with unwanted date of your former years and it will continue in its now unwanted direction, until it receives different input from the mind. For many years, we've wondered why we still had desires and impulses to do what we no longer wish to do. We find words coming out of our mouths, that we no longer desire to use and we desire the things we no longer desire, or we seemingly do things that we no longer want to do. The reason we have these pop-ups occurring, is because we haven't cleaned up unwanted data from the unrenewed mind.
For many believers, this becomes a life long struggle between the mind of the flesh and the newborn Spirit of God in our spirit. This struggle has resulted in a life of discouragement and condemnation. If you're computer literate, then you can clearly understand what "renewing the mind" means. Your spirit receives it's info from the Lord and then transfers that data to the soul (mind), which in turn transmits it to your brain, which controls the flesh or natural body. If we put garbage in, then we'll get garbage out. We must be aware of the things we feed our minds. If we feed the world into it like before being saved, then only the world will come out. If we feed on God's Word, then that's what will come out.
Galatians 5:22-24 (Amplified) tells us, "But the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (the work which His Presence within accomplishes) is Love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence) Against such things there is no law (that can bring a charge) And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires."
This is the new data that comes into our spirit, through the new birth. In order to take it from our spirit to our brain (or godless human nature), we bring it up our of our spirit into our mind (soul) and change the information we feed the brain (which controls the flesh). We must feed our new spirit, information from God's Word and His Spirit.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (Amplified) instructs, "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."
Because we have failed to renew our minds by God's Word, our conduct and thought life continue making us doubt our new righteousness in Jesus. This leaves us holding onto condemnation and keeps us from accepting what God's Word says about the new creation family of God.
Romans 8:1 (Amplified) says, "Therefore (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit."
If we will renew our minds by God's Word, then we will not be led after the dictates of the flesh any longer. If we allow the flesh (with its old habits and information) to dictate our position in Christ, then it will only dictate what it remembers from its former life's training. This always brings condemnation and guilt about "who we once were." If we will renew our minds by God's Word, then it will only dictate to you, who Jesus has created you to be. We will either walk under the condemnation of the flesh or in the "Liberty of the Spirit of Life, which is in Christ Jesus," according to Romans 8:22. It all depends on how much we renew our minds. This isn't something that will just happen in your own Christian walk, but is something you must individually do.
This generation has one of the greatest examples of renewing the mind, because of the technological advances that incorporate all of our lives. Many of us are trying to clean up our computers and make them faster. We are constantly being bombarded by spam and pop-ups, that have nothing to do with what we're searching for or doing on our laptops.
Your brain is the greatest computer that has ever been designed. It was formed from the very beginning, to be filled with God's Wisdom and the things from God. After Adam's fall in the Garden, man's soul began directing him, instead of his spirit. The soul programmed man's brain, that controlled the natural man. We all have some understanding about computers, in this day and age (Yes, even me) and most of us have had trouble, trying to keep unwanted things from our computers.
In this new creation man, the brain is able to receive billions of date instantly and has already been programmed by the unregenerate mind or soul. At any moment, our computer brain will "pop-up" with some unwanted, unsolicited data that had been fed into it, during our previous life, before being born-again. Now, we have the job of cleaning up the mind and brain, in order to receive new date from a different source of information. Our old man was at one time, connected only to the natural realm of information. Your brain has stored all this input in it's memory bank and still remembers everything that was fed into it over your lifetime.
As new creations,our mind is again connected to God's Spirit and is transmitting new information, that contradicts previous data stored in its memory bank from the natural realm. We clean up the brain of the new creation, by renewing the mind that feeds info to the brain. The brain controls the natural body, so the info being fed into it, will determine the actions of the flesh.
If you had a computer that only sat on your desk, then you could pay bills, keep records, and balance your accounts at your convenience. But, if you take that same computer and connect it to the internet, then you've obtained access to infinitely more information (both good and bad). It's up to the owner of the computer, to determine what is or is not fed into it.
Our computer (brain) has been opened up again to the infinite things of God's Spirit realm. As we try digesting all the information coming in, we decide what goes into the memory bank and what doesn't. Most of the information is contrary to the information that has been stored there. We're constantly being bombarded with different things stored in our memory bank and are in need of some kind of device that will clean up unwanted things.
Everything we glean from the Spirit of God and His Word, seems contrary to the natural mind of man. If the mind rejects this information, then it refuses to transmit it to the brain. This results in our living by the dictates of the flesh or the same fallen state of man. Renewing the mind of the new creation, depends on the amount of time we spend on feeding new information into it and how much of it we want to receive and transmit to the brain. Your body can't do anything that your brain doesn't tell it to do. Your body can't do anything on it's own, because it can't do anything without direction from the brain. Such influences like drugs and alcohol, will tell or allow the body to do things it normally wouldn't do. These are a few of the pop-ups that satan uses to bring man into bondage, for use in his kingdom.
Keeping our soul under subjection, depends on whether we feed data from the Word or the world into it. Your mind didn't get saved, when you were born-again. For years, the Church has been taught that when we got saved, everything about us was new. Your spirit received Life and communion with the Spirit of God again. Your spirit-man is sealed by the integrity of the Sacrifice Jesus made for it, by His Blood.
Your soul (mind, will, emotions, intellect) is the same as it was. Even though God has deemed it already dead by the Identity in Jesus, your natural body still can only do what it has been programmed to do throughout your lifetime. It's memory bank is filled with unwanted date of your former years and it will continue in its now unwanted direction, until it receives different input from the mind. For many years, we've wondered why we still had desires and impulses to do what we no longer wish to do. We find words coming out of our mouths, that we no longer desire to use and we desire the things we no longer desire, or we seemingly do things that we no longer want to do. The reason we have these pop-ups occurring, is because we haven't cleaned up unwanted data from the unrenewed mind.
For many believers, this becomes a life long struggle between the mind of the flesh and the newborn Spirit of God in our spirit. This struggle has resulted in a life of discouragement and condemnation. If you're computer literate, then you can clearly understand what "renewing the mind" means. Your spirit receives it's info from the Lord and then transfers that data to the soul (mind), which in turn transmits it to your brain, which controls the flesh or natural body. If we put garbage in, then we'll get garbage out. We must be aware of the things we feed our minds. If we feed the world into it like before being saved, then only the world will come out. If we feed on God's Word, then that's what will come out.
Galatians 5:22-24 (Amplified) tells us, "But the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (the work which His Presence within accomplishes) is Love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence) Against such things there is no law (that can bring a charge) And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires."
This is the new data that comes into our spirit, through the new birth. In order to take it from our spirit to our brain (or godless human nature), we bring it up our of our spirit into our mind (soul) and change the information we feed the brain (which controls the flesh). We must feed our new spirit, information from God's Word and His Spirit.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (Amplified) instructs, "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."
Because we have failed to renew our minds by God's Word, our conduct and thought life continue making us doubt our new righteousness in Jesus. This leaves us holding onto condemnation and keeps us from accepting what God's Word says about the new creation family of God.
Romans 8:1 (Amplified) says, "Therefore (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit."
If we will renew our minds by God's Word, then we will not be led after the dictates of the flesh any longer. If we allow the flesh (with its old habits and information) to dictate our position in Christ, then it will only dictate what it remembers from its former life's training. This always brings condemnation and guilt about "who we once were." If we will renew our minds by God's Word, then it will only dictate to you, who Jesus has created you to be. We will either walk under the condemnation of the flesh or in the "Liberty of the Spirit of Life, which is in Christ Jesus," according to Romans 8:22. It all depends on how much we renew our minds. This isn't something that will just happen in your own Christian walk, but is something you must individually do.
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