John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Romans 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, Therefore, since we re justified, acquitted, declared righteous and given a right standing with God through faith, let us grasp the fact that we have the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have our access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this Grace (state of God's favor), in which we firmly and safely stand. And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the Glory of God."
Faith isn't "getting God to do something," but accepting what He has already done by His Grace. Faith doesn't move God to do something, but faith receives what Jesus paid for with His Sacrifice. We still "feel like" we must do something, in order to "deserve" God's Grace. If we've done something to deserve it, then it would no longer be Grace, but it would be something God owed us for our works. The enemy lays this trap and we get caught up i this relationship of works. This frustrates the Grace and keeps it from delivering what God has already made ours by faith.
In John 8:36,31-32 (Amplified) Jesus said, "So if the Son liberates you (makes you free men), then you really are and unquestionably free." We all recognize this is true, for all who receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. What are we doing with our new liberty and freedom? We've all heard the quotes, "Who the Son sets free is free indeed" or "The Truth will set you free," even in unsaved circles, but WHAT IS TRUTH? Jesus continued in Verses 31-32 saying, "If you abide in My Word (hold fast to My teachings and live in according with them), you are truly My disciples And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."
Sadly, slavery exists throughout our world, even today. The slaves were set free from the bondage of captivity in 1860's America. As long as satan has had his hands on mankind, there has been slavery. President Abraham Lincoln emancipated the slaves and called the free men and women, but after being free, what could they do? We think they could do anything, but not everyone accepted the new law.
Most slaves were never taught how to read or write and held no skills, other than what their duties plantation duties entailed. They had no money, no property, no transportation and many didn't know where their family members had been sold to. They were free, but now what? Many returned to the master they served before being freed. There were laws that protected their freedom, but most didn't know or could read these laws and the owners didn't want them to know these laws.
Years after the Civil War ended, the slaves were legally free, but many remained slaves, because no one kept or enforced the laws. Romans 8:2 (Amplified) tells us, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being), has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death." Even though he has no right to do so, Satan has used the same deception, in order to illegally hold people. We haven't experienced the Liberty we have in Christ Jesus, because we've been ignorant of the Laws of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus.
Jesus said that, "Those who abide in Him and His Word, would know the Truth and the Truth would set them free." We've been made free from the Law of Sin and Death, by Jesus. If we don't understand the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, then we fall into the same trap satan has used to hold men captive, since the Garden of Eden.
When America was first founded as a nation, her leaders established laws and statues to govern the people and guard our freedoms and liberties. We've succeeded these freedoms and liberties, because we didn't understand the Republic that was given us and we've believed we are a Democracy instead. We were given a Constitution and then allowed others to amend it and take away what we had. When asked, "What have you given us?" Benjamin Franklin answered, "A Republic, if you can keep it."
Christians have done the same with God's Word, giving differing opinions about what it truly means to be free in Christ. We sing about it and proclaim it, but we remain in bondage and slavery to a taskmaster we don't even recognize. We are free, so what do we do with our liberty? It it only for when we die and leave this earth? Or are God's prearranged paths, for while we're here?
Decades after the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in America, some places changed very little. The slaves didn't know how to be free and the others didn't know how to provide without slavery. God gave Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. a call and vision about the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Dr. King wasn't only free, but he was going to do something with his freedom and be free. I'm proclaiming to you now, that "If we are free, then we need to be free by the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus."
Jesus proclaimed "The Word of Liberty, the accepted and acceptable year of the Lord, the day when salvation and the free favors of God profusely abound," quoting in Luke 4:18-19 from Isaiah 61:1-2. Jesus proclaimed this Word of Liberty and then set about to prove this Liberty, to all who were bound. Jesus proclaimed Liberty that included Spiritually, mentally, physically, and to those from other nations.
The Law of Liberty Jesus proclaimed is all inclusive and for all who would believe what He said. What did this Liberty and Acceptable Year of the Lord mean to God? It meant those who were sick, handicapped, blind, poor, deaf, had leprosy, and bound by slavery to a task master who is without conscience (satan), are free. Jesus set free and broke the power of sin and death from off of the people. Jesus was born of a woman, He was the Son of Man, He was give Life from the Spirit, and He is the Son of God. Jesus was free from the Law of Sin and Death and He walked out not only His freedom, but brought others into freedom too.
Jesus maintained His freedom by not getting caught up in the things that held others in the slavery of the worldly kingdom. Jesus continually lived in His Freedom by God's Word. Many tried to bind Jesus with their laws and ways, but He refused to be bound. Jesus spoke God's Own Word, did only what He saw the Father do, and kept His freedom, when the enemy tried bringing Him under bondage and slavery and tried tempting Him.
We've been made free, but what is required to maintain and uphold our freedom? The Church has sadly ignored many teachings the Lord has brought to them. Is the Law of Confession (having what God's Word says we have) bondage or freedom? Many believers consider it bondage, to control their words by God's Word. Jesus said it was His Liberty, to stay away from bondage.
How far are you willing to go, to live in this Liberty or the Law of Liberty that Jesus has brought us? It's a Spiritual Law that always works, if we're faithful to operate in it. Are you willing to do that or are you complacent and falling back into slavery, by sleep and slumber?
Freedom isn't really freedom, if you're not free. We can sing about it and talk about it and even proclaim the Freedom Jesus came to give us, but every individual must walk it out for himself/herself. It's already there and it's already yours, but you can trade it for one bowl of soup, like Esau did. Or, you can maintain your Freedom by God's Grace and faith in His Grace.
When you turn your Freedom over into the hands of others, then you'll only have as much of that Freedom, they deem necessary or appropriate. We can't let others diminish the Freedom God has given us. You might think that I don't need to be healed, in order to the free, but since it's my choice, I choose the Liberty that, "By Jesus' stripes I am healed and made whole." You might ask, "What does this have to do with being free?" It gives me the ability to walk in paths that God predestined before He created mankind. It enables me to enjoy my freedom in Him.
Jesus asked, "Which is easier to say? Thy sins are forgiven you or Take up your bed and walk?" Then, Jesus said, "So you'll know that the Son of Man has authority, I say take up your bed and walk," in Luke 5:17-26. This is Liberty and the Acceptable Year of the Lord. True Liberty includes, spirit, soul and body.
Monday, March 11, 2019
Friday, March 8, 2019
Lesson 162 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
The Grace God has now granted us, is the ability to enter into perfect fellowship with Him. Fellowship with God was lost to man, after Adam's transgression in the Garden and sin and death ruled God's lost man. When Jesus was resurrected from the dead and ascended to Heaven as the Lamb of God for mankind, righteousness and acceptance was again restored to the Father.
Grace was and is, so much more than the forgiveness of sin. Sin was completely eradicated from the believer and righteousness has been restored to God's family again. We believed the reason God had no place in our lives before we were saved, was because we were "dirty and unclean." Sin did make us unclean, but it wasn't just because we had sinned. It was because sin had brought forth death. We haven't understood what Spiritual death was and didn't realize that God wasn't speaking about physical death, but Spiritual death. When sin entered into Adam, it brought death with that sin. Even though this death was manifested in the physical sense, it was Spiritual in nature and affected everything by its existence.
When you were born-again, it wasn't some religious experience, but was an actual birthing of a child of God from death to Life. God hasn't just brought a cleansed sinner back to Himself, but through the new birth, He created a new creation that has never sinned at all. This is hard for us to understand today, because of religious teachings have taught us we are "old sinners saved by Grace," for centuries. We were old sinners and it was by Grace that we were saved, but we need to know what Grace and Truth have really done for us.
Ephesians 2:8,9-10 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor), that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation, through your faith; And this salvation is not of your own doing (it came not through your own striving), but is the Gift of God." Paul explains the reason for and purpose in God's Grace by salvation in Verses 9-10, saying, "Not because of works (not the fulfillment of the Law's demands), lest any man should boast; It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it, or take glory to himself. 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 purpose of Grace was so God could create the family He had planned for. God's Grace prearranged paths for a Good Life, for His family to walk in. The predestined, planned, beforehand walk, was and is, the continuation of what God had in mind, when He created man in the beginning. God's Plan has never changed. God prepared paths ahead of time, so we should walk in them and live the Good Life. This is the same Plan and Life, God held when He decided to create man in His Likeness and Image, in the beginning.
Through faith in the works of Jesus, Grace has again put God's family into the place of perfection and holiness He had planned and predestined from the beginning. We are God's Plan A and not His Plan B. Man has changed, but God is the Same Yesterday, today and forever. Many have never placed their faith in God's Grace and don't see themselves as new creations. The world and its religion tried dictating to us, who they think we are. Paul wrote in Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified), "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit."
When we walk after the dictates of the Spirit, we walk in the paths God prepared, predestined and planned ahead of time. When we walk after the dictates of the Spirit, we're living the Good Life God made ready for us to live, according to Ephesians 2:8-10. Paul continues in Romans 8:2 saying, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
So, we see why Grace must be initiated by faith. Grace has made it ours, if we live by the dictates of the Spirit. If we live by the dictates of the flesh, then the world, its customs and religious rituals will prevent us from receiving Grace by faith.
God created the heavens and the earth as a home for His family. We are the continuation of God's Plan and will, from before the foundation of the earth. The Father's heart hasn't changed. He created the heavens and earth for His children and predestined and planned beforehand for us to live and enjoy them. Even though it took Jesus to bring it back to His children, God's Plan has never changed.
We weren't an afterthought or a source of pity to God, but we're a source of joy in the Father's heart. We've come back into His Presence by Grace and are without stain, because of Jesus. We can come before God, without spot or wrinkle, just like He intended from His initial thought of family. That's why Paul writes about our being "saved by Grace through faith." Grace has made everything Adam lost in the Garden, available to us, but it's only by having faith in the Finished Work of Jesus, that these will be restored in our lives. God prearranged paths for His family, before the fall of Adam and these same paths have been made available to us again, by faith and Grace. Grace has made them available to us again and faith receives that availability, so we can walk in those predestined places with god.
Romans 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor)." Paul continues saying, "Now faith has made those Jews under Law, and the Gentiles that new not the Law, all equal by faith in God's Grace." One group wasn't higher than another by face, color, nationality. All are equal by the same faith in the Same Jesus and the Grace He offers to those who will believe. This great inheritance was what the Father had already set aside for His children, before He ever formed the heavens and earth. Our inheritances reaches far beyond the realms of earth and now, through Jesus. We share an inheritance even beyond that of Adam, by the Last Adam.
The Grace God has now granted us, is the ability to enter into perfect fellowship with Him. Fellowship with God was lost to man, after Adam's transgression in the Garden and sin and death ruled God's lost man. When Jesus was resurrected from the dead and ascended to Heaven as the Lamb of God for mankind, righteousness and acceptance was again restored to the Father.
Grace was and is, so much more than the forgiveness of sin. Sin was completely eradicated from the believer and righteousness has been restored to God's family again. We believed the reason God had no place in our lives before we were saved, was because we were "dirty and unclean." Sin did make us unclean, but it wasn't just because we had sinned. It was because sin had brought forth death. We haven't understood what Spiritual death was and didn't realize that God wasn't speaking about physical death, but Spiritual death. When sin entered into Adam, it brought death with that sin. Even though this death was manifested in the physical sense, it was Spiritual in nature and affected everything by its existence.
When you were born-again, it wasn't some religious experience, but was an actual birthing of a child of God from death to Life. God hasn't just brought a cleansed sinner back to Himself, but through the new birth, He created a new creation that has never sinned at all. This is hard for us to understand today, because of religious teachings have taught us we are "old sinners saved by Grace," for centuries. We were old sinners and it was by Grace that we were saved, but we need to know what Grace and Truth have really done for us.
Ephesians 2:8,9-10 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor), that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation, through your faith; And this salvation is not of your own doing (it came not through your own striving), but is the Gift of God." Paul explains the reason for and purpose in God's Grace by salvation in Verses 9-10, saying, "Not because of works (not the fulfillment of the Law's demands), lest any man should boast; It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it, or take glory to himself. 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 purpose of Grace was so God could create the family He had planned for. God's Grace prearranged paths for a Good Life, for His family to walk in. The predestined, planned, beforehand walk, was and is, the continuation of what God had in mind, when He created man in the beginning. God's Plan has never changed. God prepared paths ahead of time, so we should walk in them and live the Good Life. This is the same Plan and Life, God held when He decided to create man in His Likeness and Image, in the beginning.
Through faith in the works of Jesus, Grace has again put God's family into the place of perfection and holiness He had planned and predestined from the beginning. We are God's Plan A and not His Plan B. Man has changed, but God is the Same Yesterday, today and forever. Many have never placed their faith in God's Grace and don't see themselves as new creations. The world and its religion tried dictating to us, who they think we are. Paul wrote in Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified), "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit."
When we walk after the dictates of the Spirit, we walk in the paths God prepared, predestined and planned ahead of time. When we walk after the dictates of the Spirit, we're living the Good Life God made ready for us to live, according to Ephesians 2:8-10. Paul continues in Romans 8:2 saying, "For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus (the Law of our new being) has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
So, we see why Grace must be initiated by faith. Grace has made it ours, if we live by the dictates of the Spirit. If we live by the dictates of the flesh, then the world, its customs and religious rituals will prevent us from receiving Grace by faith.
God created the heavens and the earth as a home for His family. We are the continuation of God's Plan and will, from before the foundation of the earth. The Father's heart hasn't changed. He created the heavens and earth for His children and predestined and planned beforehand for us to live and enjoy them. Even though it took Jesus to bring it back to His children, God's Plan has never changed.
We weren't an afterthought or a source of pity to God, but we're a source of joy in the Father's heart. We've come back into His Presence by Grace and are without stain, because of Jesus. We can come before God, without spot or wrinkle, just like He intended from His initial thought of family. That's why Paul writes about our being "saved by Grace through faith." Grace has made everything Adam lost in the Garden, available to us, but it's only by having faith in the Finished Work of Jesus, that these will be restored in our lives. God prearranged paths for His family, before the fall of Adam and these same paths have been made available to us again, by faith and Grace. Grace has made them available to us again and faith receives that availability, so we can walk in those predestined places with god.
Romans 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor)." Paul continues saying, "Now faith has made those Jews under Law, and the Gentiles that new not the Law, all equal by faith in God's Grace." One group wasn't higher than another by face, color, nationality. All are equal by the same faith in the Same Jesus and the Grace He offers to those who will believe. This great inheritance was what the Father had already set aside for His children, before He ever formed the heavens and earth. Our inheritances reaches far beyond the realms of earth and now, through Jesus. We share an inheritance even beyond that of Adam, by the Last Adam.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Lesson 161 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
We see how our Father of Spirits disciplines His children, who are the children of spirits in 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) which says, "Every scripture is God-breathed, given by His inspiration and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin; for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for training in righteousness (in Holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action); So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
God is a Spirit and you are a spirit, who is led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "The Words (Truths) I speak to you are Spirit and Life." You train and discipline and correct a spirit, by Spiritual things and words. We've come under fleshly problems, because we didn't heed the correction that would have prevented them. This doesn't mean that God allowed it to happen or put it on us, but that we ignored the instruction that would have prevented it. Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified) says, "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at, scorned, disdained or mocked by mere pretensions, or by His precepts being set aside. He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God. For whatever a man sows; that and only that is what he will reap For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality), will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap Eternal Life."
If we believe and accept such things as sickness and problems as, "God put this on me to correct and teach me something," then we have sown to the flesh and will reap from the flesh. If you understand the Spiritual discipline and correction of the Lord, then He will lead you past the satan's pitfalls. Remember, "He who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap Eternal Life."
We've never considered the Truth that we are now Spirit beings, who are led by, disciplined by, corrected by and are living by the Spirit of God, as His Spiritual children in this world. When I hear God's children saying, "God's allowing this to come on me for correction," I think of what Paul says in 1Corinthians 5:5 (Amplified) where a man was having an affair with his father's wife. Either God didn't know this man was having an affair with his father's wife (which is crazy) or God didn't correct this man by physical discipline. Did you wonder why? Paul tells us in Verse 5 that, "In order to deliver this man over to satan for physical discipline and destroy the carnal lusts that prompted this man to incest, so that his spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus."
If there every someone who needed it, then this man would surely have qualified for God's intervening and putting sickness and physical correction on him. God, though, instructed Paul to "turn him over to satan for the correction and discipline of the flesh." Without understanding and discernment concerning Spiritual things, we've delivered ourselves (by our own doing) into the enemy's hands, because we've believed it was God teaching us. It seems strange that while this man was involved in incest, that satan couldn't get to that man to do anything, so long as the Church was covering him with prayer. In the midst of his own lack of restraint and his sin, intercession and prayer from those in the Church protected him and God instructed them to, "Deliver him over."
Can it be that we too, haven't listened to the Voice of the Spirit for our correction, when He told us that it wasn't Him, but the enemy who was out to bring physical hardship on us? When God's Word tries correcting us, do we refuse to hear, remaining in our own understanding and reaping to the flesh, instead of receiving Wisdom from God that would deliver us? Have we traded the Holy Spirit for a spirit of infirmity, believing it's God trying to teach us something? When the Holy Spirit tries correcting us by His Word, do we refuse His instructions and go our own way? God doesn't discipline the flesh, in order to train the spirit. He indwells the spirit to bring the flesh into submission. God did discipline the flesh under the old covenant, because the people weren't born-again and their spirits were still dead in trespass and sin. God didn't have access to their spirits, like He has to ours.
God hasn't changed, as far as still correcting and disciplining and training up His children. He still does these things, but now He can reach into the heart of a man, into his new creation spirit and deal with our spirit by Spiritual things. Let's listen very closely, allowing the Word and the Holy Spirit to discipline, correct, instruct, train up, reprove and convict when we need guidance. Don't reject His instruction and reproof, if He tells you that you've "been in error by awaiting and accepting the works of the enemy as being God's allowing harm and destruction to come upon you for your own good."
We must listen to the Holy Spirit for our instruction and understanding. 2Timothy 4:3-4 (Amplified) warns us about "hearing different things that satisfy our own liking and foster errors." Jesus saw this during His ministry, with the scribes and Pharisees who held to their own traditions and causing the Word of God to be of no effect in their lives. In these Last Days, we've done much of the same thing by adhering to our own doctrine and refusing to take correction from God's Word and His Spirit.
It seems easy for a tongue talking Christian to point out the error to one who's been taught that speaking in tongues has passed away, but they continue holding to their own errors of teaching, without seeing them as being error. These people aren't deliberately rebellion or stubbornly rejecting, but are teaching what they've been taught, believing they are Truth. We live in a fallen world, that is still being governed by a fallen angel, who is in total defiance against God. We're not to be deceived by his strategies. We're to listen to the Holy Spirit.
You're not some elite group on your own, who believes others are misled. If you believe this, then you are also misled, in error and in pride. We do however, have the personal responsibility to listen to the Spirit and not simply follow the crowd. Paul couldn't follow the crowd, in the Truth of the Gospel that the Lord gave him. It would have been much easier for Paul, in his flesh and his walk with the people, to preach what was acceptable to them. This would not only have been his downfall, but the downfall of those who seek the Truth.
The enemy offers a compromise to the Church, saying "Those people are already saved and going to be with the Lord, so why stir them all up by teaching something different than what they're accustomed too?" It's sometimes easier to leave folks alone in their beliefs. I haven't found anywhere in God's Word, that tells me to leave them alone and don't take them on into the Rest. We find in Exodus 14:11-12 (Amplified) where God brought the Israelites out of Egypt by a "Mighty hand," but when the Israelites saw Pharaoh's army coming behind them, they said to Moses (and to God too), "Is is because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way and brought us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you in Egypt, Let us alone; let us serve the Egyptians? for it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
When you get used to something, then it seems easier to just stay in it, rather than change. It would have been easier for Paul to leave the Church in carnality and bondage, but that wasn't God's heart. It would be easier to leave the Church in the place where we've settled, instead of taking them into the Rest and Promises of God. You can't continue into God's Rest and Promises, without first knowing that you are in God's hands and His Guidance. Tradition has strongholds on the lives of those who accept them and it's hard to let go of them and grab onto something new. This is where 2Timothy 3:16 comes into play, in the believer's life. Listen to the Lord and His Word. Determine what is tradition and what is Truth, then walk in Truth.
We see how our Father of Spirits disciplines His children, who are the children of spirits in 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) which says, "Every scripture is God-breathed, given by His inspiration and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin; for correction of error and discipline in obedience and for training in righteousness (in Holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action); So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
God is a Spirit and you are a spirit, who is led by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "The Words (Truths) I speak to you are Spirit and Life." You train and discipline and correct a spirit, by Spiritual things and words. We've come under fleshly problems, because we didn't heed the correction that would have prevented them. This doesn't mean that God allowed it to happen or put it on us, but that we ignored the instruction that would have prevented it. Galatians 6:7-8 (Amplified) says, "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at, scorned, disdained or mocked by mere pretensions, or by His precepts being set aside. He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God. For whatever a man sows; that and only that is what he will reap For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality), will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap Eternal Life."
If we believe and accept such things as sickness and problems as, "God put this on me to correct and teach me something," then we have sown to the flesh and will reap from the flesh. If you understand the Spiritual discipline and correction of the Lord, then He will lead you past the satan's pitfalls. Remember, "He who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap Eternal Life."
We've never considered the Truth that we are now Spirit beings, who are led by, disciplined by, corrected by and are living by the Spirit of God, as His Spiritual children in this world. When I hear God's children saying, "God's allowing this to come on me for correction," I think of what Paul says in 1Corinthians 5:5 (Amplified) where a man was having an affair with his father's wife. Either God didn't know this man was having an affair with his father's wife (which is crazy) or God didn't correct this man by physical discipline. Did you wonder why? Paul tells us in Verse 5 that, "In order to deliver this man over to satan for physical discipline and destroy the carnal lusts that prompted this man to incest, so that his spirit might be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus."
If there every someone who needed it, then this man would surely have qualified for God's intervening and putting sickness and physical correction on him. God, though, instructed Paul to "turn him over to satan for the correction and discipline of the flesh." Without understanding and discernment concerning Spiritual things, we've delivered ourselves (by our own doing) into the enemy's hands, because we've believed it was God teaching us. It seems strange that while this man was involved in incest, that satan couldn't get to that man to do anything, so long as the Church was covering him with prayer. In the midst of his own lack of restraint and his sin, intercession and prayer from those in the Church protected him and God instructed them to, "Deliver him over."
Can it be that we too, haven't listened to the Voice of the Spirit for our correction, when He told us that it wasn't Him, but the enemy who was out to bring physical hardship on us? When God's Word tries correcting us, do we refuse to hear, remaining in our own understanding and reaping to the flesh, instead of receiving Wisdom from God that would deliver us? Have we traded the Holy Spirit for a spirit of infirmity, believing it's God trying to teach us something? When the Holy Spirit tries correcting us by His Word, do we refuse His instructions and go our own way? God doesn't discipline the flesh, in order to train the spirit. He indwells the spirit to bring the flesh into submission. God did discipline the flesh under the old covenant, because the people weren't born-again and their spirits were still dead in trespass and sin. God didn't have access to their spirits, like He has to ours.
God hasn't changed, as far as still correcting and disciplining and training up His children. He still does these things, but now He can reach into the heart of a man, into his new creation spirit and deal with our spirit by Spiritual things. Let's listen very closely, allowing the Word and the Holy Spirit to discipline, correct, instruct, train up, reprove and convict when we need guidance. Don't reject His instruction and reproof, if He tells you that you've "been in error by awaiting and accepting the works of the enemy as being God's allowing harm and destruction to come upon you for your own good."
We must listen to the Holy Spirit for our instruction and understanding. 2Timothy 4:3-4 (Amplified) warns us about "hearing different things that satisfy our own liking and foster errors." Jesus saw this during His ministry, with the scribes and Pharisees who held to their own traditions and causing the Word of God to be of no effect in their lives. In these Last Days, we've done much of the same thing by adhering to our own doctrine and refusing to take correction from God's Word and His Spirit.
It seems easy for a tongue talking Christian to point out the error to one who's been taught that speaking in tongues has passed away, but they continue holding to their own errors of teaching, without seeing them as being error. These people aren't deliberately rebellion or stubbornly rejecting, but are teaching what they've been taught, believing they are Truth. We live in a fallen world, that is still being governed by a fallen angel, who is in total defiance against God. We're not to be deceived by his strategies. We're to listen to the Holy Spirit.
You're not some elite group on your own, who believes others are misled. If you believe this, then you are also misled, in error and in pride. We do however, have the personal responsibility to listen to the Spirit and not simply follow the crowd. Paul couldn't follow the crowd, in the Truth of the Gospel that the Lord gave him. It would have been much easier for Paul, in his flesh and his walk with the people, to preach what was acceptable to them. This would not only have been his downfall, but the downfall of those who seek the Truth.
The enemy offers a compromise to the Church, saying "Those people are already saved and going to be with the Lord, so why stir them all up by teaching something different than what they're accustomed too?" It's sometimes easier to leave folks alone in their beliefs. I haven't found anywhere in God's Word, that tells me to leave them alone and don't take them on into the Rest. We find in Exodus 14:11-12 (Amplified) where God brought the Israelites out of Egypt by a "Mighty hand," but when the Israelites saw Pharaoh's army coming behind them, they said to Moses (and to God too), "Is is because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way and brought us out of Egypt? Did we not tell you in Egypt, Let us alone; let us serve the Egyptians? for it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."
When you get used to something, then it seems easier to just stay in it, rather than change. It would have been easier for Paul to leave the Church in carnality and bondage, but that wasn't God's heart. It would be easier to leave the Church in the place where we've settled, instead of taking them into the Rest and Promises of God. You can't continue into God's Rest and Promises, without first knowing that you are in God's hands and His Guidance. Tradition has strongholds on the lives of those who accept them and it's hard to let go of them and grab onto something new. This is where 2Timothy 3:16 comes into play, in the believer's life. Listen to the Lord and His Word. Determine what is tradition and what is Truth, then walk in Truth.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Lesson 160 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith (disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith). As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."
The above scripture tells us that our faith in God's Word is supposed to grow and mature from one degree to another. We accept the Gift of righteousness, by faith. Many struggle with the truth that we were made righteous and we do not become righteous. Romans 10:10 (Amplified) says, "For with the heart a person believes, adheres to, trusts in and relies on Christ, and so is justified, declared righteous, acceptable to God, and with the mouth he confesses, declares openly and speaks out freely his faith and confirms his salvation."
Carnal thinking and lack of understanding, have led to our not growing in our faith in God's Word. We've haven't dared to believe what God has done and what Jesus accomplished on our behalf, at His Resurrection. It's only by faith, that you can believe in your heart, that you are in right standing or righteous in God's Presence. This righteousness has nothing to do with our performance or our past lives, but it's based entirely on the Finished Work of Jesus and it must be received by faith that it may be by Grace.
If our works make us righteous, then it's not by Grace. We've understood the righteousness we have through Jesus, with man's understanding and not God's understanding. We've been restrained from going any further in our faith, because we know in our own understanding that we are not righteous in the eyes of a Holy God. If satan can keep our eyes on ourselves instead of on Jesus, then we'll never advance in our trust and faith in our inheritance in Jesus.
There was a time in history, that man's understanding of this planet was limited to only as far as he could see or go. Some saw the earth as being very small and only for their group. They had no idea that there were other continents and people beyond their limited view. Many believed the earth was flat and they would fall off the earth, if they went too close to the edge of the world. Many had no concept of gravity or the Laws of Physics. The idea of air travel, combustion engines or the internet, once seemed foolish to those who lacked understanding of these things. If someone in the eighteenth century dreamed of space travel or visiting Mars, then that person would have been deemed "crazy."
Man has grown from faith to faith in his own planet , by understanding the laws that govern it. The more we understand, the more we trust in our own understanding. The things of God's Word have been hidden from the eyes of mankind, by the master deceiver (satan), according to 2Corinthians 4:4 (Amplified) which says, "For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers minds, that they should not discern the Truth, preventing them from seeing the illuminating Light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God."
We've often thought this scripture was only referring to the unsaved persons, but believers have been blinded to the Glory of the Gospel. We haven't believed the fullness of this Truth and have been subject to and bound by, the very same deception as those who are unsaved.
Many in today's Church haven't accepted most of what Jesus brought us by His Sacrifice. We've accepted the lie that all our inheritance holds, is for after we die and go to be with the Father. We've put off the Spiritual aspects of our salvation, for our future in Heaven. The new birth or new creation concept, hasn't been fully understood or discerned by most of the Church. We've been trying and waiting to become what Jesus has already made us to be.
You don't become righteous before God. You were made righteous in Jesus Christ and are already right before God. You can only enter into God's Throne Room of Grace, BY FAITH. Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the Throne of Grace (the Throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy for our failures and fine Grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help), coming just when we need it."
This righteousness is the key to understanding our inheritance in Christ Jesus. Without righteousness or being in right standing with God, none of what we've been granted is accepted here in our earthly walk with the Father. We all know that we were sinners and didn't deserve to be saved or called God's children. Thank God for His Grace, that didn't leave us as sinners or as unrighteous. Righteousness simply means that now, through Jesus, we've been redeemed and restored into a place that we now have a right to come back into God's Presence. Jesus is the Door into the Father's Presence and has been opened once again.
Many Christians still just hope that they'll be God's children and come into perfect fellowship with Him, in the future. Jesus is the future and that future is where we now live. It seems odd to many believers, that we have Super-natural ability in this natural world. The angels of God, who've been sent forth to minister to us, must think it's odd, that we don't take our rightful place on this earth. We're the home or temple that the Holy Spirit resides in and all His ability is at our disposal. The angels know that we are much more than the enemy and his ability to stop the processes of God's Plan and purpose for our lives.
God has never actually asked us to do anything, except to believe His Word. He has never told us that we must sacrifice our children or livestock or anything else. He only asks us to believe. Romans 1:17 tells us that our faith is ton continue into more and more and greater mature faith. Some find it difficult to believe in the things the New Testament says we are and can do. Do you believe that Jesus was the Word of God, spoken into the womb of a virgin? Do you believe that this Word became flesh? Do you believe that this Word grew into manhood, died on a cross, rose from the dead, ascended visibly to the Father, in the sight of over 500 brethren and is still alive today and is actually Lord of all Heaven and earth? If you can believe this, then you have the God-given ability to believe all that Jesus said to do and all that He said you are.
We must take this faith and go from faith to faith, believing on the things God said about us. It's not that we don't have faith, but our faith hasn't matured and grown from one degree of faith in Him, to another degree of faith in Him. The Same God Who said that if we "would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, then we would be saved," also said that those who believe "would lay hands on the sick and they would recover and be made well." It's the Same Lord. Is God's Word any more Truth, when He said, "Believe and be saved," than it is when He said, "Cast our devils?"
I can almost see how astonished the angels God dispatched for our sake, must be when they see God's children pushed around by a defeated enemy of the Most High God. The angels were amazed when God Himself created man in a higher place than they are and then called them His family. The angels must have been totally amazed, to watch Jesus die and become the Curse and sin on our behalf. They must have been astonished when God did such a thing for mankind.
If the Father Loved us enough to do what He did, in order to deliver us and bring us back to Himself, then do you really think He would hold out on us now, in the Promises He made to and for us in Jesus? The enemy's lies have left us uncertain, where God's Word is concerned. We've been deceived into thinking that God deals with us, like He did with those in the old covenant. This has left us believing that sickness, hardship and disaster, are His way of disciplining us.
Paul writes about God's disciplining His children, in Hebrews 12:5-10 (Amplified) which says, "And have you completely forgotten the Divine Word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him. For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone Whom He Loves, and He even punishes (even scourges) every son Whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. You must submit to and endure correction for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons, For what son is there whom his father does not thus train and correct and discipline? Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all of God's children share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons at all. Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded to them and respected them for training us. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of Spirits and so truly live? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for only a short period of time, and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good that we may become sharers in His Own Holiness."
Don't lose track of the fact and Truth, that there are two kinds of fathers mentioned in the above scripture. One is our earthly, fleshly father and the other is our Spiritual, Heavenly Father. One disciplines the flesh, while the other disciplines the spirit. Don't mix the manners which they discipline. Satan has used this as a weapon against the Church. We've yielded ourselves over to sickness and hard times, believing this is how our Father was disciplining us. We've accepted the onslaught of the enemy, because of this. Does God discipline us then? Yes, He does, but He corrects Spiritual children, by our spirits.
Romans 1:17 (Amplified) says, "For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith (disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith). As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."
The above scripture tells us that our faith in God's Word is supposed to grow and mature from one degree to another. We accept the Gift of righteousness, by faith. Many struggle with the truth that we were made righteous and we do not become righteous. Romans 10:10 (Amplified) says, "For with the heart a person believes, adheres to, trusts in and relies on Christ, and so is justified, declared righteous, acceptable to God, and with the mouth he confesses, declares openly and speaks out freely his faith and confirms his salvation."
Carnal thinking and lack of understanding, have led to our not growing in our faith in God's Word. We've haven't dared to believe what God has done and what Jesus accomplished on our behalf, at His Resurrection. It's only by faith, that you can believe in your heart, that you are in right standing or righteous in God's Presence. This righteousness has nothing to do with our performance or our past lives, but it's based entirely on the Finished Work of Jesus and it must be received by faith that it may be by Grace.
If our works make us righteous, then it's not by Grace. We've understood the righteousness we have through Jesus, with man's understanding and not God's understanding. We've been restrained from going any further in our faith, because we know in our own understanding that we are not righteous in the eyes of a Holy God. If satan can keep our eyes on ourselves instead of on Jesus, then we'll never advance in our trust and faith in our inheritance in Jesus.
There was a time in history, that man's understanding of this planet was limited to only as far as he could see or go. Some saw the earth as being very small and only for their group. They had no idea that there were other continents and people beyond their limited view. Many believed the earth was flat and they would fall off the earth, if they went too close to the edge of the world. Many had no concept of gravity or the Laws of Physics. The idea of air travel, combustion engines or the internet, once seemed foolish to those who lacked understanding of these things. If someone in the eighteenth century dreamed of space travel or visiting Mars, then that person would have been deemed "crazy."
Man has grown from faith to faith in his own planet , by understanding the laws that govern it. The more we understand, the more we trust in our own understanding. The things of God's Word have been hidden from the eyes of mankind, by the master deceiver (satan), according to 2Corinthians 4:4 (Amplified) which says, "For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers minds, that they should not discern the Truth, preventing them from seeing the illuminating Light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God."
We've often thought this scripture was only referring to the unsaved persons, but believers have been blinded to the Glory of the Gospel. We haven't believed the fullness of this Truth and have been subject to and bound by, the very same deception as those who are unsaved.
Many in today's Church haven't accepted most of what Jesus brought us by His Sacrifice. We've accepted the lie that all our inheritance holds, is for after we die and go to be with the Father. We've put off the Spiritual aspects of our salvation, for our future in Heaven. The new birth or new creation concept, hasn't been fully understood or discerned by most of the Church. We've been trying and waiting to become what Jesus has already made us to be.
You don't become righteous before God. You were made righteous in Jesus Christ and are already right before God. You can only enter into God's Throne Room of Grace, BY FAITH. Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the Throne of Grace (the Throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy for our failures and fine Grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help), coming just when we need it."
This righteousness is the key to understanding our inheritance in Christ Jesus. Without righteousness or being in right standing with God, none of what we've been granted is accepted here in our earthly walk with the Father. We all know that we were sinners and didn't deserve to be saved or called God's children. Thank God for His Grace, that didn't leave us as sinners or as unrighteous. Righteousness simply means that now, through Jesus, we've been redeemed and restored into a place that we now have a right to come back into God's Presence. Jesus is the Door into the Father's Presence and has been opened once again.
Many Christians still just hope that they'll be God's children and come into perfect fellowship with Him, in the future. Jesus is the future and that future is where we now live. It seems odd to many believers, that we have Super-natural ability in this natural world. The angels of God, who've been sent forth to minister to us, must think it's odd, that we don't take our rightful place on this earth. We're the home or temple that the Holy Spirit resides in and all His ability is at our disposal. The angels know that we are much more than the enemy and his ability to stop the processes of God's Plan and purpose for our lives.
God has never actually asked us to do anything, except to believe His Word. He has never told us that we must sacrifice our children or livestock or anything else. He only asks us to believe. Romans 1:17 tells us that our faith is ton continue into more and more and greater mature faith. Some find it difficult to believe in the things the New Testament says we are and can do. Do you believe that Jesus was the Word of God, spoken into the womb of a virgin? Do you believe that this Word became flesh? Do you believe that this Word grew into manhood, died on a cross, rose from the dead, ascended visibly to the Father, in the sight of over 500 brethren and is still alive today and is actually Lord of all Heaven and earth? If you can believe this, then you have the God-given ability to believe all that Jesus said to do and all that He said you are.
We must take this faith and go from faith to faith, believing on the things God said about us. It's not that we don't have faith, but our faith hasn't matured and grown from one degree of faith in Him, to another degree of faith in Him. The Same God Who said that if we "would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, then we would be saved," also said that those who believe "would lay hands on the sick and they would recover and be made well." It's the Same Lord. Is God's Word any more Truth, when He said, "Believe and be saved," than it is when He said, "Cast our devils?"
I can almost see how astonished the angels God dispatched for our sake, must be when they see God's children pushed around by a defeated enemy of the Most High God. The angels were amazed when God Himself created man in a higher place than they are and then called them His family. The angels must have been totally amazed, to watch Jesus die and become the Curse and sin on our behalf. They must have been astonished when God did such a thing for mankind.
If the Father Loved us enough to do what He did, in order to deliver us and bring us back to Himself, then do you really think He would hold out on us now, in the Promises He made to and for us in Jesus? The enemy's lies have left us uncertain, where God's Word is concerned. We've been deceived into thinking that God deals with us, like He did with those in the old covenant. This has left us believing that sickness, hardship and disaster, are His way of disciplining us.
Paul writes about God's disciplining His children, in Hebrews 12:5-10 (Amplified) which says, "And have you completely forgotten the Divine Word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him. For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone Whom He Loves, and He even punishes (even scourges) every son Whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes. You must submit to and endure correction for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons, For what son is there whom his father does not thus train and correct and discipline? Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all of God's children share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons at all. Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded to them and respected them for training us. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of Spirits and so truly live? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for only a short period of time, and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good that we may become sharers in His Own Holiness."
Don't lose track of the fact and Truth, that there are two kinds of fathers mentioned in the above scripture. One is our earthly, fleshly father and the other is our Spiritual, Heavenly Father. One disciplines the flesh, while the other disciplines the spirit. Don't mix the manners which they discipline. Satan has used this as a weapon against the Church. We've yielded ourselves over to sickness and hard times, believing this is how our Father was disciplining us. We've accepted the onslaught of the enemy, because of this. Does God discipline us then? Yes, He does, but He corrects Spiritual children, by our spirits.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Lesson 160 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
The first Adam was to govern the physical realm and not be subject to it, just like Jesus did. God gave the new birth and the Spiritual Blessing through Abraham for Jesus, and we've now been restored to the original state God's family was made to be in the Garden. We've heard much taught about what God's Plan for mankind is and how His Plan is. God has never had a Plan B. His Plan from the beginning, is still His Plan for now and how God said it would be, is how it will be. We've unintentionally hindered His Plan for our lives, by our own foolish ideas of what His Plan is. It will be as He said it will be, but many of us will never have it come to us, until we leave this planet. God wants it to be, while we're still here on earth, so He can reveal Himself to the world through us.
What good is having authority and dominion over this and that's in it, if we're not here to use it? The mandate of authority and dominion God gave to Adam, is the same one that the Last Adam, Jesus, walked in. And, it's what all of God's children were to enjoy, while here on this earth. It wasn't only meant for Adam and Eve, but for all of his children. It was for all who were to be God's family, so we would all walk in the same calling and Blessing. Jesus said in John 14:12 (Amplified), "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be ale to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father."
Jesus broke the power of sin and death over all who would believe, and brought forth a new creation people, when He ascended to the Father, according to 2Corinthians 5:17. God reinstated the new creation people with the original Blessing, that He placed on the first Adam in Eden. Through Jesus, Who was the Last Adam, God made all of His children in His Very Image and Likeness. This was and is Plan A.
We've never truly understood the depth of what Jesus did. Very few believers walk in the Truth of this mandate and Blessing of authority and dominion. There have been some, over the years, who have entered in further than others, but we've accepted them as being "special," instead of what Heaven calls, "normal." The only limitations that the new creation child of God has, is only what our natural senses tell us we cannot do. We've been taught by the carnal minds of the world and have limited the power of who we really are in this world.
When we say that, "God still heals" and does what the Word says He does, then we're called, "crazy or fanatics." God's Word gives a completely different image of who God says we are though. These are still believers, but they haven't believed to the same degree. Jesus told His followers in Mark 16:17-18,20 (Amplified), "Go and preach the Gospel to every creature, those who would believe in Him will be saved." Thus, He says, "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages, they will pick up serpents and even if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they will get well."
These things weren't only for those in the ministry, like we've previously believed. They weren't just for Jesus' disciples either, but were for those who believe in His Name. This is how the new creation family of God is supposed to walk and function. Verse 20 tells us, "They went and did what He said, and He confirmed what they preached by the signs and miracles that accompanied the Gospel." This is the normal way of living in God's Kingdom, while we're still on this earth.
Not knowing God's will has been one of the biggest hindrances to Christians faith in God's Word. Some think it's blasphemous, when we suggest we know God's will. If we don't know what God's will is, then all of our prayers and deeds aren't of faith, but of chance. When we add, "If it be Your will" to the end our prayer, then we're making a confession of doubt and unbelief in what we petitioned God for.
1John 5:14-15 (Amplified) says, "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him; we are sure that if we ask anything (make any request), according to His will (in agreement with His Own Plan), He listens to and hears us And if (since) we positively know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know with settled and absolute knowledge that we have granted us as our present possessions the requests made of Him."
It's not a matter of praying, but of having assurance concerning His will, that gets answers to prayer. If we don't know what God's will is, then we have no assurance or confidence in receiving an answer. Without assurance, it's not faith, according to Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) which says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses."
It's not a matter of God's not answering prayer and it's not that God's Own family isn't praying, but it's a matter of faith and knowing what His will, when we pray. Adding "If it be Thy will" to the end of our prayer, is revealing our lack of faith and assurance of what God's will about our prayer. This is a carnal cover-up and admission of our own guilt, for not knowing what God's will really is.
Jesus came so that we might know and have fellowship and understanding of the Father. God's will is plainly revealed to us and for us, through Jesus. Maybe we're not bold enough in our relationship with Him, to say what we believe. This though, is what God wants and expects of us. We've stumbled over and angered some at saying, "It's God's will that we are well." I've heard too many Christians say and believe that, "God gave me this sickness as a burden to carry."
Jesus preached from Isaiah 61 about His mission and ministry to the world and it's being God's Own will. He even said that "I didn't come to do My Own will, but to do the will of the Father," in Luke 4:18-19 (Amplified), "Jesus answered them by saying, My teaching is not My Own but His Who sent Me. If any man desires to do His will (God's pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize and can tell for himself whether the teachings is from God or whether I speak from Myself and of My Own accord and on My Own Authority."
Do you believe that the things Jesus said, are from God? Do you have the needed illumination, concerning the Message and ministry of Jesus, as coming from God Himself? This is God's will for all His children. He doesn't have one will for some and a different will for others. God Loves all His children with the Same Love. One cannot find a place in the four Gospels, where Jesus refused to heal of Bless anyone who came to Him in faith. Some people had less faith, while others had more faith. One man even stated, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief." All had the opportunity to receive. Modern religion tells us that these things are for the past only or for the future. Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of things hoped for; being the proof of things we do not see." It's no longer by Law, ritual, sacrifice or any other thing that man must do, to qualify. It's by faith in His Grace and the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
There are 7,000 Promises made to and for Jesus, through God's Word and all of these Promises are ours in Him. All these Promises are Yes and Amen in Jesus, to the Glory of God. When our faith is released in God's Word and His Promises, the answer always comes. This is why satan tries so hard to discourage faith among the Church. Romans 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and guaranteed to all his descendants."
To make the Promises any other way, would nullify all who weren't under the Law, like the Hebrew children were. As Gentiles, we would be left out of the Promises and wouldn't qualify for them. Grace makes us eligible, through our faith in Jesus. We are all equal heirs in Christ Jesus. Those who study God's Word and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, have heard from the Father and have built faith in His Word. We all have the same opportunity to do so, but some choose not to do these things or think it's not necessary to spend time in God's Presence.
Proverbs 14:6 (Amplified) says, "A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it; but knowledge is easy to him, who being teachable understands." People who make light of and deny the Super-natural move of God in their lives, knowledge and understanding have slipped by them and left them without faith in what God wants to do in their lives. God tells us His will about health and healing, if we have ears to hear, in Proverbs 4:20-2 (3Amplified), "My Son, attend to My Words, consent and submit to My sayings, Let them not depart from your sight, keep them in the center of your heart, For they are Life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh." These are for us, while we're here in this earthly body and not for just "when we get to Heaven." This is for our flesh.
God's Word is still the same and is forever settled in Heaven. We've failed to keep God's Word in the center of our heart, like the above scripture teaches. God tells us why it's paramount that we keep His Words in the center of our hearts in Verse 23, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard; For out of it flow the Springs of Life." God's Word in your heart, is the Life, the health, the peace and the Promises of God for our lives, in these flesh and blood bodies, on earth.
The Church seems afraid of appearing proud and arrogant in God's eyes, that we've backed off from accepting the Truth of His Word. We've believed it was humble to say, "None are righteous," and have denied what God said about us. True humility would say, "I don't feel righteous and I know my faults and shortcomings, and I remember the old man I once was, but If You say I am righteous through Jesus, then I humble myself to the Truth of Your Word and accept Your Word and Truth, by faith. I received Your Gracious Gift in thanks and praise to You, saying in Christ, I am the righteousness of God and am righteous in Your eyes. Thank You Lord!"
The first Adam was to govern the physical realm and not be subject to it, just like Jesus did. God gave the new birth and the Spiritual Blessing through Abraham for Jesus, and we've now been restored to the original state God's family was made to be in the Garden. We've heard much taught about what God's Plan for mankind is and how His Plan is. God has never had a Plan B. His Plan from the beginning, is still His Plan for now and how God said it would be, is how it will be. We've unintentionally hindered His Plan for our lives, by our own foolish ideas of what His Plan is. It will be as He said it will be, but many of us will never have it come to us, until we leave this planet. God wants it to be, while we're still here on earth, so He can reveal Himself to the world through us.
What good is having authority and dominion over this and that's in it, if we're not here to use it? The mandate of authority and dominion God gave to Adam, is the same one that the Last Adam, Jesus, walked in. And, it's what all of God's children were to enjoy, while here on this earth. It wasn't only meant for Adam and Eve, but for all of his children. It was for all who were to be God's family, so we would all walk in the same calling and Blessing. Jesus said in John 14:12 (Amplified), "I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be ale to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father."
Jesus broke the power of sin and death over all who would believe, and brought forth a new creation people, when He ascended to the Father, according to 2Corinthians 5:17. God reinstated the new creation people with the original Blessing, that He placed on the first Adam in Eden. Through Jesus, Who was the Last Adam, God made all of His children in His Very Image and Likeness. This was and is Plan A.
We've never truly understood the depth of what Jesus did. Very few believers walk in the Truth of this mandate and Blessing of authority and dominion. There have been some, over the years, who have entered in further than others, but we've accepted them as being "special," instead of what Heaven calls, "normal." The only limitations that the new creation child of God has, is only what our natural senses tell us we cannot do. We've been taught by the carnal minds of the world and have limited the power of who we really are in this world.
When we say that, "God still heals" and does what the Word says He does, then we're called, "crazy or fanatics." God's Word gives a completely different image of who God says we are though. These are still believers, but they haven't believed to the same degree. Jesus told His followers in Mark 16:17-18,20 (Amplified), "Go and preach the Gospel to every creature, those who would believe in Him will be saved." Thus, He says, "And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe; in My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages, they will pick up serpents and even if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick and they will get well."
These things weren't only for those in the ministry, like we've previously believed. They weren't just for Jesus' disciples either, but were for those who believe in His Name. This is how the new creation family of God is supposed to walk and function. Verse 20 tells us, "They went and did what He said, and He confirmed what they preached by the signs and miracles that accompanied the Gospel." This is the normal way of living in God's Kingdom, while we're still on this earth.
Not knowing God's will has been one of the biggest hindrances to Christians faith in God's Word. Some think it's blasphemous, when we suggest we know God's will. If we don't know what God's will is, then all of our prayers and deeds aren't of faith, but of chance. When we add, "If it be Your will" to the end our prayer, then we're making a confession of doubt and unbelief in what we petitioned God for.
1John 5:14-15 (Amplified) says, "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him; we are sure that if we ask anything (make any request), according to His will (in agreement with His Own Plan), He listens to and hears us And if (since) we positively know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know with settled and absolute knowledge that we have granted us as our present possessions the requests made of Him."
It's not a matter of praying, but of having assurance concerning His will, that gets answers to prayer. If we don't know what God's will is, then we have no assurance or confidence in receiving an answer. Without assurance, it's not faith, according to Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) which says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses."
It's not a matter of God's not answering prayer and it's not that God's Own family isn't praying, but it's a matter of faith and knowing what His will, when we pray. Adding "If it be Thy will" to the end of our prayer, is revealing our lack of faith and assurance of what God's will about our prayer. This is a carnal cover-up and admission of our own guilt, for not knowing what God's will really is.
Jesus came so that we might know and have fellowship and understanding of the Father. God's will is plainly revealed to us and for us, through Jesus. Maybe we're not bold enough in our relationship with Him, to say what we believe. This though, is what God wants and expects of us. We've stumbled over and angered some at saying, "It's God's will that we are well." I've heard too many Christians say and believe that, "God gave me this sickness as a burden to carry."
Jesus preached from Isaiah 61 about His mission and ministry to the world and it's being God's Own will. He even said that "I didn't come to do My Own will, but to do the will of the Father," in Luke 4:18-19 (Amplified), "Jesus answered them by saying, My teaching is not My Own but His Who sent Me. If any man desires to do His will (God's pleasure), he will know (have the needed illumination to recognize and can tell for himself whether the teachings is from God or whether I speak from Myself and of My Own accord and on My Own Authority."
Do you believe that the things Jesus said, are from God? Do you have the needed illumination, concerning the Message and ministry of Jesus, as coming from God Himself? This is God's will for all His children. He doesn't have one will for some and a different will for others. God Loves all His children with the Same Love. One cannot find a place in the four Gospels, where Jesus refused to heal of Bless anyone who came to Him in faith. Some people had less faith, while others had more faith. One man even stated, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief." All had the opportunity to receive. Modern religion tells us that these things are for the past only or for the future. Hebrews 11:1 (Amplified) says, "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of things hoped for; being the proof of things we do not see." It's no longer by Law, ritual, sacrifice or any other thing that man must do, to qualify. It's by faith in His Grace and the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
There are 7,000 Promises made to and for Jesus, through God's Word and all of these Promises are ours in Him. All these Promises are Yes and Amen in Jesus, to the Glory of God. When our faith is released in God's Word and His Promises, the answer always comes. This is why satan tries so hard to discourage faith among the Church. Romans 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, inheriting the Promise is the outcome of faith and depends entirely on faith, in order that it might be given as an act of Grace (unmerited favor), to make it stable and guaranteed to all his descendants."
To make the Promises any other way, would nullify all who weren't under the Law, like the Hebrew children were. As Gentiles, we would be left out of the Promises and wouldn't qualify for them. Grace makes us eligible, through our faith in Jesus. We are all equal heirs in Christ Jesus. Those who study God's Word and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, have heard from the Father and have built faith in His Word. We all have the same opportunity to do so, but some choose not to do these things or think it's not necessary to spend time in God's Presence.
Proverbs 14:6 (Amplified) says, "A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it; but knowledge is easy to him, who being teachable understands." People who make light of and deny the Super-natural move of God in their lives, knowledge and understanding have slipped by them and left them without faith in what God wants to do in their lives. God tells us His will about health and healing, if we have ears to hear, in Proverbs 4:20-2 (3Amplified), "My Son, attend to My Words, consent and submit to My sayings, Let them not depart from your sight, keep them in the center of your heart, For they are Life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh." These are for us, while we're here in this earthly body and not for just "when we get to Heaven." This is for our flesh.
God's Word is still the same and is forever settled in Heaven. We've failed to keep God's Word in the center of our heart, like the above scripture teaches. God tells us why it's paramount that we keep His Words in the center of our hearts in Verse 23, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard; For out of it flow the Springs of Life." God's Word in your heart, is the Life, the health, the peace and the Promises of God for our lives, in these flesh and blood bodies, on earth.
The Church seems afraid of appearing proud and arrogant in God's eyes, that we've backed off from accepting the Truth of His Word. We've believed it was humble to say, "None are righteous," and have denied what God said about us. True humility would say, "I don't feel righteous and I know my faults and shortcomings, and I remember the old man I once was, but If You say I am righteous through Jesus, then I humble myself to the Truth of Your Word and accept Your Word and Truth, by faith. I received Your Gracious Gift in thanks and praise to You, saying in Christ, I am the righteousness of God and am righteous in Your eyes. Thank You Lord!"
Monday, March 4, 2019
Word of the Lord - given @ Christian Life Center Church
"I called you from the very beginning to walk in places where others had never walked...to do things others had never done...to see things that be, that others had never seen.
Did I not declare unto you that all are revealed unto you by My Spirit, saith the Lord. Those things that I have written in My Word are not for yesteryear, nor are they for tomorrow...the things that I have written in My Word, saith the Most High, are alive today as they ever were. They are the Life that sustains. If you will walk in the things that My Word has declared, you will walk in places that angels dare fear to tread. You will walk in places where those will tremble in the Presence of My Presence in you, says the Most High. I will lead you in places, says the Most High God, that those around you will never be able to understand the things that you think, the things that you say, the things that you do.
There will be those that will seek you out, because of My Presence in you. That the eyes of the blind will be open...but far more than that says the Lord, those that have been lost and in great darkness will once again see the Light and I will set at liberty all those that My Word is proclaimed over, says the Most High.
I will lift you up and place you in the very palm of My hand, says the Father and the things that you desire are the things that I have placed in you heart. You have yet to see even the beginning of what I will do, says the Father. Those that will come unto Me, I will reveal to you the things that I have paced in your heart...No, I say the things that you desire...thought I had forgotten...that maybe you had heard that I would not use you any longer, because it had been so long...but you have been a vessel in My House saith the Father...to be used by the Master in My time...the time is here that I will begin to make a call on the Gifts, that I will begin to make a call on the anointing. My Gifts and My calling are without repentance. The things that I spoke to you in the quiet of your own spirit and mind, will be the things that I will begin to make manifest in your life and I will take you into the places that you have desired in your heart."
Did I not declare unto you that all are revealed unto you by My Spirit, saith the Lord. Those things that I have written in My Word are not for yesteryear, nor are they for tomorrow...the things that I have written in My Word, saith the Most High, are alive today as they ever were. They are the Life that sustains. If you will walk in the things that My Word has declared, you will walk in places that angels dare fear to tread. You will walk in places where those will tremble in the Presence of My Presence in you, says the Most High. I will lead you in places, says the Most High God, that those around you will never be able to understand the things that you think, the things that you say, the things that you do.
There will be those that will seek you out, because of My Presence in you. That the eyes of the blind will be open...but far more than that says the Lord, those that have been lost and in great darkness will once again see the Light and I will set at liberty all those that My Word is proclaimed over, says the Most High.
I will lift you up and place you in the very palm of My hand, says the Father and the things that you desire are the things that I have placed in you heart. You have yet to see even the beginning of what I will do, says the Father. Those that will come unto Me, I will reveal to you the things that I have paced in your heart...No, I say the things that you desire...thought I had forgotten...that maybe you had heard that I would not use you any longer, because it had been so long...but you have been a vessel in My House saith the Father...to be used by the Master in My time...the time is here that I will begin to make a call on the Gifts, that I will begin to make a call on the anointing. My Gifts and My calling are without repentance. The things that I spoke to you in the quiet of your own spirit and mind, will be the things that I will begin to make manifest in your life and I will take you into the places that you have desired in your heart."
Saturday, March 2, 2019
Lesson 159 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
****Sorry, we've been without internet for several days, so I'm putting this on a Saturday.
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
We have misunderstood God's will for His people and family for many years, which left us devising our own understanding with carnal minds and allowing satan to keep us in bondage and doubting the Father. When we read about the Spiritual Blessings in the above scripture, we don't associate their being for our earthly lives. We somehow think we can enjoy these Spiritual Blessings, when we "cross over into the Spiritual realm."
We cannot "cross over into the Spiritual realm," but the Spiritual realm had to cross over into this earthly realm. Jesus said in John 3:6-7 (Amplified), "What is born of (from), the flesh is flesh (of the physical is physical); and what is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Marvel not (do not be surprised, astonished at) My telling you, you must be born anew from Above."
We live in a physical body, but the life that we now live in this body, is "Spiritual from Above." We try making this body "Spiritual," by our customs and traditions, but it is still physical. Flesh and blood can't inherit the Kingdom of God. All of our inheritance is now from the Spiritual Blessings, that came into and upon us, by our new birth. Everything that is now Blessing us in this physical life, comes from the Spiritual Blessings from within us.
Healing for this physical body is now within us, because of the Spiritual Blessing that abides within us. All that we've received from our new birth, is of the realm of God, Who is Spirit. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it); The Words (Truths), that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
We've been waiting for the Spiritual Blessings to work "when we become spirit" or "when we go to be with the Lord." The Truth is, that we're already one with the Lord and these Spiritual Blessings are already ours. We haven't understood the Truth that Jesus brought, which has left us identifying more with our flesh and the Law.
God couldn't cross over the boundary of sin and death, until Jesus came to bring us a new creation being. The Spiritual Blessing at that time, were based on man's ability to walk by Law, in order to keep his flesh in the confines of legalism. When men obeyed this Law, God could confer His Blessings upon them. God's mercy would cover man's sin, if he obediently followed the Law and offered sacrifice.
Jesus has now redeemed us from the Law of Sin and Death, so the Spiritual Blessings live within us and function by faith in His Grace. If the Life of God dwells within your born-again spirit, then ask yourself this, "Does God's Bloodline and His DNA contain sickness and disease?" If not, then these things aren't in our spirit either. We've been taught and have believed, that God deals with the new covenant people (us, His family), like He dealt with those under the old covenant, but this isn't Truth. We've allowed the enemy to pervert the Gospel, to where we accept such physical things as sickness as, "God is using these things to teach us something." This isn't Truth.
1Peter 5:8-9 (Amplified) refers to the enemy as, "the spirit of anti-christ, who goes around roaring like a lion, in order to deceive the Body of Christ." Satan never has an original thought,Jesus is the Lion of Judah and satan is doing his best to "replace" the Christ in our lives, by inserting himself in our Lord Jesus' place. If you're truly born-again and are serving Jesus, then you will not accept that the things coming upon you are God's will for you. Thus, 1Peter 5:8-9 tells us, "Be well balanced, temperate, sober of mind; be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours (the devil), roams around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
We have misunderstood God's will for His people and family for many years, which left us devising our own understanding with carnal minds and allowing satan to keep us in bondage and doubting the Father. When we read about the Spiritual Blessings in the above scripture, we don't associate their being for our earthly lives. We somehow think we can enjoy these Spiritual Blessings, when we "cross over into the Spiritual realm."
We cannot "cross over into the Spiritual realm," but the Spiritual realm had to cross over into this earthly realm. Jesus said in John 3:6-7 (Amplified), "What is born of (from), the flesh is flesh (of the physical is physical); and what is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Marvel not (do not be surprised, astonished at) My telling you, you must be born anew from Above."
We live in a physical body, but the life that we now live in this body, is "Spiritual from Above." We try making this body "Spiritual," by our customs and traditions, but it is still physical. Flesh and blood can't inherit the Kingdom of God. All of our inheritance is now from the Spiritual Blessings, that came into and upon us, by our new birth. Everything that is now Blessing us in this physical life, comes from the Spiritual Blessings from within us.
Healing for this physical body is now within us, because of the Spiritual Blessing that abides within us. All that we've received from our new birth, is of the realm of God, Who is Spirit. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it); The Words (Truths), that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
We've been waiting for the Spiritual Blessings to work "when we become spirit" or "when we go to be with the Lord." The Truth is, that we're already one with the Lord and these Spiritual Blessings are already ours. We haven't understood the Truth that Jesus brought, which has left us identifying more with our flesh and the Law.
God couldn't cross over the boundary of sin and death, until Jesus came to bring us a new creation being. The Spiritual Blessing at that time, were based on man's ability to walk by Law, in order to keep his flesh in the confines of legalism. When men obeyed this Law, God could confer His Blessings upon them. God's mercy would cover man's sin, if he obediently followed the Law and offered sacrifice.
Jesus has now redeemed us from the Law of Sin and Death, so the Spiritual Blessings live within us and function by faith in His Grace. If the Life of God dwells within your born-again spirit, then ask yourself this, "Does God's Bloodline and His DNA contain sickness and disease?" If not, then these things aren't in our spirit either. We've been taught and have believed, that God deals with the new covenant people (us, His family), like He dealt with those under the old covenant, but this isn't Truth. We've allowed the enemy to pervert the Gospel, to where we accept such physical things as sickness as, "God is using these things to teach us something." This isn't Truth.
1Peter 5:8-9 (Amplified) refers to the enemy as, "the spirit of anti-christ, who goes around roaring like a lion, in order to deceive the Body of Christ." Satan never has an original thought,Jesus is the Lion of Judah and satan is doing his best to "replace" the Christ in our lives, by inserting himself in our Lord Jesus' place. If you're truly born-again and are serving Jesus, then you will not accept that the things coming upon you are God's will for you. Thus, 1Peter 5:8-9 tells us, "Be well balanced, temperate, sober of mind; be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours (the devil), roams around like a lion roaring in fierce hunger
Monday, February 25, 2019
Lesson 158 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S TRUTH
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
The authority and dominion God decreed over Adam, was lost to us when Adam gave it over to satan in the Garden of Eden. Until that time, Adam had control and dominion through his authority God gave him. Adam was to use this authority and dominion, in order to bless all that God had given him. Adam had dominion and authority over everything over the earth and was to use them to bless everything in and on the earth. This dominion and authority was transferred over to satan, at Adam's fall in the Garden. This meant that man lost his fellowship and identity he held in the Lord. It also meant mankind lost his authority and dominion rights to the enemy.
Jesus is the Last Adam and restored all that the first Adam had. Jesus also issued all power and authority both in Heaven and in earth. This Blessing was Promised to Jesus through Abraham. God Promised it to the "Seed of Abraham" and it's our Blessing now too, through Jesus. One of the greatest fears that satan has, is that God's people will discover our true identity. Satan has obscured the true depth of what the new birth and the new creation people is, for two-thousand years. Religion describes us as being "poor Pilgrims," who should be pitied and run over, but this isn't the Father's image of His children.
God created man in His Own Image and Likeness and mankind was to be God's under-rulers over the works of His hands, according to Psalm 8:4-9 (Amplified) which says, "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 little 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 All sheep and oxen, yes, and all the beasts of the field; The birds of the air and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas O Lord, our Lord, how excellent, majestic and Glorious is Your Name in all the earth."
The above scripture show the True Image of God's creation, at the birth of His children. When Adam lost his authority and dominion over to satan, man lost his authority. The enemy has used man's own authority and dominion on mankind. Satan has used what God meant for a Blessing, making it into a curse. Jesus has redeemed us from the Curse that came through the First Adam. We've now received the Promised Blessing again, through Jesus Christ, the Last Adam.
Many only teach the Church about the Curse and the Law, instead of teaching God's children about our true identity in Christ Jesus. Our true identity has been lost to the lies of carnal men. In Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) Paul writes, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging of guilty of wrong), for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, the Law of our new being, has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
We must understand what the above scripture is saying to us today. It's not being prideful to say, "I am God's son or daughter." It's foolishness when we deny this awesome Truth. We confess that we're God's children, but then refuse to accept our place in His family. God never intended for His children to be subject to an outlaw spirit who would steal, kill, and destroy them. No father give life to his children, so they could live in starvation, sickness, bondage and death. Every earthly father desires more than tat, for his own offspring. Do we really think that our Heavenly Father wants less for His children?
This is a lie that has ruled over most of God's children and that lie was designed by satan, in order to bring grief and hurt to the heart of our Heavenly Father. The enemy cannot get to God, so he uses God's children as weapons against Him, bringing sorrow and hurt to the Father's great heart. When God's children are hurting, then God's heart is hurting too. Hebrews 4:15 (Amplified) says, "For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning."
Many read the above Verse as being about temptation to what we believe is sin, but most of the temptations Jesus faced, were more in the realm of taking back authority and dominion on behalf of those who were hurting and bound. Everything Jesus came against, was against Him. The people Jesus grew up with, were under the Law and satan and his demons, understood that every person was under satan's control. Jesus had to fave the temptation of His refusing to die on the cross and taking our penalty for sin. Jesus had faith in God's Truth and gave Himself over to the death, that we should have had.
We sometimes only think of "temptation," as sin in the flesh. Jesus faced a much greater force of temptation than we could ever imagine, so we could be free once again. Here we are though, still living mostly under bondage, not knowing the full force of what Jesus did on our behalf.
When we deny healing or dominion or authority and think of ourselves as "old sinners, saved by Grace," we're denying the greatest temptation Jesus was victorious over. Jesus didn't do what He did, just to forgive our sins, but He did it to restore us back to royalty, in our Father. Satan has lied to us, saying, "God doesn't do these things any longer" or "These things are only for after you die and go to Heaven." Jesus came that we would have Life, not only when we get to Heaven, but NOW. Jesus came so that we would have the God kind of Life, now on this earth.
God never intended for us (His children), to be ruled over by anything, except Himself and that was a Rule of Love. We have subjected ourselves to Him, out of Love and not fear. Paul describes the Love God has for His family as between a man and his wife in Ephesians 5:21-32 (Amplified). Verse 32 says, "This Mystery is very great, but I speak concerning the relationship of Christ and the Church." The intimacy and union Paul writes about, was and is, a position of Love and giving, on an equal basis. Paul says, "The two became one."
My wife took my name, my identity and an equal share of everything I am and have, when we were married. We have become as one, in every aspect of our lives. If I don't understand this relationship like God intended, then my wife would suffer under the bondage of misused authority and dominion. Religion tries it's hardest, to put wives under the bondage of her husband. Religion teaches Law, instead of Grace, leaving God's children to miss out on our ability to pray in agreement, as one. Religion teaches that the wife is less than her husband and this might be why, we "feel" like less, than what the Father has made us to be.
Galatians 3:28-29 (Amplified) says, "There is now no distinction, neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ (are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed), then you are Abraham's offspring and Spiritual heirs according to Promise."
The authority and dominion God decreed over Adam, was lost to us when Adam gave it over to satan in the Garden of Eden. Until that time, Adam had control and dominion through his authority God gave him. Adam was to use this authority and dominion, in order to bless all that God had given him. Adam had dominion and authority over everything over the earth and was to use them to bless everything in and on the earth. This dominion and authority was transferred over to satan, at Adam's fall in the Garden. This meant that man lost his fellowship and identity he held in the Lord. It also meant mankind lost his authority and dominion rights to the enemy.
Jesus is the Last Adam and restored all that the first Adam had. Jesus also issued all power and authority both in Heaven and in earth. This Blessing was Promised to Jesus through Abraham. God Promised it to the "Seed of Abraham" and it's our Blessing now too, through Jesus. One of the greatest fears that satan has, is that God's people will discover our true identity. Satan has obscured the true depth of what the new birth and the new creation people is, for two-thousand years. Religion describes us as being "poor Pilgrims," who should be pitied and run over, but this isn't the Father's image of His children.
God created man in His Own Image and Likeness and mankind was to be God's under-rulers over the works of His hands, according to Psalm 8:4-9 (Amplified) which says, "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 little 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 All sheep and oxen, yes, and all the beasts of the field; The birds of the air and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas O Lord, our Lord, how excellent, majestic and Glorious is Your Name in all the earth."
The above scripture show the True Image of God's creation, at the birth of His children. When Adam lost his authority and dominion over to satan, man lost his authority. The enemy has used man's own authority and dominion on mankind. Satan has used what God meant for a Blessing, making it into a curse. Jesus has redeemed us from the Curse that came through the First Adam. We've now received the Promised Blessing again, through Jesus Christ, the Last Adam.
Many only teach the Church about the Curse and the Law, instead of teaching God's children about our true identity in Christ Jesus. Our true identity has been lost to the lies of carnal men. In Romans 8:1-2 (Amplified) Paul writes, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation (no adjudging of guilty of wrong), for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live and walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. For the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus, the Law of our new being, has freed me from the Law of Sin and of Death."
We must understand what the above scripture is saying to us today. It's not being prideful to say, "I am God's son or daughter." It's foolishness when we deny this awesome Truth. We confess that we're God's children, but then refuse to accept our place in His family. God never intended for His children to be subject to an outlaw spirit who would steal, kill, and destroy them. No father give life to his children, so they could live in starvation, sickness, bondage and death. Every earthly father desires more than tat, for his own offspring. Do we really think that our Heavenly Father wants less for His children?
This is a lie that has ruled over most of God's children and that lie was designed by satan, in order to bring grief and hurt to the heart of our Heavenly Father. The enemy cannot get to God, so he uses God's children as weapons against Him, bringing sorrow and hurt to the Father's great heart. When God's children are hurting, then God's heart is hurting too. Hebrews 4:15 (Amplified) says, "For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning."
Many read the above Verse as being about temptation to what we believe is sin, but most of the temptations Jesus faced, were more in the realm of taking back authority and dominion on behalf of those who were hurting and bound. Everything Jesus came against, was against Him. The people Jesus grew up with, were under the Law and satan and his demons, understood that every person was under satan's control. Jesus had to fave the temptation of His refusing to die on the cross and taking our penalty for sin. Jesus had faith in God's Truth and gave Himself over to the death, that we should have had.
We sometimes only think of "temptation," as sin in the flesh. Jesus faced a much greater force of temptation than we could ever imagine, so we could be free once again. Here we are though, still living mostly under bondage, not knowing the full force of what Jesus did on our behalf.
When we deny healing or dominion or authority and think of ourselves as "old sinners, saved by Grace," we're denying the greatest temptation Jesus was victorious over. Jesus didn't do what He did, just to forgive our sins, but He did it to restore us back to royalty, in our Father. Satan has lied to us, saying, "God doesn't do these things any longer" or "These things are only for after you die and go to Heaven." Jesus came that we would have Life, not only when we get to Heaven, but NOW. Jesus came so that we would have the God kind of Life, now on this earth.
God never intended for us (His children), to be ruled over by anything, except Himself and that was a Rule of Love. We have subjected ourselves to Him, out of Love and not fear. Paul describes the Love God has for His family as between a man and his wife in Ephesians 5:21-32 (Amplified). Verse 32 says, "This Mystery is very great, but I speak concerning the relationship of Christ and the Church." The intimacy and union Paul writes about, was and is, a position of Love and giving, on an equal basis. Paul says, "The two became one."
My wife took my name, my identity and an equal share of everything I am and have, when we were married. We have become as one, in every aspect of our lives. If I don't understand this relationship like God intended, then my wife would suffer under the bondage of misused authority and dominion. Religion tries it's hardest, to put wives under the bondage of her husband. Religion teaches Law, instead of Grace, leaving God's children to miss out on our ability to pray in agreement, as one. Religion teaches that the wife is less than her husband and this might be why, we "feel" like less, than what the Father has made us to be.
Galatians 3:28-29 (Amplified) says, "There is now no distinction, neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is not male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ (are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed), then you are Abraham's offspring and Spiritual heirs according to Promise."
Friday, February 22, 2019
Lesson 157 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
All who are born-again in Christ Jesus, have become new creation and all are equal in Him. We are all considered to be made in the Righteousness of God and are joint heirs with Christ. "There is no longer bond or free, Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, but we are all one in Jesus," according to Galatians 3:28 (Amplified). Paul writes through the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 4:7 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant), but a son, and if a son, then it follows that you are an heir by the aid of God, through Christ."
God made man in His Own Image and Likeness in the Garden of Eden. God Blessed mankind and gave them dominion over the earth, everything in it and everything on it, according to Genesis 1:22-31. One of the things satan wanted more than anything, was man's dominion over everything. If he could gain dominion, then he could rule over everything God had placed into the authority of His chosen family. When satan deceived Even and brought Adam down with his lies and deception, he gained what he was after, which was the control over God's creation. Satan could rule everything from nature to mankind. God intended man to rule through love and spirit, but satan became the overlord and taskmaster, by deceiving Adam and Eve and gained control of man himself.
Adam never had dominion over other men, but over what God had given him. Satan perverted this decree of authority and dominion, so that it included dominion over mankind. This residue of dominion would now be used to bring all mankind into slavery to the demonic ruler, who was satan himself.
From the very beginning, satan used this gift of dominion to incite man to sin, leading to the Flood that destroyed all but eight souls. He continued his plight of dominion, putting man into the bondage of sin and death and away from God. History is riddled with corrupt and evil rulers and murderers, who were never satisfied with what they had and who took from others. The war of dominion can be found in today's headlines, from around the planet.
History is littered with such evil persons as Genghis Khan to Adolf Hitler and their atrocities are numerous. Even today, there are such evil dictators as Maduro in Venezuela, who his starving, killing and subjugating the citizens. Even here, there are politicians who keep writing new laws, that will bind citizens and keep them from being free. The only true liberty comes through Jesus Christ and that's why satan tries to prevent the Gospel from being spread and freeing man. Satan tries keeping mankind is poverty, sickness, perversion, mental distress, hunger and death. There have been many sermons taught about how "God puts sickness on you" or that "God allows sickness to befall you." There are many who teach God's people that, "You must be sick or poor, in order to be holy."
These things are the residue of perverted dominion from the hands of a demented and ungodly genius. Satan stole and usurped the dominion God gave to Adam. That dominion was to be a Blessing for mankind, but satan has used it to keep mankind in the slavery of sin and death. The wealth that was meant to Bless mankind, now has became an addiction to the mind of men, so that many will even murder others to gain that wealth. Satan took the abundance of provision and supply that God had given, and used it as a tool to rule over nations.
Satan tries to blind mankind from seeing and understanding that Jesus restored dominion to mankind, in His Name. This is at the root of everything satan attacks God's Church with. He tries keeping the Church from walking in the faith and dominion Jesus has restored to us. If we used these together in our lives, then satan would have no power over the new creation child of God. Much can be found in God's Word about this authority and restored dominion, but it's been diminished in the Church.
Jesus delivered us, but if we don't walk in the restoration and redemption that Jesus gave to us, then God's children will remain in bondage, until we leave this earth. Many Christians can only see victory, in their lives in Heaven. We have already received dominion and victory in God's eyes and heart, bought by the Blood of our Sacrifice Lamb and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He was placed us back like Adam was. Jesus was the Last Adam, Who restored all things by His Own Blood.
Before He was crucified, the Name of Jesus and the authority Jesus delegated even to fallen, man at the time, according to Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified) where Jesus tells His disciples, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive 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." Luke 10:17-19 (Amplified) continues, saying, "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 lightening 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."
The above scriptures tell us that it wasn't only restored to out spirit, but also to our body and minds. Out natural man was restored back to what it was in the Garden and as was the natural body of Jesus Himself. Paul wrote about renewing our minds in Romans 12:1-2, remembering what Jesus said in Luke 10:19. Paul wrote about thining as a man did before the fall and thinking like Jesus spoke about, when He sent forth the seventy. We also read about the same restored dominion in 2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified) which says, "For though we walk (live in this flesh), we are not carying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons For the weapons of our warfare are not physical weapons of flesh and blood, but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destructions of strongholds. In as much as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the ovedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
This is the restored dominion mandate that God Blessed Adam with, in order for Adam to be a blessing to this planet and all who would be born from him in the future. The dominion and authority God gave to the first Adam, was the very same dominion and authority that the Last Adam, Jesus walked in. This restored dominion and authority had ability over the storms, the fish, the trees, the fallen state of disease, death and demons. It was more than enough to turn around everything satan had used it for to pervert nature and mankind.
The Truth of this restored state of dominion, is what satan fears more than anything. When the Church believes and accepts this restored authority, then satan can have no more control of her. Satan cannot control the spirit, soul or body of God's Church, when we realize that this is Redemption and not just a buying back, but the restoring back of dominion and authority. Our just being born-again doesn't threaten satan's kingdom of darkness, unless the born-again child takes his/her place in our redemption. If we're born-again, but without knowledge, then we're still vulnerable to the same deception we were under before being saved, except our eternal destiny has changed. Satan has used the dominion stolen from Adam, to rule over everyone who doesn't know any differently. Adam had dominion, but allowed satan to take it from him and use it on him and his family. You've been restored to dominion, but you can also give it over to and allow satan to actually use it against you, if you don't know any differently and/or blame it all on God.
All who are born-again in Christ Jesus, have become new creation and all are equal in Him. We are all considered to be made in the Righteousness of God and are joint heirs with Christ. "There is no longer bond or free, Jew nor Gentile, male nor female, but we are all one in Jesus," according to Galatians 3:28 (Amplified). Paul writes through the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 4:7 (Amplified) saying, "Therefore, you are no longer a slave (bond servant), but a son, and if a son, then it follows that you are an heir by the aid of God, through Christ."
God made man in His Own Image and Likeness in the Garden of Eden. God Blessed mankind and gave them dominion over the earth, everything in it and everything on it, according to Genesis 1:22-31. One of the things satan wanted more than anything, was man's dominion over everything. If he could gain dominion, then he could rule over everything God had placed into the authority of His chosen family. When satan deceived Even and brought Adam down with his lies and deception, he gained what he was after, which was the control over God's creation. Satan could rule everything from nature to mankind. God intended man to rule through love and spirit, but satan became the overlord and taskmaster, by deceiving Adam and Eve and gained control of man himself.
Adam never had dominion over other men, but over what God had given him. Satan perverted this decree of authority and dominion, so that it included dominion over mankind. This residue of dominion would now be used to bring all mankind into slavery to the demonic ruler, who was satan himself.
From the very beginning, satan used this gift of dominion to incite man to sin, leading to the Flood that destroyed all but eight souls. He continued his plight of dominion, putting man into the bondage of sin and death and away from God. History is riddled with corrupt and evil rulers and murderers, who were never satisfied with what they had and who took from others. The war of dominion can be found in today's headlines, from around the planet.
History is littered with such evil persons as Genghis Khan to Adolf Hitler and their atrocities are numerous. Even today, there are such evil dictators as Maduro in Venezuela, who his starving, killing and subjugating the citizens. Even here, there are politicians who keep writing new laws, that will bind citizens and keep them from being free. The only true liberty comes through Jesus Christ and that's why satan tries to prevent the Gospel from being spread and freeing man. Satan tries keeping mankind is poverty, sickness, perversion, mental distress, hunger and death. There have been many sermons taught about how "God puts sickness on you" or that "God allows sickness to befall you." There are many who teach God's people that, "You must be sick or poor, in order to be holy."
These things are the residue of perverted dominion from the hands of a demented and ungodly genius. Satan stole and usurped the dominion God gave to Adam. That dominion was to be a Blessing for mankind, but satan has used it to keep mankind in the slavery of sin and death. The wealth that was meant to Bless mankind, now has became an addiction to the mind of men, so that many will even murder others to gain that wealth. Satan took the abundance of provision and supply that God had given, and used it as a tool to rule over nations.
Satan tries to blind mankind from seeing and understanding that Jesus restored dominion to mankind, in His Name. This is at the root of everything satan attacks God's Church with. He tries keeping the Church from walking in the faith and dominion Jesus has restored to us. If we used these together in our lives, then satan would have no power over the new creation child of God. Much can be found in God's Word about this authority and restored dominion, but it's been diminished in the Church.
Jesus delivered us, but if we don't walk in the restoration and redemption that Jesus gave to us, then God's children will remain in bondage, until we leave this earth. Many Christians can only see victory, in their lives in Heaven. We have already received dominion and victory in God's eyes and heart, bought by the Blood of our Sacrifice Lamb and our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. He was placed us back like Adam was. Jesus was the Last Adam, Who restored all things by His Own Blood.
Before He was crucified, the Name of Jesus and the authority Jesus delegated even to fallen, man at the time, according to Luke 10:8-9 (Amplified) where Jesus tells His disciples, "Whenever you go into a town and they receive 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." Luke 10:17-19 (Amplified) continues, saying, "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 lightening 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."
The above scriptures tell us that it wasn't only restored to out spirit, but also to our body and minds. Out natural man was restored back to what it was in the Garden and as was the natural body of Jesus Himself. Paul wrote about renewing our minds in Romans 12:1-2, remembering what Jesus said in Luke 10:19. Paul wrote about thining as a man did before the fall and thinking like Jesus spoke about, when He sent forth the seventy. We also read about the same restored dominion in 2Corinthians 10:3-5 (Amplified) which says, "For though we walk (live in this flesh), we are not carying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons For the weapons of our warfare are not physical weapons of flesh and blood, but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destructions of strongholds. In as much as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the ovedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
This is the restored dominion mandate that God Blessed Adam with, in order for Adam to be a blessing to this planet and all who would be born from him in the future. The dominion and authority God gave to the first Adam, was the very same dominion and authority that the Last Adam, Jesus walked in. This restored dominion and authority had ability over the storms, the fish, the trees, the fallen state of disease, death and demons. It was more than enough to turn around everything satan had used it for to pervert nature and mankind.
The Truth of this restored state of dominion, is what satan fears more than anything. When the Church believes and accepts this restored authority, then satan can have no more control of her. Satan cannot control the spirit, soul or body of God's Church, when we realize that this is Redemption and not just a buying back, but the restoring back of dominion and authority. Our just being born-again doesn't threaten satan's kingdom of darkness, unless the born-again child takes his/her place in our redemption. If we're born-again, but without knowledge, then we're still vulnerable to the same deception we were under before being saved, except our eternal destiny has changed. Satan has used the dominion stolen from Adam, to rule over everyone who doesn't know any differently. Adam had dominion, but allowed satan to take it from him and use it on him and his family. You've been restored to dominion, but you can also give it over to and allow satan to actually use it against you, if you don't know any differently and/or blame it all on God.
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Lesson 156 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Proverbs 22:6 (Amplified) says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and in keeping with his individual gift or bent, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Even though God is telling us train up our children in the right way, I believe He is also telling us to train up Christian children in the way they should go. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies, you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual mile (the Word of God), that by it you may be nurtured and grow into completed salvation."
I was one of those kids who was frustrated at learning to read, write, work math and complete the required school tasks. I would never had done any of these things, if left on my own volition. My parents made me complete my homework, otherwise it would never have gotten done. I found it to be overwhelming at first, to learn many things and in my childish thinking, believed it was a waste of my time. I would rather be outside playing, than inside doing homework.
Now that I'm grown, I don't need to think about "how to form a letter in the alphabet" or think about what letter the word "apple" begins with. These were difficult in preschool, but now I do them without thought. I would find it disastrous, if I was unable to read or write now, even though I once thought there was no need for these things in life.
Many Christians today believe, "I don't need to know all these things to go to Heaven" and they are correct. All one must know or do, in order to become a child of God, is have faith in God's Son Jesus Christ. I didn't need to know how to read or write, in order to become a human being, because I was a human at birth. However, my adult life has certainly been made easier, by knowing these things.
Our Heavenly Father has a Kingdom that is governed by Spiritual Laws and Spiritual understanding. One doesn't have to learn these things, in order to be His child, but it makes it easier to walk with Him and be pleasing to God, when we know them. There are ways to pray, that make it easier to receive answers from Heaven. There are also Laws of loosing and binding, that work here on earth and these are very helpful, when we know how to apply them. Understanding God's will and His Grace are simply things we must be taught, when we become citizens of God's Kingdom. These don't randomly work, like many think.
There's a difference between teaching and preaching. If my teachers had told, "You should know how to write," instead of teaching me how to write, then I would be illiterate now. It requires more than someone simply telling me that I "should know how to do it." There are Laws telling us that our words matter, but many don't believe this, because they were never taught these things. It might seem difficult to learn these things initially, but they will begin to get easier as you study God's Word.
Everything we learn as baby Christians seem difficult at first, but then they will come naturally Super-natural. I can walk with God, without needing to stop and think about it, because it's now part of who I am. I don't think about my prayer time with God, because it's become a way of living in His Presence and knowing that He doesn't only hear my prayer, but that I have the petitions that I desire of Him. 1John 5:14-15 (Amplified) tells us, "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him; we are sure that if we ask anything (make any request), according to His will (in agreement with His Own Plan), He listens to and hears us. And if since we positively know that He listens to us whatever we ask, we also know with settled and absolute knowledge, that we have granted us as our own present possessions the requests made of Him."
The Apostle John isn't making the bold statement just for himself, but so that we should know and have this same kind of boldness in our prayers. This comes by teaching in the Word, by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us that prayer is absolute and not just indifferent speaking and saying, "It it be Your will." We can learn, understand and receive knowledge of God's will and purpose, which will make our prayers roadways into our lives and the lives of others (even other nations).
John goes on writing to the Church in 1John 1:3 (Amplified) saying, "What we have seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And this fellowship that we have which is a distinguishing mark of Christ is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
Imagine your having the understanding and fellowship with the Lord, that the Apostles had, even before they were born-again. Jesus didn't just preach to and at the twelve Apostles, but He actually spent 31/2 years teaching them the principles of the Kingdom, so they could carry on His ministry after His Ascension. Some things He was teaching them, were difficult and might have seemed unnecessary at the time, but after these things became part of who they were, once they learned them.
It takes patience and a teachable spirit, for us to be humble and learn the things that are so valuable to our Christian lives. Jesus said that, "If you are to spoil the strong man's house, you first must bind the strong man." How do you bind the strong man? Jesus answers this in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven." Binding and strong man and spoiling his house, must be done according to the things that are already declared unlawful in Heaven and are now unlawful in the earth. Do you know what is lawful or unlawful in Heaven? If not, then how can you in faith, bind or loose anything and make it work?
Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 13:51-52 (Amplified), "Have you understood all these things (Parables), taken together? They said to Him; Yes Lord. He said to them, Therefore every teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been instructed about and trained for the Kingdom of Heaven and has become a disciples is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and treasure that is old, the fresh as well as the familiar."
There are many things that are familiar in the Church, but it's sometimes difficult to bring forth the new, to them. They're like the school children who don't believe they need to know how to read, write and work math. If the baby Christians don't learn these things, then they must rely on others to do the reading and interpreting to them. If someone reads the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ to you, then can you count on what they say as being your own inheritance? Or, would you rather be able to read it for yourself?
I prefer to know what God's will is for myself and pray accordingly, instead of relying on others to tell me what His will is concerning my prayer. John informed me that, "I can have assurance that God hears me and I can have the petitions I ask of Him." One of these comes by preaching and one comes by teaching. 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 your getting, get understanding, discernment, comprehension, and interpretation."
Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:10 (Amplified) where He prayed to our Heavenly Father, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Jesus was speaking about that which is lawful and unlawful in Heaven, being done on earth. If you don't know what God's will is in Heaven, then how can you know what to bind (loose) on earth, with any degree of faith or assurance? When we pray, "If it be Your will," then we're acknowledging we have no idea what God's will is in Heaven. How can we bind the strong man and spoil his house, if we don't know what's lawful in Heaven?
My school teachers were responsible to teach his/her students, but we are the ones who determine if we're willing to learn. Having a teachable spirit is one of the greatest things a Christian can have. Without it, we're led astray by every wind of doctrine, like those who Jesus taught. We make God's Word of no effect in our lives, with our traditions. Then we're like those who "have ears, but don't hear." We must humble ourselves and learn the Mysteries and Secret Counsels of God.
Proverbs 22:6 (Amplified) says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and in keeping with his individual gift or bent, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Even though God is telling us train up our children in the right way, I believe He is also telling us to train up Christian children in the way they should go. 1Peter 2:2 (Amplified) says, "Like newborn babies, you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire), the pure unadulterated Spiritual mile (the Word of God), that by it you may be nurtured and grow into completed salvation."
I was one of those kids who was frustrated at learning to read, write, work math and complete the required school tasks. I would never had done any of these things, if left on my own volition. My parents made me complete my homework, otherwise it would never have gotten done. I found it to be overwhelming at first, to learn many things and in my childish thinking, believed it was a waste of my time. I would rather be outside playing, than inside doing homework.
Now that I'm grown, I don't need to think about "how to form a letter in the alphabet" or think about what letter the word "apple" begins with. These were difficult in preschool, but now I do them without thought. I would find it disastrous, if I was unable to read or write now, even though I once thought there was no need for these things in life.
Many Christians today believe, "I don't need to know all these things to go to Heaven" and they are correct. All one must know or do, in order to become a child of God, is have faith in God's Son Jesus Christ. I didn't need to know how to read or write, in order to become a human being, because I was a human at birth. However, my adult life has certainly been made easier, by knowing these things.
Our Heavenly Father has a Kingdom that is governed by Spiritual Laws and Spiritual understanding. One doesn't have to learn these things, in order to be His child, but it makes it easier to walk with Him and be pleasing to God, when we know them. There are ways to pray, that make it easier to receive answers from Heaven. There are also Laws of loosing and binding, that work here on earth and these are very helpful, when we know how to apply them. Understanding God's will and His Grace are simply things we must be taught, when we become citizens of God's Kingdom. These don't randomly work, like many think.
There's a difference between teaching and preaching. If my teachers had told, "You should know how to write," instead of teaching me how to write, then I would be illiterate now. It requires more than someone simply telling me that I "should know how to do it." There are Laws telling us that our words matter, but many don't believe this, because they were never taught these things. It might seem difficult to learn these things initially, but they will begin to get easier as you study God's Word.
Everything we learn as baby Christians seem difficult at first, but then they will come naturally Super-natural. I can walk with God, without needing to stop and think about it, because it's now part of who I am. I don't think about my prayer time with God, because it's become a way of living in His Presence and knowing that He doesn't only hear my prayer, but that I have the petitions that I desire of Him. 1John 5:14-15 (Amplified) tells us, "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him; we are sure that if we ask anything (make any request), according to His will (in agreement with His Own Plan), He listens to and hears us. And if since we positively know that He listens to us whatever we ask, we also know with settled and absolute knowledge, that we have granted us as our own present possessions the requests made of Him."
The Apostle John isn't making the bold statement just for himself, but so that we should know and have this same kind of boldness in our prayers. This comes by teaching in the Word, by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us that prayer is absolute and not just indifferent speaking and saying, "It it be Your will." We can learn, understand and receive knowledge of God's will and purpose, which will make our prayers roadways into our lives and the lives of others (even other nations).
John goes on writing to the Church in 1John 1:3 (Amplified) saying, "What we have seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And this fellowship that we have which is a distinguishing mark of Christ is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
Imagine your having the understanding and fellowship with the Lord, that the Apostles had, even before they were born-again. Jesus didn't just preach to and at the twelve Apostles, but He actually spent 31/2 years teaching them the principles of the Kingdom, so they could carry on His ministry after His Ascension. Some things He was teaching them, were difficult and might have seemed unnecessary at the time, but after these things became part of who they were, once they learned them.
It takes patience and a teachable spirit, for us to be humble and learn the things that are so valuable to our Christian lives. Jesus said that, "If you are to spoil the strong man's house, you first must bind the strong man." How do you bind the strong man? Jesus answers this in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven." Binding and strong man and spoiling his house, must be done according to the things that are already declared unlawful in Heaven and are now unlawful in the earth. Do you know what is lawful or unlawful in Heaven? If not, then how can you in faith, bind or loose anything and make it work?
Jesus asked His disciples in Matthew 13:51-52 (Amplified), "Have you understood all these things (Parables), taken together? They said to Him; Yes Lord. He said to them, Therefore every teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been instructed about and trained for the Kingdom of Heaven and has become a disciples is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and treasure that is old, the fresh as well as the familiar."
There are many things that are familiar in the Church, but it's sometimes difficult to bring forth the new, to them. They're like the school children who don't believe they need to know how to read, write and work math. If the baby Christians don't learn these things, then they must rely on others to do the reading and interpreting to them. If someone reads the Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ to you, then can you count on what they say as being your own inheritance? Or, would you rather be able to read it for yourself?
I prefer to know what God's will is for myself and pray accordingly, instead of relying on others to tell me what His will is concerning my prayer. John informed me that, "I can have assurance that God hears me and I can have the petitions I ask of Him." One of these comes by preaching and one comes by teaching. 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 your getting, get understanding, discernment, comprehension, and interpretation."
Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:10 (Amplified) where He prayed to our Heavenly Father, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." Jesus was speaking about that which is lawful and unlawful in Heaven, being done on earth. If you don't know what God's will is in Heaven, then how can you know what to bind (loose) on earth, with any degree of faith or assurance? When we pray, "If it be Your will," then we're acknowledging we have no idea what God's will is in Heaven. How can we bind the strong man and spoil his house, if we don't know what's lawful in Heaven?
My school teachers were responsible to teach his/her students, but we are the ones who determine if we're willing to learn. Having a teachable spirit is one of the greatest things a Christian can have. Without it, we're led astray by every wind of doctrine, like those who Jesus taught. We make God's Word of no effect in our lives, with our traditions. Then we're like those who "have ears, but don't hear." We must humble ourselves and learn the Mysteries and Secret Counsels of God.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Lesson 155 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Many see the four Gospels as being New Testament books, but Jesus was still operating under the old covenant, speaking to and with people who were still under Law. The New Testament didn't begin for us in earnest, until Jesus Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Everything Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and the Father, was still a Mystery to those He ministered with and spoke too.
We've been born-again through the new birth in Christ Jesus. We have the New Testament, in which to read and understand what Jesus taught. To only real knowledge we have of the new creation family of God, comes from the letters Paul wrote to the Church. These are all Revelation knowledge and Spiritual understanding about our new birth, but without the Holy Spirit interpreting these letters, we still know very little about who we are in Christ.
We continue seeing ourselves like those Jesus spoke to under the old covenant. We can only know who He has made us to be, by Revelation. This is one of the main reasons there is so much division in today's Church. We've tried blending what Jesus said to those who were still under the Law, with the new and try walking both covenants simultaneously. If the Old Testament saints couldn't even walk under the Law, then how can we expect to walk under the Law and the new covenant at the same time?
We've not understood Grace and try "making" Grace help us keep the Law, but this can't happen without our losing sight of both Grace and Law. If we move by the Law, then we're not depending upon Grace and if we try making Grace do what the Law dictates, then we can't walk the Law. Thus, we've become annulled by both, because the Law can't make us righteous. Our righteousness comes by Grace, through faith in Jesus Christ and His Righteousness.
We've had difficulty accepting our righteousness, because it is by Grace and we feel like we don't deserve it. The Truth is that we don't deserve it, it's a Gift of Grace. This struggle has befallen the Church since it's beginning. Many believers continually quote Romans 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "As it is written; None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one." we do this, because we know that we haven't always been or acted righteous. Grace provided our righteousness, by faith in Christ Jesus. It's not because we were always doing right, but because He Is Right. We can only have righteousness and be able to stand upright again in God's Presence, by faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness can only come by faith in the Finished Work of Jesus.
Jesus did for us, what we could never do for ourselves and it requires faith in that, to make us righteous. Paul received Revelation from Jesus Himself and when we read Paul's letters, it's difficult for us to see ourselves the way the Word sees us, because we know that we don't deserve to be what God has made us to be in Christ. It must be by faith, because we don't deserve it. I am what I am, because of who and what Jesus did for me and it's by faith in Him, that I allow His Grace to transform me.
Paul wrote about renewing our minds and being transformed in Romans 12:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies, presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, consecrated, and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable, rational, intelligent, service and Spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed, (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideals and new attitude, so that you may prove for yourselves what is that Good and acceptable and Perfect will of God, even the thing which is Good and acceptable and Perfect in His sight for you. For by the Grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you, not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought (not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance, but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him)."
You must have a very high and exaggerated opinion of yourself, if you believe you can make yourself righteous enough to stand in God's Presence on your own. Jesus is the Only One Who ever fulfilled the Law and was Righteous before God! We stand before God, based on our faith that God has apportioned to us, to receive His Grace and make you righteous. It's only Pride that would say, "You're not subject to God's Grace to make you righteous. You can do it on your own, external, superficial customs."
We can see why Paul instructs the Church to "Renew your minds and way of thinking." The carnal mind is at enmity (is hostile) to God's way of thinking and cannot be reconciled to Him, according to Romans 8:7 (Amplified) where Paul writes, "That is because the mind of the flesh with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot." Your carnal mind (the mind of the flesh), will not accept God's Righteousness, without your needing to earn and deserve it, by its own works. That is pride at it's best.
We can only walk in God's Promises by being righteous in His eyes and the only way of being righteous in His eyes, is by Grace. The only way to be righteous in God's eyes by Grace, is by faith. 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." Without having faith in God's Grace to make you in right standing with Him, you cannot come near or have the right to stand in His Presence. It's only by Grace through faith, that we can stand in God's Presence. It's not by works, external customs or the ways of the carnal mind with it's fleshly way of pride and thinking.
You were made righteous when you were born-again, but if you don't renew your mind by the Truth of God's Word, then your flesh will hold you back from Him, because it is hostile to God and will never submit to Grace. This is the "pride of life," John writes about in 1John 2:16 (Amplified) saying, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, craving for sensual gratification, and the lust of the eyes, greedy longing of the mind, and the pride of life, assurance in ones own resources or in the stability of earthly things, THESE DO NOT COME FROM THE FATHER."
When we don't understand righteousness, then nearly all of God's Promises made to us in Christ Jesus, are not available to us, even though they're already ours. Our sense of being unworthy and not righteous, will prevent our believing and receiving. Our faith will never reach out for these things, because we feel like we don't deserve them, in the mind of the flesh. This is one of the reasons why healing, tongues, Blessing and fulfilled Promises are so lacking in today's Church. The mind of the flesh wants to "make us righteous enough to deserve them."
The only response to a Gift, should be, "Thank you." Grace and Righteousness are Gifts from God and so it the faith to receive these Gifts. Let's Thank Him and allow Him to Bless us, like He desires to. The only thing holding back His Promises to you, is you.
Many see the four Gospels as being New Testament books, but Jesus was still operating under the old covenant, speaking to and with people who were still under Law. The New Testament didn't begin for us in earnest, until Jesus Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Everything Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and the Father, was still a Mystery to those He ministered with and spoke too.
We've been born-again through the new birth in Christ Jesus. We have the New Testament, in which to read and understand what Jesus taught. To only real knowledge we have of the new creation family of God, comes from the letters Paul wrote to the Church. These are all Revelation knowledge and Spiritual understanding about our new birth, but without the Holy Spirit interpreting these letters, we still know very little about who we are in Christ.
We continue seeing ourselves like those Jesus spoke to under the old covenant. We can only know who He has made us to be, by Revelation. This is one of the main reasons there is so much division in today's Church. We've tried blending what Jesus said to those who were still under the Law, with the new and try walking both covenants simultaneously. If the Old Testament saints couldn't even walk under the Law, then how can we expect to walk under the Law and the new covenant at the same time?
We've not understood Grace and try "making" Grace help us keep the Law, but this can't happen without our losing sight of both Grace and Law. If we move by the Law, then we're not depending upon Grace and if we try making Grace do what the Law dictates, then we can't walk the Law. Thus, we've become annulled by both, because the Law can't make us righteous. Our righteousness comes by Grace, through faith in Jesus Christ and His Righteousness.
We've had difficulty accepting our righteousness, because it is by Grace and we feel like we don't deserve it. The Truth is that we don't deserve it, it's a Gift of Grace. This struggle has befallen the Church since it's beginning. Many believers continually quote Romans 3:10 (Amplified) which says, "As it is written; None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one." we do this, because we know that we haven't always been or acted righteous. Grace provided our righteousness, by faith in Christ Jesus. It's not because we were always doing right, but because He Is Right. We can only have righteousness and be able to stand upright again in God's Presence, by faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness can only come by faith in the Finished Work of Jesus.
Jesus did for us, what we could never do for ourselves and it requires faith in that, to make us righteous. Paul received Revelation from Jesus Himself and when we read Paul's letters, it's difficult for us to see ourselves the way the Word sees us, because we know that we don't deserve to be what God has made us to be in Christ. It must be by faith, because we don't deserve it. I am what I am, because of who and what Jesus did for me and it's by faith in Him, that I allow His Grace to transform me.
Paul wrote about renewing our minds and being transformed in Romans 12:1-3 (Amplified) saying, "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies, presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, consecrated, and well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable, rational, intelligent, service and Spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs), but be transformed, (changed) by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideals and new attitude, so that you may prove for yourselves what is that Good and acceptable and Perfect will of God, even the thing which is Good and acceptable and Perfect in His sight for you. For by the Grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you, not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought (not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance, but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him)."
You must have a very high and exaggerated opinion of yourself, if you believe you can make yourself righteous enough to stand in God's Presence on your own. Jesus is the Only One Who ever fulfilled the Law and was Righteous before God! We stand before God, based on our faith that God has apportioned to us, to receive His Grace and make you righteous. It's only Pride that would say, "You're not subject to God's Grace to make you righteous. You can do it on your own, external, superficial customs."
We can see why Paul instructs the Church to "Renew your minds and way of thinking." The carnal mind is at enmity (is hostile) to God's way of thinking and cannot be reconciled to Him, according to Romans 8:7 (Amplified) where Paul writes, "That is because the mind of the flesh with its carnal thoughts and purposes is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot." Your carnal mind (the mind of the flesh), will not accept God's Righteousness, without your needing to earn and deserve it, by its own works. That is pride at it's best.
We can only walk in God's Promises by being righteous in His eyes and the only way of being righteous in His eyes, is by Grace. The only way to be righteous in God's eyes by Grace, is by faith. 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." Without having faith in God's Grace to make you in right standing with Him, you cannot come near or have the right to stand in His Presence. It's only by Grace through faith, that we can stand in God's Presence. It's not by works, external customs or the ways of the carnal mind with it's fleshly way of pride and thinking.
You were made righteous when you were born-again, but if you don't renew your mind by the Truth of God's Word, then your flesh will hold you back from Him, because it is hostile to God and will never submit to Grace. This is the "pride of life," John writes about in 1John 2:16 (Amplified) saying, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, craving for sensual gratification, and the lust of the eyes, greedy longing of the mind, and the pride of life, assurance in ones own resources or in the stability of earthly things, THESE DO NOT COME FROM THE FATHER."
When we don't understand righteousness, then nearly all of God's Promises made to us in Christ Jesus, are not available to us, even though they're already ours. Our sense of being unworthy and not righteous, will prevent our believing and receiving. Our faith will never reach out for these things, because we feel like we don't deserve them, in the mind of the flesh. This is one of the reasons why healing, tongues, Blessing and fulfilled Promises are so lacking in today's Church. The mind of the flesh wants to "make us righteous enough to deserve them."
The only response to a Gift, should be, "Thank you." Grace and Righteousness are Gifts from God and so it the faith to receive these Gifts. Let's Thank Him and allow Him to Bless us, like He desires to. The only thing holding back His Promises to you, is you.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Lesson 154 GRACE AND TRUTH-GOD'S WILL
John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (undeserved, unearned favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Many in today's Church, have never accepted many of the things that our Redeemer paid for with His Blood. It's not because these things aren't available or that they're "for certain ones only," but that we were never taught from God's Word, that THEY ARE OURS. The Spiritual Blessings and Gifts are ours through Jesus. They are many and for all who will believe.
Our believing is limited to what we've been taught and have learned, over our Christian lives. We are believers, but there are so many Promises of God, that we're not partaking of. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) tells us, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes answer in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (So be it), to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency, to the Glory of God."
There are more than 370 Promises made to us, through our union with Jesus and these each have their "Yes and So be it, to God's Glory." Healing isn't just something we agree or disagree with, but it's a Promise that is Yes and So be it, in Jesus. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the speaking in tongues, isn't just something we preach, while others don't. It is a Promise that is fulfilled to those in Jesus Christ.
They Church has made the reality of God's Promise "to all that will believe", just a doctrine or religion. We were all saved by putting faith in the death and Resurrection of Jesus, thus we are all believers. If you're born-again, then you are a good Christian, because God never birthed a bad Christian.
Paul writes about the growing of our faith, in Romans 1:17 (Amplified),saying, "For in the Gospel a Righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed through the way of faith, that arouses to more faith, as it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith." We must continue in faith, so we can receive and partake of God's Promises, that are already ours in Christ Jesus.
God has made our understanding His will, available to us, by His Word. Jesus is the Word made Flesh. He was (and still is), the Perfect will of God, for mankind. We stumble when hearing, "Healing and prosperity are for us today," but Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) says, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah), is always the same, yesterday, today, yes, and forever to the end of the ages." It was God's will for Jesus to heal deliver, prosper and help mankind, while He was here on earth and it's still God's will, through Jesus, to do it now.
Sickness was part of the Curse of the Law and we've been redeemed from that, as a part of the Blessing we've inherited through Jesus. Some believe that God uses sickness and disease to teach them or that "God has chosen them to carry the burden of disease and sickness." It's like we cannot distinguish between what is God's will and the enemy's attempt to destroy us. We've all but accepted a spirit of infirmity to teach us, instead of receiving God's Spirit. When someone accepts satan's lies that, "God is making them sick, in order to teach them something," then sickness becomes an on-going factor in their life.
Are there Christians who are not healed and who are sick? Of course there are, but is that God's will? No, not anymore so than it's God's will for people to remain unsaved. God's will was and is, that "None should perish and come to the knowledge of God," according to 2Peter 3:9 (Amplified). If it's God will that everyone should be saved, then why are so many still unsaved? They're unsaved because they never initiated faith to God's Promise that, "All who call upon the Name of the Lord would be saved." Romans 10:13 (Amplified) says, "For everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord, invoking Him as Lord will be saved."
We've been faith to preach about salvation and being born-again, but we haven't done so about healing and God's Blessing, so the people haven't heard and do not believe. Romans 10:17 (KJV) says, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:14 (KJV) asks, "How will they hear without a preacher?" Jesus taught about the Laws of the Kingdom that both He and we, are subject to, in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth, must be what is already forbidden in Heaven and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven."
This scripture tell us that sickness, disease, hunger, being maimed or being in bondage, and the things Jesus did for the people He ministered to, were already forbidden in Heaven. The Spiritual Laws that govern Heaven tell us that, "Sickness, disease and the other things Jesus delivered the people from, are not permitted and are unlawful in Heaven."
Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-10 (Amplified) saying, "Pray therefore, like this, Our Father Who is in Heaven, Hallowed (kept holy), be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." If we're to expect Kingdom result in our prayers and deeds, then we must know what is Lawful and unlawful in Heaven. Apparently, the things Jesus delivered the people from, were unlawful according to the Spiritual Laws that govern the Kingdom into which we've been born into. Jesus also taught this in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at, and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness, His way of doing and being right, and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
All of these things are given by the Wisdom of God, to every believer, according to 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." It's not a lack of Wisdom that is holding Christians back, but a lack of understanding and perception. 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."
Without understanding, we reach our own understanding, with our own thoughts, using our own interpretation. We miss the Wisdom of the Kingdom and the Laws that govern it. 2Corinthians 3:14 (Amplified) says, "In fact, their minds [those under the Law] were grown hard and calloused, they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding; for until this present day, when the old covenant is being read, the same veil still lies on their hearts, not being lifted to reveal that in Christ Jesus it is made void and done away with."
Today's Christians are in danger of losing the power of understanding, when it comes to our laws of different doctrines. Anything that comes against what we believed we knew, is either cast away or simply ignored. We've lost the understanding about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues, because of our own, carnal understanding. Jesus said to, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His way of doing and being right."
Many in today's Church, have never accepted many of the things that our Redeemer paid for with His Blood. It's not because these things aren't available or that they're "for certain ones only," but that we were never taught from God's Word, that THEY ARE OURS. The Spiritual Blessings and Gifts are ours through Jesus. They are many and for all who will believe.
Our believing is limited to what we've been taught and have learned, over our Christian lives. We are believers, but there are so many Promises of God, that we're not partaking of. 2Corinthians 1:20 (Amplified) tells us, "For as many as are the Promises of God, they all find their Yes answer in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (So be it), to God through Him, in His Person and by His Agency, to the Glory of God."
There are more than 370 Promises made to us, through our union with Jesus and these each have their "Yes and So be it, to God's Glory." Healing isn't just something we agree or disagree with, but it's a Promise that is Yes and So be it, in Jesus. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the speaking in tongues, isn't just something we preach, while others don't. It is a Promise that is fulfilled to those in Jesus Christ.
They Church has made the reality of God's Promise "to all that will believe", just a doctrine or religion. We were all saved by putting faith in the death and Resurrection of Jesus, thus we are all believers. If you're born-again, then you are a good Christian, because God never birthed a bad Christian.
Paul writes about the growing of our faith, in Romans 1:17 (Amplified),saying, "For in the Gospel a Righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith, disclosed through the way of faith, that arouses to more faith, as it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith." We must continue in faith, so we can receive and partake of God's Promises, that are already ours in Christ Jesus.
God has made our understanding His will, available to us, by His Word. Jesus is the Word made Flesh. He was (and still is), the Perfect will of God, for mankind. We stumble when hearing, "Healing and prosperity are for us today," but Hebrews 13:8 (Amplified) says, "Jesus Christ (the Messiah), is always the same, yesterday, today, yes, and forever to the end of the ages." It was God's will for Jesus to heal deliver, prosper and help mankind, while He was here on earth and it's still God's will, through Jesus, to do it now.
Sickness was part of the Curse of the Law and we've been redeemed from that, as a part of the Blessing we've inherited through Jesus. Some believe that God uses sickness and disease to teach them or that "God has chosen them to carry the burden of disease and sickness." It's like we cannot distinguish between what is God's will and the enemy's attempt to destroy us. We've all but accepted a spirit of infirmity to teach us, instead of receiving God's Spirit. When someone accepts satan's lies that, "God is making them sick, in order to teach them something," then sickness becomes an on-going factor in their life.
Are there Christians who are not healed and who are sick? Of course there are, but is that God's will? No, not anymore so than it's God's will for people to remain unsaved. God's will was and is, that "None should perish and come to the knowledge of God," according to 2Peter 3:9 (Amplified). If it's God will that everyone should be saved, then why are so many still unsaved? They're unsaved because they never initiated faith to God's Promise that, "All who call upon the Name of the Lord would be saved." Romans 10:13 (Amplified) says, "For everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord, invoking Him as Lord will be saved."
We've been faith to preach about salvation and being born-again, but we haven't done so about healing and God's Blessing, so the people haven't heard and do not believe. Romans 10:17 (KJV) says, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:14 (KJV) asks, "How will they hear without a preacher?" Jesus taught about the Laws of the Kingdom that both He and we, are subject to, in Matthew 18:18 (Amplified) saying, "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth, must be what is already forbidden in Heaven and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven."
This scripture tell us that sickness, disease, hunger, being maimed or being in bondage, and the things Jesus did for the people He ministered to, were already forbidden in Heaven. The Spiritual Laws that govern Heaven tell us that, "Sickness, disease and the other things Jesus delivered the people from, are not permitted and are unlawful in Heaven."
Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9-10 (Amplified) saying, "Pray therefore, like this, Our Father Who is in Heaven, Hallowed (kept holy), be Your Name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." If we're to expect Kingdom result in our prayers and deeds, then we must know what is Lawful and unlawful in Heaven. Apparently, the things Jesus delivered the people from, were unlawful according to the Spiritual Laws that govern the Kingdom into which we've been born into. Jesus also taught this in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at, and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness, His way of doing and being right, and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."
All of these things are given by the Wisdom of God, to every believer, according to 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." It's not a lack of Wisdom that is holding Christians back, but a lack of understanding and perception. 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."
Without understanding, we reach our own understanding, with our own thoughts, using our own interpretation. We miss the Wisdom of the Kingdom and the Laws that govern it. 2Corinthians 3:14 (Amplified) says, "In fact, their minds [those under the Law] were grown hard and calloused, they had become dull and had lost the power of understanding; for until this present day, when the old covenant is being read, the same veil still lies on their hearts, not being lifted to reveal that in Christ Jesus it is made void and done away with."
Today's Christians are in danger of losing the power of understanding, when it comes to our laws of different doctrines. Anything that comes against what we believed we knew, is either cast away or simply ignored. We've lost the understanding about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues, because of our own, carnal understanding. Jesus said to, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His way of doing and being right."
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