Man is a spirit, with a soul in a physical body. His body enables him to contact the physical, natural realm. His reasoning faculties, his soul, mind, will, emotions and intellect, puts him in contact with mental things. His spirit, on the-other-hand is the only part that puts him in contact with spiritual things. Before he is born again and receives eternal life his spirit is dominated by Satan, that is, spiritual death. This makes it impossible for him to understand God's Word. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians 2:14)
Looking back in the scriptures, we see that God spoke to the Prophet Ezekiel, giving through him, to us, a remarkable prophecy, "I will give you a new
heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone
out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them." (Ezekiel 36:26-27) This word is actually speaking of the new creation that would be made available through faith in Jesus Christ. God tells us that He will recreate their spirit, or heart. He says, "I will take the heart of stone
out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." This suggests that a new kind of love is coming which will make them one as a body of people.
Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35) The prophetic words spoken through Ezekiel now comes to fruition through the believer, the new creation in Christ. He is going to take the stony heart of selfishness out of them, and give them His own heart of love. This new kind of love would not simply manifest through the believer towards those who love him or her only, but every person that they come in contact with. Jesus reveals this very thing to us...
"You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But
I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to
those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you, that
you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on
the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48)
We also see in Ezekiel's prophecy, "I will put a new spirit within you." This is the promise of God Himself indwelling the believer. Jesus reaffirms this, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the
Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees
Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be
in you." (John 14:16-18) God indwelling the believer is what makes him a new creation. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter tells us concerning the believer, "having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever." (1 Peter 1:23) Peter tells us of this new person, "rather let it be the hidden person (man) of the heart." (1 Peter 3:4) It is here that we are given a title for the recreated human spirit. He is called the "hidden man of the heart." He is the new creation. He is the man, the real person.
The physical body is not the man, it is the temporary dwelling place for the man. It is the home of the five senses. The soul is not not the man, it is simply the part that the five senses work through giving him knowledge and causing him to respond to the world around him. The brain would lie dormant, it would be inactive, if the five senses did not function. All of the knowledge that is taught in our colleges, universities and technical schools has come to man through these five channels. The only way that man can obtain knowledge, or an education, prior to becoming a new creation, is through these five senses.
The Apostle Paul tells us, "For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man." (Romans 7:22) "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16) "That He would grant you,
according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might
through His Spirit in the inner man." (Ephesians 3:16) In these scriptures we see that the hidden man is called the "inward man." In either case, the "hidden man" is the man. The outward, or the visible man, is the one that we see in the physical realm. It is the inward man who gives the outer man either his attractiveness or his unpleasantness. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)
Therefore, know that God deals with the inward man and not the outer man, that is, spiritual things are unveiled to the hidden man of the heart, the recreated spirit. Jesus tells us, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24) Now we can see man as being in Gods class. God is Spirit, man is a spirit. God is an eternal Spirit, man is an eternal spirit. He is capable of receiving the nature of God. (Ephesians 4:24) He is capable of loving God. (1 John 4:19) He is capable of loving like God. (Romans 5:5) He is capable of becoming a child of God. (John 1:12)
From the beginning man was created in the image and likeness of God, that is, spiritual likeness. He lost that image in the fall, but it is restored in the new creation through faith in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul speak of the inward man also as the "new man." He tells us, "And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24), that is, the image and likeness of God. Peter says it this way, "you may be partakers of the divine nature." (2 Peter 1:4)
As we see, the body is simply the home, or dwelling place, of the spirit. The recreated human spirit wishes to communicate its newfound joy to those about it. Hidden away as it is in the human body, it has no way of communication but through the five senses. This is why Paul tells us, "I beseech
you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2) and, "that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Ephesians 4:22-23)
Therefore, the first thing that must be done after one is recreated is to bring these five senses into subjection to the recreated human spirit, and God's Word. When this is done the mind will be renewed. Although a person is born again, they still possess the same mind and body that had been under the dominion of Satan. This is the reason that it is so important to renew the mind and bring it into harmony with the recreated spirit. You must bring it into subjection to this new self that has come into being. The trouble with the majority of believers is that their minds have never been renewed. The believers mind will never be renewed until they begin to believe and act upon God's Word.
So, let us "move on to perfection" in Christ allowing the Holy Spirit to get to the heart of things, so that "all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Monday, November 6, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
The Desire of The Father
One of the greatest desires of our Heavenly Father is to reproduce Himself in every one of His children. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul reveals, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) The believer is a new creation. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter reveals, "by which have been given
to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you
may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:4) The old satanic nature that we all had before receiving Christ as Lord and Savior has been completely done away with and now we are partakers of the "divine nature," the very nature and life of the Father.
The very genius of Christianity is the ability of God to build Himself into us through His Word, so that in our daily walk we live like Jesus. Paul tells us, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18) "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) As we see, the Father wants to reproduce Himself in us. However, let us keep in mind that the process of building Christ into one may be very slow, but the results are living as Jesus lived. The Father wants to make Jesus men and women out of us. Look at the reality of this, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 AMP)
The Father is actually building His love, His righteousness, His strength, His wisdom, His very self into our recreated spirits. He does this by the Holy Spirit through His Word. It is not simply the knowledge of the Word, but it is the Word that is built into us, implanted into us and becoming a part of us that counts. (James 1:21) As you study the Pauline Epistles you will see the vast revelation given to Paul concerning this and become convinced that the ultimate of every one of those Epistles is the building of the life of Jesus into every believer. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John reveals, "... as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17) The Father's plan for building Himself into us is wonderful. We are to take Jesus' place. We must learn to act in His stead. We are to be His representatives. (John 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:18) Here is another look at the Father's glorious plan for His children...
"For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:9-14) PTL!!!
For many, these things seem almost impossible to be true. They seem beyond what we could ever expect from God. However, let us receive the truth and know, that the Father loves us more than we love ourselves. He is more ambitious for our success than we are. It is simply faith in His ability that puts us over. The Bible tells us, "Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]." (Ephesians 3:20 AMP) Also keep in mind that the Father does not force these things upon His children. He doesn't drive us. It is simply the Father's ambition, His desire to make us successful and to enable us to enjoy the riches that belong to us through Christ our Lord.
It comes down to our attitude towards God's Word as well as our willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit's work in us. Jesus tells us, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27)
Jesus is saying that the doer of the Word dug deep and built his house upon the rock, God's Word, and it made his house able to stand against any storm that might beat against it. Jesus also tells us, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing...If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:5, 7) As a branch, we cooperate with the Vine and bear His fruit; we are laboring together with Him; we are operating together with Him; we are truly identified as one with Him and the Father is glorified. In us, the Lord has found a place for His ability to energize and act here on the earth. We are growing in Grace, and are growing in the knowledge of God, in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
As we saw above, the climax of the Father's heart's desire for us is, "...the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." However, though these are great and precious promises and though every believer is in Christ, it does not mean His Word is in every believer. So, let Him live His Life in us, that we begin to enjoy our share of our inheritance in Christ. Let us draw from the dividends on what He has done for us and in us. Let us come to enjoy the riches of His Grace. Let us let His Word have full control over every part of our life; let it have dominion over every phase of our thinking. Jesus said, "...If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) Let the desire of the Father loose in us, so that we can look and act like Jesus. Amen?
The very genius of Christianity is the ability of God to build Himself into us through His Word, so that in our daily walk we live like Jesus. Paul tells us, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18) "My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you." (Galatians 4:19) As we see, the Father wants to reproduce Himself in us. However, let us keep in mind that the process of building Christ into one may be very slow, but the results are living as Jesus lived. The Father wants to make Jesus men and women out of us. Look at the reality of this, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 AMP)
The Father is actually building His love, His righteousness, His strength, His wisdom, His very self into our recreated spirits. He does this by the Holy Spirit through His Word. It is not simply the knowledge of the Word, but it is the Word that is built into us, implanted into us and becoming a part of us that counts. (James 1:21) As you study the Pauline Epistles you will see the vast revelation given to Paul concerning this and become convinced that the ultimate of every one of those Epistles is the building of the life of Jesus into every believer. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John reveals, "... as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17) The Father's plan for building Himself into us is wonderful. We are to take Jesus' place. We must learn to act in His stead. We are to be His representatives. (John 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:18) Here is another look at the Father's glorious plan for His children...
"For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:9-14) PTL!!!
For many, these things seem almost impossible to be true. They seem beyond what we could ever expect from God. However, let us receive the truth and know, that the Father loves us more than we love ourselves. He is more ambitious for our success than we are. It is simply faith in His ability that puts us over. The Bible tells us, "Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]." (Ephesians 3:20 AMP) Also keep in mind that the Father does not force these things upon His children. He doesn't drive us. It is simply the Father's ambition, His desire to make us successful and to enable us to enjoy the riches that belong to us through Christ our Lord.
It comes down to our attitude towards God's Word as well as our willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit's work in us. Jesus tells us, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27)
Jesus is saying that the doer of the Word dug deep and built his house upon the rock, God's Word, and it made his house able to stand against any storm that might beat against it. Jesus also tells us, "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing...If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." (John 15:5, 7) As a branch, we cooperate with the Vine and bear His fruit; we are laboring together with Him; we are operating together with Him; we are truly identified as one with Him and the Father is glorified. In us, the Lord has found a place for His ability to energize and act here on the earth. We are growing in Grace, and are growing in the knowledge of God, in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
As we saw above, the climax of the Father's heart's desire for us is, "...the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." However, though these are great and precious promises and though every believer is in Christ, it does not mean His Word is in every believer. So, let Him live His Life in us, that we begin to enjoy our share of our inheritance in Christ. Let us draw from the dividends on what He has done for us and in us. Let us come to enjoy the riches of His Grace. Let us let His Word have full control over every part of our life; let it have dominion over every phase of our thinking. Jesus said, "...If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) Let the desire of the Father loose in us, so that we can look and act like Jesus. Amen?
Monday, October 23, 2017
Where Is Your ID
To seal man's redemption, making it both eternal and available to all mankind, we see that Jesus our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) ascended into heaven, with His own blood obtaining eternal redemption for us on the basis of His substitutionary death and resurrection on our behalf. "Not with the blood of
goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place
once for all, having obtained eternal redemption...But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 9:12, 10:12-14)
When Christ sat down at the Father's right hand, man had been perfectly redeemed because he had been legally identified with Christ in His redemptive work. (Romans 4:25, 5:1-2) Now man, by faith in Jesus Christ has a new identity. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) Let us look at how the believers new identity from spiritual death to life in Christ Jesus unfolds. To discover these thing, we look to the Pauline epistles, where we find the greatest revelation of the believers identification in Christ.
" Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:6) "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) On the cross, God made Jesus to become sin for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21) It was our spiritual death and our sin nature that He bore. He became identified with us on the cross as our Substitute.
"For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection...Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him." (Romans 6:5, 8) When Jesus died, we died with Him. First, spiritual death was laid on His spirit, then He died physically, in the same manner that Adam died. Spiritual death is separation from God. It was spiritual death that eventually brought physical death to Adam and all people. (Romans 5:12) Jesus speaks of Himself to the people around Him at the tomb of Lazarus, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26) Faith in Christ removes the sting of spiritual death and gives us eternal life.
So, as a result of His crucifixion mankind can now find their identity with and in Christ. When Jesus died, we died with Him. As His spirit left His physical body and went into hell we were identified with Him. Paul tells us, "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death..." (Romans 6:4) "Having been buried with Him in baptism..." (Colossians 6:10) Baptism in these verses is a type of our burial with Christ. Though His body was laid in the tomb, (Matthew 27:57-61), His spirit suffered in hell as He paid the penalty that was due man. He could adequately pay man's penalty and meet the demands of justice because on the cross, He had become identified with man.
Keep in mind, the penalty He paid was not His, but man's. In the mind of God, it was you and I there in that place of torment, bearing the judgment that was due us. On the basis of this identification the person who confesses with their mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and takes Him as Savior, receives the redemptive work of Christ, and will not go to hell but goes free. However, the person who refuses Christ's redemption on his behalf must go there. Also, always remember that hell was never meant for man. It is a person's freedom of choice to refuse God's redemptive work though Christ, that puts him there. In other words, a person can chose hell over heaven, darkness over light, Satan over Christ. Therefore, it is a person's decision as to where they go for eternity, not God's.
Next, we see the satisfaction of man's penalty paid for by Christ in hell. The Apostle Paul sums the meritorious work of Christ this way, "God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory." (1 Timothy 3:16) In hell, when justice was satisfied, Jesus was "justified (declared righteous) in spirit." Now the Father could declare man righteous and legally freed from spiritual death. Now the Father had the right to impart life, His own nature, to the spirit of man. (2 Peter 1:4) Notice, "even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). (Ephesians 2:5) "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Colossians 2:13)
Hell could not hold Him. When man's sin was paid for by Jesus, Peter tells us, "For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption, (His body in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb). (Acts 2:27) Paul tells us, "and what is the exceeding greatness of His (God's) power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." (Ephesians 1:19-21)
Now that man has been redeemed, made alive, declared righteous in Christ, the Father has "raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6) Now it is up to us, all believers. Our Heavenly Father desires us to take what is legally ours and in the Name of Jesus put every enemy of ours under our feet that we might reign as kings with Him. (Romans 5:17) The identification of man with Christ has destroyed the work of Satan in humanity. This means that no person on planet earth ever needs be identified with the first Adam, but can live, can have abundant life now through Jesus Christ, the second Adam.
So, let us rid ourselves of the lies of still being sinners, of never being able to please God, of unworthiness, of failure and weakness. Let us, "Put off the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, (our identification with the first Adam) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man (our identification with Jesus, the second Adam) which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24) PTL...
When Christ sat down at the Father's right hand, man had been perfectly redeemed because he had been legally identified with Christ in His redemptive work. (Romans 4:25, 5:1-2) Now man, by faith in Jesus Christ has a new identity. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) Let us look at how the believers new identity from spiritual death to life in Christ Jesus unfolds. To discover these thing, we look to the Pauline epistles, where we find the greatest revelation of the believers identification in Christ.
" Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:6) "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) On the cross, God made Jesus to become sin for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21) It was our spiritual death and our sin nature that He bore. He became identified with us on the cross as our Substitute.
"For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection...Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him." (Romans 6:5, 8) When Jesus died, we died with Him. First, spiritual death was laid on His spirit, then He died physically, in the same manner that Adam died. Spiritual death is separation from God. It was spiritual death that eventually brought physical death to Adam and all people. (Romans 5:12) Jesus speaks of Himself to the people around Him at the tomb of Lazarus, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26) Faith in Christ removes the sting of spiritual death and gives us eternal life.
So, as a result of His crucifixion mankind can now find their identity with and in Christ. When Jesus died, we died with Him. As His spirit left His physical body and went into hell we were identified with Him. Paul tells us, "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death..." (Romans 6:4) "Having been buried with Him in baptism..." (Colossians 6:10) Baptism in these verses is a type of our burial with Christ. Though His body was laid in the tomb, (Matthew 27:57-61), His spirit suffered in hell as He paid the penalty that was due man. He could adequately pay man's penalty and meet the demands of justice because on the cross, He had become identified with man.
Keep in mind, the penalty He paid was not His, but man's. In the mind of God, it was you and I there in that place of torment, bearing the judgment that was due us. On the basis of this identification the person who confesses with their mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and takes Him as Savior, receives the redemptive work of Christ, and will not go to hell but goes free. However, the person who refuses Christ's redemption on his behalf must go there. Also, always remember that hell was never meant for man. It is a person's freedom of choice to refuse God's redemptive work though Christ, that puts him there. In other words, a person can chose hell over heaven, darkness over light, Satan over Christ. Therefore, it is a person's decision as to where they go for eternity, not God's.
Next, we see the satisfaction of man's penalty paid for by Christ in hell. The Apostle Paul sums the meritorious work of Christ this way, "God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory." (1 Timothy 3:16) In hell, when justice was satisfied, Jesus was "justified (declared righteous) in spirit." Now the Father could declare man righteous and legally freed from spiritual death. Now the Father had the right to impart life, His own nature, to the spirit of man. (2 Peter 1:4) Notice, "even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). (Ephesians 2:5) "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Colossians 2:13)
Hell could not hold Him. When man's sin was paid for by Jesus, Peter tells us, "For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption, (His body in Joseph of Arimathea's tomb). (Acts 2:27) Paul tells us, "and what is the exceeding greatness of His (God's) power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come." (Ephesians 1:19-21)
Now that man has been redeemed, made alive, declared righteous in Christ, the Father has "raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6) Now it is up to us, all believers. Our Heavenly Father desires us to take what is legally ours and in the Name of Jesus put every enemy of ours under our feet that we might reign as kings with Him. (Romans 5:17) The identification of man with Christ has destroyed the work of Satan in humanity. This means that no person on planet earth ever needs be identified with the first Adam, but can live, can have abundant life now through Jesus Christ, the second Adam.
So, let us rid ourselves of the lies of still being sinners, of never being able to please God, of unworthiness, of failure and weakness. Let us, "Put off the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, (our identification with the first Adam) and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man (our identification with Jesus, the second Adam) which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:22-24) PTL...
Monday, October 16, 2017
Freedom Has Come
What does it mean to be free? What are we free from? Well, freedom comes in various forms. From a worlds perspective, freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Constitutionally, the people of the United States may boast in this definition of freedom. However, is this true freedom? Only in minor respects. Biblically speaking, freedom is the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved to anyone or anything. Although, the United States has more constitutional freedoms than any other country on planet earth, these very freedoms are being eroded by the one who imprisons and enslaves many of the people of the earth as well as many American, that is, Satan.
The Bible describes man as the only thing in all creation that was created in the image and likeness of God the Creator. Not only was man created in God's image and likeness, but God gave him dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. (Genesis 1:26) King David tells us, "You (God) have crowned him (man) with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands." (Psalm 8:5-6) In other words, man was (is) God's crown jewel above all else created, even angels. The freedom that man lived in, in the Garden of Eden, was a complete freedom. He had no bounds, no limitations at all. But we know what happened. Satan caused the woman to reason, doubt, that she was already like God, so she fell prey to his seduction. In turn, Adam, the federal representative of mankind chose the woman over obedience to God and forfeited all, which included himself and all future mankind. Now, mankind had become imprisoned, enslaved, under Satan's dominion.
Man throughout the ages has hungered instinctively for three things. He has desired fellowship with God; he has desired to possess the life of God, eternal life; and he has desired the strength, and ability of God. Every ancient human religion has tried to answer this cry. Even today, man still hungers for the same. All of the knowledge that our educational institutions of learning have provided has not eliminated from man's spirit this hunger. Every modern human religion tries to answer this hunger. It is not only the educated who seek to fill this hunger, but every level of humanity, in every society. It has been the same for every man from the time man died spiritually, until the present day, he has hungered for union with Deity
The Bible describes man as the only thing in all creation that was created in the image and likeness of God the Creator. Not only was man created in God's image and likeness, but God gave him dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. (Genesis 1:26) King David tells us, "You (God) have crowned him (man) with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands." (Psalm 8:5-6) In other words, man was (is) God's crown jewel above all else created, even angels. The freedom that man lived in, in the Garden of Eden, was a complete freedom. He had no bounds, no limitations at all. But we know what happened. Satan caused the woman to reason, doubt, that she was already like God, so she fell prey to his seduction. In turn, Adam, the federal representative of mankind chose the woman over obedience to God and forfeited all, which included himself and all future mankind. Now, mankind had become imprisoned, enslaved, under Satan's dominion.
Man was now lost, spiritually dead and unable to fellowship with God. However, God in His great love in which He loved man, did the most amazing, astonishing, stupendous thing that ever happened in the history of mankind, He became a man. (John 1:1, 14) "But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son..." (Galatians 4:4) God in His providence had now brought redemption to mankind. In the midst of mankind's condition of despondency, failure, rebellion and hopelessness, there came relief. Only God knew what man's need demanded, and only God could meet that demand. It was the Incarnation.
Man throughout the ages has hungered instinctively for three things. He has desired fellowship with God; he has desired to possess the life of God, eternal life; and he has desired the strength, and ability of God. Every ancient human religion has tried to answer this cry. Even today, man still hungers for the same. All of the knowledge that our educational institutions of learning have provided has not eliminated from man's spirit this hunger. Every modern human religion tries to answer this hunger. It is not only the educated who seek to fill this hunger, but every level of humanity, in every society. It has been the same for every man from the time man died spiritually, until the present day, he has hungered for union with Deity
It has been our tendency, when thinking of Christ's coming to earth as a man, to dwell upon His self-denial, His sufferings, in coming to earth from Glory. Yet, as we know Him better, we believe that it was a joy to Him (Hebrews 12:2) who so loved man (John 3:16) and so desired man's fellowship, (1 John 1:3) to dwell on earth among men that He might give to man, who had never known his Creator, a true conception of Him. (John 14:1-11) How clearly Christ realized and appreciated this phase of His mission. The Apostle John said of Him, "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:18) How different was His life from the lives of the greatest philosophers and religious teachers before Him. They had come as seekers of the truth. He came as the revelation of the Truth (John 14:6).
Unlike fallen man, Satan had no dominion over Christ, because Christ was not spiritually dead. He walked in oneness with the Father. Although full human, His body was not mortal, that is, death doomed. He possessed a perfect eternal human body, the kind of a body that Adam had before the fall where he died spiritually, became death doomed. Therefore, as Jesus walked this earth His body was not subjected to death. It was impossible for man to have taken the life of Christ before His time had come. (John 10:18) He walked this earth free from Satan's dominion. As He walked the earth, He revealed the Father to man which is seen in His preaching, teaching and delivering them from the bondage of Satan. (Acts 10:38) Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) In the life of Jesus, as He lived utterly free, rich and full on earth, we see revealed, the life that the Father had planned for man from the beginning.
Now comes redemption, freedom, through faith in Christ. There are two sides to redemption, the legal and the vital. The legal side is what Father did for us in Christ and the vital side is what the Holy Spirit does in us in Christ. As all mankind were partakers of Adam's death, bondage, judgment and all that spiritual death made him, now God has redeemed man completely from every result of Adam's treason through the identification of humanity with His Son. This is the message that comes to us by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul as recorded in Romans 5:12-21. It reveals, that if the lordship of Satan over humanity was due to the identification of humanity with Adam in his crime of treason, then it is also legally possible for the works of Satan to be destroyed by the identification of humanity with the Son of God, the second Adam. (1 Corinthians 15:45)
The Apostle Paul tells us, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus not only bore our sins, but our sin nature itself was laid upon Him, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Christ suffered until God could justify the human race. (Romans 4:25) In the mind of God, it was not Christ who hung on the cross, but the entire human race. So each one of us may say with Paul, "I was crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:20).
Jesus legally put all things under His feet (that is, under His Body, the church) in His resurrection. (Ephesians 1:22-23) We, believers, are seated with Him in heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6) In this position, that of triumph, in His Name every enemy of ours is under our feet that we might reign as kings in this life with Him. (Romans 5:17) Christ has destroyed the work of Satan (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8) and now those who confess Jesus as Lord and take Him as Savior are completely free from, sin, sickness, poverty and all the works of the devil. We are no long slaves under Satan's rule, but masters, reigning with Christ. This is freedom.
So, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1) "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) PTL...
Monday, October 9, 2017
No Worries
Worry and anxiety steals life from all people. They are synonymous in definition meaning, "a feeling of nervousness, or uneasiness, concerning an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome which causes one's mind to dwell on difficulty, troubles or uncertainty over actual or potential problems." Jesus tells us, "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" (Matthew 6:27) Basically, worry cannot add anything to one's life. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Peter says, "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) The Amplified Bible presents it this way, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully."
Peter is not the first person to suggest that believers should do this. We see David with the same revelation, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22) David also exposes the real problem behind worry or anxiety, "Do not fret (to be constantly or visibly worried or anxious) it only causes harm." (Psalm 37:8) Although we cannot throw away, run away from or pretend that problems do not exist, we can get rid of the anxiety that is caused by life's problems. We can refuse to be burdened down by cares. We can reject the kind of worry that disturbs our peace and distracts our mind. What can we do? Turn to God.
We find relief in God. We hand our worry over to Him so that we do not have to carry them. How do we do this? "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; the results of doing this, "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) We pour out our anxiety, our worries to the Lord in prayer. "We cast our cares on God." When we do this, we can feel at peace. We can be calm even in the midst of times of trouble. We can experience the serenity that God promises and that Jesus exemplifies.
Peter gives us the reason why we should "cast our cares on the Lord." Because "He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." Although Peter does not mention this, there is another reason for casting our cares on God. Let's face it, God is big enough to carry our cares for us. He is so big, He can carry all of our cares and burdens. Even the burdens of the whole world are not too much for Him. (Jeremiah 32:17) In times of trouble, let us respond to Jesus' invitation, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Next, Peter moves on with more instruction. He tells us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) While casting your cares upon God, do not doubt that he is able and willing to support you, but be watchful against, the devil, our foe. We should act wisely as one does when he or she senses danger. In other words, we are to be on our guard against the wiles, the schemes of the evil one who opposes us. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul warns us, "And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14)
Sometimes Satan is represented as transforming himself into an angel of light, and sometimes, as revealed by Peter, as a roaring lion. This means, Satan puts great effort in trying to to alarm and overpower believers, trying to rob us of our faith. However, believers must remember that Satan is a defeated foe, "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:15) According to the Amplified; American Standard; Phillips; Rotherham; Weymouth; and Conybeare Versions of the same scripture, Jesus, spoiled; disarmed; stripped of power; exposed; shattered; empty; defeated; shook off, Satan and his evil hosts in triumph!!!
Next, Peter tells us to, "Resist him, (Satan) steadfast in the faith." We are resisting our adversary’s fight against us, by upholding and enforcing what Jesus has already accomplished for us as we also see, "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14) Again, in the American Standard; Rotherham; and Conybeare Versions of the same scripture, Jesus brought to nothing, paralyzed, destroyed, Satan who had the power of death, that is spiritual death. We also see the same thing as revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John, "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8) Again, we find in the American Standard; Phillips; and Rotherham Versions of the same scripture, Jesus, undid; destroyed; liquidated the works of the devil.
Because Satan is a defeated foe, believers are to stand firm in faith. The Apostle Paul tells us, "my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10) We are to stand in the power of God's might. Paul also reveals, "Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]." (Ephesians 3:20 AMP), and, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 AMP) PTL...
Finally, God is the God of grace. He freely forgave us our sins and paid the price with his own Son. (Ephesians 2:8) He freely gives us grace even now, grace that sustains us and upholds us. (2 Corinthians 12:9) We know that our salvation is not based on our works of righteousness. (Romans 3:26) Our salvation is based on the meritorious work and promises of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 87:6) The Father includes us in His promise because He loves us. These truths about God should give us great comfort, great hope, great strength and increase our faith. If the God of all grace called us in Jesus Christ, then we can be assured that in times of discouragement, He will encourage us. In times of weakness, He will give us strength. When we fall down, He will pick us up. When we are tempted, He gives us a way of escape. When we fail, He will forgive us.
So, when life's problems, the wiles or schemes of the devil try us, never forget what God's Word encourages us to do, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." Amen...
Peter is not the first person to suggest that believers should do this. We see David with the same revelation, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22) David also exposes the real problem behind worry or anxiety, "Do not fret (to be constantly or visibly worried or anxious) it only causes harm." (Psalm 37:8) Although we cannot throw away, run away from or pretend that problems do not exist, we can get rid of the anxiety that is caused by life's problems. We can refuse to be burdened down by cares. We can reject the kind of worry that disturbs our peace and distracts our mind. What can we do? Turn to God.
We find relief in God. We hand our worry over to Him so that we do not have to carry them. How do we do this? "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; the results of doing this, "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) We pour out our anxiety, our worries to the Lord in prayer. "We cast our cares on God." When we do this, we can feel at peace. We can be calm even in the midst of times of trouble. We can experience the serenity that God promises and that Jesus exemplifies.
Peter gives us the reason why we should "cast our cares on the Lord." Because "He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." Although Peter does not mention this, there is another reason for casting our cares on God. Let's face it, God is big enough to carry our cares for us. He is so big, He can carry all of our cares and burdens. Even the burdens of the whole world are not too much for Him. (Jeremiah 32:17) In times of trouble, let us respond to Jesus' invitation, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Next, Peter moves on with more instruction. He tells us, "Be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (1 Peter 5:8) While casting your cares upon God, do not doubt that he is able and willing to support you, but be watchful against, the devil, our foe. We should act wisely as one does when he or she senses danger. In other words, we are to be on our guard against the wiles, the schemes of the evil one who opposes us. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul warns us, "And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14)
Sometimes Satan is represented as transforming himself into an angel of light, and sometimes, as revealed by Peter, as a roaring lion. This means, Satan puts great effort in trying to to alarm and overpower believers, trying to rob us of our faith. However, believers must remember that Satan is a defeated foe, "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:15) According to the Amplified; American Standard; Phillips; Rotherham; Weymouth; and Conybeare Versions of the same scripture, Jesus, spoiled; disarmed; stripped of power; exposed; shattered; empty; defeated; shook off, Satan and his evil hosts in triumph!!!
Next, Peter tells us to, "Resist him, (Satan) steadfast in the faith." We are resisting our adversary’s fight against us, by upholding and enforcing what Jesus has already accomplished for us as we also see, "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." (Hebrews 2:14) Again, in the American Standard; Rotherham; and Conybeare Versions of the same scripture, Jesus brought to nothing, paralyzed, destroyed, Satan who had the power of death, that is spiritual death. We also see the same thing as revealed by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle John, "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8) Again, we find in the American Standard; Phillips; and Rotherham Versions of the same scripture, Jesus, undid; destroyed; liquidated the works of the devil.
Because Satan is a defeated foe, believers are to stand firm in faith. The Apostle Paul tells us, "my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10) We are to stand in the power of God's might. Paul also reveals, "Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]." (Ephesians 3:20 AMP), and, "[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight." (Philippians 2:13 AMP) PTL...
Finally, God is the God of grace. He freely forgave us our sins and paid the price with his own Son. (Ephesians 2:8) He freely gives us grace even now, grace that sustains us and upholds us. (2 Corinthians 12:9) We know that our salvation is not based on our works of righteousness. (Romans 3:26) Our salvation is based on the meritorious work and promises of Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 87:6) The Father includes us in His promise because He loves us. These truths about God should give us great comfort, great hope, great strength and increase our faith. If the God of all grace called us in Jesus Christ, then we can be assured that in times of discouragement, He will encourage us. In times of weakness, He will give us strength. When we fall down, He will pick us up. When we are tempted, He gives us a way of escape. When we fail, He will forgive us.
So, when life's problems, the wiles or schemes of the devil try us, never forget what God's Word encourages us to do, "Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully." Amen...
Monday, October 2, 2017
What is Missing
The gospel of Matthew reveals some very interesting things concerning the connection of the Lord Jesus Christ to humanity. We see a good portion of this, beginning at the end of chapter three, Christ's baptism, through chapter ten, the sending out of the twelve apostles. This is not to exclude the rest of Matthew's gospel, but to simply see that much is missing in the church when it comes to sound teaching on various important topics, mainly that of healing.
After the forty days and nights that Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted of the devil, He comes out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14) and begins His ministry to humanity as the Son of Man. Not only does He begin to chose His disciples, but what we see that stands out most, is, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them." (Matthew 4:23-24) Jesus begins to show us by word and action, something that most only see from one side. Not only did He teach and preach the gospel of the kingdom (of God, of Heaven), but He also assaulted the kingdom of darkness that had been holding humanity captive since the fall of man. (Genesis 3)
Assaulting the kingdom of darkness is very important for believers to not only know about, but to also implement in their daily lives. Unfortunately, we have a serious problem in many sectors of the church. The fact is, most are instructed on the Word of God concerning the salvation of the soul, but our education concerning ministering healing to the sick and disease and casting out demons has been neglected. What has happened is simple, yet disheartening. The church has lost her faith in God and has replaced faith with an intellectual approach, mental assent, to His Word. In doing so, we began to teach believers that maybe it is not God's will to heal them. With that, the church then has introduced the phrase, "Lord, if it be Your will." However, not only did Jesus heal all who came to Him, (Matthew 4:24, 8:16, 12:15), He also shows us that healing and deliverance from Satan, demons and evil spirits is not only in the plan of redemption, (Isaiah 53; John 8:36; Ephesians 1:19-23, 2:4-6; Colossians 1:13-14), but also the ministry of the church, all believers. (Mark 16:17-18; John 14:12)
In fact, Jesus did not leave us in a place where we should have any doubts about God's will concerning the supernatural flowing through believers, as we see, "When He (Jesus) had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed. Immediately his leprosy was cleansed." (Matthew 8:1-3) Taking this a step further, we see Jesus saying repeatedly, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34) "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner." (John 5:19) "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." (John 5:30) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38) (Also see, John 7:16, 8:26-29, 9:4, 10:25)
Although there are many church doctrines that have created more doubt than faith when it comes to God's position concerning these things, we can honestly conclude that it was, is, and will always be God's will to heal, period. The church in general is very clear in her faith on the subject of salvation of the soul through the vicarious sacrifice of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, the majority of believers today, have much doubt and are very inexperienced when it comes the the power of God. I believe the root of this problem has been and is reoccurring today, when believers do not see immediate results when it comes to healing. In most instances this has opened the door for doubt to overtake them and healing has come down to, "Lord, if it be Your will." However, we need to keep in mind that sometimes healing is instantaneous and sometimes progressive. Either way, it does not mean in any way that God does not heal or that He uses sickness and disease to perfect His children in some mysterious way that only He knows. In fact, looking at the ministry of Jesus we clearly see that God methods of healing are not always the same and not always instant, based on various conditions. For instances...
"Then He (Jesus) came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.And he looked up and said, I see men like trees, walking. Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly." (Mark 8:22-25) "Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! So when He saw them, He said to them, Go, show yourselves to the priests. And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed." (Luke 17:11-14) "Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented. And Jesus said to him, I will come and heal him.The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed...Then Jesus said to the centurion, Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour." (Matthew 8:5-8, 13)
These are only a few examples that show us that healing is not always instantaneous, yet it was still God's will to heal. Keep in mind that Jesus flowed in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. He completely and wholly relied and depended of the Holy Spirit. Although believers receive the same Holy Spirit, as they yield more of themselves to Him, depend more on Him, He is able to operate in a greater way through us all. (Acts 2:4, 4:31; Ephesians 5:18) So, beloved, you and I must use the level of the Holy Spirit that we possess, knowing, we can, as a member of His body, operate in the same level of the Spirit as Jesus did. God does not expect us to fulfill Mark 16:17-18 and John 14:12 with less equipment than Jesus had.
For us to return to the place that God had intended the church to flow, in the supernatural, we must first let go of doubt, fear and unbelief and know, what God's Word says, is, and what God's Word says, becomes! Therefore, if you pray and do not experience instant healing, do not give into doubt. Also, if you do not experience healing at all or receive only a certain amount of healing, keep praying and believing until healing is complete. This, however, is where many believer falter. They will pray for a day or two, and then quit when they see little or no results. This is one of the things that has discredited healing. For instance, a minister of the gospel will hold meetings. Many sick will come and be prayed for. Some are absolutely healed, others are only half-healed or quarter-healed and still others have only received a little touch of healing. This is where believers have permitted doubt, fear and unbelief to flood their soul, which causes faith to erode. Interestingly enough, this very thing occurs many times when the gospel message for salvation is preached and the call to receive Jesus is presented.
For instance, ten people come to the altar at the invitation of the minister. One confesses Christ without hesitation because he/she recognizes the lost state of their soul. Another person may come and hear the gospel message preached again the next week, another for a month, and another even longer before they are convinced that they are in need of the Savior. The difference is not with God. The difference is inside the person. They have not permitted themselves to opened up to God. It is the same with healing. Every law of the Spirit that applies to salvation applies to healing, by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul puts it this way, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (to save, deliver from danger and suffering, made whole, delivered from the bondage of sin, healed, preserved) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
The promise of God through Jesus Christ is not only that believers can be healed and walk in divine health (1 Peter 2:24; Proverbs 4:20-22; John 10:10) but believers are to be ministers of the power of God to the world. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:17-20; John 14:12; Romans 15:18-19; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5) However, the reality of this will not be experienced, but remain a mystery that is unpredictable and even unreliable until we believe God's Word and act upon it. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James tells us, "faith without corresponding works is dead." (James 2:20) So, let us loose the Holy Spirit in us and believe. Jesus said, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) PTL!!!
After the forty days and nights that Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted of the devil, He comes out of the wilderness in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14) and begins His ministry to humanity as the Son of Man. Not only does He begin to chose His disciples, but what we see that stands out most, is, "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them." (Matthew 4:23-24) Jesus begins to show us by word and action, something that most only see from one side. Not only did He teach and preach the gospel of the kingdom (of God, of Heaven), but He also assaulted the kingdom of darkness that had been holding humanity captive since the fall of man. (Genesis 3)
Assaulting the kingdom of darkness is very important for believers to not only know about, but to also implement in their daily lives. Unfortunately, we have a serious problem in many sectors of the church. The fact is, most are instructed on the Word of God concerning the salvation of the soul, but our education concerning ministering healing to the sick and disease and casting out demons has been neglected. What has happened is simple, yet disheartening. The church has lost her faith in God and has replaced faith with an intellectual approach, mental assent, to His Word. In doing so, we began to teach believers that maybe it is not God's will to heal them. With that, the church then has introduced the phrase, "Lord, if it be Your will." However, not only did Jesus heal all who came to Him, (Matthew 4:24, 8:16, 12:15), He also shows us that healing and deliverance from Satan, demons and evil spirits is not only in the plan of redemption, (Isaiah 53; John 8:36; Ephesians 1:19-23, 2:4-6; Colossians 1:13-14), but also the ministry of the church, all believers. (Mark 16:17-18; John 14:12)
In fact, Jesus did not leave us in a place where we should have any doubts about God's will concerning the supernatural flowing through believers, as we see, "When He (Jesus) had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed. Immediately his leprosy was cleansed." (Matthew 8:1-3) Taking this a step further, we see Jesus saying repeatedly, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." (John 4:34) "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner." (John 5:19) "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." (John 5:30) "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." (John 6:38) (Also see, John 7:16, 8:26-29, 9:4, 10:25)
Although there are many church doctrines that have created more doubt than faith when it comes to God's position concerning these things, we can honestly conclude that it was, is, and will always be God's will to heal, period. The church in general is very clear in her faith on the subject of salvation of the soul through the vicarious sacrifice of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. However, the majority of believers today, have much doubt and are very inexperienced when it comes the the power of God. I believe the root of this problem has been and is reoccurring today, when believers do not see immediate results when it comes to healing. In most instances this has opened the door for doubt to overtake them and healing has come down to, "Lord, if it be Your will." However, we need to keep in mind that sometimes healing is instantaneous and sometimes progressive. Either way, it does not mean in any way that God does not heal or that He uses sickness and disease to perfect His children in some mysterious way that only He knows. In fact, looking at the ministry of Jesus we clearly see that God methods of healing are not always the same and not always instant, based on various conditions. For instances...
"Then He (Jesus) came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.And he looked up and said, I see men like trees, walking. Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly." (Mark 8:22-25) "Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! So when He saw them, He said to them, Go, show yourselves to the priests. And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed." (Luke 17:11-14) "Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented. And Jesus said to him, I will come and heal him.The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed...Then Jesus said to the centurion, Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour." (Matthew 8:5-8, 13)
These are only a few examples that show us that healing is not always instantaneous, yet it was still God's will to heal. Keep in mind that Jesus flowed in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. He completely and wholly relied and depended of the Holy Spirit. Although believers receive the same Holy Spirit, as they yield more of themselves to Him, depend more on Him, He is able to operate in a greater way through us all. (Acts 2:4, 4:31; Ephesians 5:18) So, beloved, you and I must use the level of the Holy Spirit that we possess, knowing, we can, as a member of His body, operate in the same level of the Spirit as Jesus did. God does not expect us to fulfill Mark 16:17-18 and John 14:12 with less equipment than Jesus had.
For us to return to the place that God had intended the church to flow, in the supernatural, we must first let go of doubt, fear and unbelief and know, what God's Word says, is, and what God's Word says, becomes! Therefore, if you pray and do not experience instant healing, do not give into doubt. Also, if you do not experience healing at all or receive only a certain amount of healing, keep praying and believing until healing is complete. This, however, is where many believer falter. They will pray for a day or two, and then quit when they see little or no results. This is one of the things that has discredited healing. For instance, a minister of the gospel will hold meetings. Many sick will come and be prayed for. Some are absolutely healed, others are only half-healed or quarter-healed and still others have only received a little touch of healing. This is where believers have permitted doubt, fear and unbelief to flood their soul, which causes faith to erode. Interestingly enough, this very thing occurs many times when the gospel message for salvation is preached and the call to receive Jesus is presented.
For instance, ten people come to the altar at the invitation of the minister. One confesses Christ without hesitation because he/she recognizes the lost state of their soul. Another person may come and hear the gospel message preached again the next week, another for a month, and another even longer before they are convinced that they are in need of the Savior. The difference is not with God. The difference is inside the person. They have not permitted themselves to opened up to God. It is the same with healing. Every law of the Spirit that applies to salvation applies to healing, by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul puts it this way, "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (to save, deliver from danger and suffering, made whole, delivered from the bondage of sin, healed, preserved) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
The promise of God through Jesus Christ is not only that believers can be healed and walk in divine health (1 Peter 2:24; Proverbs 4:20-22; John 10:10) but believers are to be ministers of the power of God to the world. (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:17-20; John 14:12; Romans 15:18-19; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5) However, the reality of this will not be experienced, but remain a mystery that is unpredictable and even unreliable until we believe God's Word and act upon it. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James tells us, "faith without corresponding works is dead." (James 2:20) So, let us loose the Holy Spirit in us and believe. Jesus said, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40) PTL!!!
Monday, September 25, 2017
Living and Powerful
The Holy Spirit speaking through the writer of Hebrews gives us some great insight into God's Word that believers need to really and literally take to heart, "For the word of God is
living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing
even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) In other words, there can be no escape from the penetrating, searching application of the Word of God. His Word is truth (John 17:17). It is not dead or powerless, but in fact is an active, living power. It is like a penetrating sword that reveals, every part of man, what man is. It shows what the thoughts and intentions of the heart are. (Luke 8:17)
God's Word becomes a living thing only as we act upon it. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James tells us, "...faith without corresponding action is dead." (James 2:18) His Word is also a part of Himself, that is, God and His Word are one. It is also the will of the Father, just as Jesus, the Word made flesh, (John 1:14) was the will of the Father sent to earth to save humanity. (John 3:16) We also must keep in mind this very important aspect concerning God's Word. What God says, is; what God says, will become. If He did not want it to be so, He would not have said it. Furthermore, you can utterly depend upon His Word. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Due to our five senses being the source of learning, prior to becoming born again, we have depended on the words that have come from institutions, that is, the words of man. However, institutions may fail, individuals may die, nations may disintegrate, but God cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:13) Behind the Word is the integrity of God, as He told Abraham, "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord..." (Genesis 22:16) "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself." (Hebrews 6:13) Not only this, but Jesus Himself is also behind every Word, "by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant." (Hebrews 7:22) "...Jesus is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)
There must be a clear distinction in your mind between believing God's Word, and mental assenting to God's Word. Although there is a vast difference, for many, it is difficult to distinguish between the two. Simply put, believing God's Word (as we saw in James) is acting on the Word. Whereas, mental assent is acknowledging the truthfulness of the Word, the integrity of the Word, but never acting on it. It's like going into a bakery and possessing the cake that you desire verse standing outside the bakery desiring the cake in the window but not possessing it.
Hope is a necessary part of the Christians life, (1 Corinthians 13:13), but hope is also not faith, because hope is always living in the future, whereas, faith is always now. Faith is not only recognizing the truthfulness of God's Word, but also taking it to be your very own. (James 1:21) By simply hoping that the Word will become true sometime, is to passively lie quiet, even rejoicing in it, but not seeing the manifestation of it. Jesus tells us, "He who believes has..." (John 3:36, 6:47) He also tells us, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:24) Therefore, if you believe, you have and the Father is glorified. (John 14:13) Remember, to believe is to act.
So, let us always remember that God's throne backs His Word and His integrity is involved in it. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John tells us, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15) PTL...
God's Word becomes a living thing only as we act upon it. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle James tells us, "...faith without corresponding action is dead." (James 2:18) His Word is also a part of Himself, that is, God and His Word are one. It is also the will of the Father, just as Jesus, the Word made flesh, (John 1:14) was the will of the Father sent to earth to save humanity. (John 3:16) We also must keep in mind this very important aspect concerning God's Word. What God says, is; what God says, will become. If He did not want it to be so, He would not have said it. Furthermore, you can utterly depend upon His Word. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)
Due to our five senses being the source of learning, prior to becoming born again, we have depended on the words that have come from institutions, that is, the words of man. However, institutions may fail, individuals may die, nations may disintegrate, but God cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:13) Behind the Word is the integrity of God, as He told Abraham, "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord..." (Genesis 22:16) "For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself." (Hebrews 6:13) Not only this, but Jesus Himself is also behind every Word, "by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant." (Hebrews 7:22) "...Jesus is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)
There must be a clear distinction in your mind between believing God's Word, and mental assenting to God's Word. Although there is a vast difference, for many, it is difficult to distinguish between the two. Simply put, believing God's Word (as we saw in James) is acting on the Word. Whereas, mental assent is acknowledging the truthfulness of the Word, the integrity of the Word, but never acting on it. It's like going into a bakery and possessing the cake that you desire verse standing outside the bakery desiring the cake in the window but not possessing it.
Hope is a necessary part of the Christians life, (1 Corinthians 13:13), but hope is also not faith, because hope is always living in the future, whereas, faith is always now. Faith is not only recognizing the truthfulness of God's Word, but also taking it to be your very own. (James 1:21) By simply hoping that the Word will become true sometime, is to passively lie quiet, even rejoicing in it, but not seeing the manifestation of it. Jesus tells us, "He who believes has..." (John 3:36, 6:47) He also tells us, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:24) Therefore, if you believe, you have and the Father is glorified. (John 14:13) Remember, to believe is to act.
So, let us always remember that God's throne backs His Word and His integrity is involved in it. The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John tells us, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15) PTL...
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