Salvation Is Of Judah

"You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." - John 4:22-24 ESV

A great passage with rich meaning but today I'm focusing in on the 'Jewishness' of salvation. The word translated 'Jews' (Ioudaios - Strong's G2453) is an adjective, not a noun or a proper name. Some would even translate it 'Judahness' making a distinction between the northern and southern Hebrew kingdoms. Historically there was a split between 'Israel' and 'Judah'. Israel is known for making bad decisions because of bad leadership. Judah struggled and teeter-tottered back and forth. Salvation is 'of Judah' because Jesus is descended from Judah.

"And one of the elders said to me, 'Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.' " - Revelation 5:5 ESV

Jesus was and Is the best thing that was ever produced out of that land. He Is the Lion of that tribe. The Royal One.

Is salvation 'Jew-ish' or is it 'Judah-ish'. Is our spirituality? I would have to say based on the passage in John chapter 4 that it is both but it is also neither one.

In verse 9 we see that Jesus is speaking to a Samaritan woman who had her own somewhat warped ideas about spirituality and He was initiating life to her and saying that God is looking for present-day worshippers who have the right basis of understanding but are in their own category. They are 'graced out' ones who recieve and live in the grace of God. The Messiah was from Judah but what He brought was from Heaven and not steeped in an Earthern culture.

"So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year, they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians." - Acts 11:25-26 ESV

Salvation is Jewish but spirituality is Christ-like because Christ-likeness is from Heaven. This isn't left wing versus right wing or based in morality. It isn't Baptist, Lutheran or Presbyterian. It is Jesus being manifested in the world. It is a man walking far out of His way to talk to an ostracized woman at a well and let her know that even though her concepts were wrong and she was known and cared for by just a few people on Earth... God cared for her and wanted to include her in His 'spirit and truth' fellowship.

Jesus provides hope for every person from every culture and economic background. He didn't come to make the world Jewish. He came so that the individual could be Christ-like. He came to save you and i out of all our wrong ideas and give us a new life with a new heritage.

Antisemitism has always been bubbling under the surface in culture after culture. It is no surprise. It isn't just a reaction to a people group that teeter-totters. It is a reaction to the Jewishness of salvation. It is a reaction to one carpenter's Son. Let's love that Son of man and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. That place needs our prayer.

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A Quote From A Booklet

A quote from the booklet I am reading this morning...

'The Holy Spirit is God's Spirit, revealed in the love of God and the grace of God. Zechariah 12:10 calls Him 'the spirit of grace.' Galatians 4:4 speaks of the Spirit of the Son. Philippians 1:19 speaks of the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:15 says we have received the Spirit of adoption. Romans 5:5 says that God's love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 4:32 reveals the spirit of forgiveness, while Isaiah 11:2 and 3 refer to Him as the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and might, and of knowledge and reverence toward God. In Romans 1:4-5, when we received Christ, we received the Spirit of holiness for obedience, and we have the same Spirit of faith (2 Corinthians 4:13). When we walk in the Holy Spirit, we are walking in God's life. We have amazing protection, indescribable provision, unfathomable wisdom, perfect peace, and divine guidance, Romans 8:14. Romans 8:2 tells us about the law of the Spirit of life that overcomes the law of sin and death. John 10:10b calls it abundant life.' (What Spirit Are You Of? by Carl H. Stevens Jr)

Wow. Fill us with Your Spirit today God. Speak to us. Guide us. Thank You God.

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Fan The Holy Flame

Fan into flame the gift of God. He hasn't given you the spirit of fear. His Holy Spirit came with the gift of salvation and His Spirit is clean and full of love.

"As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:4-7 ESV

Most of us don't 'fan' things today. When you fan something you are directing air on it. The Greek word pneuma (Strong's G4151) is the word for Spirit and for wind. Pneuma is moving air.

Think with God and be alive today. Fan the flame of faith. Fear freezes us or causes a reaction of fight or flight. God instructs us to fan the flame of faith and live in power, love and self-control. New life is a gift and there is power that came with that life. We have God's Holy Spirit intermingling with our human spirit.

I plan to go into this weekend stirring up love and directing spiritual life so that holy fires are ignited and enlarged.

Others (like Lois and Eunice mentioned in the scripture quoted above) have believed before us. Now it is our turn. We have been given new life because of what Jesus did on the cross. Now we can fan the flame of that good news in our hearts, in our circles of influence and beyond.

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Three Living Witnesses

Mulling over the concept of a 'witness.'

"A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established." - Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV

A witness is someone who saw something so they say something. God required witnesses for certain legal proceedings. A notary is a kind of witness. They sign to say someone else was present.

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:4-13 ESV

I have to say... this is not an easy passage. For a long time it came across to me as legal jargon. I had a person tell me the Gospel. How are the water, blood and Spirit involved? Ok... Maybe I could begin to grasp how the Spirit was involved but the water and blood part made little sense to me.

Perhaps this refers to the Gospels? I think it has a dual reference... the Gospels and now. Jesus was baptized... water. Jesus shed His blood. He was born of a virgin and had pure blood uncorrupted by sin. Those things speak historically.

"For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son." - 1 John 5:7-9 ESV

This is a right now kind of believing from witnesses that are speaking now in a courtroom of sorts. That means they are living witnesses. Wow.

The Spirit is speaking. The water is living and speaking. Water is often a picture of truth... pure, clear, flowing and cleansing...

"...by the washing of water with the word," - Ephesians 5:26b ESV

Then there is the blood we spoke about yesterday. It is a living witness. It experienced all our sin on the cross and was poured out as a remedy.

"...and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." - Hebrews 12:24 ESV

Abel was the first murder victim and his blood cried out asking for revenge. Jesus' blood asks the Father if He would forgive us.

Believers in Jesus have living witnesses that speak. That is unique. No other philosophy or religion has this threefold correlation.

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." - 1 John 5:13 ESV

If we have seen and believed then we can become witnesses of redemption if we open our mouths and recount what we saw.

P Butch Veader has been speaking about this concept for the last few weeks with the Evangelistes and it is really revolutionary. The passage isn't jargon to me anymore. It is starting to sink in.

In the courtroom when a witness opens their mouth things become real. That person is alive with perceptions and feelings. Then another totally different person takes the stand with a different but correlating point of view... then another. What happens? We are convinced. We need to be convinced in order to have hope.

There are three witnesses... Hear what they say today... weight their words against your evaluations. They were there in history and they are here right now speaking.


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The 'Weeping Teeth' Passages

How many people are trained by fear to produce moral behavior instead of growing in grace? Fear is a powerful motivator. The most powerful... but not the most productive.

"Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;" - Luke 6:37 ESV

Many say that if you hold a grudge you will go to Hell based on this verse others believe in a karma type system that insists that if a person acts a certain way then the forces of the universe set in motion a series of events to make sure a person gets a taste of their own medicine.

Then there are the 'weeping teeth' passages. I like to call them that anyway...

"When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." - Matthew 8:10-12 KJV

"So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." - Matthew 22:10-13 KJV

"But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." - Matthew 24:48-51 KJV

"And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:" - Matthew 25:30-31 KJV

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." - Matthew 25:1-13 ESV

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." - Matthew 7:22-23 KJV

Some look at these verses and say, 'See! God casts his servants into outer darkness if they do not do the right things.' but the point is missed entirely. These aren't salvation passages so much as damnation passages.

Behavior isn't the issue when it comes to salvation. Knowing Jesus is the issue. Knowing Jesus gives us a white garment. Knowing Jesus fills our lamps with oil. Knowing Jesus is the difference between 'doing many wonderful works' in God's name and being a wonderful work that God has produced.

God never uses a fear that has torment to motivate change... never ever. If we have never experienced forgiveness then we can't forgive and forgiveness is cut off from us. If we try to dress ourselves for the feast then we have a deep problem because we haven't made a true transaction with God.

Forgiving isn't how we get forgiveness. Seeking oil isn't how we get oil for our lanterns. Not lusting... not lying... being diligent... these things don't impress God. Our righteousness is filthy to God. Rags used to contain a mess are just dirty rags.

"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." - John 7:37-39 ESV

All of the 'weeping teeth' passages were given to people who could not yet experience the Spirit because He had not been given yet. They would. Jesus didn't lose anyone.

So if anyone tries to scare you into being better and claims that God is behind it don't believe them. If you use that tactic on yourself knock it off. It isn't the Gospel. No one has ever been transformed by fear. True change has only ever come by awe and love.

Turn to Jesus and you will turn away from everything else also. It might take time for the ugly things to drop away but they will.

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ," - Titus 2:11-13 ESV

Grace will change us into the new person God has made us to be. Our effort only gets in the way.

This morning I see Jesus and my lamp is suddenly filled with oil. Just like the water was turned to wine. Just like the oil that is produced in the olive tree's olives.

"The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. ... But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." - Romans 13:12, 14 ESV

I see the righteousness He has given me and I put the armor on as if it is a wedding garment. It all comes from God. It is free of charge.

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The Idea Of Substitution

In the original perfect environment substitution seemed unknown.

Adam did not even seem to think of giving himself for Eve. We don't see anything given in exchange for anything else yet. It seems the human race had no need for trade, exchange or substitution until this instance.

"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." - Genesis 3:6 KJV

Adam just joined Eve.

"Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." - Genesis 3:21 KJV

God showed the human race substitution. An animal's blood was shed for them so they could be warm and survive their new environment. God didn't sell them anything. The serpent was selling something to Eve apart from Adam and God. God gave them both something.

"And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly." - 1 Corinthians 15:45-49 KJV

"But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." - Matthew 20:26-28 KJV

The living soul joins and dies but the quickening spirit dies to self through identification without compromise and lives.

Jesus became the ultimate substitute. He walked the Earth as the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Soulish life looks prosperous until the road block comes. Spiritual life looks to the One who gave all. It dies, gets buried and is raised three short days later. Spiritual life sits in Heavenly places because the right substitute is already sitting there.

"Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:6-11 KJV

Grace is intertwined with this idea. God gave great grace when He gave His Son to us. Jesus had an attitude of grace that went hand in hand with the idea of giving His life.

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ESV

"And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." - Hebrews 10:10 ESV

A once and for all sacrifice has been made by the once and for all substitute.

Have we as individuals learned the lesson or will we just bite the apple that is handed to us?

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The Breath Of The Day

"And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden." - Genesis 3:8 ESV

It seems God had a routine. Adam and Eve heard God at a special time. The 'cool of the day' in the Hebrew is the ruwach (Strong's H7307) Yowm (H3117) which can be translated day's breath. God gave Adam life with His breath. Now He was meeting Adam at the time that the Earth was coming to life. Still calm night was giving way to dawn.

It is a mystery. We can meet God in the morning or we can hide. People become very good at hiding.

God wants to meet us Spirit to spirit.

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." - John 14:16-18 ESV

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." - Philemon 1:25 ESV

The breath of truth meets our breath in an attitude of grace and there is an exchange of words. There is recognition and there is exchange.

Perhaps we wake and rush into the activity with no recognition or exchange and God is calling to us and saying, 'Where are you? I want to commune with you.'

The world of philosophy can not receive this breath. There may be recognition but there is not exchange. Science wants to study the stillness and the activity but misses God walking in His garden.

"All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." - Proverbs 8:8-11 KJV

The cross has taken away our guilt. His Spirit has made us alive. Now we can walk and talk with God. He can teach us and instruct us. We can move with Him and be with Him.

I don't want to miss that time. It is precious.

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When The Soul Eclipses The Human Spirit

"Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God'? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:27-31 ESV

Israel is Jacob's new name. Jacob was a crooked damaged man who was loved by God not because He was lovable. God loved Jacob's father and his father's father and He loved crooked old Jacob and gave him a new name.

Isaiah is given a message to God's people of the time who also had two identities. They had an old one and a new one. They had a name given by observant people and one given by a gracious God.

Believers now have that also.

Jacob says, 'My way is hidden from the Lord.'

Israel says, 'My right is disregarded by my God.' Israel takes ownership and calls God 'my' God.

But, God says, 'The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.'

Jacobs way is not hidden and when Israel's spirit is eclipsed by his soul he has it wrong also. Grace does not regard the new man's right. That part is true. But, There is quickening. There is strength given that leans totally on God's knowledge and a quickening for those who wait on the Lord.

A young man's strength will fail but a new identity with doctrinal wisdom will wait and have a soul like a weaned child. They will know the the food is coming. They don't have to scream their heads off and talk about 'rights' they are hip to the schedule and know the food will come at the correct time.

"But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." - Romans 8:10-11 ESV

Listen up Jacob and have ears to hear Israel. The Lord knows and has power to impart.

God quicken our spirit and remind our inner man so that we don't have a darkened perspective. Let the grace of God arrange us so that your Spirit that entwines our human spirit and gives us light would illuminate our soul with truth.

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Organic Understanding

The first part of Isaiah 11 verse 3 is translated in widely different ways.

"And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears" - Isaiah 11:3 KJV

"And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear" - Isaiah 11:3 ESV

That is because the Hebrew word Ruwach (Strong's H7306) is used. This word talks about recognition through the sense of smell. Delight or quick understanding that comes from instant recognition of something that has proven good and pleasurable in the past... like coming home and opening the door and smelling cookies baking in the oven or the smell of your favorite food warm and waiting for you. This knowing is an organic knowing that is instinctual.

The word we translate Spirit... ruwach (H7307)... is literally wind or breath...

Let's look at these verses again thinking in these terms. I have capitalized the words that specifically contribute to this concept.

"And the SPIRIT of the LORD shall rest upon him, the SPIRIT of wisdom and understanding, the SPIRIT of counsel and might, the SPIRIT of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of QUICK UNDERSTANDING in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the BREATH OF HIS LIPS shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins." - Isaiah 11:2-5 KJV

Wow.

What is the scent that we instinctively recognize in our human spirit? The fear of the LORD or awe of the LORD that instantly causes delight when it comes in contact with our spiritual senses... the recognition of grace... the realization that God has mercy... He had it before when we needed it and He has it now... the goodness of God... the faithfulness and consistency of God.

This is what Adam lost in the garden... what Jesus had resting upon Him all the days of his life... what we who believe in Christ's death, burial and resurrection have indwelling us, sealing us and we sense by faith surrounding us.

"But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ." - 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 ESV

"for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' " - Hebrews 13:5b ESV

This is not purely intellectual. There is an rational explanation for it but it is not going to be discovered by the mind alone. This is deeper than that on an organic level.

Grace originates from the God of all grace. That is the favorable mindset that carries the distinctive scent of divinity.

"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" - Psalms 34:8 ESV

Yes. God this morning we inhale and exhale mixing faith with your promises. Cause us to exhale the production of that life.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer." - Psalms 19:14 ESV

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Firstfruits of The Spirit

"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." Romans 8:16-25 ESV

Hope is a beautiful thing. God issued the decree of death to Adam in hope. The hope was based on Christ's death, planned before the foundation of the world, and that people would take the way given to them out of the grip of evil. In would be an end of madness and a new beginning for every willing participant involved.

God did the hard thing... but He did it in hope.

We often groan but we do it having 'the firstfruits of the Spirit' if we know Christ. The first fruits are that first and best part of the harvest given to God before any person partook of the rest of it.

Grace is God's first and best given to a hungry world before the hunger is yet satisfied with the promise that it soon will be satisfied. We are God's firstfruits. The cross will heal the world. The stripes on Christ's back are the proof that man and creation will one day live free of evil and sickness. His blood shed means that no one else will be judged for sin.

The Spirit in us that produces hope will also produce patience. That's good because we are going to need it. Lot's of it.

As we know from our relationship with God to date... God has no shortage of patience. He is patient with us and He will give patience and longsuffering to us.

Thinking That Produces Feeling

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began" - 2 Timothy 1:7-9 NKJV

The God given Spirit is one of power, love and sound thinking. The love is not passive. It is grounded in sound thinking. The power is not reckless there is reason not to fear. Mind has met mind. God's thinking enters into a man or woman and the thoughts are connected to love and connected to a sound fortified kingdom.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Galatians 5:22-24 NKJV

The Spirit of Love produces the fruit of Love. The rational Spirit provides channels and shapes for our soul. Our emotions can then be healthy and flow in the directions they were designed to flow in.

A Spirit taught person will be Spirit led. That Spirit has the power to give the hidden manna we need to feed on. The manna in our thought life provides the nutrients that our emotional life has need of to make the fruits of Love.

Fear says... you will be barren... you will be alone... you will be exposed.

Love says... you will be fruitful... you are never alone... you will be covered in Love.

We put to death the passions and desires of fear because we reckon those things as dead already because of the cross. The handwriting of law that would rightful cause fear is no longer visible.

Thinking with God and then thinking with God and then doing it some more produces a fruit bearing environment for our soul. It may be summer and the fruit may be so plentiful that there don't seem to be enough baskets to carry it all... or it may be winter and the rows of trees and plants may yield nothing again until the next season comes. Trees that look dead but are really full of sap.

The power, purpose and love of God's revealed plan as it unfolds reveals a Savior who has been thinking about us from before time began. His power looked into the dust and saw us and what we would be and He loved us and designed us like an artist designs His master work.

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." - Galatians 5:25 NKJV

Thinking with God will produce a platform for our emotional state so that we can walk with Him. Love gives us something to talk about when we are with Him.

We are privileged to live in this Spirit. The challenge is to walk in this Spirit.

Anointed for the Coming Battle

"And Samuel said to Saul, 'The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.' " 1 Samuel 15:1-3 ESV

God anointed Saul and then gave him the Amalekites.

"The Philistine said to David, 'Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.' Then David said to the Philistine, 'You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand.' When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine." 1 Samuel 17:44-48 ESV

God anointed David and gave him Goliath and the Philistines.

"And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.' Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." Matthew 3:16 - 4:1 ESV

Jesus was Baptized and anointed of the Spirit and combat quickly ensued also.

The Spirit of peace often brings conflict.

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword." Matthew 10:34 ESV

Jesus is the Prince of peace and yet in peace He stands opposed to all that is unrighteous. He is lamb. Yet even in His peace He is ready for war.

Anointed Truth takes on the lie and wins. God uses the anointing to break the yolk of bondage. An unclean atmosphere is banished and holiness is brought in. The Amalakites will attack us when we are weak. Goliath will try to intimidate us with his loud voice and impressive claims. The wilderness will try and wear us down.

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." Acts 10:38 KJV

Jesus has overcome all enemies. He has conquered the wilderness. He has defeated death and plucks us like brands out of the flames.

"And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us" 2 Corinthians 1:21 ESV

Let's live like lambs but walk in victory overcoming evil with divine good.

God on the Inside

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" Ephesians 5:18 KJV

Imagine. We are filled with God's Spirit. How unique is that.

God would ever be on the outside of us if not for this truth. Christ could walk through walls. He could walk through us but not know us. God could see everything in us and yet not connect. No. God can do all this and He also fills a person.

Like water fills a person and fills every cell within them... so the Sweet Dove fills us. The Fire of Burning and The Water of washing is in every part. The teacher teaches from within and without. The Comforter comforts from inside not just outside.

I can think of no greater intimacy. The human spirit is the very light inside the soul of a person and God's Spirit is entwined even there in our most secret place. He navigates the engine room of all human workings.

"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him." Romans 8:9 ESV

"But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-- these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God." 1 Corinthians 2:9-12 ESV

It is the Spirit of God that reveals Christ to us. He teaches what He wants us to know. He is not electricity that we plug into and control. He is our God who soaks us and opens our eyes to what is real and needed for the moment. Christ is the One who is real. Christ is the One needed in every moment.

I ask to be filled this this morning. I take the cup and drink deeply of it. Let my life be stained the color of the One I am baptized into. Not on the outside only but every part.

The Spirit who Is Lord and the Lord who Is Spirit

Reading 2 Corinthians chapter three this morning and I have been digging into this group of verses.

"But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 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 from the Lord, the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:15-18 NASB

There is an amazing dynamic that happens when Christ is revealed. I'm talking about the unveiled display of His grace, mercy and all of His divine attributes as only God can do and does by His Spirit. Christ's seamless oneness with the Spirit is amazing and when a person sees that sight in his or her inner man the result is tremendous freedom (verse 16).

A person suddenly faces God by faith. Grace has allowed it to happen and supplied a capacity to look in this particular spiritual direction and when that happens it is revealed that the Kyrios (G2962) Pneuma (G4151) eimi (G1510) or "The Lord Spirit Is" in a straight literal translation. In that same moment the Pneuma (G4151) Kyrios (G2962) or "Spirit that is Lord" is revealed. In freedom and unconditional acceptance we see God's true nature reflected (verse 17). Our inner man sees a glimpse of the whole picture at once. It is a sight no natural man can see because there is no faculty or sense in the nature man to behold it with. We see that duality is really unity and we are transformed by the sight. Our inner man stands at the mount of transfiguration just like Peter and John did but the landscape is the mystical boundary where soul meets Spirit and has interaction.

We grow further into a resemblance of the One we have already been made to resemble... the Lord who Is Spirit (verse 18).

Christ is one person and the Spirit is another but at the same time they are One. The Father is also in and apart of that unity. As God's spiritual children we are in an unbreakable chain not just by decree but by nature and divine substance.

The revealing of that allows there to be a flow and in that flow we know we are free.

The Decent Order of Grace - Part 14 - Spiritual Focus is on Christ

"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit." 1 Cor 12:3

The Spirit will give an understanding of suffering and sovereignty... Christ's suffering and sovereignty. Some see this verse as a litmus test for the demonic or the unregenerate but it is much more than that. Notice directly after it launches into Christian action and Spirit filled living.

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and all were made to drink of one Spirit." 1 Cor 12:4-13 ESV

Any Christian 'doing' is done from drinking of the same Spirit and that Spirit will be pointing back to the victorious nature of who Christ is and what He has done. The Spirit is never pessimistic about the cross. He also is never behind a solitary self help program. He promotes a layered authority system that puts Christ at the top and all other functions and actions that are spiritual as directed by Him and cooperative with each other.

The Spirit never exalts the gift. He exalts the giver.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 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" Matt 7:21-24 NKJV

This lawlessness is not the Mosaic kind. It is the ignorance that comes from not drinking of the same Spirit that is revealing Christ. When we drink of the same Spirit we build on the Rock. That is the wise place to build and that place is chosen by us because the cross makes sense and the Lordship of Christ is revealed and we willingly come under it.

If we have anything to give today it comes from this. If we have a Spirit filled portion today it is because of who Christ is and what He has done. Anything outside of that is wood, hay and stubble. But, nestled in the understanding given by the Spirit is another kind of living. The cross brings redemption into every situation or circumstance we face. If Jesus is Lord today it will be a day filled with potential and not drudgery.

Fill us with the Spirit Lord so we will think like Spirit filled people! If we see you we won't look at ourselves. We will redeem the time today on a rock and not sand.