Ephesians 1:12-14
(12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
I have found a 2 fold revelation of this verse -
I do believe it is referring to the fathers of Israel as per Psalm 22
Psalms 22:3-5
(3) But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
(4) Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.
(5) They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.
The Jews trusted in Christ because Christ is God, so therefore that is a powerful statement of Paul's revelation of God in Christ to state that the Jews FIRST trusted in Christ.
I also see the fact that God first TRUSTED in CHRIST. (Which is also Paul quoting from Psalm 18:2 and 22:22 ) and Christ first TRUSTED in God.
Hebrews 2:12-13
(12) Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Psalm 22:22)
(13) And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
The revelation I would like to share is that the gospel of eternal salvation manifested through Jesus Christ is completely based up TRUST. God TRUSTED Christ, Christ TRUSTED God. It was the perfect example of TRUST between mankind and God. This is what makes a relationship have that special ring to it, when both parties TRUST one another. It is quite remarkable that the plan of God works through man, which was FIRST done in Christ and then passed to the Apostles. When man trusts God and God trusts man, this is what brings the real anointing and the moving of the Spirit of God.
There is a Biblical example to us as believers of the TRUST between Christ and His Church, it is MARRIAGE. I look up to couples that make it 20, 50+ years together and still have that TRUST for one another. You can tell that they are happy and it affects the rest of the areas of their life when TRUST is in the home. So it is with the children of God that He can TRUST with His gospel, and the children of God that TRUST God without reservation. This is the environment for a strong foundation in the life of a child of God. Without this TRUST the walk with God would be mechanical, just as a wife that does not completely TRUST her husband, the relationship is mechanical.
Notice:
(13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
(14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
When a man and wife seal their relationship with marriage vows, etc... it is based on TRUST for one another. The same relationship is between Christ and the Church, which was the TRUST between Christ (man) and God (the Spirit).
Baptism in Jesus name is that MARRIAGE vow in the Spirit. This is why Peter commanded Cornelis to be baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus after his group received the "sealing" (Holy Ghost).
Acts 10:44-48
The wife takes the name of the husband and then TRUSTS Him.
Cornelius trusted just as the Fathers of Israel trusted, when are dealing with such a lovely and perfect God, it is not hard to TRUST Him. God's plan's for Cornelius were to make him better, the same is for us today.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
(11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
(12) Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
(13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
(14) And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
We serve that same Faithful God... Praise God for His Goodness!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Mind of Christ
Where does Spiritual Authority come from? Is the Church run by the ability and minds of mortal men? This was the case for the Pharisee's and Sadducee's which earned them STIFF rebukes by our LORD. Who in this world is worthy to judge other men? The answer is no one without the power of Calvary. This is the very point why our LORD had to die at the cross.
Isaiah 59:15-16
(15) Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
(16) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
Revelation 5:4-5
(4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
(5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
However, our LORD also commissioned and empowered His disciples to take this authority so that Truth will prevail and there will be JUDGMENT. This was not intended for man to take upon himself, but this is in fact the repeated cycle in the history and present time of mankind. Many "churches" (as titled so) have folks that are educated, talented, charismatic, perhaps even very sincere, but that does not entitle these folks to take on the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. The commission of the LORD was given in the gospels (Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:44-47, Mark 16:16) however this commission was not ENACTED completely, the authority of Jesus' ministry was not COMPLETELY transferred to the Apostles until the day of Pentecost.
For proof of this we can take the words of Jesus Christ to Simon Peter:
Luke 22:31-32
(31) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
(32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Satan is on the prowl to make sure the men that God has chosen to invest His authority in are taken away. He desires to HAVE these men. But these men belong to God, notice that the only way they will not be taken by Satan is that their FAITH FAIL NOT, but also more importantly that they have a CONVERSION. Notice that the conversion is not simply a BELIEF in Jesus Christ. Peter at this point in his walk with God for over 3 years, has eaten with Him, was called the Petros (Rock) and given the keys to the Kingdom PRIOR to this conversation yet the LORD told Peter that His CONVERSION was in the future. This is referring to the day of Pentecost when Peter and the 120 believers in the upper room would be FILLED with the HOLY GHOST. That AND ONLY that is what gives the AUTHORITY of GOD to man, because GOD invested HIMSELF in man. The Holy Ghost is not a concoction of emotions nor some sort of mind control, it is a GIFT from God.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16
(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
(13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
We live in a very carnal world, much like the days of the Noah, and have many examples of even God's people being misled through the History of Israel after the reign of David and all the rebellion that came up in the people. This is the result of carnal minds, and the same has happened to our world today. God does not intend His Church to be run by "brute beasts".
2 Peter 2:1
(1) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:12
(12) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
The truth that I have discovered and would like to potray, is that every one of us have this "brute beast" potential inside of us. Therefore, not a single one of us can stand on our own righteousness and declare that our interpretation of scripture is correct and everyone else must bow down to our authority. The LORD was VERY angry at the folks that have taken up this attitude. However, as an Apostolic Church we are scrutinized and accused of this very thought.
I had a discussion with my father about Scripture this week and mentioned to me that God is so infinitely more wise than man, that though man can create a "pun" that may have two or three applications, the LORD's Living Word has much more Wisdom as it has timeless and multiple applications for human beings. This though enlightened my mind and heart and I realized the walk that God has given to my life and how without a doubt the things that I am standing on are not from the heart of man, but indeed are the mind of Christ. I then recalled what Paul said in 2 Corinthians and realized that the Church is only standing if men will get Spiritually Minded, meaning we surrender our thoughts to the greater power. This is how one will received the Holy Ghost by SURRENDERING to the thoughts of God and ALLOWING HIS WORD and HIS SPIRIT to control us. This being the case, the LORD is USING men to give HIMSELF to man. This is what Jesus was the perfect example of, and what we as the children of God are striving to maintain. Therefore, the Apostolic Church is in fact God's authority THROUGH man.
This is why Satan desired to have Peter, to steal him and the souls that God would use Peter to disciple, But thank God we know that Jesus didn't give up on Peter, and I thank God that we can say the same thing today. Peter gave Himself to God, and just like Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, when the Holy Ghost came on the Apostles, the SPIRIT was now in multiple bodies. Submitting to this Spirit is how the Apostolic Church was built, and today is the exact same formula.
When you see this right, the Church is DIVINE, you thank God (and today how thankful I am) to have Spiritual leadership that is surrendered to God's Spirit. I also believe that when a seeker becomes sincere and seeks God for help, they will be led to this same path, a man of God will come into their life.
Isaiah 59:15-16
(15) Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
(16) And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
Revelation 5:4-5
(4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
(5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
However, our LORD also commissioned and empowered His disciples to take this authority so that Truth will prevail and there will be JUDGMENT. This was not intended for man to take upon himself, but this is in fact the repeated cycle in the history and present time of mankind. Many "churches" (as titled so) have folks that are educated, talented, charismatic, perhaps even very sincere, but that does not entitle these folks to take on the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. The commission of the LORD was given in the gospels (Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:44-47, Mark 16:16) however this commission was not ENACTED completely, the authority of Jesus' ministry was not COMPLETELY transferred to the Apostles until the day of Pentecost.
For proof of this we can take the words of Jesus Christ to Simon Peter:
Luke 22:31-32
(31) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
(32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Satan is on the prowl to make sure the men that God has chosen to invest His authority in are taken away. He desires to HAVE these men. But these men belong to God, notice that the only way they will not be taken by Satan is that their FAITH FAIL NOT, but also more importantly that they have a CONVERSION. Notice that the conversion is not simply a BELIEF in Jesus Christ. Peter at this point in his walk with God for over 3 years, has eaten with Him, was called the Petros (Rock) and given the keys to the Kingdom PRIOR to this conversation yet the LORD told Peter that His CONVERSION was in the future. This is referring to the day of Pentecost when Peter and the 120 believers in the upper room would be FILLED with the HOLY GHOST. That AND ONLY that is what gives the AUTHORITY of GOD to man, because GOD invested HIMSELF in man. The Holy Ghost is not a concoction of emotions nor some sort of mind control, it is a GIFT from God.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16
(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
(13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
(14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
(15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
We live in a very carnal world, much like the days of the Noah, and have many examples of even God's people being misled through the History of Israel after the reign of David and all the rebellion that came up in the people. This is the result of carnal minds, and the same has happened to our world today. God does not intend His Church to be run by "brute beasts".
2 Peter 2:1
(1) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:12
(12) But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
The truth that I have discovered and would like to potray, is that every one of us have this "brute beast" potential inside of us. Therefore, not a single one of us can stand on our own righteousness and declare that our interpretation of scripture is correct and everyone else must bow down to our authority. The LORD was VERY angry at the folks that have taken up this attitude. However, as an Apostolic Church we are scrutinized and accused of this very thought.
I had a discussion with my father about Scripture this week and mentioned to me that God is so infinitely more wise than man, that though man can create a "pun" that may have two or three applications, the LORD's Living Word has much more Wisdom as it has timeless and multiple applications for human beings. This though enlightened my mind and heart and I realized the walk that God has given to my life and how without a doubt the things that I am standing on are not from the heart of man, but indeed are the mind of Christ. I then recalled what Paul said in 2 Corinthians and realized that the Church is only standing if men will get Spiritually Minded, meaning we surrender our thoughts to the greater power. This is how one will received the Holy Ghost by SURRENDERING to the thoughts of God and ALLOWING HIS WORD and HIS SPIRIT to control us. This being the case, the LORD is USING men to give HIMSELF to man. This is what Jesus was the perfect example of, and what we as the children of God are striving to maintain. Therefore, the Apostolic Church is in fact God's authority THROUGH man.
This is why Satan desired to have Peter, to steal him and the souls that God would use Peter to disciple, But thank God we know that Jesus didn't give up on Peter, and I thank God that we can say the same thing today. Peter gave Himself to God, and just like Jesus was God manifest in the flesh, when the Holy Ghost came on the Apostles, the SPIRIT was now in multiple bodies. Submitting to this Spirit is how the Apostolic Church was built, and today is the exact same formula.
When you see this right, the Church is DIVINE, you thank God (and today how thankful I am) to have Spiritual leadership that is surrendered to God's Spirit. I also believe that when a seeker becomes sincere and seeks God for help, they will be led to this same path, a man of God will come into their life.
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