Article of the Month
May
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Choosing the Higher Realm of Spiritual
Life I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless
I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live
in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 There
is a process that we must go through in order to make this higher realm
of identity with our Lord a personal reality.
This is the end-time witness
that will greatly affect the world - Jesus will become the manifest head
of His Body, which (body) will have become so transparent,
that only He will be seen. But you shall receive power, after
that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses to Me both in In
the original, the word translated witness is martyr. This means that I am to die to my self-life
and its expression, to become the expression of the life and word of the
Lord. Thus, I witness to Him, not of, or for, Him. As I come into a personal relationship
with Him, and become one with Him in intent and purpose, His life is reflected
through my life. We
are, by divine design in our creative makeup, capable of becoming this
witness. So God created man in His own image. Genesis 1:27a Through mans transgression, this
image (our
spirit) was lost. In redemption it is restored, but must
be developed (we
grow into spiritual maturity). For whom He did foreknow, He also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son. Romans 8:29a The
words to be
conformed tells us that this is a process, to which we must
submit ourselves. Elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience
and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. I Peter 1:2a Elect ... to obedience, tells us that this relates to our being predestinated to be
conformed to His image (spiritual
maturity). When we come short of this, we are forgiven
through the blood of Jesus, and we can again move forward, toward the
goal. Not that I have already attained,
or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for
which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count
myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ
Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if
in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that
we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the
same mind. Philippians 3:12-16 NKJ Not
all Christians will respond to this opportunity to press toward the mark for the high calling
of God. This is conditional.
Thus, as we continue to press,
or rise above all opposition, we become an overcomer. To him that overcomes will I grant
to sit with Me on My throne, even as I also overcame
and am set down with My Father in His throne. Revelation 3:20 For many are called, but few are
chosen. Matthew 22:14 Notice
that man was formed of dust. Had he been formed of clay, his creation would be more understandable,
as dry dust cannot be molded. The natural man would like to think that
God took clay and molded him, complete and independent within himself. And the Lord God formed man of
the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 Man
was created to live on two levels of life, the earthly, and the heavenly. Therefore, the Lord breathed into Adam
the breath of lives. This word is plural in the original.
He was formed (soul) and then breathed into (spirit). Because man was created to be "dependent" (dust), he was placed in a probationary
environment. And the Lord God commanded the
man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: But of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in
the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die. Genesis 2:16-17 Adam
could not be dependent, unless
he also had the opportunity to become independent. By abiding in a dependent state, his spirit
could continue to commune with the Lord, which was the intention and desire
of the Lord. And they heard the voice of the
Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. Genesis 3:8 When
Adam partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the part of
Adam, which was spirit, died. And Adam and his wife hid themselves
from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8b Without this impartation of spirit that had been breathed
into him, man is but dust
(soul) and cannot rightly cleave to anyone or to anything, nor
is he able to enter into the purpose for which he had been created, apart
from a redemptive act by his Creator. The
natural man acts as he does because he cannot cleave. There is something that must be added to him so he can function in the
purpose for which he had been created.
Through redemption, the Lord must breathe spirit into him. And when He had said this, He breathed
on them, and says to them, Receive you the Holy
Spirit. John 20:22 When
we repent and receive Jesus as our personal Savior,
that which Adam lost (spirit) is restored, and begins to function
within us. That which is born of the flesh
is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that
I said to you, You must be born again. John 3:6-7 As newborn babes, desire the sincere
milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. I Peter 2:2 As
a spiritual baby, this restored part of our being (spirit) must be developed. After our new birth through redemption, there is
a new consciousness of these two realms within our being: the earthly
(soul
realm), and the heavenly (spirit realm). The first relates to our natural life. And as we have borne the image
of the earthly ...
I Corinthians 15:49a This
is essential. For us to live
in, and communicate with our environment, we must have a means whereby
we are compatible with the earth realm.
We put a seed in the ground and cover it over. It grows, and then we pick it, put some
salt on it and eat it. We
may not understand how brown soil can produce red tomatoes, white onions
and green peas, but we must partake of these to receive nourishment, because
we are of the earth. We
easily relate to, and function in the earth realm, which is the place of our
natural environment and life. But
there is more, as our creation did not end with our identity with the
earth realm of existence. The
breath of lives (earthly - soul life, and, heavenly - spirit life)
had been breathed into man. We shall also bear the image of
the heavenly. I Corinthians 15:49b We
were created to also function in the spirit realm. But, there is an active enemy who ever
seeks to keep us earth bound
- living in the soul realm. Therefore,
we must come into a measure of dependent identity with the Lord, in
order to function in this heavenly realm, in which there is available
to us, ever increasing levels of relationship with the Lord. And has raised us up together,
and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6 Man
was created soul and spirit so he could live and function
in both the natural and the
spiritual levels of life. The Lord had a purpose in mind, so He
placed within man a capacity
for his development and growth, in each of these different realms. We
relate to, and communicate with our earthly environment through five senses
(taste,
touch, sight, hearing, smell). These natural senses operate in the earthly
realm of both the natural (earthly) and the redeemed (spiritual) man. We differ in our soul life both in personality and in
potential. Many are born
with natural gifts, such as a special ability in art or music. Those who have these gifts should be encouraged
in their development. But
there is a higher order of life available to the redeemed. In redemption, we are given spiritual senses. These spiritual senses are a counterpart of
our five natural senses and
are just as real as natural taste, smell, or sight, and operate only in
those who are redeemed. In whom you also are built together
for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:22 This
is a marvelous thing - the finite (man) can relate to and commune with
the infinite (God) in the heavenly realms. And, we can become the visible expression of the life and ministry of
the corporate Jesus, as the
last three and one-half years of His ministry is fulfilled, in the establishing
of the Millennial Kingdom of God. Now concerning spiritual gifts,
brethren, I would not have you ignorant. I Corinthians 12:1 The
word gifts is in italics
because it is not in the original inspired text.
Thus, this verse relates to our being able to function in that
which is spiritual (concerning spirituals ... I would not have you ignorant). Our
spirit is recreated through a new
birth in which these spiritual senses are restored and begin to develop.
It is very important that we spend quality time waiting
upon the Lord in order to develop our ability to sense (spirit), or feel (soul) His presence, and hear His voice, deep within us. While we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which
are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. II Corinthians 4:18 A
natural (not redeemed) person can only relate to the earthly
realm, but a spiritual (born
again) person can function in both the
earthly and heavenly realms. The
spiritual person also has gifts or abilities in his new creation makeup. These are counterparts of natural gifts
and abilities. These also
should be cultivated and developed, as the Lord has an intended purpose
and use for them. And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness: and
let them have dominion. Genesis 1:26 There
are three areas in which the Lord intends us to develop and function -
the image and likeness of God and then dominion. A proper response to image (created natural and spiritual potential) and likeness (developed natural and spiritual capacity and abilities),
will result in our being able to exercise dominion (spiritual authority, which is the result of a process
of testing and spiritual growth). Man
was created with the potential,
or ability to function in both the natural and spiritual realms of life
experience, but his spiritual life and function was lost in Adams transgression. Only in redemption is this restored.
Then, as we respond in obedience to the workings of the Holy Spirit,
our spiritual sensitivity and the deposit of spiritual life within us
(divine substance) is enlarged. I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me ...
that I may cause those that love Me to inherit
substance; and I will fill their treasures. Proverbs 8:17, 21 The
Word says that we have the mind
of Christ (the
ability to relate to the thought and intent of the Lord). We were not born with this ability, but
as we wait upon the Lord
in His presence, we are partaking
of new creation life, which results in our understanding that which is
spiritual. And my speech and my preaching
was not with enticing words of mans wisdom,
but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should
not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. However we speak
wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world,
nor of the princes of this world, that comes to nothing: But we speak
the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained
before the world to our glory. Which none of the princes of this
world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord
of glory. But as it is written,
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of
man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. But God
hath revealed them to us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things,
yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a
man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even
so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. 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. Which things also we speak, not in
the words which mans wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches;
comparing spiritual things with spiritual. I Corinthians 2:4-13 These
spiritual senses are further developed and matured through our obedience
to a process of testing,
which is designed to draw us up into a higher realm of spiritual awareness,
understanding, and experience. As
the Lord tested Adam by placing the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the midst of the garden, we also must face
a process in which we are tested to determine the outworking of the Lords
purpose for us. Therefore,
these two trees are placed
in the pattern of each of our lives.
The tree of life (spirit) represents our utter dependence
upon, and trust in, the outworking of His purpose and provision for us. The tree of the knowledge of good and
evil (soul) represents our desire to be independent
and choose for ourselves what is right or wrong. 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 This
tree appealed to every aspect of mans soul, but the Lord had said no, and established a penalty for disobedience. And the Lord God commanded the
man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: But of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in
the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die. Genesis 2:16-17 Isaiah
53 gives us a prophetic picture of Jesus, and also a description of the
tree of life. By changing
one word, this description of Jesus can be seen as being a type of the
tree of life. Thus, it can be said that Jesus is the
tree of life. Therefore, He told us that we are to eat His flesh and drink His blood, just as Adam was told
that he was to partake of the tree of life. For He shall grow up before Him
as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He has no form nor
comeliness; and when we shall see Him there is no beauty that we should
desire Him . Isaiah 53:2 The
tree of life was as a root
out of a dry ground. The
other was a tree with beautiful, luscious fruit in full color. The enemy was there, saying, Has God said? Does He really want to take all this away
from you? Does He want to
deprive you? Would God really
do that to you? It appears
that the Lord has made it easy for us to make the wrong choice at this
point, because He is looking for those who desire His presence and Glory
more than they desire their own self-centered
soul satisfaction. Therefore, we must make a choice
concerning these opposite pulls upon our being. We can choose to satisfy our soulish,
sensual desires, as expressed in the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil; or we can choose the higher realm of spirituality, as expressed
in the tree of life (over-comer). If we think more of these sensual desires
than our spiritual desires, and then choose to satisfy them, our spirituality
will progressively suffer loss until we no longer have spiritual perception,
and we will die spiritually. Because the Lord has given man so
much, there is a severe penalty if he makes the wrong choice. But of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat
thereof you shall surely die. Genesis 2:17 Adam
failed and died, as the Lord
had said. This affected his
ability to stand in the presence of God. And the Lord God called to Adam,
and said to him, Where are you? And he said,
I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid,
because I was naked; and I hid myself. Genesis 3:9-10 Adam
being naked had nothing to
do with clothes, but with the loss of the covering of Shekinah. When Adam lost this covering of Shekinah,
he could no longer enter the presence of the Lord to commune with Him, but instead, was convicted by His presence, and hid from
it. Shekinah, speaks of the glory of the
Lord in relation to man; it is the covering that allows us to come into
and abide in His manifest presence. As
a result of his transgression, the Shekinah that had been upon Adam as
a covering, was now external, apart from him. As a flaming sword before the tree of
life, the Shekinah has become
an enemy to keep him from
the spiritual life that he had once enjoyed, and could have maintained
by partaking of the tree of life. To Adam also and to his wife did
the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21 The
Lord took an animal, slew it, and covered Adam with its skin. This involved the shedding of blood as
a type of redemption. Now,
Adam was covered and brought
back into the possibility of relationship.
This covering was a substitute
for the Shekinah that had been lost, and gave Adam acceptance, but man
was still prevented from coming back into the realm of spiritual life
that he had once known. So He drove out the man; and He
placed at the east of the Jesus
died on We
can continue to abide in the covering
for sin that Jesus provided through His shed blood upon the cross, receiving
His forgiveness, but never coming back to the place that Adam (we) lost - that of being clothed upon with His Glory, and having
our spiritual senses quickened. The eyes of your understanding
being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling,
and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18 When
the Lord came to walk with Adam in the cool of the day, Adam hid from
His presence. Then the Lord
said, Adam, where are you? Adam answered this question and talked
with the Lord. Notice
that we can commune with the Lord in the realm of our soul and never come
back to the place of full and open fellowship with Him. Many
are satisfied with only the redemptive covering that has been provided
for them through the atonement of Jesus on the cross, and they feel comfortable
to stay there. However, the
Lord greatly desires us to come beyond this, and experience the full redemption of all that had been
lost. Then said Jesus to His disciples,
If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross,
and follow Me. Matthew 16:24 Just
as Adam, through disobedience lost his spirit life; we must, through obedience,
die to our soul life.
This includes not only the provision of a covering for our sin,
but also, the restoration of the original covering of the Shekinah, which
will enable us to experience His abiding, manifest presence (visible
glory). Our
spiritual senses only function as they are quickened, or sensitized in
His presence. Their development
must be cultivated, and this takes time.
While experiencing a time of communion with our Lord in His manifest
presence, or when we respond and enter into a moving (quickening presence) of the Holy Spirit, our spiritual
senses develop and function. These
responses to His presence are far more important than most realize. The
Lord is looking for those who desire a full restoration of all that was lost.
We have experienced forgiveness, but this must give way to the
greater victory of an active life in the Spirit.
Especially at this present time, the Lord is restoring His Glory
to His people. He greatly desires to demonstrate this
through the lives of an overcoming people who have chosen the higher realm
of spiritual life - those who have died to their self-life and refuse
to respond to the pull of their soul. These
will walk with Him in the restored covering of His Shekinah Glory and will witness His manifest
presence and power to the world in these last days, as Jesus expresses
His life through them. Arise, shine; for your light is
come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon
you. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness
the people: but the Lord shall arise upon you, and His glory shall be
seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to
the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3 |
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