Spiritual Awakening

If Jesus the man represented God incarnated for the world and is perfect because He pleased God; then all that Jesus did is a reflection of God’s heart of things in precisely how He wants it to be observed. The Jesus Standard is challenging but not unattainable and as Paul and others express this as stated, “Purge out, therefore, the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” - 1 Cor. 5:7. Another way to says this is, “Eliminate old thoughts, ways and be pure, original having no crutches or unnecessary help. For Christ delivered us by His efforts and death”. Leaven is used to puff up the dough to make it look more enticing, yet having little or no substance. When Christ’s Anointing Power resides in you there is no need to have facades that really don’t do the job; which is to reveal the unadulterated Truth and Glory of God and we, who are made and is in His image, for as stated, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the Revelation of the sons (and daughters) of God.” - Rm. 8:9.

​Peter represents the church as well as the individual for Jesus corrected him several times and prior to ascending showed compassion not by the ignorance of feelings but by the Spirit guiding and encouraging Peter to vocalize his love for Jesus three times stating, "Do you love Me?" - Jn. 21:15-17. Why is this significant for the Christian? As stated, "By your words you shall be condemned" - Matt. 12:37. The words we speak is in connection and preceded by a thought and is why Jesus states, "That whosoever looks on a woman to lust, has committed adultery with her already in his heart" - Matt.  5:28 and "God sees the heart" - 1 Sam. 16:7. Thoughts are the seed for unrighteousness as well as Righteousness. What is unrighteousness? Anything not ordained by God! So, any sin thought but also wrong thoughts about one's personality, character, and strengths that do not match Jesus' image is unrighteous. Jesus is our perfect example of body, mind, and spirit. He will the "law" that we are judged. By this everyone, not just those behind the pulpit will be examined as to not heeding the Holy Spirit, who was teaching, preparing and commissioning Jesus to start, continue and finish His ministry. It is this same Spirit that is here for the Body to do the same as an individual and with their church. For if we love Jesus; then we ought to honor His example with the ultimate work to become like Him.

Now, compassion is innate in us, but is not necessarily the right thing to do (depending on the issue and circumstances) and therefore when we apply it wrongfully; it falls in and is covered by God’s Grace. For as stated, “Have compassion on those who doubt, but look to save others” - Jud. 1:22-23. God saw Paul’s heart but did not mandate this approach that is conducted through all the churches today and even he had to recognize this error as stated, "To deliver such a one unto satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord" - 1 Cor. 5:5. Paul recognizing a previously saved person choosing unrighteousness despite correction advises to leave him to satan's devices hoping it will walk him up in time to save his soul. Now, some may say this is sexual immorality but it could be drugs or foul language. Unrighteousness is unrighteousness and must be confronted and turned into Righteousness.  Simply put; if Jesus, the Word spoke strongly and affirms God’s will in words and deeds, then as Christ used and allowed to the Holy Spirit to work through Him so should we to overcome anything that is not befitting to be a Christian including any form of fear, and doubt for as stated, “I can do all things through Christ Jesus” - Phil. 4:13. It was not Jesus the man but the Spirit that defined the Christ in the man. Jesus makes a clear statement on this saying, “I must depart so that the Spirit can come” - Jn. 16:7. Jesus left and did not stay because it is the Spirit that is required to overcome the issues of life and not by our lower carnal thinking, and feelings which by all subjugation is now under the Blood of Christ.

 
The Unknown Christian.

Jesus made it clear that once Salvation was accepted and we took up our Cross; then subsequently as stated, “greater works than these shall you do” - Jn. 14:12. For some, this sounds like a daunting task and by fear, we impose mountains to justify our feelings to become the unknown Christian. To think that feelings matter is to reduce God’s Anointing to the authority of the flesh. Something that the first man and woman did resulting in death. Every man or woman prior to Jesus' Anointing was born just like you and I into uncertainty, tradition, culture and social graces. All of this does not matter when we subject ourselves by humble obedience to the Anointing for God’s will. This is why the Bible recalls and demonstrates ordinate men and women overcoming insurmountable odds in the quest for God’s Kingdom Righteousness and succeeding because they allowed the Spirit to empower them.

All saved people are called and are expected to become like and be empowered as Jesus was when He was here. The Old Covenant is dead and a New Covenant put in place that frees us from any manmade construct as stated, “I (God) will make a new Covenant” - Heb. 8:8. In the Old Covenant, everything went through the priest and was constantly reinjected with new life by the perpetual animal sacrifice and appeasement to God and done by man’s vain attempts. In the New Covenant because Jesus is eternal, being the Word and by Spiritual conviction and obedience has been sacrificed and has paid, not appease God; once, for all eternity. There is no longer required the perpetual sacrifice for appeasement. No longer is God restrained from holding back His Power based on futile sacrifices. For as stated, “animal sacrifice did not please You (God)” - Heb. 10:6; but Jesus did, as stated, “For by one (Jesus) offering, He has perfected forever them that are sanctified” - Heb. 10:14. What does this have to do with allowing oneself to be an unknown christian? Everything!

The writer of Hebrews and elsewhere makes the clear point that any man or woman who has or self-appoint themselves to be behind a pulpit or stand on a platform has an eternal responsibility for those they teach or instruct as stated, “we who teach will be judged more strictly” - Jm. 3:1. Yet, regardless of this those who follow these wrongful or unrighteous teachings and instructions based on ignorance will not be immune to the full extent of judgment as stated, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” - 2 Cor. 5:10. Why Christ and not God? Because Jesus became our peer and will be beyond any reproach as to our failures in walking, talking and thinking about Him. Just like a secular court; our verdict comes from peers of similar walk and background. God and Jesus expect all Christians not just those behind the pulpit to know the Truth; discern evil from good and represent the Kingdom in all Righteousness as stated, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that is not ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” - 2 Tim. 2:15. To rightly divide the Word is not just about head knowledge but more about the heart of the Word. Why is God doing what He is doing? A man can teach others the Truth and Revelation of the Word but it is only God can instill the heart of the Word, not to a group; but to the individual. God is precise in His still and quiet voice to each individual based on their call, level of personal relationship and responsibility. Each is given a personal task and brings to the church and ministries, a uniqueness that completes any concerted effort for God’s Glory. No longer must we rely on another man to tell us about God as stated, “They shall not teach, saying, know the Lord. For all shall know Me from the least to the greatest” - Heb. 8:11.

In this world, you will meet someone that absolutely makes you feel uncomfortable. They could be a family member or some form of associate through your daily life like a friend of a friend or a co-worker. Nevertheless the result of their presence, words and disposition just don't align with yours and before you know it; you have judged them to be unworthy of your very being. If this resonates with you; you are the unknown christian!

There is no more “pure” race especially with the advent of the internet and social media. Without trying, we are all exposed to different viewpoints, culture, and mindsets from every corner of the world and many times we can’t avoid it. Guess what! Jesus had the same experience as we do being exposed not only to other Jews but also Romans, Greeks, and many other Nations; including various types of personalities. God located the Promiseland and Jerusalem for this exact reason because of Israel then and now is a strategic location. Jesus was known to be bold, open and not afraid of anyone He came in contact with including those who sought to kill Him. Now for us, I am not just talking about anyone who we have no common ground within the church but those especially outside it who are really offensive to all our sensibilities. Jesus sat and ate with sinners and walked among mostly unrighteous people daily. He did this to reveal the Glory of God. Our prime purpose! When I was growing up I did not belong to a clique and any group of people setting themselves apart did not sit well with me, but I talked with anyone who wanted to talk with me and yet in many ways I was the unknown christian because they were not able to acknowledge by Christianity.

​There ought to be no weak, shy or unrighteous Heir of God. We as the Body of Christ cannot have our cake and eat it too. God’s Kingdom is a narrow path that travels through this physical world guided by and for the purpose of His Spirit. The same Spirit given to us after Jesus ascended is the same Spirit Jesus was Anointed with. Jesus states, “I must go so that the Holy Spirit comes”. Jesus is establishing three things by this observation. First, He is giving us independence, for if He remained we would remain as a child looking to Him constantly. If He stayed, this would contravene God’s Kingdom sovereignty, as stated, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong for them whose heart is perfect toward him” - 2 Chron. 16:9. Secondly, Jesus having established the process that He was given and used for the Anointing to flow left it for us to continue with the same. You cannot effectively do God's work unless the Anointing is in you. Lastly, Jesus was breaking all ties to the Old Covenant and initiating the New Covenant. This New Covenant came into effect once the Cross of Calvary was completed. The reality of it is that Jesus' entire life during His ministry was to prepare us for the New Covenant that dismissed and put to death the curse of the law which includes tradition, culture and the flesh. All laws have a spiritual ramification based on subjection which establishes the authority of it. In this Revelation; it is not laws or rituals that brings God’s presence into reality but each individual of the Body that houses the Spirit of God which as stated, “know you are the temple of the Holy Spirit (God)” -  1 Cor. 6:19. The believer no longer comes to God as in a single tabernacle but by the Spirit through many goes into the world, revealing God, His tabernacle through the Christian Body!

Now, do we dispel with aspects of the fivefold ministry that teach? We can’t! Because most of the body have not taken up their cross. This is one of the reasons by Spiritual inspiration Paul established it because to build the church; it was important to lay the foundation with sound wisdom, knowledge, and understanding than to constantly motivate the body to seek Revelation by themselves. What most of the Body has yet to grow up into is that it's a personal relationship with God to make the Body more effective in revealing His Spirit. Most of the Body take rather than give which is contrary to God's law. What Paul did from compassion still affects the church today because he compromised, not wanting any to be lost and thus received the Grace of God. We are all guilty of this to some extent. Now before some say this is heresy consider according to the Gospels; Jesus mainly showed compassion and mercy to those who were trodden down, helpless and poor in spirit. Jesus rebuked harshly those who were given the responsibility of ministry (Pharisees) and those who (Peter) were and able to carry the early church’s burden often charging them to be more Righteous. We all ought to take responsibility for our Christian walk.

The Christian life as stated is to, “die to yourself” - Gal. 2:20. It’s not difficult to understand this but many who profess this Faith seek only to protect themselves and safeguard those who are followers of Jesus Christ. There is really no excuse for anyone not to be at least as the man of Jesus. For He did not hide who He was and what by birthright He was given. The average Christian, which is really an oxymoron has yet to accept God’s Throne as their Royal Heritage and their adoption into the family of God. For to be unknown as a Christian in all the attributes and attitudes that Jesus displayed is to deny the Power that worked through Him and has been made available to us. That same Power is now our birthright. To put this in perspective, it is like a son who has nobility in their family but chooses to abdicate this having no influence on his family and those associated with him. We all need someone to emulate and for us Christian’s this is Jesus.

The religious Christian opposes this notion and only promotes that Jesus is love expressed in compassion and mercy. They have reduced our mighty Lord to nothing more than a social worker. Jesus is the only true Heir to God’s Kingdom by His Spiritual Blood and not by His manmade imposed one. Yes, we have been adopted into His Father’s Kingdom but only by God’s will for Righteousness. The process by how we became children and heirs of God’s Kingdom is known but without God’s purpose, it has no value for an everlasting and eternal Kingdom. Some say we will become like Jesus as stated, “in the twinkling of an eye, we shall be changed” - 1 Cor. 15:52. Yet, Jesus did not use His Heavenly place and Power to subject the entire world’s evil to His Father’s will. In fact, He denied it completely stating, “do not think I cannot summon legions of angels” - Matt. 26:53.

What these examples demonstrate is that in order for us to walk as Jesus did we have to pattern our lives after His because as stated, “The eye is the lamp of the body” - Matt. 6:22. By this, we determine what our outlook on life is because we subliminal identify with what we see and hear. So where ever you are in life including your mannerism, character, and belief in your abilities is directly linked to what you have been told and taught mainly from your formative years. Everything is learned and can be unlearned by learning new things, especially those things related to the Christian Faith. Every once in a while the devil tries to get a foothold back into my life by reminding me and causing coincidences to reinforce his lies. This is Spiritual warfare which Paul instructs to, “cast down any vain imagination” - 2 Cor. 10:5. This is where discipline, mediation, and Faith overcome with the Word of God to keep one in Righteousness and mature in Christ.

​Ultimately, God through the Holy Spirit can help us grow into becoming a mature Christian which is really the Christ-like character that is desired, commanded and expected by God, less our judgment becomes harsh. But only if we desire to and release our inhibitions to the promptings of the Holy Spirit for as stated, “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-control” - 2 Tim. 1:7.  This can be on anything that is towards the will of God including personal self-development. Just like Faith which requires us to sometimes stretch our belief so must we also stretch the mind into believing that we can be more than what our parents, family, and society tell us. For if we are created in a divine image then all our mental and spiritual attributes are to be divine and empowering just as Jesus was and is; so that the Glory of God can shine through us to do the work as Jesus did and even greater accomplishments.

Flush it Out! - Of myself, I am nothing but with the Spirit all is possible.

Now, I am not talking about the newly born Christian that has just been birthed by Salvation but about we who have been committed to the Faith that is our Christ. Paul makes it clear in his books that there were some of the Faith that were on the milk of the Word; stayed on the milk and refused the meat of the Word and Salvation as stated, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able to" - 1 Cor. 3:2. Every Christian has a purpose to partake in the Great Commission and it is not limited to the fivefold ministries that most churches focus on and the incessant goal of religion to humanize the Christ experience.

​The Bible teaches about different Angels with different roles but not once is there a subjugation of one Angel over another. Each Angel fills a role for God’s will in an ordered fashion and not in anarchy. It was an Archangel that attended to Daniel’s prayer but it was an Angel that guided Phillip’s task to the Ethiopian eunuch. So it should be with the Christian and is why Paul uses the body as a metaphor of how the church and God’s Kingdom work stating, “(all are needed and equal)” - 1 Cor. 12:12-27. The challenge is understanding and appreciating roles as opposed to order and status. For all Angels have the Spirit of God flowing through them and when in unity His Power and Glory is revealed. Yet, by disobedience, they are condemned to death just like a man. Jesus, the Word is above Angels, yet God made Him a man and gave Him to us to demonstrate His Power and Glory through this form so that we would be raised up and resurrected above the curse of the law. Consider what Jesus did and did not do.

Jesus surrendered to Godly obedience. When Jesus enters the scene He has to insist that John baptizes Him as stated, “for now do this to fulfill all Righteousness - Matt. 3:15. John knows and preached who Jesus would be. Therefore prior to Jesus' Anointing He is already Righteous before God. Pause for a moment and meditate on that, for isn’t Jesus sinless before He starts His ministry? So what is Jesus fulfilling for Righteousness? Jesus is Spiritually Righteous but by having a man’s body and flesh, He is enabling all men to become the Righteousness of God which will become complete once He has paid the ransom on the Cross. He is establishing the process for man’s Righteousness by God's Grace. Immediately after water baptism, the Anointing falls on Him. Indicating Jesus is no longer immature, a child; but a fully matured, empowered son of God, representative of the heirs to come. He is what Adam was and therefore fulfilling the legal framework to take authority over death.

Jesus demonstrates the Power and Glory of the Anointing. Immediately, after receiving the Anointing as stated, “the Spirit led Him to be tempted” - Matt. 4:1. Why is God’s Spirit exposing Jesus to temptation? Because He has free will and having been given the Anointing; will He now use it for Righteousness? Adam used it for pride as men and women often do but Jesus is the perfection of God’s heart and uses it to reveal God three times saying, “It is written” meaning God has established, decreed or declared and therefore reiterates as stated, “My (God’s) words do not return void” - Is. 55:11.

Jesus spent time with God. He did this not only to prepare for the day as led by the Anointing but also to reaffirm who He was and whom He belonged to. How often after a day in the world do doubt, offense and the cares of the world try to creep in. Jesus would have experienced these same things but constantly renewed His purpose, call and spirit daily drawing strength from His image in God, the Torah (Word) and the Holy Spirit as stated, “Trust in God and lean not onto your own understanding (of what is seen and heard) - Prob. 3:5.

Jesus did not participate in things not aligned with His purpose. At the Cana wedding, Jesus and His apostles are there but set apart. He probably was invited to the wedding party as a point of interest since the locals would have heard about His sermons and miracles. He was not involved in the wedding. During the feast, He was focused on teaching the apostles when interrupted by His mother stating, “They have no wine” which Jesus responds, "what do I have to do with you (how is this mine concern)"  - Jn. 2:3-4. Now, consider after the request for more wine; it just so happens there are empty waterpots sitting there. This was done by the wedding party hoping for a miracle. The six waterpots could hold up to approx. 25 gallons each. Now, I believe Jesus knew about this charade, but went along with it so as not to embarrass His mother who was probably the point of contact for the invite. He did not allow the ways of the world to distract Him but rather attended to His Father’s desires, which was to birth the New Covenant and church by mentoring, empowering and supporting his apostles.

When Adam and Eve took satan’s deceit they enacted the law of disobedience contravening God’s command resulting in Spiritual separation and fall from His Grace. They essentially rejected what God said they were. His physical manifested Spirit. This is no different when we sin or when a son refuses to acknowledge his nobility. By this, only chaos, strife, and death will ensue. God is order, and in the same way, there are classes of Angels, there are classes of man, not by the law of subjugation as in a priest (pastor) to an ordinary man but by purpose, call, relevance, and equity.