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  • The substance of His will

    Hebrews 10:1 says, “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

    In the Aramaic, where the verse says “not the very image of the things” it says “the substance of His will.” I read this last night and thought this is what creates the “very image of the things” is the substance of His will.

    Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the substance of things hoped for. Possibly faith could be imparted as a supernatural, but natural “God substance or nature” into us by revelation. Isn’t this what God says in Hebrews 10:16? Paul also says in Galatians, “Christ revealed in me.” Christ being revealed, image unto image, glory unto glory, substance unto substance, essence unto essence.

    What happened to me when I said 21 years ago, “Jesus if you are real show me?” I believe at the time I asked this question in all sincerity. The Lord in turn unveiled Himself to me. Repentance occurred. One definition of repentance is “after thought.” My thinking changed, even my motivation and will changed because He revealed Himself. This is the effect of Christ. The truth sets us free from ignorance and bondage into true purpose, redemption and salvation to our triune being. This was the initial deposit of “The substance of His will.” It has not stopped. I have tried to runaway from God or what I thought was God, but really wasn’t. I have tried to be what I thought God wanted me to be, but it wasn’t who I really was. I finally had the epiphany that my identity is hid in Him. When He revealed and reveals Himself in me He is showing me myself in Him. Paul says the gospel he preached he was not taught or learned, but by revelation of Jesus Christ.

    This now has changed and is still changing my life. Not even a gradual change, but a radical change. If will and motive is redirected everything else follows. This is a major part of the effect of the New Covenant. It is only possible by grace and revelation based on the primer of hearing the Word of truth. If and really when this happens universally the fullness of the stature of the body of Christ will emerge and manifest in this creation. It will change the world. The world has yet to see the the true Church, but will.

    Isa. 14:24, The Lord Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.

    God cannot lie or break His promises.

  • Irreprehensible

    Etymology: From irreprehensus, from in- (“‘not’”) and reprehendō (“‘I blame’”) + -ibilis, suffix indicating an ability to be.

    So, “irreprehensus” or unblameable could mean “incapable of blame“.

    This is what Paul says in 1 Thess. 3:13, “To the end he may establish your hearts unblameable
    in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

    If this is true what does it mean? What was brother Paul saying? Was he exhorting us to walk on eggshells or on a tightrope of religion and dead works? If that is was the case then what an empty, unfulfilling, and even dead God that would be. I used to assume this until He revealed Himself in me and has not stopped revealing by His powerful living word. He is worthy to be praised.

    Now, by faith through grace, I am growing into an understanding and knowledge in my soul that I am blameless. If I am in the the Spirit, in Christ Jesus, which I am, then there is no condemnation. I am blameless. To clarify, I am spiritually blameless before God the Father. Romans says sin is not imputed when there is no law. The judgment or penalty of the law is no longer counted against me because Jesus took the curse, judgment and penalty in His flesh and poured His blood. That makes me blameless in Him.

    I makes me irreprehensible in Him. It does not give me grace to sin. That is not what grace teaches. Graces teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness. Using grace to sin is not grace, but lasciviousness and perversion. Grace changes who we are and our lives. Romans 6 speaks of newness of life according to the enabling power and ability of our High Priest Jesus.

    In Him, my heart is unblameable, blameless, and irreprehensible. I know this and experience this by faith through hearing His word and not according to anything I could do apart from Him.

  • Lifeline cut off

    What happens if my lifeline is cut off? Simple, I die. Today, I read Hebrews 3:12 in the Aramaic and it says, “So heed, my brothers, lest there be in human of you an evil heart of not trusting (or no faith) parting from the living God…”

    In the Hebrew language or mind, when God said something was “good” or “evil” it meant the thing was either functional or dysfunctional. It worked as designed or did not. In the Greek, the root word for “evil” in “evil heart” means poor, great trouble or even pain. Poor means, “to toil for daily subsistence.” The Lord said, “Give us this day our daily bread.” I am not giving myself daily bread He is.

    “Poor” here in the context of Hebrews is in reference to not entering God’s rest or sabbath. If my heart is toiling for daily substistence then this is dysfunctional. This reminds me of the curse of the law which our Lord has redeemed us from. Thank you Lord!

    Proverbs 4:23 speaks of keeping or protecting your heart because out of it come the issues of life. If the spirit of my mind is not renewed or regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit according to the primer of the word of truth then my mind is hostile and enmity towards God. This mind is carnal, fleshly or non-spiritual. This mind is death.

    If my mind is renewed according to the revelation of Christ this ministers grace, truth, and life to my triune being. It changes me from glory to glory. My heart is protected by Him and His peace. He is our peace. This truth and light of His peace guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. My heart, motivation and will changes because of this truth. The change is towards functionality, or wholeness with purpose and rest.

    This change is the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Christ is our sanctification. This sanctification is by grace unto righteousness unto holiness and glory.

    My heart believes because the truth and light of Christ has been revealed. I did not suppose this knowledge or make it up, but it was revealed, unvieled, and opened up to me. It is not from me, but is me. Our true identity is hid in Him. There is rest, hope and great assurance in this spiritual substance. Faith is the “substance” of things hoped for.

  • “And for this reason”

    Hebrew 9:13-15 says, “For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

    And for this reason

    He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

    What does serve mean?

    Rom. 6:14-18, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

    According to the letter to Rome, we either serve sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness. We either follow one of two patterns, the First Adam or the Last Adam who is Christ.

    I use to think “obedience unto righteousness” was impossible. In the flesh, it is. I no longer believe in a spiritual walk that I have to be perfect. That is not life or living, but more closer to slavery.I believe “obedience unto righteousness” is based on the motivation of “I want to” versus “I have to.” I want to server God because I sincerely want to.

    As far as perfection goes, I do believe I am growing towards perfection in Christ by grace, the truth of the word, sanctification and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Paul says it like this in Phil. 3:12-15, verse 12, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” I follow after because I am compelled by grace and I simultaneously being apprehended by grace toward perfection n Christ. The Word became flesh and now flesh is becoming Word. I believe the flesh becoming Word is the goal individually and globally if not universally until the enemy is His footstool.

  • Another new diet fad?

    Heb. 13:9,

    Do not be carried about[c] with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.”

    Heb. 13:9 (NLT) says, “So do not be attracted by strange, new (spiritual teachings) ideas. Your spiritual strength comes from God’s special (grace) favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.”

    What is a diet? One definition says, ” to regulate the food of, esp. in order to improve the physical condition.” I believe diets have good motivation and are profitable only if the heart is changed. If I approach a diet and my heart or spirit of mind is not in agreement then it becomes a “ceremonial rule about food” and the bible says that the letter kills, 2 Cor. 3:6, Rom. 7:11.

    According to Heb. 13:9, my heart is strengthened by the grace of the Lord. If my heart is strenghtened by the supernatural power of God the my motivation towards food and everthing else changes. This is a contrast to a “ceremonial rule about food.” The word says, “The just shall live by faith.” Under grace, the New Covenant, Christ reveals Himself in us by His word. The understanding and knowledge of truth changes me in everyway into a new being. My mind, will, heart, spirit and even body is transformed by this truth from glory to glory. Ceremonial rules about food can’t do that.

  • Co-knowledge

    Heb. 10:2, “For then would they (sacrifices and offerings for sin) not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.”

    The word conscience here in the Greek means either “a knowing with” or “co-knowledge.

    So, in the above verse what would I no longer have a “co-knowledge” with?

    Romans 3:20 (NIV) says, “Through the law we become conscious (or have the knowledge) of sin.”

    In Romans 5:13, it says, “Sin is not imputed when there is no law.”

    It sounds like the co-knowledge is with the law. The law makes or made me aware of what missing the mark was or sin. The mark that the law made me aware of is no longer there because in Christ, by His sacrifice, I no longer have knowledge of the mark. Therefore, I no longer have co-knowledge because the co-knowledge was based on the knowledge of the mark. What is the mark? Sin means, “to miss the mark.” The mark could be a reminder of how far we fall from glory. It could be the goal of attaining the full stature of the body of Christ. The mark could be what I thought I was supposed to do or be spiritually.

    According to Heb. 10:2, the co-knowledge of sin or missing the mark is no more.

    So, what knowledge do I have now? The writer of Hebrews continues to write on in Hebrews 11:1. “Now, faith is…” Now, I have His faith in me. This faith in me comes by hearing and hearing His word. It is the revelation of Christ in me. We have understanding by faith. This understanding turns into revelatory, life-changing knowledge.

  • This is him?

    Usually, I don’t write about stuff like this, but this is a blog. So, here it goes.

    I while back, I’d say maybe 6-9 months or so, I fell asleep in the living room. Around 3 a.m., I woke up because I knew someone came into my house. Specifically, my living room. I woke up and looked towards the T.V. I knew something or someone very tall was in my house. I’d say between 9-10 feet tall. Not sure how I knew, but it I did. I will call it a familiar spirit. I believe familiar spirits are humanoid in appearance. They are hence ‘familiar.’ Their voice is familiar too, but we know the voice of the Good Shepherd which is based on the word of truth and grace.

    Back to what happened. I did not see this thing, but it was like closing my eyes and Shaquille O’Neal’s big brother was there. Shaquille O’Neal is an N.B.A. professional basketball player who is 7’3″ tall and weighs 350 lbs. I was very tired and I thought, “What do you want?” I was not alarmed or scared, but knew this thing had some authority or power I guess. Then I thought I heard this, “This is him?” Then it was gone and I went back to sleep.

    I believe for whatever reason, the enemy sent this spirit to either intimidate or entice. He was unsuccessful. What I noticed though is that the enemy spilled the beans so to speak. He was so alarmed about something that he sent this higher-ranking spirit. I guess you could call it that. When I think of what it said, “This is him?” Then I start to wonder what was this spirit told prior to arriving? What was he told to expect? This is what I mean when I say the enemy spilled the beans or played his card. Paul says we are not unaware of the enemy’s schemes or wiles, 2 Cor. 2:11.

  • The New Covenant

    Heb. 8:10-11, “10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.”

    How does He put His laws in our minds and write it on our hearts? By revealing His Son in us. We have the mind of Christ. Yesterday, 05/26/09, I was getting ready for work and I heard this to my spirit, “You are holy. You are now holy.” I thought, “Ok.” Then I thought again, “I am holy. I am.” I believe this could be an example of Him putting His laws into our minds. I did not just believe what I heard, but I knew it. I know now. It was deposited in me somehow.

    Knowing and believing are different. Paul talks about a knowledge of truth after godliness, Titus 1:1. He says “knowledge” not faith. I believe we have understanding by faith, Heb. 11:3. This understanding permeates into our soul. This understanding becomes knowledge. This knowledge becomes who we are.

    Paul says having a righteousness apart from works of the law, Phi. 3:9. How does this happen? By grace through faith. We hear. Then we hear His word. Then faith is. By faith, we have understanding unto knowledge. This knowledge becomes our actions, mannerisms, speech, motivation, perspective, reality, awareness, Acts 17: 28. I believe if something is written to our hearts then the motivation of our hearts is changed. He is writing His law even His will into our minds and hearts by revelation of the Word in us. Christ is the Word in us.

  • Thanksgiving: How much is enough?

    1 Thess. 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

    When I thank God for whatever situation I am in and I mean whatever situation. I put ‘self’ off of me. Whatever is attached to ‘self’ goes with it. This is God’s will for me in His Son. The old has gone, 2 Cor. 5:17. God’s will and willingness in me enables me to be thankful and change my focus off of me on to Him. His focus and will becomes mine, Phil. 2:13, Gal. 1:16.

    If I live with ingratitude or without thanksgiving in my heart then I do not have enough. Jesus is enough. He is more than sufficient. In Him, all fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily. “Enough” is a molecular word that cannot compare to Him in whom all things hold together, Col. 1:17. If I do not have enough then something is owed to me because I have not received it yet. Otherwise, it would be enough. His love is enough because I do not owe Him. He paid the price in full and said, “It is finished” or “Shelem.” I do not owe Him. His love does not keep record of any wrongs, 1 Cor. 13:5.

    Therefore, I am ever-grateful and thankful for God’s only Son. This grace of thanksgiving overflows. It enables me and also whosoever that believes that He is, Eph. 1:19, Rom. 1:16. We express and manifest thanksgiving by faith because “The just shall live by faith.” We have understanding and knowledge unto godliness by faith, Titus 1:1. This knowledge becomes what we know and no longer faith. It becomes who we are in Him. Our lives are hid in Him, having a righteousness apart from dead works. A righteousness that is by revelation of Him according to His word.

  • Moved with compassion

    I am reminded of these verses.

    I remember when I was 18 or 19 years old and it was after church service and I was overwhelmed with compassion for a teenage boy who had down syndrome. We had already been friends, but for some reason my heart was filled with this love towards him for him to be whole. My heart was directed towards his years of hurt from people judging and misunderstanding him. He did not choose to be born with down syndrome. It was not his fault. I think this compassion was supernatural. I went to him and we talked. I hugged him and cried. He looked at me and smiled. I told him, “I know who you are. This is not you.” All of a sudden, his face transformed to what we call normal. I said, “Yes, that is you!” He was alarmed and his face reverted back to the down syndrome appearance. I was very young in the Lord, but now I see that when His supernaturual compassion comes it changes worlds and lives.