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below for Jesus Was Crucified For US & with US The Only Good Christian is a Dead Christian Warfare and Battling in the Mind and in the Flesh Attributes of A flesh-Centered Person Offloading the Burdens of our Lower Nature An effort to Change our Worship or' Meditations'
Jesus was sentenced to die in the place of a condemned man Barabbas. Barabbas was a flagrant sinner, (who represents every man without G-d), Jesus called his death "his baptism", Paul states that, "as many who are baptized into Christ are baptized into His death." We are also likened to have risen with Him, a figurative picture portrayed in the coming forth out of the water in immersion baptism. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? - Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3,4 kjv) "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom G-d raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole." (Acts 4:10) "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;" "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of G-d, and the wisdom of G-d." (1 Corinthians 1:23,24 kjv)
Baptism
is an act of faith which has been performed
as a religious act for a very long time and
sacramentally as an even longer time. Churches
practice baptism in various forms. Some sprinkle
while others immerse. In some denominations it is
performed upon children. In new testament application
it was only administered to those who professed
Christ as savior and Lord. Jesus asks us to take up our own cross in following him. Though we are not expected to die on a cross we are expected to know that it is a powerful force to initiate a Spiritual life in the Kingdom of G-d and that "by faith" we can access all of its promise and potential. We come forth from the water, resurrected. We come forth from the water, in the power of the Christ life within. We come forth from the water, separated from the old nature with its lusts. We have symbolically put the old "me" to death. The Ethiopian eunuch who Phillip ministered to in Gaza was taught only the essentials of Christ crucified and risen and as Messiach who fulfilled all prophetic scripture a subsitutionary sacrafice for each sinner. Phillip also taught the essentials of Baptism to him. It just so happened that they found a place with enough water at this juncture of the journey through Gaza. Phillip baptized the man and immediately sent him on his way to Ethiopia in the power of the Spirit. This was the extent of his discipling but we can be assured that it was enough and fully empowered by the Holy Spirit. It was this man who carried the Gospel in power and simplicity to hundreds in his own land, who provided a tradition of apostolic Christianity which lasted hundreds of years. Infants who have not yet reached the age of reason may be dedicated or blessed, in a special act of faith, but this is not Biblical baptism which is a dedicatory act of a believer. Baptism is to submerse in water to come up out of the water symbolizing the crucifixion of the old man and the the entry into a new resurrected life. Paradox
of Losing One's Life Life and life more abundant are what Jesus promises his disciples. But this abundant spiritual life lies in an entirely different sort of configuration than that which worldly persons value or seek. As we grow spiritually, G-d causes us to feel alienated from the world, distinct and apart from it, owning different values and treasuring other kinds of treasures than the world treasures. We can not simple "will" to despise worldliness it is something which the Spirit begins to grow in us as a fruit of righteousness. We eventually begin to hate both the ways of the world and its impact on our own lives (in its pettiness, shallowness and spiritual blindness). In the beginning of our spiritual walk, that which some describe as spiritual infancy, we tend to migrate back to life as we had known it. We had a familiar lifestyle and a pattern of thinking, speaking and reacting to others. Our old nature included our habitual excesses, our reputations for good or evil, our self pride, our name, our looks, our offices, our talents, our careers and educations. These things do not impress G-d nor did they ever impress him. Until we regard them as "dung," as Paul stated in his letter to the Phillipians Chapter 3 and verse 8. We do not yet have a heavenly perspective. Our old vanities were forged in the semblance of this world and its vain idolatries and will pass as the fog in the morning."- if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." (Galatians 6:3)Jesus reminds us to not cling to this life nor any of its apparent treasures. Which are merely passing things, apparitions which soon vanish like the dew of morning. "Take up your cross daily and follow after me." (Take this cross as a reminder that you are already reckoned dead to yourself, crucified in the human nature and alive on a higher level, that of having been raised to new life, resurrected into the position of being seated with Christ in the seat of His transcendent authority. The Only Good Christian is a Dead Christian "For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:" Romans 6:5; "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." 6:6; "For he that is dead is freed from sin." 6:7; "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:"6:8 "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." 6:9; "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto G-d through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:5-11) "For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of G-d. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of G-d toward you." (1 Corinthians 13:4) "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of G-d, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) Our bodies
and our lives were once the property of Satan! You
may personally have a higher view of your own present
or past lifestyle than this, but nonetheless it
is the scripturally correct viewpoint which we must
adopt. A life without redemption through Jesus Christ
was a life lived in Satan's domain. The 'G-d of
this world' wants desperately to continue in it.
"Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,"
"Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders,
drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which
I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit
the kingdom of G-d" (Galatians 5:19-21)
Scriptural proof passages describe the serious limitation of the human soul in its natural state. The natural man can not know G-d. Now, we know that many people are marvelously gifted with natural virtues and abilities. Some intellectual, some physical, some musical, some poetical, some marvelous organizers, etc. These natural abilities are still inadequate to do what the Lord wishes to do through us. We need to have some insights on how we can go beyond natural abilities or natural limitations. How does G-d instruct us to overcome these natural abilities or limitations? By walking in the Spirit. The natural man (Gk.psuchikos) is also translated the man without the spirit. It denotes a human being whose life centers around his or her own soulish nature. The soulish being is personality centered, comprised of natural intellect, will, feelings and emotion. (1Corinthians 2:14) states that such soulish persons can not receive things which are of the Spirit of G-d, such things are foolishness to him. Walking in the Spirit is more than having knowledge about G-d or the Bible. It is even more than renewed attitudes and beliefs, it is walking in (a present-moment awareness) of the life of G-d within us; to be aware that we are enshrouded and encompassed by Christ's life and Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is a state of Spiritual consciousness of actually partaking of the mind of G-d. There is a way of entering in to this state, through an act of faith of yielding and entering. Preparing the heart may take some attention, we must turn from many things which have us bound up; cares, fears, other voices inside have to be stilled; we give place to G-d, both through will and word. Walking in the Spirit means letting go of our own self-life, personality and all of life's lusts and idols. One can not partake of this life with hatred or unforgiveness in your heart. One can not partake of this life with rage or jealousy in your heart. One can not partake of this life with unforgiveness or bitterness in your heart. We must unload all burdens, set aside all anger and filthiness of the flesh. Then we enter in, as follows. Off-loading the Burdens of our Lower Nature The things we do and the things we think regulate spiritual life. David the psalmist king of Israel knew this and dealt with the whole issue saying, "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable unto you O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer."(Psalm 19:4) The purity and integrity of our spiritual lives is based upon the meditation(s) of our hearts, those things which occupy our thought life when no one is around and no one else influences your behavior. Jesus taught that it is in the heart where man's treasure lies. As we value and treasure things we give thought and meditation to these things. After thinking and meditating on the matters of greatest interest to us we are likely to respond with words and actions which will map our treasures. Jesus
spoke of good treasures and evil treasures and
said that we speak as an overflow from the abundance
of our hearts, thus we may bring forth either good
or evil. Evil meditations will ultimately bring
forth corrupted worship. It is the thing which we
worship most highly which occupies the meditation
of our hearts. In a spoken petition you might say something like this, "Jesus, I ask you to be my burden bearer. Jesus, I know you want to walk with me and carry my burden as your yoke. Even as you take my burden from me let me partake of your yoke of a higher life.""Relieve me of my burden of ---."(supply the name of the thing.)"I cast down my idol of ----." (supply the name of that thing.) "Father,
Cleanse me, make me pure. Remember me TODAY in your
kingdom. Give me your spirit now so that I become
a child of G-d. Release me in the Spirit of worship
and praise. Father, I thank you for receiving me
into your presence. Saying these things with your
mouth will activate your faith and G-d's response.
in Jesus name I pray this. "Say it! And say it
only if you mean it!
Allow
this token of cleansing to do its work, It is part
of the seed dying and the vessel being broken so
it can give forth a new incense out of your life,
an incense of praise unto G-d. Press into the Holy place which is that secret place of the most high, revealed in your spirit. This process may take minutes, hours or even days. Wait upon the Lord for Him to complete you. Give praise to G-d. Speak to Him and listen to Him respond to you. Begin to walk in the Spirit. "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25) "Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:26) "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2) "But G-d forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." (Galatians 6:14) Mysteries,
Chapter 5 E
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