June 2013

*Ex-Resurrection and the Ascention

Posted on June 24, 2013 by ADMIN

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Ex-Resurrection, the Ascention

Acts 4.20 We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.  These are the words of Peter spoke to Jews when they arrested him. Sounds like the words Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, that “We speak what We know and testify what We have seen”. Peter may have understood the plurality of God in himself as Jesus displayed as should we.
Paul had first hand insight to the plurality of God dwelling in us. He knows when the plurality is present in him or if he just speaks on his own authority, meaning solo. Read I Cor 7.25+40 as examples.
We make this point because God does not want us to be in darkness, meaning uncertainty. We can “walk in the light as He is in the light”.
I was drawn to Philippian 3 this morning to dig into, having my proverbial knife and fork in hand, bib under my chin, seated at the Kings table, partaking of this great feast. For We often sup together (Rev 3.20).
My focus was to return to vs 10. where I had previously caught a glimpse of the ascension as our proper focus. It reads “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection (anastasis), and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection (ex-anastasis)  from the dead”.
In researching the greek words interpretated “resurrection” used two times in that passage, I find the translators again show their confusion. These are two different words for resurrection. One of them arises from the other. The first use for the word “resurrection” is the word “anastasis” and is rightly translated “resurrection”. The second time resurrection is used is the word “ex-anastasis”, which they also translate resurrection, and that was a blunder.
This is the one and only time in the scriptures “ex” is used with “anastasis”. So one could simply deduce that they are NOT the same and should not have been translated the same or Paul would have used the word “anastasis” twice instead of adding an “ex” attached to the front of them which explicitly differentiates it from the other. When you are in a thing, to leave is to exit. This is a more appropriate view of anastasis and ex-anastasis. The second one leaves the first.
I believe Paul was showing us a difference and  even a contrast. Ex-anastasis, meaning out of resurrection. Ex means out like exit. Pauls inference to leave the resurrection was referring to the ascention as an object of our faith. A topic largely overlooked in scripture, but part and parcel of the gospel.
So as a believer you are in the resurrection from baptism, being raised to newness of life “In Christ”, which Paul commonly teaches, like in Romans and elsewhere. That you are raised from the dead, for you to be able to ascend. This is the correct picture of the resurrection (from the dead) to then ascend is more accurate.
This is why Paul wrote in the same chapter “ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Describing for us and elevation change.
So you can be called “ex” out of the resurrection, like popcorn in a pan. We reach forward in the faith. To know the “resurrection” or the “power of the resurrection” is the ascention. It’s the difference of seeing a rocket on the ground verses experiencing the take off. Arise, let us go up from here, as Christ commonly said. This is clearly what Paul is trying to convey here in Philippians 3 by saying things like “I press towards the prize, the upward (ascending) call”, and “I leave those things behind and reaching forward (ascending,) to those things that are ahead” or above. And “as many as are mature have this mind”.
Paul goes on to say “follow my example’. And his focus is then stated in verse 20 saying, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. So to ex-anastasis, ex-out of the resurrection is to look to the things above and ascend, (Col3.1) Look to the things that are not seen (I Cor 4.20). Or even like in Hebrews 11 that “they looked to the city whose builder and maker is God”.
To put this into proper perspective, I was watching a Youtube clip about “Christian Zionist” and the push to support Israel, Jerusalem, and a third temple. It was Christian leaders with  Zionist Jews. To this Paul addresses perfectly as a contrast of focus, stating,  “Brethren, join me in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
So if we are hidden “in  Christ” to be revealed in the last time, that we will appear with Him in Glory? Don”t short sell your inheritance. Don”t be like Esau who traded his inheritance for an earthly morsal. For that is what we do if we buy into the lie of an earthly city for god. That is dispicable.
Hold fast to the word of faith, for in due time we will reap if we do not faint.
So which Kingdom is ours? I think the distinction is clear. For as many as have this hope? Peace be upon them, upon the Israel of God.
For those who understand old testament pictures, When Abram went into Egypt he said that Sarah was his sister. Why? Because he was afraid they would kill him. And rightly so, those in the world, in Egypt, kill the Bridegroom and take the bride to themselves. They build the city. They deny Christ, the King of that city, the true city, they build a counterfeit. Be it Rome, Mecca, or Jerusalem.
As many as are mature look to our citizenship from above.
The Kingdom of God is at hand, as you arise in understanding. Blessings

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Pilgrims

Posted on June 24, 2013 by ADMIN

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PILGRIMS

We are Pilgrims. Yes we have an eternal hope, which means we are on a heavenly journey. This journey is pictured in scripture as, going up to Zion and going up to Jerusalem. It is growing in the understanding and the internal likeness of our risen Lord.

He said to “follow me that where I am you may be also”. He said “tell the others that I have ascended to my God and your God, to My Father and your Father.” This is our journey and our pilgrimage. This is seeking the things that are above. “Where Christ is sitting at the right hand of the Father”. This should be our focus. As Paul said “to lay hold of why Christ laid hold of me.
For the spirit and purpose of prophesy is the Revelation of Jesus Christ. “Lo the volume of the book is written of me”. To shine the eternal light on the Son seated now with the father in Glory, as being our objective of faith.
The purpose of the Holy Spirit according to Jesus is to “take what is mine and declare it to you”. “To tell you things to come” as it pertains to the invisible Kingdom. If I may translate, “to take what is mine, break it down in small enough pieces for human consumption”, divided up in feast days and priestly services, better seen in the life of Jesus on earth as the bread of life, to understand our sanctification and heavenly calling.
We being called both Priests and Kings in His Kingdom need to understand both the sacrifice and the reward. The resurrection and the ascension. Our flesh may be deprived of these things but as we are instructed to “recon our bodies dead”, to be alive in the Spirit so we can recon other things also.
If we don’t learn this one tool “to recon”, meaning to consider and appropriated by faith, then we might as well throw away the first 8 chapters in the book of Romans. “It is God who gives life to the dead and calls those things that do not exist as though they do. Paul’s point is our body is dead because of sin but alive because of His Holy Spirit who now dwells in us.
This is the premise of our faith. He calls things into existence we cannot see, and this is what we will be judged by as believers. If we believe or not. “Hath God really said?” Our flesh always sides with the Devil because “The carnal mind is enmity with God. It is not subject to the laws of God and neither indeed can be so then those who come to God in the flesh cannot please Him”. Meaning the carnal demands are at war with The Father. As Christ rebuked Peter saying “get behind me Satan for you are not mindful of the things of God but of man”. Showing us that Peter was still operating off his old nature.
But “we by the Spirit thus judge that if one man died for all then all are dead”. We live in Zombie land. Now what do we do? We judge some more and we recon some more, we believe some more. Faith being the substance of things not seen that we collect in the Spirit of our minds.
I believe that is what overcomes the obstacles pictured to Joshua and Caleb. Yep we saw the great deliverance from Egypt, and we saw our enemies drowned by the water of the Red sea, but that’s it. If we can’t see it with our eyes we won’t believe it? Our carnal mind will lay things out on a time frame and call it “dispensations”, then we will see it and believe it? Like Thomas said, “Unless I put my fingers in the wounds”. Or of Mary regarding Lazarus, “Lord if you had only been here, by now he stinketh. And Jesus wept”. But not over Lazarus death, but because that is not an obstacle for Him, but our unbelief is. That is Christ wept.
From 1st John, What overcomes the world? Our faith. Not the facts or our deeds.
Let us define the initial topic of “pilgrimage”. This being the journey from when we first stepped into “the promised land” shown in the book of Joshua. The passing over into it though baptism, which portrays us being baptized into Christ, now being in Christs promises. This is the true promise land being His Word, we now journey to The City of God. We now grow in understand by revelation of us seated with our Lord in his Kingdom that is “not of this age”, meaning not of this creation, being the place we are called. The heavenly, invisible one. The one that some in this age experience now by faith.
Hebrews 12.22

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect (of which they acquired while they were in the flesh). 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”

Hear the Heavenly Voice

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, how much more shall we NOT escape, if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more”, indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.” So we should know what composition to expect.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (not to be mistaken for an Adam like, self preserving fear.  29 For our God is a consuming fire.”

Now we will see that the mindset of pilgrimage is a key to the kingdom now, by faith, from Psalms 84.5-7

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion”.

Even Moses understood the pilgrimage and the heavenly place for us that the Lord built with His hands, meaning not of this creation. Here from the song of Moses in Ex 15, which if you remember it was also sung in the book of Revelation.
Ex 15. 17 You (God) will bring them (His people) in and plant them

In the mountain of Your inheritance,
In the place, O Lord, which You have made
For Your own dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.” And not the works of men.

That is the focus. Eternal, Holy, separate from sinners and this created realm down here.

So then, “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
 He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
We who seek Your face. Selah
The Kingdom of God is at hand in this way.

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Tomb where no man lay

Posted on June 22, 2013 by ADMIN

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TOMB WHERE NO MAN LAY.

The eternal gift of life is timeless. What has been given to us “In Christ” cannot not be lost or taken away because it is not related to the creation of emc=square of time and matter or any of things made from the Big Bang. That is why we are instructed to not look at the things that are seen for the things that are seen are temporary but the things that are unseen are eternal. The gift from God can never be seen with human eyes. “Flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom”. For even Christ himself, the one who brought immortality to light through the gospel, did not appear in His royalty. And His own words? “My Kingdom is not of this age”. Meaning this creation that we physically experience.

We are called to His eternal Glory. Paul said “to be found “In Him” not having my own righteousness but that which is by faith in Jesus Christ. Paul also said of his listeners that it was his desire to present them to the Lord as “chaste virgins”. This has nothing to do with our humanity or our past, of which Paul counted all as dung, but it has everything to do with us being found “in Christ”.

We see in Zechariah 3 Joshua the high priest standing before the Lord and Satan accusing him. And what did the Lord say of Joshua? Is this not a brand plucked from the fire? The Lord proceeded to instruct those who stood by to “take away the filthy garments, see I will clothe you with rich robes”. Those who stand before the Lord, and we all do if we have His Spirit, are never seen by Him in our old nature. For “even the holy angels behold the face of the Father when they see these little ones”. Us. It is only our guilty conscience and the fallen angels that try to drag our stinky old carcass into the presence of our Father. Like a cat dragging a half dead rat into the house. Get that thing out of here!

And this is what we do whenever we bring before the Lord our failures or our human accomplishments, good and bad. Our continual confessing of sin or bragging are equally repulsive to the Father. When it comes to sin His answer has always been the same. He dealt with it at the cross. Both of those actions deny the perfect offering, the sinless sacrifice, the lamb without spot or blemish. The one who died to free us from sin. Anytime we try to drag are old carcass into His presence it is as if we say ” No Christ wasn’t enough”. Even from Hebrews 10.2 that the worshipers once purged should have no consciousness of sin. Receive this gift for it is part of the package.

The Lord acknowledges those who exist on the resurrection side of the cross. This is why “if anyone is “In Christ” he is a new creation, all things are made new”. We offer ourselves living sacrifices which is our new spiritual man. As we learn to put on Christ we find ourselves in a place where no man can go, where no man has been, meaning those born from Adam.

You see Christ came to us by a virgin birth and He lay down after the cross in a tomb no man lay in before to display this truth. The place where He came from and where He went has nothing to do with man or time and matter And as we accept the gift, the new creation in His like likeness, the one who is spirit and truth, we too are found, that is our souls that have been purified by the word of truth, we are found as a tomb where no man lay and like the virgin whom no man has defiled. A place before and after all humanity Why? Because that is the timeless eternal gift spotless, pure and undefilable reserved for us in heaven. Which cannot be tainted by humanity and that includes our old dead carcass of a man.

Our human body and our mind as it relates to our old self are non existent and have no place before the throne of God. They are pre-Christ and unclean and nothing that is defiled can enter. The sacrifice you take into His presence is His Son Himself and that is what He sees in us. If there was any other acceptable gift then the Son, then the Son died in vain. This is what it means to be found “in Him’.

Are we “in Christ” or “in the world”? Are we trying to bring the half dead rat into the house of God? Are we offering up continual efforts of doing the best we can and covering our short comings with confessions instead of His blood? This is where Satan wants you to confuse you. The roaring lion who is seeking whom he may devour, knowing that this suffering is experienced by our brotherhood where? “in the world”. To that I say, get “in Christ”. Put on the “new man”.

I John 2.12+ I write to you children because your sins are forgiven for His names sake. I write to you new men because you have overcome the wicked one, and because you are strong and the word of God abides in you.

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