July 2013

*Answer of a Good Conscience. Peter 3.21


Posted on July 24, 2013 by ADMIN

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ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE 1 PETER 3.21

Peter was speaking of the baptism in chapter 3 he says. there is also an antitype that saves us namely baptism. not the removal of the filth of the flesh but an answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. who has ascended into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.t

Here is a remarkable truth. It is not necessary for God to need our bodies out of the way to get on with us in a relationship like He had with Adam and Eve. It is the marred conscience that is in the way. He requires us to have a good conscience and this is the gift we get by identifying with Christ on the cross. But we don’t stay at the cross. We move on as God allows.

1 Peter 4.1 Therefor since Christ suffered in the flesh arm yourself with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.

It does not say arm your body, or kill your body but arm your mind. It is here we find the gift, for Christ by the grace of God has tasted death for every man, especially those who believe. The question then is if we arm our mind what happens to the sin? Isn’t God watching that? Having put off the flesh by faith we have to redefine sin.

In Zach 3 we see Joshua the high priest standing before God and Satan accusing him. The Lord rebuked Satan, then says of Joshua “Is this not a brand plucked from the fire? The Lord instructed those who stood by to remove the filthy garments and to cloth him in rich robes.

We also are a brand plucked from the fire and furnished with rich robes, the righteousness of Christ by faith, and if our conscience or Satan accuse us we have a good answer for a clean conscience. Look at the cross. The glorious reality of this truth is this. We no longer keep track of sin in the old fashion. God doesn’t. Blessed is the man in whom the Lord does not impute sin”. This imputation is the same as an accountant who keeps tabs of debt. Maybe like your credit card monthly bill. But we open up our spiritual billing and the account always reads “paid in full”.

So then here is how we define sin now as it pertains to the clean conscience, the new man.

In Romans 14 Paul was talking about our freedoms when it comes to what day to worship, what foods to eat, what to drink and in general what is our mind set now that we are past sin according to law. Verse 22 do you have faith? And, Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats because he does not eat of faith, (and here is the key) for whatever is not of faith is sin.

Sin relates now to faith being actions in the mind as it pertains to the leading of God, verses the body carried away with cravings. If we understand as it says in Hebrews 11.6 that without faith it is impossible to please God, we learn that it is more important to follow His Spirit then to go back to law. We know if an external law helped, Christ would not have gone to the cross. This then is the struggle of the flesh, we would rather have a list of “thou shalt not” on the refrigerator than to follow the spirit. Then to follow the unction of the Spirit.

So then when Satan, ourselves or anybody accuses us and tries to put us on the defense and throw our minds into a whirlwind of apologizing, making excuses, and confessing we have an answer of a good conscience. This becomes the act of faith that pleases God. With Joshua the Lord had the sin removed and had him robed in fine linen and we do that by faith. This pleases God.

I do not taint my relationship with my heavenly Father by dwelling on sin in the flesh. It is an insult to the Spirit of grace. The sin factor is gone in the spirit, in the heavens and in our minds if our mind is set on the Spirit, the things that are above, This pleases God. We are unobstructed and unhindered, without excuse to relate to God. Let nothing come between you and that. When we hear correction from the heavenly voice we make the necessary adjustments in our walk and move on.

Back to 1 Peter we read that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour whom resist steadfast in the faith,  knowing that the same is being experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

Here is the key. Are we “in Christ” or “in the world”? If we succumb to the accusations like Joshua, we have to ask ourselves are we in the flesh or in faith. For if you are in the flesh, you are in the world where Satan is active. If you are in the faith Satan’s words fall on deaf ears. God is not listening, He is not imputing. Why are we.

This is where we appropriate our faith and give God the Glory. Instead of apologizing for yet another short coming on our part, bless God because he paved the way once for all. This is faith and this pleases God. He really is not happy with continual apologies and confessions as though that keeps us clean like the continual sacrifices of old. He didn’t like that either. But he likes an answer of a clear conscience washed by the blood of the lamb. The accuser of the brethren is cast down when we do that. We are accounted as seated with Him in heavenly places. Far above all powers and principalities. The roaring lion becomes  toothless road kill .

Here are a couple other verses that expand on this

Heb 10.1-22 with sin gone by faith, another act of faith is to enter the holiest of all by the blood of Christ.
John 17.15 Christ prayed not that we would be taken out of the world but that we would be protected from evil.
1 John 2.12-14 are the words that “you have overcome the wicked one’.

My work of faith is to follow the Holy Spirit. I do not glorify Satan for any of his mischievousness for he is limited to what God allows him. Like the serpent who was a staff in Moses hand, so is Satan in the hand of Christ, all power and authority having been given to Him.  It is when I test the boundaries of the promise. To be in Christ by faith, or in the world. If I fill myself with the spirit and not the world satan stands no chance.

This obviously does not apply to murderers, fornicators and such. On gray area items Paul said. “I am free to do all things, I will not be subject to the power of them.”  If you can’t control it you may be giving room to the enemy.
Accept the gift of a clear conscience and explore the greater realities in Christ. In this way,
The Kingdom of God is at hand.

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THE WISDOM SOLOMON MET.


Posted on July 10, 2013 by ADMIN

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THE WISDOM SOLOMON MET. EXCERPTS FROM THE BOOK OF SOLOMON IN THE KING JAMES BIBLE

I have found it unfortunate that steps taken by the church fathers to protect their form of religion and to promote their doctrines have truncated the word and purpose of God.

Having seen the Holy Spirit in the bible as the comforter, another helper so you are not left orphans and as the gift given in place of Jerusalem, I decided to dig a little deeper and this is something I found to help me understand the 3rd person in the Godhead. The Wisdom Solomon knew is this person. Solomon,s name means “peace”. With Solomon as Davids son and king, with his wife and city Jerusalem, meaning city of peace. So you have the king of peace in the city of peace. But these were only pictures given to teach us about those whom we cannot see. So may we introduce to you “King Shaloman in Jerusalem-shalom. Same root words. This ones name is Wisdom.

Blessings

1.3 For froward thoughts separate from God: and his power, when it is tried, reproveth the unwise.

4 For into a malicious soul wisdom shall not enter; nor dwell in the body that is subject unto sin.

5 For the holy spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide

when unrighteousness cometh in.

6 For wisdom is a loving spirit; and will not acquit a blasphemer of his words: for God is witness of his reins, and a true beholder of his heart, and a hearer of his tongue.

7 For the Spirit of the Lord filleth the world: and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice.

 

6.12 Wisdom is glorious, and never fadeth away: yea, she is easily seen of them that love her, and found of such as seek her.

13 She preventeth them that desire her, in making herself first known unto them.  John 14.17

14 Whoso seeketh her early shall have no great travail: for he shall find her sitting at his doors.

15 To think therefore upon her is perfection of wisdom: and whoso watcheth for her shall quickly be without care.

16 For she goeth about seeking such as are worthy of her, sheweth herself favourably unto them in the ways, and meeteth them in every thought.

17 For the very true beginning of her is the desire of discipline; and the care of discipline is love;

18 And love is the keeping of her laws; and the giving heed unto her laws is the assurance of incorruption;

19 And incorruption maketh us near unto God:

20 Therefore the desire of wisdom bringeth to a kingdom.

21 If your delight be then in popthrones and sceptres, O ye kings of the people, honour wisdom, that ye may reign for evermore.

22 As for wisdom, what she is, and how she came up, I will tell you, and will not hide mysteries from you: but will seek her out from the beginning of her nativity, and bring the knowledge of her into light, and will not pass over the truth.

23 Neither will I go with consuming envy; for such a man shall have no fellowship with wisdom.

 

7.6 For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.

7 Wherefore I prayed, and understanding was given me: I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.

8 I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her.

9 Neither compared I unto her any precious stone, because all gold in respect of her is as a little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her.

10 I loved her above health and beauty, and chose to have her instead of light: for the light that cometh from her never goeth out.

11 All good things together came to me with her, and innumerable riches in her hands.

12 And I rejoiced in them all, because wisdom goeth before them: and I knew not that she was the mother of them.

13 I learned diligently, and do communicate her liberally: I do not hide her riches.

14 For she is a treasure unto men that never faileth: which they that use become the friends of God, being commended for the gifts that come from learning.

15 God hath granted me to speak as I would, and to conceive as is meet for the things that are given me: because it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and directeth the wise.

 

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22 For wisdom, which is the worker of all things, taught me: for in her is an understanding spirit holy, one only, manifold, subtil, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good quick, which cannot be letted, ready to do good,

23 Kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from care, having all power, overseeing all things, and going through all understanding, pure, and most subtil, spirits.

24 For wisdom is more moving than any motion: she passeth and goeth through all things by reason of her pureness.

25 For she is the breath of the power of God, and a pure influence flowing from the glory of the Almighty: therefore can no defiled thing fall into her.

26 For she is the brightness of the everlasting light, the unspotted mirror of the power of God, and the image of his goodness.

27 And being but one, she can do all things: and remaining in herself, she maketh all things new: and in all ages entering into holy souls, she maketh them friends of God, and prophets.

28 For God loveth none but him that dwelleth with wisdom.

29 For she is more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars: being compared with the light, she is found before it. .

 

8.

1 Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth she order all things.

2 I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.

3 In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility: yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.

4 For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.

5 If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things?

6 And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?

7 And if a man love righteousness her labours are virtues: for she teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude: which are such things, as en can have nothing more profitable in their life.

8 If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.

9 Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me, knowing that she would be a counsellor of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief.

10 For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and honour with the elders, though I be young.

11 I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of great men.

12 When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I speak, they shall give good ear unto me: if I talk much, they shall lay their hands upon their mouth.

13 Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.

14 I shall set the people in order, and the nations shall be subject unto me.

15 Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.

16 After I am come into mine house, I will repose myself with her: for her conversation hath no bitterness; and to live with her hath no sorrow, but mirth and joy.

17 Now when I considered these things in myself, and pondered them in my heart, how that to be allied unto wisdom is immortality;

18 And great pleasure it is to have her friendship; and in the works of her hands are infinite riches; and in the exercise of conference with her, prudence; and in talking with her, a good report; I went about seeking how to take her to me.

19 For I was a witty child, and had a good spirit.

20 Yea rather, being good, I came into a body undefiled.

21 Nevertheless, when I perceived that I could not otherwise obtain her, except God gave her me; and that was a point of wisdom also to know whose gift she was; I prayed unto the Lord, and besought him, and with my whole heart I said,

9.

1 O God of my fathers, and Lord of mercy, who hast made all things with thy word,

2 And ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made,

3 And order the world according to equity and righteousness, and execute judgment with an upright heart:

4 Give me wisdom, that sitteth by thy throne; and reject me not from among thy children:

5 For I thy servant and son of thine handmaid am a feeble person, and of a short time, and too young for the understanding of judgment and laws.

6 For though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing regarded.

7 Thou hast chosen me to be a king of thy people, and a judge of thy sons and daughters:

8 Thou hast commanded me to build a temple upon thy holy mount, and an altar in the city wherein thou dwellest, a resemblance of the holy tabernacle, which thou hast prepared from the beginning.

9 And wisdom was with thee: which knoweth thy works, and was present when thou madest the world, and knew what was acceptable in thy sight, and right in thy commandments.

10 O send her out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory, that being present she may labour with me, that I may know what is pleasing unto thee.

11 For she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall lead me soberly in my doings, and preserve me in her power.

 

17 And thy counsel who hath known, except thou give wisdom, and send thy Holy Spirit from above?

18 For so the ways of them which lived on the earth were reformed, and men were taught the things that are pleasing unto thee, and were saved through wisdom.

 

10.

1 She preserved the first formed father of the world, that was created alone, and brought him out of his fall,

2 And gave him power to rule all things.

3 But when the unrighteous went away from her in his anger, he perished also in the fury wherewith he murdered his brother.

4 For whose cause the earth being drowned with the flood, wisdom again preserved it, and directed the course of the righteous in a piece of wood of small value.

5 Moreover, the nations in their wicked conspiracy being confounded, she found out the righteous, and preserved him blameless unto God, and kept him strong against his tender compassion toward his son.

6 When the ungodly perished, she delivered the righteous man, who fled from the fire which fell down upon the five cities.

7 Of whose wickedness even to this day the waste land that smoketh is a testimony, and plants bearing fruit that never come to ripeness: and a standing pillar of salt is a monument of an unbelieving soul.

8 For regarding not wisdom, they gat not only this hurt, that they knew not the things which were good; but also left behind them to the world a memorial of their foolishness: so that in the things wherein they offended they could not so much as be hid.

9 Rut wisdom delivered from pain those that attended upon her.

10 When the righteous fled from his brother’s wrath she guided him in right paths, shewed him the kingdom of God, and gave him knowledge of holy things, made him rich in his travels, and multiplied the fruit of his labours.

11 In the covetousness of such as oppressed him she stood by him, and made him rich.

12 She defended him from his enemies, and kept him safe from those that lay in wait, and in a sore conflict she gave him the victory; that he might know that goodness is stronger than all.

13 When the righteous was sold, she forsook him not, but delivered him from sin: she went down with him into the pit,

14 And left him not in bonds, till she brought him the sceptre of the kingdom, and power against those that oppressed him: as for them that had accused him, she shewed them to be liars, and gave him perpetual glory.

15 She delivered the righteous people and blameless seed from the nation that oppressed them.

16 She entered into the soul of the servant of the Lord, and withstood dreadful kings in wonders and signs;

17 Rendered to the righteous a reward of their labours, guided them in a marvellous way, and was unto them for a cover by day, and a light of stars in the night season;

18 Brought them through the Red sea, and led them through much water:

19 But she drowned their enemies, and cast them up out of the bottom of the deep.

20 Therefore the righteous spoiled the ungodly, and praised thy holy name, O Lord, and magnified with one accord thine hand, that fought for them.

21 For wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb, and made the tongues of them that cannot speak eloquent.


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