Note for 2024/07/06

‭Ephesians 2:1-22 KJV‬

[1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; [2] wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: [3] among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. [4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) [6] and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: [7] that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. [11] Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; [12] that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: [13] but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. [14] For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; [15] having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; [16] and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: [17] and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. [18] For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. [19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; [20] and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

https://bible.com/bible/1/eph.2.1-22.KJV

The concept of this unity Paul writes of here, goes with his teaching on the wild and cultivated olive tree, where some branches of the cultivated olive tree (which is God's nation Israel) were broken off, and some wild olive branches (which is the Gentiles) were grafted in. But more than that, also the separation between the flesh and the soul, where in times past we walk according to the flesh, in Christ the flesh is subdued under the Authority of our Lord Jesus Christ by the working of the Holy Spirit in us.

I know, the language may become complex at times. The carnal mind is at enmity with GOD, and man is raised to live by reason. In faith, we often have to go against what the mind of the flesh (reason) considers reasonable. Even our human languages fall short, and that does not yet deal with emotions. When it comes to emotions, we read of the heart of stone and the heart of flesh. Once more, language leads us so easily to misunderstanding. In essence, we are speaking of a heart for this world, and a heart for GOD. The love of GOD towards the world is unto His order and man's salvation, while our love towards the world leads to corruption, where man even places creation before God in their considerations. It is indeed complex by way of language, it is then no surprise to the believer that the Word says that GOD will establish in us a pure language again. We live in a space of both the spirit and the flesh, one seen and the other unseen; but both count towards what we would call reality, which is but a part of what is true, for we know in part only. Our emotions, pre-salvation and still a source of contention even afterward, are guided by what the carnal heart of man (the bowels) want. So can man be led to think that he loves, when in fact it is rooted in lusting after the flesh. That which is defined by the world's ways of what love is, is less than the Agape Love of GOD. All that is of the flesh, even material things that the flesh finds itself in, is in contradiction with GOD. But, when we rule and reign with Christ, the flesh and the material world, is brought into submission and even as we submit the flesh by fasting, we restrain the flesh from living in sin by the Word of GOD and the Holy Spirit in us.

It is like this, we love our neighbor, even as we love ourselves. But, that does not mean that we necessarily stand in agreement with what he says and does. The same applies to us, we do not stand in agreement with the demands of our flesh, do we? No! While we were still living according to the will of the flesh, that is of heart and mind; you know all those "wants," we were moved by the flesh (worldly.) But, as we bend the knee to GOD, in Christ, and by the Holy Spirit, we "sensor" those wants, by the Word of GOD. GOD'S will, not mine. So we help, where in times past we would have turned a blind eye and walked on past; but also walk past, where in times past we may have gone in to partake in things GOD hates.

Friends, the language of all this is complex indeed. But, the heart that is in the Lord Jesus Christ knows. So, we can say, "Amen," when the Truth is in us. Outside of Christ, there is no concept of true righteousness, for that concept of righteousness is defined by man. Separated from GOD, man rules himself, he chooses for himself, and by those choices he leads himself in every way, giving in to what he himself finds worthy. But, in Christ, it is Christ that leads, and we follow in faith, not even always understanding the "why" in a matter. Often only learning later when the "why" is brought into the light.

So, in order to explain, I will share with you as briefly as I can a testimony of something that happened to me long ago. I was a young man then, attending a small group of believers in a coffee bar specific for the purpose. One night, before a gathering evening, I was doing quiet time and the Lord instructed me very specifically to take a money note, 50 South African Rands (R50) and place it into a brown envelope, and write the name "Alan" on it, and leave the envelope in the Welcome Register at the coffee bar, which all of us had to sign on entry. As I said, that was the night before, so I did it just as instructed by the Spirit. I was among the very first the next evening to come in, so I would not be discovered as being the one who left the envelope. Who do you think Allan came to first, when he found the contents of the envelope? But, the bigger surprise was in what he said, he joyfully called me by name and said, "Just this morning I prayed for R50!" Friends: I ask you, who was truly blessed? Alan by the R50, or me, knowing that GOD instructed me the night before his prayer? That blessing I received was by obedience, in giving. And friends, R50 was a lot of money for an entry level Policeman then, about 5% of a low income salary at the time. But, that R50 in obedience brought me a gift that would be true for all my life. A practical revelation that GOD knows what we need before we even do. Now the Word says it, but, it is quite something when GOD performs a "low key" miracle to build our faith in Him. Faith in GOD, is of GOD; and without the Holy Spirit, how would you explain that?

We walk by faith unseen, awaiting the manifestation of that faith, when our faith is in GOD, and not in man or this world.

Shalom

Verse of the Day Expanded

‭1 Corinthians 15:55-58 KJV‬

[55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.15.55-58.KJV

Listen to:

I have not listened to the audio yet, but I will as soon as possible.

07 05 2024 Checking The Season Before The March - Dream Of Serpents

From Mike of COT

Duration: 1 hour 54 minutes

Link:

https://soundcloud.com/ouncil1archive/07-05-2024-checking-the-season-before-the-march-dream-of-serpents

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