It's Already Done

 

TEXT:  EPHESIANS (shows Christ as “Our All in All”)! 

TOPIC:  “IT’S ALREADY DONE”!!

We are the kingdom messengers which means we are walking in power, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost!

·         Romans 14:17: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

·         1 Corinthians 4:20: For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power.

[This “power” is “du’namis”, meaning force, miracle working power, mighty work, strength, virtue, might, ability, abundance, etc].

Therefore we should be about our Father’s business doing exploits – healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out devils.  We should be going according to Luke 14:23 into the highways (hodos’) [road or way], wherever the Spirit of God leads proclaiming this Gospel of the Kingdom:  and hedges (phragmos’) (a fence, wall) that has God’s people “fenced in” so as to free them with the “good news” of Jesus Christ so that the walls of “Jericho” may fall!.  Jericho is defined as the city of moons, which symbolizes the powers of the devil.  We know that he is reaping havoc everywhere and it doesn’t exclude the church.

·         Revelation 2:9 (The message to Smyrna):  vs 9: I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

But God encouraged those that were faithful:  vs 10: Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer:  behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days:  be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

This “death” was not physical death.  He didn’t say “until death”, but “unto death”, meaning, till all the bondages of religious order:  philosophies, vain deceit, traditions, and rudiments of the world spoken of in Colossians 2:8, is eradicated from the lives of the sons of God. But physical death did and will come to those that are not willing to accept truth, chasing after the flesh of Jesus and not after Christ, just as it is today.  God want us to “die” to the lies and deceit of religion, and live by the truth that Christ is here in us by the Spirit and we are right now overcomers!  This is “the death” of the saints that's precious in the sight of the Lord (Psalm 116:15), not physical death because Jesus died so that we wouldn’t have to!  John 3: 15: Whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal (quality) life:  vs 16: God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting (unending) life.

The majority of Christians are waiting for Jesus to come back and get them, when He is come already and has finished the work the Father gave Him to do (John 17:4).  God is through with the physical body that Jesus was in and He’s not coming back like that as many suppose or thiink:  2 Corinthians 5:16: Wherefore henceforth (from hereon) know we no man after the flesh:  yea, though we have known (past tense) Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth (from hereon) know we him no more!!  We must know Him by the Spirit and that’s knowing Him as “CHRIST” (the anointed one(s) and His anointing).  Now the work has to be done in His “other body” that is now called CHRIST: 

·         Romans 12:5: So we being many are one body in Christ, and everyone, members one of another.

·         1 Corinthians 12:12: For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one body being many is one body:  so also is CHRIST!

 As the Lord said to the church of Smyrna, those that haven’t received the revelation yet, be faithful until He delivers you from the bondages and traditions of men, and those that have received it and have been delivered are already dead to the lies and deceit of religion and are now wearing “the crown of life”!   Crown is from the root word “steph’anos” meaning a chaplet (a garland for the head) [as a badge of royalty or symbol of honor].  Crowns are worn on “the head”.  How much “royal” or “honorable” can it get, than putting on “the mind of Christ”:

·         1 Corinthians 2:16: Who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ.

·         Philippians 2:5: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Having His mind, we know that He came that we might have “life” (zoe)[eternal vitality], and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

With His mind we are spreading the good news everywhere the Father opens the door!  And we must “open our mouth’s boldly to make known the mysteries of the Gospel” to His people (Ephesians 6:19)!

So what’s hindering you or us?

When we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts as Lord and Savior, He did more than just save us.  In time He brought us into a realization that there is more than “salvation”.  It goes deeper than salvation. Salvation through Jesus has given us access to God!  Once we gains access to God we must progress further than just being “saved” to being “born again”!  Being “saved” is accepting what Jesus did on the Cross.  Romans 10:9: If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved (so’zo) [delivered; protected; made whole; preserved; forgiven].  But to be “born again” is a new concept of one-self and that is – you are not just a man/woman born of woman, but a man/woman born (produced and brought forth) of God!

·         John 1: 11-12: He came unto his own and his own received him not.  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  vs 13: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

·         Acts 17:28: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring.

Yes in the natural we were born of a woman as Jesus also was, but we must know that “we are born of God” because of the new birth!  2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation); old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.

Therefore we have to become the awesome men and women of God that He has empowered us to be.

·         Luke 10:19: Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

·         Acts 1:8: You shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

One thing we do know, in relation to God’s people, IT’S ALREADY DONE!!

Right now we are on the teachings about the disciples and how and where they affect us knowing they are on the inside of us.  We have been talking about Peter, who was the first disciple Jesus called.

·         Matthew 10:1-2-4: And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; the first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alpheus, and Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Peter had two names, Simon meaning hearing, harkening, obeying:  the other was Peter, meaning hard, compact, strong, firm, unyielding, a large stone, a rock.  He is the characteristic of “faith”.

·         Romans 10:17: So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Even with where we are now in God He wants us to come up higher!  We know we have to have “faith” in our walk, with God and as God, but we found out that there is a “place beyond faith” which is moving into the place of “most holy faith”!

When we are in that place we are speaking things into existence!  We are calling things into existence!  We are exercising the authority and power that’s on the inside of us!

·          Hebrews 10:8: But what saith it?  The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:  that is, the word of faith, which we preach.

·         1 John 4:4: Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Hebrews 12:2: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher (5047) of our faith.

This word “finisher” does not mean “the end as none existence”, but it’s from the root word teleiot’es, meaning completeness (mentally; morally): perfection or perfectness / also from tel’eios, meaning to come of full age; perfect.

One might ask, “How do we come into full age”?

·         Ephesians 4:11-12: And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.  Vs 13: Till we all come in the unity (oneness; harmony) of the faith, and of the knowledge (full discernment) of the Son of God, unto a perfect (complete; full grown) man, unto the measure of the stature (maturity) of the fullness of Christ. 

This is having the understanding that we the “church” are “Christ’s body” in the earth ordained and anointed to do what Jesus did when He walked the earth in that flesh body He was in, because He is not coming back as religion teaches:  (again)

·         1 Corinthians 5:16: Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh:  yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.  We must know Him by the Spirit!  We the church are the members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones (Ephesians 5:30). 

These are the five smooth stones that David picked up and put in his “shepherd’s bag” (1 Samuel 17:40).  Apostle (apos’tolos), is a delegate; an ambassador of the Gospel, one commissioned or sent)”, to establish or help build up the church, set things in order through discipline, and defend truth.   Prophet or (prophetes), is a foreteller; an inspired speaker, which proclaims and interprets divine revelation.  Sometimes they are called seers or inspired speakers.  It bears the connotation of a predictor or revealer of future events.   Evangelist or (euaggellistes’), is a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Pastor (poimen’) is the shepherd of the flock; tends to and feed the flock of God.  The Teacher (didas’kalos), is an instructor in the Word of God, through study, and rightly dividing the Word of truth.

We are the “stones”, even more, we are the “lively stones”, built up a spiritual house unto the Lord (1 Peter 2:5).  As God perfects each of these gifts in us, whichever one is needed at any given time, is able to rise to the occasion combat and destroy any Goliath or enemy that comes before us!  Hallelujah!!

The first three chapters of Ephesians are saying to us what God has done for us:

·         EPHESIANS 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. 

·         Vs 4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love.

[We’re already “chosen”]:  John 15:16: You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:  that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

“We are already without condemnation”:  [blame is from the root word “am’omos”, meaning unblemished; unblameable; faultless; without fault]:

·         Romans 8:1: There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Actually you should read all of Ephesians chapter one at your convenience.

Look at Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened (made alive) who were dead (past tense) in trespasses and sins:  (read verses 2-9). 

·         Verse 10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them

·         Vs 11: Wherefore remember, that you being in time passed Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

·         Vs 12: That at that time you 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:

·         Vs 13: But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

·         Vs 19: Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

·         Vs 20: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.  (Read whole chapter). 

Ephesians 3:1-21: Vs 6: Paul preaches to the Gentiles about being fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of God’s promise in Christ by the gospel.

Gentile is defined as eth’nos, a race (as of the same habit), a tribe; specifically (non-Jewish).  Jesus tore down the wall between Jew and Gentile:  Ephesians 2:14-15: For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (that applies even to the racial divide today); having abolished in his flesh the enmity (hostility), even the law of commandments contained in ordinances:  for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

In Mark chapter 7 [Jesus talks to the Pharisees and scribes about what defiles a man]:

·         Vs 15: There is nothing from without a man that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

The defilement wasn’t because someone ate something without washing their hands as the tradition of the elders were.

Tradition is from the root word parad’osis, meaning transmission; a precept; the Jewish traditional law; ordinance.  This was the handing down of the teachings and interpretations of the Law of Moses by the Jewish elders and rabbis preserved in the Mishnah and the Talmud.  These laws and teachings were held equal to if not above the Laws of Old Testament even forsaking God’s commandments to keep their traditions.  But Jesus strongly rebuked them in relation to “their traditions and interpretations of the Law”, saying in that they had: “Made the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which you have delivered:  and many such like things you do” (Mark 7:13).

There are people today that still believe that the Jews are God’s chosen people.  But the Jews have to come to God the same way everybody else does, and that’s through Jesus Christ.

·         Galatians 3:27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

[This “baptism” has nothing to do with water (H20), the “baptism” into Christ is by the Spirit.  John the Baptist said: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance:  but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:  he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matthew 3:11).  And to support that, 1 Corinthians 12:13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

·         Vs 28: There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female:  for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Chapters four through six is telling us to exercise all the power and authority he has given us! [Meaning, “IT’S ALREADY DONE”!!!  We don’t have to wait to die and sail off beyond the blue for this to happen we can have it all now]!

·         Ephesians 4:24: Put on the new man, which, after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

·         Ephesians 6:10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Vs 11: Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Chapter 4 – now we the Church must put the power God has given us through Christ by the power of the Holy Ghost into action.

We’re always asking God for this and asking God for that and nothing is wrong with that, but as we come into the full maturity of Christ we should be at a place where we speak it, say it, command it!

Like parents that raise children:  at the beginning the children are totally dependent on the parents.  But as they mature the parents begin to teach and show them how to acquire and get things done on their own.  So it is with our Father, He has shown and taught us how to work the Word so we can work the works.  We’re no longer babes drinking milk but we are eating meat and we have to start stepping out on nothing believing something is there!  This is what is called “the place beyond faith”!!!!

 Once you have matured do you keep going to your parents for clothing, shelter, direction?  You begin to make these decisions for yourself.

God is saying to us, “It’s already done”!!!

When you’re feeling discomfort – lay hands on yourself!  When you’re facing a mountain – speak to it!  When you’re in a valley – praise your way out!  When circumstances arise – speak to it!  But what saith it?  The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart:  that is, the word of faith, which we preach (Romans 10:8).

I’m not telling you we don’t need God for anything, because we do!  We can’t function without Him!  Acts 17:28: For in him we live, move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, “For we are also his offspring”.  What I’m saying to you is, move as God use the power and authority in you!

·         St. John 16:23: And in that day you shall ask me nothing.  Verily, verily, I Say unto you, whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name he will give it you.

·         Vs 26-27: At that day you shall ask in my name and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:  for the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

As we move out in the place beyond faith know this, as we begin, if it’s wrong or if it’s not right, the Holy Ghost is there to lead and guide us into all truth.

He won’t let us go wrong.  As we exercise the gifts, it’s all by faith.  How are we going to grow or know if something we’re doing is right or wrong if we don’t step out on nothing knowing that something is there?

What if Peter never walked on the water at Jesus’ word when He said “Come” (Matthew 14:28-29)?  What if the fishermen had not cast their net to the right side like Jesus said (John 21:6)?  Or what if they had not launched out into the deep and let down their nets for a draught?  But Simeon said, “Nevertheless, at thy word” (Luke 5:5).

Let us continue to go and grow “beyond faith” and exercise our gifts “beyond faith”!

God’s Presence, His power, His word, His anointing is always present with and in us!!!  

BECAUSE IT’S ALREADY DONE!!!  Let’s continue to do exploits for the glory of God!!!

Evangelist Mary Perry

Survey of the Soils

Text: Matthew 13:

Survey means to examine, inspect, or investigate.

Surveys are not just an online tool that helps you jot down a list of questions. It helps to gain insights into what your audience thinks, feels, and most importantly what it wants.

Natural-Farmers are notorious for taking surveys of the soil because they are seed sowers. It is inarguably their most important asset because to grow good yielding crops/pastures they need good soil. It’s possible to farm on poor soil, but costs will always be greater and yields lower. First thing a good farmer want to know, “How good is the soil? (Soil Fertility) structure, texture, and color are visible to the eye. They can’t see chemical composition of the soil. So there’s a need for soil diagnosis. Soil testing and sampling is critical. That’s the first step in soil management.

This will tell the farmer the soil nutrient level and PH content. Armed with this information, a farmer can define the quality of fertilizer and exact type that’s needed for application to improve the soil. This is essential because fertile soils are necessary to grow healthy crops. Healthy soil can produce yields that will feed the world’s ever growing population. It’s the same in spirituality.

Note: There are seven parables here in chapter 13: (1) The Sower: (2) The kingdom of heaven like unto a grain of mustard seed: (3) The kingdom of heaven like unto leaven: (4) The Tares: (5) The kingdom of heaven like unto a treasure hidden in a field: (6) The kingdom of heaven like unto a merchant man seeking goodly pearls: (7) The kingdom of heaven like unto a net.

  The first four were spoken by the sea and the last three were spoken privately to the disciples.

Parable: (Greek) Parable (Para-“beside” bala “to throw” meaning, to throw or place things along side of each other for comparison). They illustrate truth and make it clear for the purpose of comparison with something that is already familiar. They create interest and hunger for further information.

Why did Jesus speak in parables? Chapter 12 holds the explanation. The Book of Matthews follow immediately after Malachi (OT) and stand at the beginning of the New Testament connecting the link between them—400 years of silence, no angelic manifestation, no prophet spoke for Jehovah though chosen people were solely pressed, they were shut out to God’s Word.

  Matthew portrays Jesus as King, Fulfiller of Promises to Israel. In chapter 12, the Messiah, the one whom the Jews had waited to deliver them from Roman oppression has come. He identified Himself as Son of David (Matthew 12:3). He proved it with signs and wonders (Matthew 12:13-healing the man with the withered hand).

Tragically, Jews didn’t recognize Him because His Kingship wasn’t what they expected. They called Him a devil (Matthew 12:24). Jews held the Bible as their highest authority and believed it pointed to the coming Messiah. They didn’t believe Jesus was the one. When they rejected Him, He severed His ties with earthly flesh. He announced His break with Israel in the last part of Matthew 12:45-50 with clear description of His true family. “For whosoever shall do the will of My Father, which is in heaven (not beyond the blue, but the higher ethers of the air, higher realms of spirituality) the same is my brother, my sister, my mother”.

Up to this point in His ministry, He had not used parables. Now, He is using this teaching method to communicate truth, frankly, because of the condition of man’s mind, which was the unwillingness on the part of the people to receive Jesus’ message of the Kingdom. The truths of the Kingdom of God were heard by them, but not understood. It wasn’t that God was hiding the truth from them—it was because they didn’t want to hear.

Remember what the Apostle Paul said:

• 2 Corinthians 4:3: If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.
• Vs 4: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Paul did not say, “hid FROM them”, had he said that, it would have indicated a deliberate hiding, but he said “hid TO them”.

Verse 4 explains: Because the enemy has “blinded their minds”. [This word “mind” is from the root word no’ema, meaning perception in relation to purpose, or the intellect (one’s ability to not only understand knowledge, but also to accept it), and disposition (the attitude of the mind)].

• Romans 8:6: To be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

We must understand that the ones “lost” in 2 Corinthians 4:3 that Paul spoke of are not those that haven’t accepted Jesus as Savior, but “the lost” are those that are sitting on church pews “lost in philosophy, vain deceit, traditions of men, rudiments of the world , and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8). Those “lost” in darkness, defined in scripture is “a twist away from the light”, which is TRUTH, and LIFE! What truth?  The truth that we don’t have to die and go via the grave to go and live with God, because He has made Himself available to us through Jesus the Christ! What truth?

• Matthew 1 (the birth of Jesus):
•  vs 21: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
• Vs 23: Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, “GOD WITH US”!
• St. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• Vs 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

And that same Word never left us. He is still here with us and “in us” by His Spirit!

• 1 John 4:4: Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
• Hebrews 13:5: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

What life:

• John 10:10: The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

In relation to “life”, it’s from the root word “Zoe”, which is life undiminished in any way, complete, as God Himself is. This is the “life” He gave to His Son Jesus the Christ and this is the “life” Jesus has given to us! God is eternal and He made us eternal people. Plants and animals have life, but when it’s used in scripture in relation to “man” the word “eternal or everlasting” is used with it:

• John 3:15: Whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
• Vs 16: God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [Everlasting life deals with "unending" life]!
• John 17:2: As thou hast given him (Jesus) power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
• Vs 3: And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. [Eternal life deals with “quality” of life]!

Matthew 13:1, states, the same day Jesus went out of the house, and sat by the sea side. In other words, He moved from a place of ordered relationships and natural ties and withdrew from the synagogues and took His place by the sea (those apart from God and the Gentiles). Great multitudes gathered unto Him. Jesus was the greatest teacher of all times and He attracted people like a magnet because they saw in Him great wisdom and power.

The crowd was so large he stepped into a boat for sake of space and pushed off shore a few feet. What a beautiful setting to issue instructions on the mysteries of the Kingdom. This was hardly a formal church as we know. No building with a steeple, stained glass windows, no pulpit, no choir, no singing, no ushers, and no collection. There was power in Christ and the people sensed it.

There was no need for a microphone because the waters of the sea acted as a sounding board. Jesus, being wise, knew the acoustical qualities of the waters and took advantage of it to speak to vast crowds.

Now back to the parable.

The Sower represents the Son of God, the seed represents the Word of God and soil is the human heart—not that muscle that pumps the blood through the body Scripturally, it’s the subconscious mind (cave) that holds memory, our habits, the storehouse of our past thoughts, experiences. The action was that the sower went forth to sow the seed. He identifies the fate of the sown seed because when the seed is sown and hit the ground that’s not the end of the story. A variety of things can happen that will affect the growth of that seed. He describes the resulting effects meaning, ways the heart of man responds/react to the Word of God. Take note, all four types of soil is essentially the same dirt but are in different conditions and respond in different ways to the plow.

Pathway/Wayside hard packed soil: This is one who is totally unreceptive to truth. Unfortunately, this applies to the masses today. Many are not aware of the true teaching of Jesus even though they may claim to be Christians. These are they who have allowed people, things, and situations to make their heart hard and won’t let the Word enter their heart. They may hear the word of truth but they do not understand it. As Jesus said, “they have ears to hear but cannot hear.” When God sends a voice to tell them about truth they are confused, often defensive, and rejecting. Guess what else, they will get their purse or whatever gear and walk out of service. Why, because they’re so wrapped up in their religious theories that God cannot even inspire them with the truth. It doesn’t matter whether they are good people, if they hold fast to what is false they are in this type of soil consciousness.

Dangerous surface: Dangerous because you’re exposed to the birds of the air and the stomping of feet passing by. Doesn’t matter how amazing the seed this is a heart that will not let it come in. The Word is heard, but the devil is allowed to come and steal it away and prevent the person from believing and being saved.

Hopeless place: The word of God can’t find a place to stay and grow. It’s on the path but it doesn’t enter and life is never given. It’s still the word, but the one hearing it doesn’t profit from it. [Remember, the rich young ruler turned away (Matthew 19:16-26)].

Rocky/Stony ground: This is where the plow didn’t cut deeply enough to break up the hard ground just below the surface. This soil is emotionally touched by the word, but produces only plants with weak, shallow roots. They hear the word of truth and are happy to receive it. The seed finds a hole to dwell in for a while, but it does not go down deep enough to get a root system. They’re like an Alka-Seltzer, fizzle for a while then it’s over. The word quickly wastes away because—no roots. This person is emotional but below the emotions is a stubborn will that does not have room for God and demand life be lived in the Spirit. They believe for a while, but let the hot winds of testing come and they wilt and die. The word has been planted and starts a growth spurt, but when problems or persecutions come it wilts and dies from a lack of being rooted. It dies from lack of moisture beneath the ground. They like the “feel-good” of Christianity but do not want any more problems in life.

Writer’s testimony: He wanted to quit, quit his job, his relationship, his spirituality, and quit life. He went to the woods to have one last talk with God, “God”, he said, “Can you give me one good reason not to quit?” Surprisingly, God said, “Look around, do you see the fern and the bamboo? He said, yes. God said, when I planted the fern and the bamboo seed, I took very good care of them. I gave them light and water. The fern quickly grew from the earth and its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet the first year nothing came from the bamboo seed, but I did not quit on the bamboo. Second year, the fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. Again nothing from the bamboo seed, but, I didn’t quit on the bamboo. The third year, still nothing from the bamboo seed but, I would not quit. The fourth year, again nothing from the bamboo seed and I still would not quit. But then, the fifth year (number of grace) a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant, but just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle. God said, “Did you know that all this time you have been struggling you have actually been growing roots”. “If I would not quit on the bamboo, I will never quit on you”. Don’t compare yourself to others. The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet, they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will come. You will rise high! He asked God, How high should I rise? God answered. How high will the bamboo rise? Give me glory by rising as high as you can.

Thorny soil or double-minded hearer: Most likely found in the corners of the field where the plow couldn’t reach and weeds overtook what was planted. Notice that this is abundant soil. The seed can grow and flourish. This soil represents those who hear the word of truth, but use it selfishly to get things of the world. They are so materialist that their greed chokes out the truth. Most people still believe that money brings happiness. Money, “the love of it is the root of all evil” 1Timothy 6:10, and the things of this world can’t make us totally happy. There’s nothing wrong with having wealth, but we can’t allow it to deceive us. Rich people craving greater riches can be caught in an endless cycle that only ends in ruin and destruction. Jesus refers to this as the “deceitfulness of riches.”

This soil is preoccupied. Every heart has sin from the nature of Adam. We have to make a choice to change our sinning state of life. Some have many briars and thorns in their hearts when they first hear the Word of God. The natural man cannot understand the Word of God and will not serve God. This person has to get the weeds out of their life. It is the weeds that choke out the life that might have begun. The weeds are the cares of life, the lure of the wealth and pleasures of this world. These are the temptations that are always before us as we live in this world. It makes the soil unfruitful. No fruit comes from this soil because the weed are not destroyed, but fed.

The word of truth can’t grow in this consciousness. We may go to God with a list of things that we want God to do for us. When the Spirit speaks to us telling us that our personal plans will only lead to disaster, what do we do, refuse to give them up. The Spirit seeks to reveal to us another plan, but the good seed down within us given by the Sower “God” is to no avail. So, the seed of selfishness and greed chokes out the true seed of truth.

Good Ground. This represents those who hear the word of truth, accept it unselfishly and begin to bear fruit. There are variations in the good ground, thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold. This means that the good ground can be further developed through a daily regimen of study and prayer. This is a prepared heart. This is a person who takes in the Word of God and cares for it as precious to life. This is a hearer that has allowed the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to plow and dig out the bad to be replaced by good. The seed is put in for a deep planting. It is given what it needs to grow. This heart understands the Word and it has full liberty to grow. As this person understands the word it grows and grows. The more this heart receive the word of God the more we will be fruitful and produce a harvest.

How can we have fertile soil?

First, Plowing: (Turns up the earth) -- Repent (turns the heart) of any sin and pursue righteousness (right living), and it changes your life style.

Ask God to break up the hard, rocky surface of your heart and turn over the bitterness, the unforgiveness that has made you unproductive and useless in the past. Ask God to create in you a clean heart and renew a right spirit within you (Psalms 51:10).

Secondly, Preparation: We need to fertilize the soil. Spending time in God’s Word so that the life-giving truth of scripture can soak deep into our heart. Meditate on what we read. Meditate day and night so that the truth will saturate past your mind and flow into your heart. Allow the Bible to fill your heart and mind so that is saturates your thoughts, and conversations. As you do this, you are literally washing away the negative, deadly elements that result in doubt, fear, and defeat. They are replaced with faith, confidence and victory. It’s just like washing soap from a milk jug. The only way to get all the soap out is to allow fresh water to run continuously into the top until the soap is gone. Meditate on the scripture like that.

Thirdly Planting time: Take time to sow God’s Word into the situations of your life. We are commanded to not be hearers only, but doers of God’s Word (James 1:22-25). If we want a harvest to take place, we must apply the truth of the Bible into our lives and do what it says. Remember, we will receive that which we have sown. Apply God’s Word to the things you face every day, because faith without works is dead (James 2:17-20).

Last, Protect your spiritual life: Meaning, weed the garden of your heart. Guard your heart from the thorns of anxiety, worry and the cares of the world. “Seek first, His Kingdom and His righteousness and all other things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

Don’t allow weeds of evil to grow, but remove them from your heart and life. Be careful what you watch, listen to and read. Protect your heart and your relationship with God. Keep the standard of Holiness and purity always before you. With your eyes on God and your trust in Him, live to please and “love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Mark 12:30).

 If we will plow, prepare, plant and protect our hearts, we will be real soil that is good for God to use. And with good soil that is daily cultivated and ready to receive His Word, a harvest will be produced.

Evangelist Brenda Hansley

“The Form of God”!! (Part 2)

Text: Philippians 2:5-6:

  "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God".

Topic:  "The Form of God"!!  (Part 2)

In part 1 of the “form of God” we defined “form” out of Webster as shape; general structure; the figure of a person or animal; a mold; a particular mode, kind, type, etc.; arrangement; style; a way of doing something requiring skill; a customary or conventional way of acting; ceremony; ritual; condition of mind or body; fashion; to train; instruct; to develop (habits); make up; constitute.

“Form” out of the (Greek) in this verse is from the root word (morphe’), defined as [through the idea of adjustments of parts]; shape; nature / also from the base of the word (mer’os), meaning a part or portion of the whole.

Again our being in “the form of God” is not just because we are in a flesh body, making the invisible God visible, but we’re in God’s form “inwardly” as well, as “outwardly”, because “form” is from the root word morphe’, meaning “nature”, meaning the essential quality of a thing; essence; inherent tendencies of a person. Inherent is that which exists in someone or something as a natural and inseparable quality. So God works on us from the “inside out”. Paul wrote in Galatians:

• Galatians 4:19: My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.

Formed is from morpho’o, meaning to fashion. This word is referring to that which is inward which is where the change takes place within us so that we can be in compliance or uniformity with Jesus the Christ in character and power. 1 John 4:17: As he is, so are we, in this world.

Jesus Himself went through a metamorphosis to put His flesh in us so that we could be completely “formed” into the image of God”!

• Matthew 17:1-2: And after six days Jesus takes Peter, James, and John his brother, and brings them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Transfigured is from metamorpho’o, meaning to transform: and also metamorphose, meaning to change. [Metamorpho’o as a verb means “to change into another form”].

That was what Jesus did, He came from Spirit to flesh (John 1:1, 14), then He went back to Spirit and He changed back to flesh and reappeared in flesh in other people after His resurrection, who are also a part of the Body of Christ.

• Matthew 27: 51-53: And the vail of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves AFTER HIS RESURRECTION, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Luke 24: On the road to Emmaeus, He appeared to Cleophas and the other disciple, and they didn’t know who He was until He revealed Himself to them.

• Vs 30: And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them: 
• Vs 31: And their eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he vanished out of their sight.

He appeared to Mary at the tomb and she didn’t know who He was until He called her by her name:

•   John 20:15: Jesus said unto her (Mary), “Woman, why weepest thou”? “Whom seekest thou”? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away”.
• Vs 16: Jesus said unto her, “Mary”. She turned herself, and said unto him, “Rabboni; which is to say, Master”.

At this point, Mary knew that it was JESUS HIMSELF she was seeing and talking to. So that which Jesus has deposited in us of Himself is that which does not decay or has to see corruption!

• Ephesians 5:30: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

In Luke 24:36-49, when Jesus appears to the ten: they were terrified when He appeared to them and supposed they had seen a spirit: but Jesus showed them His hands and His feet and told them to handle Him, because He said in verse 39, “It is I myself”, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me have”.

That’s why Jesus is the “firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18). In reality or in truth, Him being the “firstborn from the dead” means that He is the “firstborn from the resurrection”. That is because the saints that were in the spirit realm couldn’t come from behind the vail until Jesus rent the vail, from the top to the bottom (Matthew 27:51-53), which was actually Jesus’ flesh:

• Hebrews 10:19-20: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his flesh.

And from this point He (Jesus) stepped from behind the vail as “another body”, “CHRIST’S BODY”, which is composed of many members!!!

• Romans 12:4-5: As we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one body in CHRIST, and every one members one of another.
• 1 Corinthians 12: 12: As the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, is one body: SO ALSO IS CHRIST!!!

The Body of Jesus was not His Body that was the Body of the Father, the Body that God chose to suffer and die in that was composed of one Man, the Man Jesus. (Carefully read) John 14:1-11:

• Vs 5-7 (Jesus says to Thomas): If you had known me you should have known my Father also: and from henceforth you know him, and have seen him.
• Vs 8: Philip said unto him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it suffices us”.
• Vs 9: Jesus said unto him, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip”? “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, show us the Father”?
• Vs 10: Believe thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works.
• Vs 11: Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

The Body of the Father that was composed of one Man, the Man Jesus was the body that He chose to suffer and die in! This is the “Father’s house” (Jesus’ Body) spoken of in John 14:1, that contains the many mansions (or dwelling places of God which we are). But it wasn’t until the vail of the temple was rent, which was Jesus’ flesh, that He could expose (reveal) who His Body (Jesus’ Body) was after His resurrection, which is a many membered Body, which is CHRIST’S BODY!!!

• 1 Corinthians 12: 12: As the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, is one body: SO ALSO IS CHRIST!!!

God is a Spirit (John 4:24), but He has always had “a body” of people to manifest Himself through!

This is "the mystery of God"!  God without "man" is Spirit without form or Spirit without a body!  If God leaves man out of the equation, God is Spirit without form!

God has always been Spirit throughout the endless eons of time even before He made man, but He chose not to be by Himself, therefore He makes man and he makes him (male & female) in his own image, after his likeness (Genesis 1:26).

• Psalm 8:4: What is man (enowsh [a mortal]) that thou are mindful (zarkar' [to mark so as to recognize or remember]) of him?  And the son of man (aw-dawm - Adam [to show blood in the face; immortal]) that thou visitest (paqad' [oversee; care for; enjoin]) him?

Man was the "crown" of God's creation.  God knew what "man" was when He said in (Genesis 1:24) "Let the earth bring forth the living creature": and God knew what man would become when "He made him (male & female) in his image, after his likeness (Genesis 1:26).

God knew that the time would come when He (God Himself) would "visit" man and His "visitation" would be to take on the very nature of man upon Himself by becoming man so as to bring man back into oneness with Him.

• Philippians 2:5: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,
• Vs 6: Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.
• Vs 7: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
• V8: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

In order for God to help man, He had to become what man is and that's flesh, yet He (God) retained and maintained His identity as the Spirit God!  It's God becoming what you and I are and you and I becoming what God is!  As he is, so are we, in this world (1 John 4:17)!

•  Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

This “forming” process of man took place in man’s “mind”! How do I know that? I’m glad you asked.

• Isaiah 26:3: Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee.

Perfect is from the root word tamam', meaning complete; finished; whole; accomplished, perfect, sound, to have integrity.

Peace is from the word shalowm’, meaning, to be safe; well, happy; friendly; health; prosperity; favor; rest. It goes to another root word shalam’ and that means to be safe (in mind, body or estate); to be (make) completed; to be friendly; restore; that is perfect; (make) prosper (ous).

Mind is from the root word yetser, meaning a form; conception (purpose); frame; imagination; mind; work.

But this word “MIND” in Isaiah 26:3, is from the same root word that “FORMED” in Genesis 2:7 is from which is yatsar’, defined as the idea of squeezing into shape; to mold into a form; especially as a potter; to determine (form a resolution [the act or result of resolving something]): fashion, frame, make, earthen, purposed; to press, be narrow; be in distress; be straitened.

• Genesis 2:7: And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life, and man became a living soul.

"Formed" like the word “mind” in Isaiah 26:3, is the root word yatsar’, which is a squeezing into shape; to mold into a form; especially as a potter; to determine (form a resolution[the act or result of resolving something]): fashion, frame, make, earthen, purposed; to press, be narrow; be in distress; be straitened (in straits); be vexed.

Remember as Romans 12:2 states: “Be ye transformed (changed) by the renewing (renovating; refreshing) of your mind”: [nous] (intellect [not just the ability to understand knowledge but also to accept it]; mind (divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will, understanding).

What the LORD God was doing to “man” (male & female), was, putting them through a pressurized process to bring them from the state of mortality to immortality; corruption to incorruption; darkness to light; death to life!

So the LORD God breathed into man’s “nostrils”: which was his aph, (face; countenance; forehead), his cerebrum which contains five lobes: frontal; parietal; temporal; occipital; insula]. This is from the Concepts of Human Anatomy and Physiology, by Kent M. Van De Graaff and Stuart Ira Fox. But I’m only going to touch on the “frontal lobe”. The frontal lobe is responsible for voluntary motor control of skeletal muscles; personality; higher intellectual processes (concentration; planning; and decision making); verbal communication!

The breath of life or the (chay – khah’ee), is that which made man (male & female) alive; strong. The LORD God caused them to come alive and live! These people were already in existence and breathing, but not “living”! But the “breath” of the LORD God revived them; made them alive; gave them eternal life; nourished them; preserved them alive; quickened; recovered; repaired; restored eternal life into them, and caused them to be made whole in God.

These Adam people (body of people) came to know who God was to them and who they were to God, which were His ambassadors or representatives in the earth by possessing God’s mind becoming "the form of God" in the earth!

What the LORD God breathed into them was naphach’, meaning He puffed, inflated, kindled [to set on fire], ignited their interest, feelings, etc, in God that caused them to catch fire, become aroused or excited in relation to the things of God and functioned in the knowledge and power of the Living God in and over the earth! The LORD God’s breath, which was the “breath of life” was His neshamah’ [which was a puff, wind, vital breath, His Spirit, divine inspiration (mental or emotional excitement; any stimulus to creative thought or action), and intellect (ability to not only understand knowledge but also to accept it)] that He breathed into the “male and female Adam”.

• Genesis 1:26: And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth”.
• Vs 27: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

This verse lets us know that Adam was not just “one man” as we were told and some are still preaching, but Adam was a body of people composed of both “male and female”!

• Genesis 5:1-2: This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

  When the LORD God breathed into Adam, He was literally breathing God’s blood into Him.

• Leviticus 17:11: The life of the flesh is in the blood.

Blood is from the root word “dawm”. All God did was "Ad" (add) His blood to “aw-dawm” or “Ad-am” which is the root word for man in Hebrew! (I hope you caught that revelation). I can also state, that all God had to do was “Ad” (add) - “AM”, to man and he (male & female) became the “I AM GOD” in the earth.

Now you can better understand Exodus 3 when God sent Moses into Egypt to deliver His people:

• Vs 13: And Moses said unto God, “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, what is his name”? "What shall I say unto them"?
• Vs 14: And God said unto Moses, “I AM THAT I AM: and he said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you”. What Moses was saying in other words was this: “I AM the God that has come in flesh form to deliver you”!

If you don’t believe that Moses was God, look at what God said in Exodus 7:1: And the LORD said unto Moses. “See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet”!

In reality we are “gods” as well: or as Jesus was – God in flesh form: John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God: Vs 2: And the same (we [you and I]) was in the beginning with God: Vs 14: And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us: 1 John 4:17: As he is, so are we, in this world. 

John 10: (the Jews try to arrest Jesus and wanted to stone Him because He said that God was His Father):

• Vs 32: Jesus answered them, "Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me"?
•  Vs 33: The Jews answered him, saying, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God”.
• Vs 34: Jesus answered them “Is it not written in your law, I said, you are gods”?
• Psalm 82:1: God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods.
• Vs 6: I have said, “You are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High”.

That “name” “I AM” is even today applied to “US”, God’s people, the “Body of Christ”!

• Exodus 3:15: And God said moreover unto Moses, “thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: THIS IS MY NAME FOREVER, AND THIS IS MY MEMORIAL UNTO ALL GENERATIONS”!

In relation to us “being in the form of God”, now you can better understand Genesis 1:2: And the earth was “without form” and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep.

God has never made anything without form, because everything He created and spoke into existence had form, but when chaos set into the creation, things became without form.

The “earth” that became without form was not the dirt, but people that had lost “the form” of God (God mindedness; His wisdom; His knowledge, spirit fellow-ship with Him, immortality, etc): and void (empty of God’s dominion, authority, and power, His very life), and fell from immortality to mortality. These people the “morning stars, and sons of God” spoken of in Job 38:7, lost their divinity (that which was eternal life) and drifted back into their humanity (that which pertained to destruction and death).

There were “worlds” here before the one we’re in was manifested:

Hebrews 11:3: Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

So with Christ being “formed” in us is the metamorphosis we go through or the pressurized processes God puts us through as He did with the Adam race of people when God Himself replenished the earth. It is not to break us but make us and bring us from a caterpillar stage to the stage of a beautiful butterfly, as He did with Adam.  And what He’s now doing is making us (the church) CHRIST in the earth, so that we can do what He did when He walked the earth in the Body He had as a man!

• John 14:12: He that believes on me, the works that I do, shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do: because I go to my Father.

Jesus’ going to the Father was not Him sailing off up somewhere beyond the blue, but it was Him transitioning from the “flesh man Jesus” back to Spirit out of which He had come and being redeposited into another flesh body, the Church, which we are, which is CHRIST'S BODY in the earth, the dwelling place of the Father now, present in us!

We are all a part of the whole:

• 1 Corinthians 12:12: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, is one body: so also is CHRIST.
• Colossians 2:17: [speaking of the law]: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of CHRIST!

Our being in “the form of God” as Jesus was is us the sons of God (male and female)  manifesting God’s fruit:

• Galatians 5:22:-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
• Revelation 22:2: In the midst of the street of it, and of either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 
• {The twelve manner of fruit: (wisdom; understanding; counsel; might; knowledge; fear (reverence of God); divine health; perfect peace; dominion; authority; power; eternal life).

And we the sons of God walking in obedience to our Heavenly Father:

• Mark 15:15: And he said unto them, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”.
• Vs 16: He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.
• Vs 17: And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
• Vs 18: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

So allow Philippians 2:5-6 to be manifested in your life: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal (not above but like) with God".

We are the “FORM OFGOD” in the earth! "As he is, so are we, in this world" (1 John 4:17).

Pastor Gracie Perry