IT'S TIME TO GROW UP

 TEXT: 1^st Peter 2:1: Therefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking:  vs 2: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby:  vs 3: If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  [New Spirit Filled Life – KJV]

"GROW" defined is to increase, become larger, develop, expand, also to thrive.

Human growth and development is a multifaceted process spanning from conception to adulthood, encompassing physical, cognitive, and psychosocial changes, influenced by genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. When you look at the stages: infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, growing up is a never-ending process from birth to adulthood. We are not meant to remain as infants. God want you to grow up naturally and spiritually. Our Father's goal is for you to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ. In the natural, if retarded growth is noted after birth it’s viewed as a problem.

We hear a lot of talk today about church growth, building bigger and bigger churches with more and more people. Church growth is good, but more important than that is individual growth, personal growth, and spiritual growth.

In Matthew 4:19 Jesus called out to Simon-Peter, Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, saying, "Follow Me, I'll make you fishers of men". Scripture said, "they straightway left their nets and followed Him." I dare say, it's not optional, but you are commanded to go and grow in God.

Sadly, millions of Christians grow older but never grow up. They are stuck in spiritual infancy, remaining in diapers, and booties. Spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.

Apostle Peter took a very practical approach to dealing with two major problems that his readers were facing in the letters of 1^st and 2^nd Peter:

(1) Sporadic persecution taking place against Christians:  (2) The challenge of false teachers arising within the church.

Let me call your attention to an issue the Apostle is addressing with Christians in our text from 1^st Peter 2:1-3.  He is writing to Christians and having told them in 1^st Peter chapter one, "Therefore, because you have been begotten/born again by the power of God:  because you've been made a new person, because that Word of God is eternal”:  therefore, he presents them with a challenge telling them, saying, "Put aside all malice and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking's, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby."

Why therefore? In chapter 1:1-3, the Apostle's main subject is clearly about new birth and conversion of the people. He speaks of Christians as "begotten by God the Father to a lively hope" to stir them up to walk worthy of their high calling.

In our text, the Apostle is talking about "sins," in fact he gives them a sin list. Sin is and has been the greatest problem to mankind since the beginning of time.  It's serious, because it soils the soul, scars the conscience, and separates you from God (Isaiah 29:1-2).  Let's not forget, we all have sinned and fell short of God's glory (Romans 3:23).  But God calls on us to confess, repent, and turn from our sins.

Here, Peter is not talking to unsaved people.  He's talking to believers, born again people.  His challenge to them is to grow -- undergo a natural and spiritual development by increasing in size and changing physically, as they progress to maturity.  In other words, "It’s time to grow up."

The Apostle uses the following terms to issue three commands:

the first IS SPURN:

SPURN:  meaning to reject with disdain or contempt, or to refuse.  Simply put, just say no to things not of God. 

Peter instructs the believer to spurn “malice”.  This is one who gets enjoyment when something bad happens to another person; one whose heart secretly smiles at someone’s hurt.  Peter says, to "put aside" this old dirty garment.

Put aside means taking off a garment in order to put another garment on. That dirty garment is that old nature, that old self that belong to your former life.

Spurn Guile - This dirty garment is deceitful, trying to pull a fast one over on people, for your own profit and gain. Ananias and Sapphira, a married couple tried to keep up with the Joneses: sold some property and instead of giving the full proceeds to the apostles as they had promised, they kept some of the money for themselves. The big lie cost them their very life. How many know the big lie remain alive and well in today’s society, but Proverbs 12:22, says, “Lying lips is an abomination (towebah') [disgust; an abhorrence; idolatry; an idol] to the LORD.”

When confronted by the apostle, they pretended to have given all the money. How many know God hates a liar and their fate for lying to Peter was death because that was lying to God as well. They both fell dead. It's time for the church to grow up!  Honesty is the best policy because Jehovah Elroi, the All-seeing God, hears, and He knows all (Acts 5:1-11).

Spurn Hypocrisy - This is just one of the many forms of deceit. Giving compliments, but not really meaning them---that’s hypocrisy.  You’re being one person in public, and another person in private.  Making promises but not really planning to keep them. It’s an inconsistency between what you say and what you do. It’s fake and counterfeit. You sing in the choir and serve on the church committee and make yourself look really good, yet your worship is not authentic. You are full of dead men bones. It’s time to put aside that dirty garment and walk in the light of God.

Spurn Envy – This is resentment toward someone because they have something you want. This garment is dangerous because when it takes root in your heart, it leads down a dark road of you looking proper and respectable outwardly as a Christian while harboring evil poison inside.

Proverbs 14:30 says, "A tranquil (sound) heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot."  This is because envy, has a way of spiraling your heart, into a pit of bitterness.

Cain was envious of God's favorable response, to his brother Abel's, sacrifice, and he killed him out of anger (Genesis 4).  Saul's envy of David's success and anointing from God led him to try to kill David (1^st Samuel 18).  If you are wearing this garment, it’s time to put it aside.

Spurn Slander – this garment is a little more progressive and it’s not internal. It moves beyond wishing harm and actually brings it. Slander seeks to put someone down or ruin someone’s reputation by speaking against them. We are instructed to spurn "all evil speaking's" against others, as in, backbiting.

Matthew 18:3 lets us know that a man that is characteristically deceitful, cunning, and crafty, cannot be a Christian. "Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven".

Those who are born again are called to be different.  Now, that you are in Christ (in union with Him; identified with Him; in covenant with Him; one with Him), sin is no longer your "Master", and no longer has power over you and you no longer have to obey sin. You no longer have to let sin reign over you. You have a continual choice day after day, whether to yield yourselves to sin or to God.

1^st Corinthians 10:13 states, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man:  but God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But, when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

My friend, are you carrying bitterness in your heart and a chip on your shoulder, although you witness about being born again and about loving Jesus?  "Well, it's time to grow up, and to increase in size, spiritually."

Are you living just like the world lives? I'm not talking about Sunday, but Monday through Sunday.  If so, "It's time to grow up".  People of God “It’s time to spurn these things and reject the works of the flesh".

No more excuses as, the devil made me do it; I didn't do it; the sin in me did it. Never use Satan as an excuse, because he is a defeated foe.  Remember, Christ is available to you and living on the inside of you. Without Christ, sin is stronger than you, so never attempt to stand up to sin all alone.

How? As you are able to do so by the power of the Holy Spirit, (Romans 8:13) "If you live by the flesh, you shall die; but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live". The Holy Spirit gives us the desire and power to cast off these attitudes and actions, but our responsibility is to do the casting off.

You are a chosen (eklektos) generation; a royal priesthood; a holy nation; a peculiar people (1^st Peter 2:9).  You've been "picked out" by God Himself!!

Exodus 19:5 "If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession (peculiar treasure) above all the peoples; for all the earth is Mine”:  vs 6: And you shall be to Me (God) a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. You also, are a Royal Priesthood, a kingdom of Priests!

In other words, you are "basileios" - appointed to, fit for a king." A king is a royal executive, an administrator who exercises rule and judgment over a domain.  A priest is a spiritual representative between God and His people, responsible for the spiritual well-being of the nation. When you are undefiled with Christ as members of His body, you join in His priestly work of reconciling God and man (2^nd Corinthians 5:18-19).

Our holy priesthood is made possible by our Great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God (Hebrews 4:14).   Therefore we have complete and full access to the Father. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  It’s time to grow up in the things of God.

Those who are born again, are called to be different, to put off all malice, and wickedness.  It’s time to live different lives.  It’s time to take sin seriously.  It’s time to live lives where repentance is a daily concern.  It’s time to live lives that seek the honor of Christ above all else.  All the sins in this vice list represent a violation of the fundamental command to "love your neighbor as thyself".

Understand, the old flesh nature still indwells all believers and you can still be influenced by Sin. The difference now is that if you listen to Sin and commit personal sins, you do so because you choose to do so. This is a choice you did not have in your unregenerate state in Adam, when Sin was your "Master," your "King".

If your appetite for God's Word is a bit "dulled", it maybe you are "wearing" some "dirty clothes" of malice or envy or slander, etc. Peter says take them off and throw them away.  Backsliders begin with dusty Bibles and go on to filthy garments.  And here Peter says we need to cast off filthy garments.

Howard Hendrick said, "You are either in the Word, and the Word is conforming you to the image of Jesus Christ, or you are in the world and the world is squeezing you into its mold”.  Remember… Dusty Bibles always lead to dirty lives. The old Scottish preacher's wise saying still holds true…Sin will keep you from the Bible or The Bible will keep you from sin.

Spurn malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, slander; spurn it! "It's time to grow up, spiritually." Cast off these old filthy rags.  All that stuff that belong to the old life, it doesn't belong to the Christian life.  Living like the world, being deceitful, hypocrites, envious, talking about people, putting them down, putting other churches and other preachers down, again, doesn't belong to Christians.

When that stuff permeates a congregation, God isn't pleased and people aren't growing spiritually when these kinds of sins are so prevalent. These things all have consequences and know that "Your sin will always find you out" (Numbers 32:23).

 

SECOND COMMAND - "YEARN"

Your growth, not only consist of laying aside these sins, that so easily beset Christians, but it is to yearn.  Yearn means to long, desire, pine, or pant for something. 

In the first part of 1^st Peter 2:2, it states, "As newborn babes desire the pure milk of the Word."

New born babes – “brephos”, literally means baby, born/unborn, newly born, a babe at the breast, one who is dependent on the mother's milk for its nourishment.

Pure milk – “the Word,” “the good news” that is preached. The literal translation of verse 2 is that we should long for "the pure, spiritual milk," which is not deceitful, unadulterated, not watered down.

Dishonest merchants in that day would add water to their milk to make more profit. This was "deceitful" milk. Peter tells us to long for the pure, not-deceitful milk.

Peter uses the character of a newborn babe because they have no envy or malice, they have no guile or hypocrisies, or evil speaking's, or craftiness, or envies. They are clear from these evils.

Have you noticed how a baby begins to respond when he/she is ready to be fed and sees that bottle, or gets close to the breast of its mother? He/she starts moving their hands, their mouth, and their feet. They reach out for that feeding with every part of their body, indicating a hunger for the milk.

 In fact, a new born babe act as if their life depends on their next feeding, an attitude that should be true of believers, in our longing!  Infants eagerly want milk from their mother and not only desires it, but has a powerful, instinctive urge for that milk and that's what Peter is talking about here.  We must have an urge, a passion for Jesus Christ, for His Word.

 If you're a believer, are you yearning for the Lord:  Longing for the pure (sincere) milk of the Word, its unadulterated (not watered down) truth, its good food for your soul, and its purity?

 Just as a newborn baby comes out with the natural and needed desire to nurse, we should have that same level of desire for God’s Word.

Peter commands believers to have this attitude of longing, yearning, and passion for the Scripture.  For he knows that studying the Scriptures is the only means of spiritual growth, not to mention that His Lord had instructed him repeatedly regarding the importance of proper spiritual nutrition for God's flock (Tend my lambs; feed my sheep) John 21:15-17. You can mark it down - There is no growth spiritually speaking, apart from the intake of the pure Word of Truth.

Jesus, Himself clearly stated, "Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4). Jesus quoted this verse when the devil tempted Him to turn stones into bread to emphasize that it is not food that is the most necessary part of life. It is the creative, energizing, and sustaining power of God's Word that is the only real source of man's existence.

Many people think that life is based on satisfying their appetites. If they can earn enough money to dress, eat, and play in high style, they think they are living the good life. But such things do not satisfy our deepest longings. In the end they leave us empty and dissatisfied.

Real life, according to Moses, comes from total commitment to God, the one who created life itself. It requires discipline, sacrifice, and hard work, and that's why most people never find it. "IT REQUIRES GROWING UP IN GOD". 

In Moses' last words to the children of Israel just before they crossed the Jordan River to possess their possessions (what God had already declared was their inheritance), he made this profound statement …

Deuteronomy 32:46: Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe even all the words of this law.  Vs 47: For it (the Word) is not idle (empty, vain) for you; indeed it (the Word) is your life. And by this (Word) you shall prolong your days in the land, which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.

How important in the success of Israel was the pure milk of the Word and obedience to that Word? Their very life, no doubt! The Bible can sit on your bookshelf and gather dust or you can make it a vital part of your life by regularly setting aside time to study it. When you discover the wisdom of God's message, then apply it to your life and pass it on to your family and friends.

Job had come to the understanding of the importance of God's Word for his sustenance declaring.....Job 23:11: "My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.  Vs 12: I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." (Bolding)

My friend, without a hunger for the Word of God you will not grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. You will not develop as a Christian; you will always be in your babyhood. Remember, a baby and a full-grown man are both human beings, but they are in different stages of growth and development. The little one needs milk so he can grow up to become a man. The Christian, the full-grown man, grows by studying the Word of God. There is no growth apart from the Word of God.

As one pastor said, "I spend my time burping spiritual babies!"  If those babies would grow up they wouldn't need a pastor to pat and burp them all the time.

Are you finding a yearning in your heart for God? Are you longing to know Him better, to grow closer to him? This longing for the Word of God is a passion, a passion that tugs at you until you can't wait to pull up to your desk and feast from studying His Word. It's time to grow up.

This is a challenge for many of us today because there are so many things in our lives that cry out for attention and take our energy and our passions. God has to deliver us from a Sunday morning only spectator mentality.  Being a Christian is not dependent upon church attendance, nor is it simply sitting in a pew and looking bored with the preacher.

The one who is truly born again, Peter says, will long for the presence of the Lord. It's a yearning, for Him, to be excited about Him.  He or she will long for His Word and will make every attempt to get to know God better through the pages of his Word.

Set your will that this year you're going to learn to know God better than you've ever known Him before. If you set your will to do that, He'll reveal Himself to you in His Word. I encourage you today, to “yearn for the milk, the nourishment of God’s Word".      

THIRD COMMAND - “LEARNING”:

The last part of 1^st Peter 2:2, “that by it you may grow’, denotes a learning process.  To learn means to gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something by study, experience, or being taught). When you are spurning – rejecting – saying no to the wrong things and yearning for the things of God and His presence, when you have a passion for Christ, then comes the learning.

How do you grow up in God?

Understand that spiritual growth is for everyone, young and old. In other words, never try to graduate from the Gospel. There are deep things of God to explore and study and know that builds upon the Gospel.

The first step of growing spiritually is not what you choose to do; it’s what you choose not to do. Peter states we must rid our lives of the sin list.

But you don’t learn the alphabet and then try to make words without letters. You need the letters to make the words. The Gospel is never something you move on from. The simple truths of the Gospel influence everything about how we think, act, and do. We are spiritually born by the Gospel and we spiritually grow by the Gospel.

Secondly: Grab the right bottle. Notice that Peter takes you to the source of your growth, which is the “WORD.” That’s the bottle we should drink from. It’s in this bottle that we find the PURE MILK we need for the nourishment of life.

Just a word of caution here: do not think you can grab the same bottle that culture drinks from and expect to mature as a Christian. You cannot reach for control and popularity and riches and relaxation and expect to grow up into salvation.

You can’t reach for hours of uninterrupted Netflix and poor music and expect your soul to be nourished. What are you feeding your soul? Peter says, “Long for the word.” Grab the bottle of God’s Word.

We must adopt the character of the newborn babe, desiring, longing, for the pure spiritual milk, that by it we may grow up in salvation.

In conclusion: 1^st Peter 2:3: “If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious/kindness”.

If you want to taste and see that the Lord is good, then meet Him through the pages of His Scripture.

The image of milk and of tasting the Lord's kindness brings up the fact that the Word is not just to fill your head with knowledge. It is to fill your life with delight as you get to know the Divine author and enjoy Him in all His perfections.

Taste in Hebrew is perceive, which is to obtain knowledge of through the senses; observe, to understand; it points both to personal experience and enjoyment; the act of trusting; fearing, and seeking Him.

 I can't taste for you, nor can you for me. We can only taste for ourselves. To taste something, we've got to experience it up close and personal.  

You can see and hear and smell at a distance, but you can only taste something by touching it to your tongue.

You can only taste God's Word by drawing near to God and personally knowing Him. Once you like the taste of something, you don't just eat it to live but you live to eat it. You want it as often as you can get it. God's Word is that way for all who have tasted His kindness, His graciousness.

Start today: If you want to taste and see that the Lord is good then meet Him through the pages of His Word by setting aside time to spend with Him.  It doesn’t matter whether you are a new Christian trying to establish a lifelong habit of daily being with God in His Word, or an oldie Goldie.

Tools: good study Bible to help answer who, what, when, where, why, and how questions, as you look for the main truths of the text.

Concordance (Greek/Hebrew definitions) helps to get a deeper meaning of the words for a better understanding of the text.

Pick a time that fits your schedule and find a specific place for your quiet time to spend one on one time with Jesus.

Comprehending God’s work begins with determining what a given passage actually says and what those words actually mean.

Copy: Writing down scriptures engrains them in your mind.

2^nd Timothy 2:15, Study to show thyself approved unto God.

Study means to investigate, examine scripture to rightly divide the word of truth.

Get into a good Bible study to hear and share with others and ask questions for understanding.

THE MORE YOU FEAST ON GOD’S WORD, THE HEALTHIER YOU WILL BECOME.

Remember, you are responsible for your growth both naturally and spiritually. In the words of my high school guidance counselor: “It’ what you place your value on.”

In the words of David, Psalm 34:8: Oh taste and see that the LORD is good. He is good food for your soul and the bread of life for all who will receive Him.

It is time now, for all of us to grow up in God.

Evangelist Brenda Hansley

 

 

 

Recognize your Purpose!! (Subtopic) Take Your Position!! [Pt. 4]

 Text: Ephesians (Shows Christ as Our ALL IN ALL)

·        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:  vs 5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will: 

·         Vs 9: Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:  vs 10: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him.  Vs 11: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will. 

 I left off in part three talking about Jesus recognizing His purpose and taking His position in God as Son, Priest, King, and Lord, in His Heavenly Father.

This too is how we recognize our purpose and take our position in God:

·        St. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God:  vs 2: The same (you and I) was (existed) in the beginning with God:  vs 14: And the Word was made flesh.

Just as Jesus was the Word made flesh and brought forth at the appointed time, (Galatians 4:4-5), so were we the Word made flesh and brought forth at the time appointed by our Heavenly Father!! 

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

I’m not here just because my parents got together one day or night and decided they were going to bring forth a baby.   Oh no!  I’m here because God sent me here through them.  I’m a predestinated son of God!!  Anatomically, I’m female, but yet, spiritually, I’m a “son of God”! 

Our PURPOSE in the earth:  (Is to manifest the Invisible God in the earth, in a physical body)!

·        1^st Corinthians 6:19: What!  Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?  Vs 20: You are bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

·        Ephesians 5:30: We are members (parts; limbs) of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

We know that Jesus is the Head of the body the church (Colossians 1:18), but it’s us, the body (the Ecclesi’a) that gives the Head (Christ) His flesh and bones in this earth realm!!

·        Colossians 2:9: In him dwells all the fullness (ple’roma) [repletion or completion] of the Godhead (theot’es) [divinity] bodily (somatikos’) [corporeally or physically].

With us being made in God’s image (tse’lem) [to shade; a phantom; illusion; resemblance; representative figure], after His likeness, that makes us His representatives in the earth.  That’s what we’re being told in the latter part of what John wrote: 

·        1^st John 4:17 states:  “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment:  because as he is, so are we, in this world”.

This reveals our POSITION in the earth:

AS GODS:

·        Psalm 82:1: God stands in the congregation of the mighty (el) ‘strength; mighty, spec the Almighty (used of any deity): God (god); great; might (y one); power; strong]; he judges among the gods (elohiyms):  vs 6: I have said, “You are gods (elohiyms) [gods; magistrates] and all of you are children of the Most High (Elyown’) [the Supreme God]”.

That’s what God made Moses to be to Pharaoh when he sent him into Egypt to deliver His people.

In Exodus 3:1-22 [God sent Moses into Egypt to deliver the children of Israel]: and Moses said to God:

·        Vs 13: “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”! 

This was a profound revelation of God manifesting Himself as man in the man Moses!  In actuality, Moses was “GOD” (in flesh form) that had come to deliver the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage and did deliver them!! 

·        Exodus 7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, “See, I have made thee a god (elohiym) to Pharaoh:  and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet”.  Vs 2: Thou shalt speak all that I command thee:  and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

In the New Testament, Jesus said that about us!  (John 10:22-42) [At the Feast of Dedication, the Jews questioned Jesus about Him being the Christ]:  Vs 24: Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, “How long dost thou make us to doubt”?  “If thou be the Christ, tell us”!

Jesus’ response:  Vs 25: “I told you, and you believe not:  the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me”.  “But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, as I said unto you”.  Vs 30: “I and my Father are one”!  

Look at what they did when Jesus said this:  Vs 31: Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.  Vs 32: Jesus answered them, “Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for which of those works do you stone me”?

Listen to what “religion” said to Jesus:  and it’s what religion is saying today to those proclaiming this gospel in its fullness:  Vs 33: The Jews answered him, saying, “For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy (evil speaking against God); and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God”. 

What they (those Jews) didn’t know was, that they were talking to God that was in flesh form, in the person of Jesus the Christ!!!

But Jesus went on to say to them:  John 10:34: Have you not read in your law, where I said, “You are gods”?

There are people today that will “stone you” for saying that “we are gods” in flesh form as Jesus was God in flesh form!  That is because they haven’t yet grasped the revelation as Peter did in Matthew 16 in relation to Jesus as being “the Christ”!  Peter recognized that Jesus was Man and God all in one!  REMEMBER, 1^st John 4:17: As he is, so are we in this world!

What other POSITION do we hold in the earth?

WE’RE SONS:

·        St. John 1:11: He came to his own, and his own received him not:  vs 12: But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

·        Galatians 4:4: When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:  vs 5: To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption (placing) of sons.  Vs 6: And because you are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

This word son is huios, which is distinguished from the son tek’non.  Tek’non indicates one given birth too as a child, but huios, is reserved for those that take on the characteristics of the Father so much so, that the devil can’t distinguish between you and God!!

This is not self-exaltation, because we know that God is Elyown, the Most High God!!  But it’s just that we must believe that we are who God say that we are in Him!!

In John 15 (Jesus said to His disciples): Vs 13: “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends”.  Vs 14: “You are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you”.   Vs 15: “Henceforth I call you not servants, for the servant knows not what his lord doeth:  but I have called you friends:  for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you”.

A father doesn’t turn his business over to his friend.  He talks about things to the friend that he doesn’t talk about to the servant.  But when it comes to the father’s business, he turns his business over to his “son”, and “sons” we are:

·        Galatians 4:7: Wherefore thou art no more a servant but a son:  and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

·        1^st John 3:1: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not”.  Vs 2: Beloved, NOW are we the sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him:  for we shall see him as he is.

He is already appearing (visibly seen; materialized; taken shape; come into view) in His people, and we already see Him as He is in flesh form!   Because when we look at one another we are looking at God in flesh form in the Body of Christ composed of both male and female!!  His appearance is only seen now and ever will be seen, in His people!!!  [Praise break]!!!

So those of you waiting for Jesus to appear on a cloud, it isn’t going to happen, because He never said that He was going to come “ON” a cloud.  He said that He would come “IN” or “WITH” clouds.     

We are God’s clouds:

Matthew 24:29-31 [speaks of Christ’s coming (appearing)]:  Vs 29: Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:  vs 30: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven:  and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matthew 26:57-68 [Jesus is brought before Caiaphas the high priest] (the council sought false witness against Jesus to put Him to death):  Vs 60: But found none:  yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none.  At the last came two false witnesses:  vs 61: And said, “This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days”.  Vs 62: And the high priest arose, and said unto him, “Answer thou nothing”?  “What is it which these witness against thee”?  Vs 63: But Jesus held his peace.  And the high priest answered and said unto him, “I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God”.  Vs 64: Jesus said unto him, “Thou hast said:  nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall you see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 

Mark 13:1-37 (Signs of the end of that age):  Vs 26: And then shall they see the Son of man coming IN THE CLOUDS with great power and glory.

Then in Mark 14:53-65 (Jesus before Caiaphas):  Vs 61b: Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?  Vs 62: And Jesus said, “I am”:  and you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming IN THE CLOUDS of heaven.

·        Revelation 1:7: Behold, he comes WITH clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him:  and all kindred of the earth shall wail because of him.  Even so, Amen.

His appearance IN AND WITH the clouds has already occurred and the ones that pierced Him saw it when it happened.  They saw it at Pentecost when those Apostles and those in that upper room came forth out of the upper room with the power of the Holy Ghost and fire!!  As they came forth with the Word of God thousands were saved!!!  That was the Son of man “COMING IN AND WITH” the CLOUDS of His people with great power and glory!!!  We His people are His clouds today and we’re compassed about with those in the spirit realm which are God’s cloud as well! 

·        Hebrews 12:1: Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

This is the cloud that covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38).  It was the same cloud that followed the children of Israel through the wilderness as a guide to them (Numbers 9:15-23).     This also was the same cloud that appeared at the dedication of the Temple that Solomon had built (2^nd Chronicles 7:1-3).

That was the same CLOUD that appeared in Luke 9:28-36 (on the mountain of transfiguration to Jesus and the three apostles, Peter, James, and John):  Vs 30: And behold, there talked with him (Jesus) two men, which were Moses and Elias:  vs 31: Who appeared in glory and spoke of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.  Vs 33: And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here:  and let us make three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias:  not knowing what he said.  Vs 34: While he thus spoke, there came a CLOUD, and overshadowed them:  and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

Did you get that, “They feared as they entered the cloud”!  The scripture said nothing about them “sailing off anywhere, to enter the cloud”.  It’s just that they were in a “high place” and were able to “enter the cloud”!!!  [PRAISE BREAK]!!!

·        Vs 35: And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son:  hear him”!!   Vs 36: And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone.  And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

Who was in the CLOUD?  All those people from the book of Genesis till then, and from then until now that same CLOUD is with us today, and will continue on throughout eternity!!  We are compassed about with so great a CLOUD of witnesses (Hebrew 12:1)!!

Look at what Paul wrote in 1^st Corinthians10: Vs 1: Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea:  vs 2: And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea:  vs 3: And did all eat the same spiritual meat:  vs 4: And did all drink the same spiritual drink:  for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them:  and that Rock was Christ.

People that are not preaching the kingdom of God in us NOW or that we can have the fullness or the total of God within us right NOW, Jude calls them, “Clouds without water”.  But those at Pentecost and those NOW that are preaching and teaching the total of the Kingdom of God in us right now and that we are God’s Kingdom in the earth, are “clouds with the water of life”!!  As God said to Israel through Moses that they were His kingdom of priests, He’s saying that to us today!!

·        Exodus 19:6: And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.  These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

·        Revelation 1:6: And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father:  to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.  (Revelation 5:10)

WE’RE HEIRS:

·        Romans 8:16: The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children (sons) of God:  vs 17: And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

·        John 14:12: He that believeth 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.

Again I say, the only way Jesus can and will be seen is in His people, because we are now ONE with the Father also!!

·        John 17:20: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word:  vs 21: That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us:  that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

·        1^st John 4:17: As he is, so are we, in this world!

WE’RE PRIESTS (intercessors):   KINGS (rulers):   AND LORDS (ownership; supreme in authority): [Remember what God said to Israel through Moses]: Exodus 19:6: And you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.  These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

 It was repeated in the New Testament as well, to us, the Church!!  We are God’s Israel NOW!!!

·        1^st Peter 2:5: You also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood:  to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Vs 9: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people:  that you should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

·        Revelation 5:10: And hast made us unto our God, kings and priests:  and we shall reign on (over) the earth.  (Revelation 1:6).

·        Revelation 19:16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

The PURPOSE of the church (is to do what Jesus did when He walked the earth):

SPREAD THE GOSPEL: 

·        Matthew 28:19-20: Go ye therefore, and teach (instruct) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.

·        Mark 16:15: Go ye, into all the world, and preach (proclaim; announce; declare divine truth; evangelize) the gospel (good news; truth) to every creature.

TO WORSHIP:

·        St. John 4:23: The hour come, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:  for the Father seek such to worship him.  Vs 24: God is a Spirit:  and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

TO EDUCATE:

·        Matthew 9:37: Then said he unto his disciples, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers (ergat’es) [a toiler; teachers] are few”:  vs 38: Pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers (true teachers) into his harvest.

·        Ephesians 4:11: And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers:  vs 12: For the perfecting (katatismos’) [complete furnishing; restoring; joining together] of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying (instructing; building up; teaching) of the body of Christ.  Vs 13: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge (full discernment; acknowledgement) of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature (maturity) of the fullness of Christ.

TO WITNESS:

·        Acts 1:8: But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and you shall be witnesses [observers; eye (ear) witnesses] unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The POSITION of the church:  [These things we must do, because we are Christ’s body in the earth]:  

·        Romans 12:4-5: For 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 everyone members one of another.      

·        1^st 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.  Vs 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.

·        2^nd Corinthians 6:16: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?  For you are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them:  and I will be their God, and they shall be my people”.

And because of the POSITION we hold (as God’s representatives; agents (delegates; trustees); ambassadors (spokes- persons) in the earth [male & female], JESUS SAID:

·        Matthew 28:19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name (character; authority) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Vs 20: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.

·        Mark 16:15: Go ye into all the world and preach (kerus’so) [to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth; proclaim] the gospel to every creature.

·        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.

·        2^nd Corinthians 5:18: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation:  vs 19: To wit (know), that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Vs 20: We are ambassadors (spokes-persons) for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us.

We need to recognize our purpose and take our position, as Jesus did, as God!  WHY?

·        Mark 16:17-18: And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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.

·        Luke 4:18: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

·        Romans 10:14-15: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  Vs 15: And how shall they preach, except they are sent? 

Don’t let anybody tell you, that God doesn’t need you, because He does!!  We need Him and He needs us!  He ordained it to be this way!   That’s why He made man (male/female) in His own image, after His likeness (Genesis 1:26). 

John 4:24, “God is Spirit”!   As Spirit, He can’t be seen, but He wanted to be seen, and to do that He had to make Himself visible.  So He made Himself visible in man (male/female)!  Praise break!!!

GET HOLD OF THIS:  We are Him who is seen, of Him who is invisible:    We crystallize (form; solidify) the one who has no form:  We localize Him who is everywhere:  We are the ones creation’s waiting for.   We bare the name of Him who is un-nameable:  whose name transcends every name that is named:  We are the dawning of a light which has no genesis:  we are the ones creation’s waiting for.  We are the living word wrapped up in flesh and bone.

·        Romans 8:19: The earnest expectation of the creature is waiting for the manifestation (demonstration; declaration] of the sons of God. 

·        Ephesians 5:30: We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Therefore we must RECOGNIZE (identify) our PURPOSE (goal; cause; motive], get into our POSITION (post; station; office; rank; status), and rule as God in the earth!  

·        John 14:12: He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.

We must do as Jesus did, and that is to take our “God-ship authority”, knowing that what we do, it’s the Father doing it through us, because we have become one with the Father as Jesus was! 

·        John 14:10: 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 dwell in me, he does the works.

Jesus realized that He was not separate from His Father – but that they were “ONE”!  

St. John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  Vs 2: The same (that’s “US” His people) was (existed) in the beginning with God.  Vs 14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us!  

So are we ONE with the Father!!  John 17:20: Neither, pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.  Vs 21: That they all may be ONE, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be ONE in us:  that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jesus said to Thomas and Philip:  John 14:7-9: If you had known me, you should have known my Father also:  and from henceforth you know him, and have seen him.   Philip said unto him. “Lord, show us the Father and it suffices (satisfies) us”.  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 says thou then, “Show us the Father”?

·         1^st John 4:17: As he is, so are we, in this world!

Again I say:  You are Him who is seen, of Him who is invisible!  You crystallize the one who has no form!  You localize the one who is everywhere!  You are the living word wrapped in flesh and bone.

·        Ephesians 5:30: We are members (parts; limbs) of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones!

You are the dawning of a light which has no genesis:  You bare the name of Him who is un-nameable!  We are the one’s creation’s waiting for!

·        Romans 8:19: For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation (displaying; demonstration; exhibition; presentation; revealing; appearing) of the sons of God.

Many are ignorantly waiting for Jesus to come back, but He has finished the work the Father sent Him to do! 

·        St. John 17:4: I have glorified thee on the earth:  I have finished the work which thou gave me to do! 

In reality it is us “the sons of God” that the creation is waiting for and we must move into our God-ship authority and rule and reign in and over the earth, right here and right now! 

RECOGNIZE YOUR PURPOSE (man; woman; boy; girl):  AND TAKE YOUR POSITION AS GOD (elohiyms), IN GOD (Elohiym) [ELYOWN’].  But remember, we are the sons of the MOST HIGH [Elyown’] (the Supreme God)!!!

Pastor Gracie Perry