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The Holy Spirit can bring to remembrance only those concepts that we already understand.
Some things we must understand:
God births His image into the NEW CREATION human that we might comprehend the fellowship of the mystery, which was hidden in God from the beginning of the world… which the church may make known to all… the manifold wisdom of God (Eph. 4:1).
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We have already died, now we must LIVE.
God hopes that we will walk away from darkness into light and reveal the Christ. We are children of the light (Eph. 5:8). Here is the manifold wisdom of God; we have overcome every temptation.
We become what we worship. We reflect the image and nature of God.
Oh the much variegated and multifarious (manifold) wisdom of God, how wonderful it is. God uses virgins (pure ones) to bear His seed that bring life.
While Abraham looked for the city (Heb. 11:10)– we BECOME that city set on the hill (Matt. 5:14).
Our individual dwelling places join together to shine forth the light of the SON.
The united corporate son reveals God.
an essay
We need to further understand the concept we discussed earlier about Rom 5:10, For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his LIFE! (NIV) As we consider the reality of becoming the NEW CREATION, we begin to comprehend that Jesus shed His untainted BLOOD (the life of the flesh, Lev. 17:11) to ATONE for our sins. We know also that He gave His LIFE (psuche, sinless soul-life) for our salvation (sozo, wholeness, Rom. 5:10). We could think of it this way: The blood accomplishes our initial (or positional) atonement from sin. But… it is His LIFE that accomplishes our ongoing progressive sozo, that provides wholeness of mind and character.
Somehow, much of the church world stops with the POSITIONAL salvation. Bless God, we went forward down the aisle and confessed our sins — now our duty is over! But we never quite figured out how to "put on the New Man" — or live successfully as a Christian. Well, we might have tried in our excited days of being a new convert and first finding God, but as time went on, we forgot and re-incorporated many of our old ways. Somewhere along the way, "I'm a new creation" became a great song that we now heartily sing without giving much consideration to it's meaning. Funny how the whole church world wants to "go to heaven" without bothering to DO what the Bible says.
Worldly ways still have strong entrance into the heart of the modern church. Many aloof, arrogant, and proud Christians exemplify the fallen self-pleasing nature of self-determination. Others are passively yielding and compliant. Compromise rules the masses of once-committed believers who have now lost their holy boundaries. Much of our "religion" has become extremely worldly. Yet, Paul cautioned us to find another way.
Gal 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I LIVE; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved (agapao) me... (KJV). This means we lose our soulish identity and become a class of people on earth who migrate to the next dimension of LIVING.
"I am crucified with Christ," Paul explains how this act of being crucified was already accomplished by the blood of the Savior in the initial salvation experience. Through the cross, we become partakers of this promise — we have already been crucified (impaled in company with Christ). It’s already done! We don't have to keep dying again and again. We're not like the hero in the old western movies who keeps rising up with "just a flesh wound." Reckon it done (Rom. 6:11). The problem is that we need to stay dead.
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (NKJ) IT is already done… I am crucified to the world. "They that are Christ's have crucified (already finished) the flesh (Gal. 5:24)." Now, all we have to do is not nurture that OLD MAN nature. It remains dead and buried far away from our present day actions.
"Nevertheless, I LIVE." Understanding imparts the necessity of maintaining death to the old nature. It doesn’t haunt me. I become partner in His life! Death is swallowed up in LIFE (1 Cor. 15:54). My work is not to repeatedly crucify myself, live in a convent, or be separated from all monetary influence. My position (as a NEW CREATION) is to maintain the flesh in a crucified state. My evil nature becomes totally separated from my renewed thoughts, my controlled actions, and my disciplined desires. I'm crucified from mySELF." That's how I'm free to inherit God's zoe LIFE. I live (I am quickened by the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.)
Just like the angry crowd taunted Jesus on the cross, all my carnal nature and reactions continue to cry out, "Come down from the cross." (Mark 15:30) But, it's my duty to maintain absolute control over the sinful old nature.
"I LIVE." Living happens by allowing the Holy Spirit to conduct His specific job of revealing the NEW CREATION nature in me. He unveils "Christ living in me" — the anointed power to obtain my destiny.
Anointing = the enabling power of God given for you
to accomplish your purpose.
"Christ LIVETH in me." No longer will I be satisfied with just knowing the power of the cross to ATONE. Jesus now LIVES (abides) in resurrection power within to cause me to exhibit LIFE — to be like Him in character and nature — to understand the full power of ongoing salvation. Heb 7:25 tells us, “Therefore he is able to SAVE COMPLETELY those who come to God through him, because he ALWAYS LIVES to INTERCEDE for them” NIV. That’s how we can LIVE…
"I LIVE by faith in the Son of God." Yes, I LIVE the quickened life – the God-kind of LIFE that comes by faith. That NEW CREATION life comes and DWELLS (abides) in me — right now — here in this lifetime.
Jesus explained it often. John 17:11 says, “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are IN THE WORLD....” (NKJ) Believers remain here living above this (cosmos) worldly system.
John 17:14 “…and the world has hated them because they are NOT OF THE WORLD (world systems), just as I am NOT OF THE WORLD.”(NKJ) We are "not of the world, "JUST AS" (Strong's # 2531 kathos) Christ is "not of the world." It is out of this likeness to Christ, that we obtain this quality to resist the worldly nature.
Jesus did not pray that we be taken “OUT of the world” (vs.15), or suddenly “raptured” away, but that we be “kept from the evil one.” There's no escapism clause here. Believers are to be separated OUT of the old way and that separation is what causes them to be “kept from the evil one.” But that's not all. We are not just separated OUT, but also are separated INTO the New LIFE. The NEW CREATION human lives IN THIS WORLD while not being OF THE WORLD. That means we no longer endlessly contend with our worldly nature, or are tempted by the carnality of the worldly systems.
John 17:16 They are NOT OF THE WORLD, just as I am NOT OF THE WORLD. (NKJ)
Not of the world. The NEW CREATION manifests the God kind of LIFE that is in Jesus, not that of the world. We demonstrate, as much as possible, a life without sin.
Not of the world. We walk in the same realm as Jesus ("just as" He was NOT OF THIS WORLD); hence we are just as He is, in His presence.
Not of the world. We establish God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10). We belong to a kingdom that is NOT OF THIS WORLD (Jn. 8:23, 18:36). We live independently from this world’s systems, with eternal governing standards and principles.
Not of the world. We live in the world, in order to "redeem" (salvage) the world, but we are not "of" the world.
Jesus became the first fruit example of “living in the world, but not being part of it.” Paul said, Jesus gave himself to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:14 NIV). Jesus determined to send this redeemed people INTO THE WORLD (John 17:18 NKJ). The NEW CREATION is sent INTO THE WORLD (cosmos/systems), exhibiting a new nature. They walk in covenantal fellowship with God and man. They no longer loose the battle against the flesh; they manifest dominion rule. 1 John 4:17 says, 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. (KJV) As He is, we are.
We come as absolute victors into “this world” over which the devil has long ruled as prince. Here, we live above evil influences – as examples, teaching and warning men in all wisdom, that they might mature in Christ (Col. 2:28). As we SEPARATE from worldly ways, God builds His house in us; He will “receive us” (2 Cor 6:1617). This phenomenal promise remains for those that maintain a NEW CREATION lifestyle... For... I will dwell in them, and walk in them... (KJV) Let us make a fresh declaration in accordance with the will of God — from every corner of the earth the “now” purposes of God must be released. We have come to the “set time” (Ps. 102), a time for complete and radical renovation of our current mindset.
Jesus, fully man and fully spirit, became our example of how to live in this earth as a human who resides in the spiritual realm that does not touch “this WORLD.” As we imitate Him, we move into this place of no longer DOING, but BEING the demonstration of the power of God (1 Cor. 2:4).
Just think, Jesus came to seek and save that (not who) which was lost (Luke 19:10). This verse means that one reason Jesus died was to save (make spiritually whole) our lost carnal minds (from the Fall). We need to have creation minds like before the fall – spiritually discerning and knowing. The work of the cross enables us to no longer think like “this world.” Our salvation allows God to manifest His glory upon the LIFE we lead.
Notice the interrelated steps again as Isaiah told of a Messiah who would possess all these qualities: The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD— and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. (Isa. 11: 2 NIV).
Jer 3:15 Then I will give you shepherds (pastors) after my own heart (filled with awesome reverence), who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. NIV
The effective functioning interplay of these steps (above) thrusts the believer toward the purposes of God which have so far been undisclosed. As we bring forth these unhindered qualities, we become custodians of our own destiny and that of the earth.
All three
These concepts all interrelate. In order to be wise, we move up and down over these three interconnected steps of fear, knowing, and understanding.
Prov. 2:1-5 My son (the heir or builder of the family name),
If thou wilt (you have individual choice to cooperate)
Receive my words (sayings that provide salvation)
And hide (lay up in a safe place to use later)
My commandments with thee; (the Divine promise is conditional)
So that thou incline (lean toward to bid welcome)
Thine ear unto wisdom, (not just listen with ears but receive in heart)
And apply thine heart to understanding (receive the word with readiness of mind)
Yea, if thou search after knowledge (know the worth of it and pant after it.
And liftest up thy voice for understanding; (submit your voice and call out for it)
7the pillars of wisdom:
THE STRUCTURE OF THE HOUSE
My life is a temple of God and I am a wise wife. I arise and build.
(1 Chron. 22:19, Neh. 2:20).
Most of us have long searched for that place of connection – that supernatural “happening” – that mighty demonstration of miracles – forgetting that His very Kingdom is within us. We have looked outside toward every traveling big name to usher us into a place of excitement and new phenomenon. But, we’ve forgotten that Truth (like that still small voice) resides within. While we expect God to come down or suddenly “appear” to do something – We forget that He’s arising from within and pressing the inner person outward.
We’ve been learning from Lady Wisdom about building our house. Because we contain His precious presence, we must carefully build the enclosure for His residence in the Most Holy Place of our Temple – in the precious inner sanctuary. It’s the place where we passed through the shrouded veil into the place where the cherubim’s wings touch … where we come face to face with God. It’s the place where we become whole. It’s where we’ve integrated with God’s nature and come into unity with His desires. It’s there that He arises. Let God arise (Ps. 68:1)! Believers contain (embody) that arising presence within themselves. In other words, God occupies our temple. Wisdom builds the HOUSE for Emanuel’s nature (the God with us and in us).
Our definition of wisdom continues to unfold = the state of containing and participating in God’s active presence. Wisdom is the process of enlightened building and vitalized living. God says to get it (Prov. 4:5). Make Wisdom the most important thing (Prov. 4:7). Be anxious for it. You can't live without it. Receive it zealously. Get it.
Exalt her (wisdom), and she (wisdom) shall promote (to advance in rank, or position) thee; she shall bring thee to honor (elevate in honor, character, and quality), when thou dost embrace (to receive gladly) her. (Prov. 4:8 KJV).
the 7 Pillars:
I was reading Proverbs 9 while on a recent trip to India. I’d probably read it at least a hundred times before – but suddenly it made sense and explained itself. Our house can’t stand unless each pillar solidly supports the structure. These necessary pillars are explained within these verses! They are separate and distinct activities that must combine in strength to uphold our structure. And from this understanding – this book was built.
Returning to our text Scripture (Prov. 9:1-3).
Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn out her seven pillars.
She has slaughtered her meat. She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city.
The word “pillar” means something set upright and stationed to establish boundaries. In ancient times, pillars held up the rest of the building and the roof. They were usually quarried out of marble and were often the only things left standing through the centuries.
There are pillars of the earth (Job 9:6, Ps. 75:3) and pillars of heaven (Job 26:11).
Rev. 3:12, “If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven...” Gensenius translates this verse, “I will assign him a firm and abiding place in the everlasting kingdom of God.”
7
Seven, of course, represents the number of perfection – the fullness of the Spirit, seven golden candlesticks, seven all-powerful horns, seven all-seeing eyes. There are seven creation days, seven colors in the rainbow, and seven colors on Joseph’s coat all revealing the far reaching nature of the overcomer. We forgive 70x7. The Jericho walk was seven times. The ram’s horns of Jubilee blow seven times, etc.
Lady Wisdom’s seven pillars are built on the three-step foundation we discussed earlier: the Fear of the Lord, Knowledge, and Understanding.
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