September 2004

“HAVING BEGUN IN THE SPIRIT”

“Not by might, nor by power, but
by My Spirit, says the Lord!”(Zec 4:6)

Part 11

The title for this series is only a portion of a Scripture we now read in its entirety.

“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit,
are you now made perfect by the flesh?” (Ga 3:3)

            The question, “Are you so foolish?” is not flippant or rhetorical; it seeks our state of mind. God speaks in spiritual terms and He knows, “The natural man cannot receive spiritual things.” (1 Co 2:14) He asks if we are reasoning with our foolish mind of flesh or His wise Mind of Spirit! Then He reminds that our eternal life “begins in the Spirit”. The words, “begin in”, share a Greek root (757) meaning “To be first (in rank or power), and to reign or rule over.” This is followed by the words, “The Spirit”; thus, the only Life “first in rank and power, able to reign and rule” over heaven and earth is the Spiritual Life of Christ! From the hour our life “began in the Spirit”, we started manifesting the “rank, power, rule, and reign” of Christ in the heavens [spirit realm] and the earth [flesh realm]! This walk in the Spirit initiates a winnowing of Wheat (God’s Word) from chaff (our word); which, in turn, precipitates three world wars (as it were) in our lives between the natural world of sin and death, and the spiritual world of Peace and Life! But, of course, in any mortal conflict between the prince of darkness and Prince of Light, our Captain of Salvation is always the Victor!

WORLD WAR 1 is fought for the dominion of our spirit
[which is our intuition, conscience, and desire to worship!]

WORLD WAR II is engaged for the dominion of our soul
[which consists of our intellect, emotion, and self-will]!

WORLD WAR III is waged for the dominion of our body
[which includes the five human senses of our mortal flesh.]

            This last war is the ultimate conflict! It is the “war to end all wars”! Here the One called “Resurrection Life” (Jn 11:25) takes total dominion of our being and transforms- metamorphoses- our wretched bodies, “from corruptible to incorruptible, dishonor to glory, weakness to power; and from a natural body to a spiritual body!” (1 Co 15:42:44) This “Redemption of our bodies”, for which we earnestly groan is the long-awaited MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD! (Ro 8:23) It is our “adoption” into the Royal Bloodline of Christ! When this occurs in every life, there will be “peace on earth”!
             Lastly, we address God’s third question above, “Are you now made perfect by the flesh?” Do you believe you can redeem your own body from the cruel tyranny of sin and death? If you do, show me how you did it; since, apart from Jesus Christ, you are the first to accomplish this miracle!
             Don’t deceive yourself, beloved! Will you hear and believe our Lord Jesus Christ as He tells you, “No man can come to Me, unless (permission to do so) is given to him by My Father!” (Jn 6:65) Then He says, “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, attracts, and draws (lit. “drags”) him; and first gives him the desire to come to Me!” (Jn 6:44) Understand, beloveds, that although every instinct in man’s lying sin nature resents and resists the intrusion of Christ’s spiritual reality in his world, there is nothing he can do to stop it! Despite the doctrines of devils that have invaded Christendom and swayed congregations into believing God will not impose Himself on people’s lives, but lets them reject His love and gift of Salvation even to their eternal damnation- ONE TRUTH GOES MARCHING ON----JESUS CHRIST IS SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!! He does this glorious thing by unveiling His Anointed Presence in one heart after another-“but every man in his own order!” (1 Co 15:23) As man’s natural life functions without the Light of God’s Anointing, his spirit abides in darkness. This dark spirit floods our flesh mind with lies and deceptions, fear and dread, and ignorance and foolish pride! This unholy spirit led Adam into disobedience and death with its serpent tongue of venomous lies, and likewise, his seed was born under God’s curse! If that wasn’t bad enough news, today’s religious systems try to convince men that this curse is reversible by Adam’s dead seed! The crucifixion death of Jesus was, therefore, not a finished work; but [according to their false doctrines] required Adam’s dead seed to approve and accept the Sacrifice of the Lamb as the complete atonement for their sins, before it could take effect!
             What nonsense, especially when the Truth is so clear and uncomplicated. Ro 1:16 says,

“The Gospel of Christ is the Power of God
unto Salvation for everyone who believes!”

But Ro 11:32 says,
“God concluded (lit. “finished, shut up, enclosed)
EVERY MAN IN UNBELIEF; JUST SO HE
COULD SHOW MERCY ON THEM ALL!!”

             This is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the Gospel of Salvation! God permitted sin to condemn and sentence man’s soul to a prison of unbelief, till His acceptable hour to manifest His Mercy in every heart that causes them to see, believe, and joyfully accept His Love and Salvation! The Good News is: EVERY MAN’S ETERNAL LIFE BEGINS IN GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT!
             “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations will worship before You. for the kingdom is the Lord's: and He is the Governor over the nations!” (Ps :27-28)

[TO BE CONTINUED]