#491 – The Consecration of the Priests – Part 9
Life And Death In Consecration
Death (psuche) By Illumination. Life (Zoe) by Impartation
Consecration = Exchange Of Life; From Psuche to Zoe!
Speaking And Ministering Out Of The New Life And New Man
July 9, 2011
After we recognize these two kinds of life in ministry we must choose one and reject the other. Men in the natural light of the Outer Court appear justified in ministering out of the intellect, by knowledge (gnosis) and out of the natural life (psuche) inherited from first Adam. Nevertheless, no one can enter the New Covenant Priesthood ministry until there is a exchange of life. That means an exchange of psuche for the indestructible Life, Zoe. Why? Because the Priesthood is intrinsicly tied to the Zoe, Life! We are also fundamentally “saved” by this Life. This IS the Eternal Life that we hear about in much of the preaching!
Heb 7:15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. (ZOE) 17 For it is witnessed of Him, “THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
Rom 5:10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Zoe)
John 12:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 “He who loves his life (psuche) loses it; and he who hates his life (psuche) in this world shall keep it to life (Zoe) eternal.
The Life that God recognizes as compatible with the eternal New Covenant Priesthood is the indestructible Life, Zoe, that must be functioning in reality, first as the source of salvation and then as the source of ministry. This Zoe, Life, is the source of “the Life” in the Spirit and Life ministry. Speaking of this “Life” as a cliche or principle or intellectual attribute or as another Christian doctrine rather than as an actual experience will not qualify us to participate in the New Covenant Priesthood. It is for this reason that much of what we have shared over the past 35 years about the consecration of the natural, outward man “to do the will of God” has been ineffective and a waste of time! The natural, outward man of the Romans 7 limitation is not designed to serve God in the Spiritual dimension demanded by the Holy Place Priesthood and the Life / Spirit dimension of ministry.
Consecration, in the life dimension, then deals with both death (psuche) and Life (Zoe) or what we are calling “an exchange of life.” Death to the psuche ( as the element of control) without an exchange of life to the Zoe Life of God will not qualify us for the New Covenant Priesthood. Why? Because this priesthood ONLY functions out of the indestructible Life, Zoe. This exchange is essential for that which we call “union of Life.” The functions in the Holy Place take place within this “Union of Life.” How do we know that? Because the Church which IS His body is the Pure Gold Lampstand Church which is In The Holy Place! Both Head and Body must possess the exact same Life, ZOE!
In the invisible realms we should be aware of the Bride dimension, the New Jerusalem dimension, the Bondservant dimension and the dimension of Mount Zion. In the Bride dimension the “union” is a “Union of Life.” This has nothing to do with the physical dimension and the carnal and romantic notions of “union” heard in women’s conferences.
We are making a clear distinction between these two types of priesthood by identifying them as either Old Covenant Priesthood or New Covenant Priesthood. Since the Old Covenant Priesthood was done away with because it could NOT bring anyone to perfection, the only real choice given to us to function in “ministry”is within and as members of the New Covenant Priesthood.
Heb 7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
The Levitical priesthood could NOT bring anyone to perfection so it was replaced with another Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek. This Priesthood CAN bring the church to perfection! Therefore, IF the present “ministries” CANNOT bring the church to perfection they CANNOT qualify as any kind of priesthood ministry and should not be recognized as being a valid New Testament ministry at all.
For that reason the real Consecration Offering and the Second Veil must deal decisively with the psuche life as the ministry agent, as well as removing the defects and perversions inherited from first Adam. For that reason, the New Covenant ministry MUST also be able to impart Truth, Life and Spirit to those whom they minister! They must be able to bring about an experiential exchange from everything of first Adam into the experiential resurrection Life (Zoe) and participation in the Spirit of Christ Jesus! (The Spirit of Christ) Why? This is just the basic beginning of the Christian LIFE!
Why is this beginning essential? Just to advance each believer from the Outer Court Dimension into the Holy Place dimension to qualify us to participate in the Pure Gold Lampstand Church that He is building. Why? Because this precedes our function in the Priesthood ministry.The psuche life is obviously connected to the wood, hay and straw realm and the Zoe Life is obviously connected to the Silver, Gold and Precious Stone realm.
It is for this reason that we assume that any so called “five-fold” ministry that cannot qualify as a functioning member of the Lampstand Church that He is building, is not a genuine New Covenant ministry! If the “five-fold ministries” cannot develop the believers into functioning within the New Covenant Priesthood ministry after the Order of Melchizedek, is not a genuine ministry! Unless the “five-fold ministries” have been appointed to that developing and maturing ministry by Him who ascended , they are not a genuine ministry! Unless they, themselves, are participating in the Holy Place dimension they will not be able to bring the church to perfection and therefore, cannot possibly be recognized as a valid New Testament ministry according to Ephesians 4:11-16.
Well, brother, this sounds like an unyielding indictment of the “Five Fold Ministry Movement.” Yes! That IS exactly what it sounds like. But why is that severe criticism valid?
My theory is this; All valid New Testament ministry MUST begin in the Holy Pace and NOT in the Outer Court Dimension. Why? The Outer Court is designed for our preparation, maturity and transition from believer to become a Kingdom Priesthood and a genuine New Covenant minister. Beginning to minister as natural ministers, by natural means and not making the transition to the Eternal Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek is the primary reason the church is in this current pitiful condition. Surely God will hold the “ministers” responsible for the lukewarm and stagnant condition of the church.
Rev 3:1 “And to the angel (messenger) of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, (Zao) but you are dead. 2 ‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.
This was probably written to the “leader or minister” of the church at Sardis and the responsibility for this problem was placed upon him. “I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God” is an indictment of the system and a very serious charge. However, there is some controversy as to whom it is addressed. This obviously was not “written” to one of God’s angels, who are spirits, because He speaks directly to them by spiritual means. Writing “words” to the angels appears to be irrelevant but writing to the leaders ( messengers) who were responsible for these churches appears to be corrective and necessary. Doing the deeds you did before seems out of place for a rebuke to the angels.
Darby’s Commentary: What then is the angel? It is not a symbol, properly speaking. The star is the symbol, and it is here seen in Christ’s hand. It is (as angel is always used where it is not actually a heavenly or earthly messenger) the mystical representative of one not actually seen. It is so used of Jehovah, so used of a child, so spoken of Peter. Elders may have practically been specially responsible from their position; but the angel represents the assembly, and especially those to whom, from nearness to Christ and communion with him, or responsibility for it through the operation of His Spirit in them for His service, He looks for the state of His assembly in His sight. No doubt the whole assembly is responsible, and therefore the candlestick is removed when unfaithfulness is brought home to it; but Christ is in immediate communication with these in respect of it — a solemn thought for all who have the good of the assembly at heart. (End of quote)
Rev 1:19 “Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things. 20 “As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels (messengers) of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Rev 3:22 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” It appears that Jesus is personally addressing the Church that He is building in each location. The Holy Spirit is NOT speaking on His own initiative but just what He hears!
The Consecration Offering touches so many areas of the Holy Place life and Ministry that it is difficult to share the subject as a specific personal reality. Why? Because each “priesthood ministry” is being uniquely prepared, not just for a ministry function in this dimension but also for the eternal dimension of the world yet to come. As we see indicated in the comments by Darby about “angels,” the “ministry” is held responsible before God for that assembly. The “standard established for an acceptable assembly” is set by the Lord Jesus Christ out of His sovereignty over the body, not by the “ministries!” These “higher standards” are non-negotiable!
In addition to that, each of us, along with the assembly, after we become active members of the Lampstand Church, must be assimilated into a Kingdom of Priests and a universal Government where God and His New Covenant Laws are absolutely Sovereign. It is for that reason that being isolated and independent becomes a tremendous hindrance to our preparation. When we are in a living relationship with the “Church He is Building,” which is under that direct and severe discipline of the Lord, we are at last functioning in a dimension of fellowship and cooperation suitable for the preparation of the Kingdom of Priests. However, we must make a clear distinction between the Church He is building and the one men are building! This is why I am assuming that participating in the Church He is Building is preliminary to functioning in the real Priesthood Ministry. This “function in the Church He is Building” may also be part of the preparation for a visible ministry sometimes called the “five-fold” ministry in Ephesians 4:11-16. This “ministry group” is under the direction of the Ascended Son of Man; the Lord Jesus Christ! In addition to that ministry there is the Eight-Fold ministry under the direction of God, Himself! However, there is really ONLY one church that God recognizes and that IS the Lampstand Church.
1Cor 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
If we just understood that from God’s perspective, “THE CHURCH” He recognizes as valid is in the Holy Place, it removes so much confusion over this problem of identifying those who are only “saved” as far as the visible church dimension. What really determines what “saved” and “unsaved” really means. We need to question some Bible terms. Is reconciliation an event or a process? Is being “justified” and full salvation the same thing. Is forgiveness of sins the same thing as maturity or perfection. Is every believer a king and priest to God? Is every believer automatically a member of His Church, which is His body? Is every “believer” perfected when they believe? What, really, does “going on to perfection” mean. Is “growing up in all things into Christ” the same as believing something about Jesus? Is the “church” the Kingdom or is the “church” that group of people who are pressing into the Kingdom?
It seems that the visible church has argued over these questions in every age of church
history. Why is this such an issue? Simply because God’s revelation and explanation graphic, the Tabernacle of Moses, has been ignored. Anybody should be able to see that experiencing the shed blood on the Bronze Altar in the Outer Court dimension is not the same as experiencing the sprinkled blood upon the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place. This should be evident whether they are educated or not because the revelation of God’s purpose is in the graphic.
However, in this paper we will look at the visible “Consecration Offering” in the Tabernacle as a copy and shadow of something experientially real in the New Covenant. We are assuming that each of these things in the Tabernacle as well as the Tabernacle itself represent a picture, a copy and an example that points us toward the reality of the heavenly and eternal things. Why? Because that is what is revealed in Hebrews chapters 7-8- 9 and parts of 10.
Of course the applications of these things become very personal, specific, very subjective and are attached to a calling that relates us to God’s predestined plan. These are intricately linked to our inner life experience. Therefore, we want to deviate from our application of Consecration but not from the theme of Consecration. Another vivid example for us for all these experiences is the “Prototype Son.” We recently heard that there is much resistance to this term “The Prototype Son” because this is not a Bible Term.
Dictionary—Prototype >noun 1 a first or preliminary form from which other forms are developed or copied. 2 a typical example of something. 3 An original model upon which that which follows is patterned. 4 An individual that exhibits the essential nature and features of later types. 5 A primary functioning form of a new type or design for other models.
The Bible Term that refers to this example is to grow up in all things into Christ or being conformed to the image of Christ or to be like Him. There are many Bible verses that convey these truths which we incorporate in the English word “Prototype.”
1Peter 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
2Thes 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,
1Tim 1:16 And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Jesus Christ displayed the true character of God in a visible human form so that to see Him is to see God. Jesus Christ, as the “Prototype Son,” becomes the visible example for the many prototype sons that follow. We are supposed to grow up into that group of “sons.” ( sons is related to our origin NOT gender.) Therefore, to preach a doctrine about the “sons of God” but without an example for us to see what the “sons of God” do and demonstrate is very illusive and not very effective. If God has given us a “Prototype Son” then we should use Him as a valid example of what a “son of God” means. He is the son of man that is also the Son of God!
Because of this example we must pay a much closer attention to what is being said by the “Prototype Son” in John 17. Many call this His “High Priestly Prayer” but then lose sight of what is being said. Why? Because it is easy to confuse these words with just the words of a private prayer. Nevertheless, Jesus is revealing several eternal truths that have been demonstrated by the “Prototype Son.”
Why? Because this applies to His daily Life, His message, the demonstration of power, His ministry and His glorification of the Father. He could even claim before the Father that He had fully completed the work that was given Him to accomplish in the earth dimension.
John 17:4 “I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do.
I am guessing that these things apply to His daily life, ministry, etc up to that point in time. Why? Because all this is accomplished BEFORE CALVARY. This then is referring to what things He accomplished out of His Life as the son of man. Still, the emphasis in most of the church “messages” is about what He accomplished by and in His death. His death was about four days later but all these things were already accomplished by His Life. Many of these things He mentions can and should be duplicated by His disciples, even though that sounds really strange. However, what happened following this time CANNOT be duplicated by His disciples because the blood of Calvary relates to our redemption rather than our calling and our testimony! It is then Calvary and our “redemption” in its fullest sense that provides the “power” to fulfill our calling as “the many sons.”
Heb 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.
In other words Jesus was not born ONLY so He could die, as is being preached, but His work that began at His baptism and filling by the Holy Spirit, His temptation, the miracles, His preaching and teaching and other ministry was now complete BEFORE Calvary. It is in this time period before Calvary that He was the “Prototype Son.” We are certainly NOT saying He is the Prototype Son from this time (John 17) until His resurrection and ascension.
John 17:1 ----He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Thy Son, that the Son may glorify Thee, 2 even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life. (ZOE) 3 “And this is eternal life,(ZOE) that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.
Could it be that this IS the ETERNAL WORD OF GOD speaking and referring to the Lord Jesus Christ whom God (the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit) has sent? Now, in these verses it is difficult to specifically identify whether it is the Living Word of God speaking or the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because they are one, each in the other!
John 17:4 “I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do. 5 “And now, glorify Thou Me together with Thyself, Father, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was. 6 “I manifested Thy name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word.
In John 1 it is VERY clear that it was the eternal Word of God that was sent into the world. This Eternal Word was with God and IS God. As many as received this “Living and abiding Word of God” were given the authority to become the children of God.
John1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He (the word) was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, ( the word) and apart from Him (the word) nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him (the word) was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:11 He (the word) came to His ( the Word) own, and those who were His own did not receive Him (the word) . 12 But as many as received Him (the word) , to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
By John 17 the Living and Abiding Word of God and the Man, Jesus Christ, were assimilated into each other so there was no longer any distinction between the son of Man, the Son of God and the Word of God. Jesus was still not the Almighty God (Father, Word and Holy Spirit) but He was now of the same substance and of the same essence of the Almighty, Triune God. They are different but fundamentally the same. The Sperma of God, (the Living Word of God), has come to first fruits or full harvest maturity in the Man, Christ Jesus. Now Christ Jesus has become the “Prototype Son,” the example that we can see. (In His Life and ministry and not in His Sacrifice)
However, “the glory that I had with Thee before the world was” is obviously the Eternal Word speaking since Jesus was born about 33 ½ years earlier than John 17. All this would just be academic or theoretical information unless Jesus IS the “Prototype Son!” Then His Life and ministry would be an example for us of experiential Sonship! His Life lived out as an example, is the revelation of what fundamental Christianity really means! That would certainly imply that each of us MUST be born the same way, by receiving the same Divine Sperma, the Living and Abiding word of God. Each one of us must grow up in ALL things into Christ, the Living and Abiding Word of God, and by our personal and experiential Consecration permit Him, the Living and Abiding Word of God, to speak in us and through us. This then is called “THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD.”
As one who has spoken “my words” for so many years, it is embarrassing to discover the difference between that and “THE MINISTRY OF THE LIVING WORD.” The ministry of “my words” can never become “Spirit and Life.” Even if “My words” are about “His Word” this is NOT the Ministry of the Word. Speaking out from the Living and Abiding Word of God WITHIN is called “the Ministry of the Word of God.” The “Living Word of God” can speak IF we permit Him to speak in the meeting OR in the New Inner Man as the revelation and source of ministry.
Now I can hear the objections. This is way too mystical to be practical ministry today. Why would the Living and Abiding Word of God want to speak out from us even if He could? Because, this is the ultimate source of the “Spirit, Life and Truth” ministry. This defines the difference between Holy Place ministry and what we have accepted as normal pulpit ministry. The Living and Abiding Word of God speaking in and through the five-fold ministries is what confirms and validates these ministries! Hearing His Words and then speaking His Words is how we know they belong to the New Covenant dimension of Priesthood Ministry. Jesus, the son of man, IS THE PROTOTYPE of this kind of New Covenant ministry!
2Cor 13:3 since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.
The Corinthians were questioning Paul’s authority and ministry among them and he offered as “proof” that it is Christ, the Word of God, who was speaking in him. In this fact Paul is also a prototype minister!
There has been some questioning of our theory of “the Living and Abiding Word of God” being the Eternal Christ that came down out of heaven. Even though this is VERY controversial I will address that issue a little farther.
Was Mary the mother of God OR the Mother of Jesus? Some groups are adamant that Mary is the Mother of God. Since God is eternal and not born our theory is that she is the mother of Jesus!
Since Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father and “Christ” is among us we assume that one speaking in Paul was NOT Jesus but the Christ of God. While Jesus was born about 2000 years ago and MUST be fully man to redeem mankind and to fulfill scriptures and to rule over the world yet to come, we have made a distinction between the Man, Christ Jesus and the Christ who is eternal. The Christ had no beginning and no ending and IS ETERNAL LIFE so He cannot die. It is appointed to man to die and that is part of the curse in Genesis 3. Jesus, the man, became the curse, died in our place and was resurrected from the dead. Why?
Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”--
1Cor 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.
If CHRIST has been raised from the dead how it that He could die? Paul is writing this several years after the resurrection so the man, Christ Jesus and the Eternal Christ of God are synonymous. One is in the other, the two are one. This “union of Life” is also spoken of those who are fully redeemed. We have been raised up or resurrected with Him through His indwelling Life. Of course Jesus, the man, died for our redemption and to provide for our resurrection. Christ, the eternal Word of God, the Sperma of God, which gives LIFE and IS LIFE cannot die. This “union of Life” is basic to Christianity. The Man, Christ Jesus is at the right hand of God.
John 14:20 “In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.
In these verses there is no distinction between the Man, Christ Jesus and the Eternal Christ because they are one being. God and man has become one because they share the same Life! Jesus was born by the divine sperma, the Living and Abiding Word of God! He is now called “The Word of God.” Rev 19:13 And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God.
Since Jesus IS the Word of God, we also must become the word of God so we can be joined to Him as His bride. God forbade Israel to mix two different species. Therefore, the species of the first Adam CANNOT be joined to the Species of the Last Adam because they are completely different species. The first species were born of natural sperma and the other species were born of the Divine Sperma. For that reason we must die to the first Adam, be buried and be resurrected into the Last Adam, the species that have eternal Life. To be of the same species as the first Adam is called “lost”or “in darkness.” Every true Christian must be Born Again by the Living and Abiding Word of God. Those of the first Adam can be religious but they CANNOT be Christians which means “little Christs.”
It is now clearer why the Consecration Offering must be both of death and of Life.
Col 1:15 And He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created by Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fulness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
There can be no question that this is speaking clearly about Christ Jesus. This clearly says that All things were created by Him and for Him. Does that mean that Jesus was pre-existent and was with the Father at the creation? Not at all. But now what is spoken about the Word is also spoken about Jesus because they are now one. There is NO time factor in the eternal dimension.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being by Him, (the Word) and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
This is clearly speaking about the Word of God who IS God. All things came into being through the Word of God. God “SPOKE” and the worlds were formed. Without HIM NOTHING came into being that came into being! This is why we insist that “The Christ” is the Living and Abiding Word of God and the “Spirit of Christ” is the Word of God as an indwelling reality. If we don’t have the “Spirit of Christ” we cannot participate in redemption.
Rom 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead (the Holy Spirit) will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, (the Word of God) to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
We are born again by the Living and Abiding Word of God BUT If we don’t have the Spirit of Christ we CANNOT belong to Him. This is one of the distinctions between the Spirit of Christ and the Holy Spirit. The ones who object to two Spirits should read Revelation 1 about the Seven Spirits of God. God is Spirit. The Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ should not confuse us. Why? There is the Father, the Holy Spirit and the Word; The Almighty Triune God! Jesus was born of God so He is not the “Almighty God” but the Son of the Almighty God.
SO ALSO MUST WE BECOME SONS OF GOD THE SAME WAY!
He overcame as Man and for this reason He can sit at the right hand of God. If we overcome we can sit at Jesus’ right hand.
Rev 3:21 ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
The next question that needs an answer is this; Why is the Word of God, who IS God, also called the Son of God?
Mat 22:41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They *said to Him, “The son of David.” 43 He *said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, 44 ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT THINE ENEMIES BENEATH THY FEET”’? 45 “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question.
There is no question that the Word of God is God and was with God throughout eternity past. There is no question that it was the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us! The Word became flesh because He is introduced as the Sperma of God. But why is He called the Son of God? Because He came forth from the “Loins” of God. In heaven He is God, Himself. On earth, as sperma, He is the Son of God. Why? Because He came forth from the Father and is the Source of Life for all those who receive HIM, the Word. We should not think only of natural birth in evaluating this because all this takes place in the Eternal, Invisible Realm.
John 3:12 “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 “And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, even the Son of Man.
These verses are impossible to explain by natural means and logic. What has come down out of heaven in John 1? The Word! It is by this “SPERMA” that Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary. Jesus was born about 2000 years ago by the Living and Abiding Word of God and is called the son of man. Why? He was born of woman, who was a daughter of Adam, and because of that Jesus was baptized! This “sperma” is called the “SEED” which in Greek is the word Sperma and in Spanish margin is called SEMEN. This “SEED” grew to full maturity or harvest maturity in the Man, Christ Jesus! Therefore, Jesus, the Son of God, is now called the Word of God. Why? He was conceived by the Word of God and is, therefore, called the Son of God! He became what was planted, the Word of God! Then who “ASCENDED” into heaven? The Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God descended and the Man Christ Jesus Ascended as the Son of Man.
All this is just more facts and information if we cannot understand that each of us must be born exactly the same way to become part of the New Jerusalem because that “temple” is God. The New Jerusalem is made up of the Mature Sons of God. The children of God, those who have received a genuine birth but did not grow to full maturity, are “saved” and God has a VERY GOOD place for them but NOT on the throne of God or in the New Jerusalem.
Philp 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
If we fail to preach the high calling of God, why would anyone want to pay the cost of true discipleship or to live a consecrated Life? Mount Zion and the New Jerusalem represent the High Calling or here in the Greek “the upward or ascending Call.”
“JUST BELIEVE” sounds good and easy for evangelism, but “Just Believe” will not fulfill the predestined plan of God or take believes into the “High Calling” of God. Paul was still pressing on to “perfection” (maturity, full growth or completeness) after many years of being an Apostle.
Now we have the doctrine that since Jesus came to perfection and I am in Jesus I am also perfect. The moment I believed I was declared “perfect” by my Father in heaven. Since Jesus is on the throne and I am in Jesus then I am already on the throne. This doctrine is “against Christ” and is therefore “antichrist.”
It is this kind of “teaching” that has destroyed any reason for the Consecration Offering or any reason to grow up in all things into Christ or to be transformed into His image or to even consider the cost of discipleship or to go to perfection. However, it begins in the Living and Abiding Word of God indwelling US and growing to perfection in US as He ( the Word) did in Jesus!
The Almighty God has a way to build and complete the New Jerusalem but it is not free. Forgiveness of sins is free but going on to perfection is costly and beyong the capacity of the natural man.
If Jesus was returning for a “baby bride” these spurious doctrines would not harm the church as much. However, there is no question that the New Jerusalem is the Bride and if we can understand the perfection of the Heavenly City we will not question the perfection ( maturity, complete) of the bride. For a pastor to look out over the congregation and say “We are all the bride of Christ” is really ignorant! Someone needs to tell the half-saved they are NOT the bride of Christ nor are they ready to meet the Lord when He returns.
We might as well handle the next controversy in this paper. How is it possible for the Living and Abiding Word of God, the Christ, to speak in us and through us? Why are you calling this the “Ministry of the Word” as something different from the “pulpit ministry” as we know it?
The “I in you and you in Me” principle of New Covenant ministry should NOT be controversial. Why? Because Jesus said ( in effect) that in that day you will know this as an experiential fact. The fact that the Father was in Jesus, the Christ, should NOT be controversial. The fact that the Father spoke in and through Jesus should NOT be controversial to anyone who has read the scriptures. The fact that the Father did His work through Jesus should NOT be controversial.
What might be controversial is that Jesus is the prototype Son and that each of us has been called to full SONSHIP and destined to be included in the “many sons” that He will bring to glory!
However, in this paper let us address this “controversy” of “the Word of God” speaking in and through us LIKE HE DID IN JESUS! How could that possible be? This sounds really strange and a little off the wall as a normal experience for a believer today.
Jesus was a dual personality. He had an outer man that He received as the Son of Man when He was born of Mary and a New Inner Man, Christ, that He received from the Living and Abiding Word of God as the source of His Higher Life. The outer physical man, Jesus, thought and spoke and traveled and ministered. However, the Inner Man, conceived by the Word of God, inhabited the physical body and also spoke words that were Spirit and Life. What the New Species of Inner Man, Christ, spoke was the Word of God. He spoke what He heard the Father say and He did what He saw the Father doing.
Many people can accept that truth simply because so many scriptures confirm this truth. “I don’t speak on my own initiative but as I hear I speak.” The controversy arises when we say exactly the same things are normal for the Church He is Building! The standard Priesthood Ministry should also speak and minister the Word in this same way. Well, brother, that is just some more of your idealism but far too mystical. Is this really Mystical or practical? It depends upon how you interpret the in filling or baptism in the Holy Spirit!
1Cor 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What is the outcome then? I shall pray with the spirit and I shall pray with the mind also; I shall sing with the spirit and I shall sing with the mind also.
There are two NORMAL ways to pray and two NORMAL ways to sing. According to Paul we can pray from our New Inner Man, spirit, and we can pray with the mind of the outer man. We can sing from the new Inner Man, spirit, and we can sing with the mind of the outer man.
When we pray or speak in tongues we are using our New Inner Man,spirit, and the words are originating in the inner man by the Holy Spirit.
This is Amplified Bible; 1Cor 14:14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].
When we speak in tongues our mind is disconnected and has no part in this process. Even though I use my vocal cords and voice box in the outer man, the words are coming up out of the New Inner Man. My spirit, by the Holy Spirit, speaks but my mind is not involved in the process at all. From this we learn there is a dual personality in each born again Christian. One inward called “spirit” and one outward called “mind.”
The “mind” is capable of praying and singing but the spirit is also capable of praying and singing independently from the mind. As we experience this “strange” encounter with the Holy Spirit and permit the words flow out in “tongues” we suddenly realize that this is NOT coming from our intellect at all but we discover there is a new source for these strange words that we don’t recognize or understand. After we speak in tongues for several hours we realize that our mind can be focusing upon something totally different and our thoughts are focused upon another area of life and yet we can be speaking in tongues from out of our New Spiritual Inner Man.
Tongues are the result of this encounter with the Holy Spirit which by now millions have already received. This is hardly controversial now. What is controversial is a very similar thing happens with the Spirit of Christ, the living and Abiding Word of God, when we permit Him to speak. After we speak in tongues for a while we learn and get comfortable with this concept of speaking from out of the inner man by speaking in tongues. We realize the words are NOT coming from our mind! Then when the Living Word of God speaks in a language we do know it feels VERY normal and we have the same confidence that we are no longer limited just by what our mind knows! We are no longer limited to just ministering ‘knowledge.” Then from out of the New Inner Man we have the capacity to speak and minister the “Word of God” independent from our intellect or the limitation of what someone else has taught us.
Of course, those who refuse the ministry of the Holy Spirit never speak in tongues and therefore are totally ignorant of this process of speaking words you have never learned and can’t understand out of the New Inner Man. For that reason their ministry is limited just to the intellect and what has been understood by the mind. That is the limitation of learning to do the ministry in a Bible School or Seminary that is severely restricted to the ministry of the intellect. We can only minister out of the mind what we have learned. By this method we are limited to the “letter” of scripture but that is NOT God’s design. Only the Spirit can give Life. Therefore, the Spirit and Life ministry MUST originate in the new Inner Man and NOT in the intellect.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is universally received by each member and absolutely essential in the functioning Church He is Building. Being “filled with the Holy Spirit” is NOT an option in the Church He is Building. It is required! Why? Because, this Church is designed to be a Kingdom of Priests, a Royal Priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. A “priesthood” without the inner anointing and one that is not truly fully consecrated cannot exist in the Kingdom dimension. A Kingdom of Priests cannot function outside the Kingdom dimension.
John 7:15 The Jews therefore were marveling, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?”
Act 4:13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
If God had given us the choice of either becoming educated to learn the ministry OR just to speak the Living Word of God from out of the New Inner Man, some would still choose education. Why? Because, of the titles and recognition of having a “higher education.” If this Old Covenant ministry is our choice we must be satisfied to just minister “letter,” knowledge, facts and information. However, God’s reveled way is to speak the Living Word of God directly from out of the New Inner Man.
We will surely be startled when we recognize that we have two voices with us. One voice comes from the outward man and has its source in the brain. The other is the voice of the Living and Abiding Word of God that comes by way of the ministry of the Holy Spirit from out of the New Inner Man. While the sound may be the same because both use the same vocal cords and voice box, the message is entirely different. The voice from within will minister Truth, Spirit and Life.
Speaking the Living Word of God as Spirit and Life by the exact same process as speaking in Tongues is the New Covenant design for the ministry of the Lampstand Church and the office and function of the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek.
A “learned ministry” is foreign to the New Covenant and is outside of the Holy Place function of the Seven Spirits of God, the inner anointing and the Priesthood that is supplied by eating the Showbread. Ministering the Word of God must be ministering the Words that are coming from God and not just ministering the black words and sentences written on paper.
Therefore, moving the church into the full New Covenant experience is first priority. We have arrived at the time and place where everything else is irrelevant. Sharing more information, facts, knowledge, principles and seven steps to no place is just wasting more time, limiting the believers to a non-function and forcing the visible church into the eternal childhood of the believer.
If God holds the “leaders” responsible for straying from the pattern and for this shallow and counterfeit preparation, the great and terrible day of the Lord with not be a happy time of rejoicing. Preparing the saints to take their place in the New Jerusalem and to ascend Mount Zion is the first priority of those who have the Eternal Vision.
The “leaders responsibility” is to make sure that every believer entrusted to them will advance through ther seven Outer Court experiences and then pass through the Second Veil into the wholly Spiritual Light of the Seven Spirits of God. My understanding is that is the extent of their responsibility. From that time onward Jesus will take over the ministry, correction, adjustment and discipline of the Lampstand Church and the Holy Spirit will teach each ione by the inner anointing.
1John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. 28 And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.
This last verse sums up the ignorance of ignoring ALL the New Covenant provision and then substituting some man made programs as a failing counterfeit system.
Jer 2:13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns, That can hold no water.
These truths apply in every generation where the natural man designs his own systems.