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#544 – The Foundation Series

            Recognizing the Substance and Essence of the New Inner Man.

Recognizing the Inner Man In His New Covenant Function.

 

The Inner Space


April 20, 2013

There are areas of our life that we like to share but soon discover it is impossible. There is a certain frustration connected with this inner and invisible realm. It seems unique, but maybe reasonable, that several of us are experiencing this same frustration. Why? It could be because it is time for a new restoration into ultimate reality to begin and several are feeling it inside. The danger is in attempting to establish a doctrine to explain it. Attempting to control ultimate reality by adjusting our doctrines should be seen as spiritual fraud. We should soon realize that in this inner space reality / Life takes precedence over doctrines. This inner Life syndrome is far beyond doctrines.


The inner life of the new species [what we are calling inwardness ] is the “location” where personal issues are resolved and where outwardness cannot explain the process that takes place. It is in this place where our former human ideas, actions, customs, traditions and failures slowly lose their dominion over us. Outward religion is slowly being exposed as fraudulent and man centered. Outwardness seems to promote the helpfulness of living without meaning or without eternal goals.


This “inner SPACE” in the new creation man is “holy.” When examining this area we need to think “SPACE” and not “confinement.” Why? It is because we generally think of the holy place as shown in the Tabernacle of Moses. This area has defined dimensions and is an enclosed realm bound by walls and curtains. If we think in this limited realm, we think restriction, smallness and limitation. Some scriptures in the New Covenant transcend these limitations and reveal greater realms of existence.


To view the New Covenant Holy Place we must “step back” and observe this as a “SPACE” because it is a living realm called LIFE, ZOE! This “SPACE” is real and full of ultimate Life! It is within this realm that we can contact the Infinite God. In this space we are raised up and seated with Him. In this realm, the Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek has no beginning and no ending. This Priesthood has always functioned in that realm and is continuously functioning now! This Priesthood is NOT about genealogy or time but about functioning in the Power of the age yet to come. Why? Because it is a Priesthood that functions before the Most High God. This inner space is the place where the Kingdom is designed to reign during this time period. The Kingdom is within you is literal, IF we are living under its Laws, its Government and its Absolute Sovereignty.


This “SPACE” IS CHRIST the eternal Spirit. This eternal “SPACE” is the Living and abiding Word of God! This Space is within us and is Christ in us, our hope of glory. Looking forward (with inner eyes) into this ultimate and Eternal Space we see those who are dwelling within the Body of Our Great High Priest. These are also referred to as the bride of Christ. These are the mature Sons of God! These are Sons of the High Priest and members of His body. These are not limited to a specific location but these members are free to be sent out and to rule over all the work of His hands. Of course some ( possibly a small portion) of this realm will


be visible during the one thousand reign and the again in the World yet to come! There may be a learning curve now as He reigns over this inner space in the present tense, experientially. This is what we are calling the current Kingdom Governmental Experience.


The main problem with accessing this space is that it is of a completely different origin and realm than we can possibly access or know from the outward man. This space is local but from another universe that is of the invisible and eternal realms. The substance, the essence, the material of this space is native to another universe. This substance is Christ in you, the hope of Glory. This realm is beyond the dimensions of confinement and in this realm all earthly restrictions are removed. How do we know that?


Col 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.


Attempting to explain this from the outward, natural, old man, human, intellectual realm is impossible. In these Eternal Realms Christ, who is our life, is revealed. Therefore, the wisdom from God and the hidden mysteries are revealed. How? In Christ, the Living and Abiding Word of God! In these invisible realms there are no limitations. This universe of the Throne of God, where Christ Jesus one of us sits is the location of the new inner man, according to Colossians 3. This is beyond and natural explanation and is certainly NOT related to the outward man at all. Not only are we dealing with two men but two universes that are entirely different. Perhaps the word universe seems strange.


universe >noun 1 all existing matter and space considered as a whole; the cosmos. 2 a particular sphere of activity or experience. 3 combined into one whole.


We are using universe to mean a combined whole that is unseen but an ultimate realm separate from this visible realm. This unseen realm is the realm of the Kingdom and is called the heavenly places. The word places has been added by the translators so the exact meaning is obscured.


Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,


The heavenlies is maybe clearer.


Eph 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (heavenlies) 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.


Eph 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.


Eph 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.


We are interpreting the heavenly places (heavenlies) as heavenly spaces because WE, the new inner man, has been elevated to these spaces which is identified as seated with Christ. Therefore forcing our way into this inner Kingdom realm is not an external action but an active participation in the activity taking place in the inner space. It may be (I am guessing) that when we enter into and begin functioning within this inner space, we will be shocked to discover a foreign being there. We discover even an anti-Christ personality. This is the old person of the Adam species that we assumed was forgiven and gone. This discovery is a great shock and is troubling and disgusting but finally reveals why we are still having an occasional relapse into old problems. We discover that this enemy is the old me!


Facing this former inner being takes courage and resolve because you recognize the enemy is within. Discovering EITHER the old person or the New Person presents a new challenge. The old being “CONTROLS” while the New Covenant Inward Being (a combined whole) leads and guides. Standing back and observing the self, its selfishness and its self serving, which is egotistic and ego centric, reveals a stark nakedness functioning without proper garments. We may also be able to observe the new person with the Priests Garments, fully clothed, with a measure of glory. I am speculating that these fallen issues, inherent in the old being, are resolved in this inner space. Why? Because, multitudes of us who are believing Christians are still dealing with certain disgusting things years after they were forgiven. To be forgiven is not the ultimate goal! To be forgiven is wonderful but to be delivered from the old man is the real and ultimate goal.


When we observe this “foreign being” standing in the holy place {selah} it results in distress and confusion. This is a painful journey that boarders on tribulation and humiliation. Why? Because we may have assumed that Christianity is something we believe in and salvation is complete and final at the moment of forgiveness of sins. Being confronted by the hidden self-- the old center of our being-- is ugly to see and should call us to a new level of responsibility, sensitivity and repentance!


This level of repentance requires a bold acknowledgment and a full disclosure of our personal anti-Christ tendencies! This requires a willingness to expose the darkest areas of these foreign and fallen attributes that extend to the thoughts, motives and intentions of the heart.


But why are you bringing up these negative things now that we are saved? That is because much of our eternal inheritance is determined by the development of the new inner man. For that reason the conflict between these two inner forces must be dealt with, overcome and solved in this life. If the old flesh man is not dealt with, the new inner man ( the Christian) may not reach his full potential in Christ! The So what is the big deal attitude is the result of ignorance of eternal things.


But, brother, since this is so personal and difficult to understand, why do you put this into a document? This is just confusing us! That is because much of the understanding of this realm is kept secret and is not mentioned in the Sunday message. These hidden things are supposed to made known through the church! This anti-Christ personality and his hidden agenda is not being exposed by the messengers. Some of the emotional pulpiteers refuse to accept that these ugly areas even exist. Why? It might cast the ministry and us in some negative light. For that reason most church goers are unaware of these difficulties. Therefore, the Judas spirit remains and these ugly anti-Christ manifestations are common in the visible church systems.

 

It is in these times and “places” of spiritual and eternal light where a clearer vision and the desire for ultimate reality is born. The continuous transition from my old self to “MY new self -- CHRIST-- is called Christianity! Since the outward man is perishing because he is of the earth and must return to the earth , the Christian is the New Inner Man and the one that MUST grow up in all things into Christ and be conformed to His image. If we neglect him we are in danger of suffering eternal loss.


The operation of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, the Seven Spirits of God, in this Inner Holy Place provides this Ultimate Light. Here, in this space, we also need to think LIGHT [inner illumination] rather than just ANOINTING! This light reveals both positive and negative things to us while the inner anointing teaches us where and how to function as members of His Body.


Can this be effectively described to others? Not likely! Why? This is of a different realm and another dimension of reality from the outwardness of common religion. This ultimate CHRIST within cannot be fully externalized because of these invisible realms that are not yet converted / transformed to the standards set for Holy Place realm. It is by standing back and observing this internal “SPACE” {the Holy Place} that houses and reveals the Ultimate Reality that we contact that Ultimate Reality. Being confronted by this realm of ultimate reality begins a process ( I am guessing) in which we are transformed from glory to glory. Why?


2Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.


I am assuming this is describing, in some measure, the Ultimate Reality. However, this beholding cannot happen in the visible reams.


Using “we are changed from glory to glory” as a song or a cliche, in which no radical change takes place, appears to be too shallow and rather revolting. If we are seeking for ultimate reality we must encounter the Kingdom of God in this transition from outwardness to inwardness. When we eliminate the New Covenant from our expectation of higher ability and the Kingdom from our experience, we automatically limit ourselves to basic Christianity. At very best, this realm is limited to smallness of vision and lack of eternal expectation of participating in a Kingdom of Priests. I am speculating that it is the transition to the next realm [Holy Place] where we transition to this Ultimate SPACE and the realm of extended Wisdom, Vision and Understanding. Why? Because the light Source is different and the effect of the illumination touches a higher realm. If we could touch this realm, we would be touching an eternal dimension and a measure of the Infinite God.


While we do not wish to be too mystical about the Inner Holy Place Realm, we do not want to remain in this superficial visible, natural and temporal realm. Even though we are speculating, using scripture, we must admit there are other dimensions in the unseen realms that we know nothing about! It seems obvious that contacting these unseen realms is personal and the function of the New Inner Man.


2Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.


It also seems obvious that the true believer must have some inherent power (eyes) and ability to see into these unseen realms. If this is true, it should be apparent that this popular religious practice of outwardness will be unable to contact these invisible realms. For that reason outwardness is much too shallow to function in these scriptural realms. Since the old species of man, after Adam, has absolutely no ability to see into these invisible realms, it seems reasonable to assign these unseen realms to the New Species of Inner Man.


Since the New Inner Man is both the image and likeness of God, because he is created by and from God, he, alone, has the potential to see, interpret and function in these unseen realms. Since this is the only reasonable assumption that we can derive from these scriptures, we should ask what is the process by which we can participate in the eternal realms?


2Cor 4:10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death works in us, but life in you.


The death of outwardness is the key to our function in these scriptural realms of inwardness. It is also clear that the area in which these inner illuminations operate is within His Life, Zoe! Being ONE with His Life, Zoe, opens up these eternal realms in which limitations are unknown.


2Cor 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;


By sharing in this way I hope to inspire the consecrated believer, who is pressing toward a New Covenant Priesthood, to accept that these scriptural realms are freely available to all who will meet the requirements. We are NOT presenting this as some strange area of mysticism that borders on spiritual insanity as some observe. This seems to be the normal result of what we are calling by the abstract term, INWARDNESS.


We freely speak of the Christ Within without understanding what that really means. Some just think about salvation when considering this term. Some are so foolish to believe this happens automatically when we believe something about Jesus. However, this is the ministry goal!


Col 1:26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.


To reduce these tremendous verses down to forgiveness of sins is criminal in the eternal realms. To modify these verses to apply to something outward is ignorant. Do we really recognize the Christ within and the Christ beyond, above, invisible and eternal as the Eternal Spirit. This Spirit is one with God. We must all be set free from the Christian Ghettos of confinement and at least acknowledge that exploring this next SPACE could be the next restoration. We might call this the Christ Space. First we need to confirm that Christ [the Eternal Spirit] is the Living and Abiding Word of God who IS God. This, in no way, disparages the Eternal Father or the Eternal Holy Spirit. We are assigning the term space to SPIRIT. This actually exults Jesus Christ rather than depreciates Him. Why? Because, as our prototype Son, He functioned in this realm.


John 3:8 “The wind (Spirit) blows where it wishes and you hear the sound (voice) of it (Him) , but do not know where (He) it comes from and where it (He) is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”


This is the Young s Literal Translation in old English; John 3:8 the Spirit where he willeth doth blow, and his voice thou dost hear, but thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit.’


Surely, most everyone can see that this born of the Spirit transcends far beyond what we consider the popular outward Christian life. Born of the Spirit appears to be different from the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Why? But thou hast not known whence he cometh, and whither he goeth; thus is every one who hath been born of the Spirit. This is truly mystical but is presented as normal for anyone who is born of the Spirit.


We will make our case for INWARDNESS from what Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day. He spoke seven woes to them. In Matthew 23 we should understand that there is another realm from the outwardness of religion that is the accepted way. It should be clear that we must enter the way of inwardness to participate in that invisible realm.


Here is an example; Mat 23:25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.


Matthew 23: 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 “Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.


Mat 23:5 “But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries, and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 “And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called by men, Rabbi.


According to Jesus, this outward religion, to be seen by men, is a disgraceful thing. Then we should ask what is the only alternative? Holding to some form of outwardness appears to be a dangerous thing and something to be avoided. In studying these verses, we see there is this unseen realm that can only be contacted by inwardness. Also, that outwardness is rejected by God while inwardness is acceptable. However, BOTH inwardness and outwardness are in danger if done to be seen by men. Both are spiritual fraud when brought into the Christian, New Covenant realm.


This outwardness is certainly a great danger when applied to modern worship. This is so obvious there is no need to comment! There is always this divided interest that is split between for us and also for God!


Mat 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.”


Jesus clearly said that to keep kosher is nothing. Why? It is not what goes into the outer man that defiles the man but what comes up out of the old inner man, the heart.


Mat 15:7 “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 9 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’” 10 And after He called the multitude to Him, He said to them, “Hear, and understand. 11 “Not what enters into the mouth defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.


1Sam 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”


When we recognize the ugly things we still have within, we discover it is terrifying because these are the THINGS that God is looking at to make His judgements. If the inner man is defiled, the outward man and his work becomes irrelevant and un-useful to God. God said, in effect, don t make your decisions based upon outward appearances. God chooses because of what is inside! Now, the Christian Life takes on new meanings. God might even be offended by our meetings. We might not even know why we are ineffective because these things are kept secret from the average believer. If man s interests are established as the basis of ministry, it could be possible that Satan is behind it. The fact remains that we know so little about ministries and what affects them. It is my opinion that these invisible inner realms would be exposed if we could see into the inner space.


It appears that we casually read the scriptures and interpret them from what little we have already experienced rather than closely examining them just for what they say. For example;


Eph 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 Eph 3:10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.


Since we must assume this scripture is revealing a certain reality, we should be asking ourselves why this scripture is NOT being experienced and demonstrated in our generation. If God is revealing His manifold wisdom through the church, why are the meetings just the same old, same old irrelevant stuff? When will we hear them preach to us Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery?


 If this is in accordance with the eternal purpose, then the mystery should be boldly preached today. Since it is NOT being preached, is it valid to ask why? Of course my theory is that these mysteries are not being revealed to the outward man but ONLY to the Inner Man. Why? These mysteries are included in the Showbread ( the type) which the Priests must eat. Eating the Showbread is NOT optional and the Showbread does NOT contain irrelevant messages!


Is it true that our real calling is to call sinners to Christ? Yes! However, calling sinners to Christ without producing a new creation inner man may create believers and pew sitters but NOT Christians. Christianity is first inward and then has an outward manifestation. Attempting to produce an outward manifestation without a new inner man is the foolishness of the visible systems. These systems must teach the believer how to act like a Christian without being one! A real Christian will automatically act like one. Why? That is because he has a new powerful inner Life, Christ! Teaching holiness as a learned system is another disgusting practice that produces nothing eternal. Holiness must begin in the new inner man before it can be demonstrated.


What is the obvious result of NOT preaching the unfathomable riches of Christ? We must hold evangelism seminars to teach believers how to witness and how to knock on doors to invite the sinners to church. Most of us have been in those meetings and suddenly realized this was just another big waste of time. The unfathomable riches of Christ must include His role as our Great High Priest and the King of His Sovereign Kingdom of Christ! Calling sinners to Christ but without an internal Kingdom Government enforcing His laws, statutes and ordinances in the individual is some kind of shallow or partial salvation. It is for this reason that much of the visible church is in the pre-conversion stage.


Eze 11:19 “And I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.


Now the visible church has created a scheme of evangelism that can be taught by men. They produced a system, a product that can be sold. This is a head type evangelism that is designed to get men to believe something about Jesus and then declare THAT to be salvation. In many cases no Life is received and no new inner man is created and NO GROWTH can be experienced. This is a pitiful substitute for New Covenant Salvation within the Kingdom Government of God.


It is surely the old man, who is earthy, that is content with these earthy religious systems. Just being satisfied by living in the earthly realm and by the ordinary system of having church should have been removed from us through death and burial of the old man. IN CHRIST must begin a complete change of mentality and a NEW experience! In Christ should take on a much more significant meaning than the popular term of being saved.


Well, brother, we are not of the world. But what good is that verse to us if we are still firmly attached to the world. Many of these truths are just repeated as Christian Cliches but have no reality in our experience! One aspect of the world system is that it is all outwardness while Christianity must begin as an inwardness. Outwardness can easily deteriorate into religious activity to be seen by men. Outwardness can be applied to secular politics OR to the Christian hierarchy that plays religious politics. Outwardness primarily serves its self while in the pretense of serving Christ. Of course it can deteriorate into serving a congregation while in the pretense of serving Christ. Serving the congregation is primarily just seeking their approval instead of instructing them how to serve God and prepare for eternity. (I pastored a church for 30 years and just recently, in the last 13, years understood why I produced so little)


Now I realize that whatever takes us away from the centrality of Christ and the function of the Holy Spirit robs us of that inward reality. Focusing upon outward activity to gain access to these higher realms will eventually disappoint us if there is no inward reality. Why? Only the new inner man can access these Higher Realms of eternal reality. Outwardness will generally end up in another spiritual performance or a ministry show time that can produce NO eternal benefit for anyone.


Sometimes it is only a miserable failure in the outward realm that can drive us into the inward life realm. The outward religious life, with its many dangers and pitfalls, is a dangerous path to follow. Holy Exhibitionism to be seen by men is unacceptable in the Kingdom dimensions and is condemned by Jesus. This exhibitionism was normal among the religious leaders in Jesus day. However, Jesus openly criticized the Jewish leaders for this failure as just more religious irrelevancy! They were setting their own interests above God s interests. I am guessing the same thing is happening today.


I am speculating that most all spiritual advancement of the new inner man takes place in this inner realm which we are relating to the Holy Place. I am also guessing that our real prayer, our communion and Him teaching us takes place in this inner realm. My theory is that we cannot separate spiritual growth from spiritual advancement. If this is true, then pressing toward the High Calling is by the awareness and understanding of the new inner man.


We must pause here to clarify some confusion about the outer man. The body is part of the outer man but NOT the outer man, himself. The outer man lives in the body. The body is an inert substance that is neutral, neither good or bad. It is just from this earth realm and is therefore earthy. It will return to the earth. The problems associated with outwardness do not originate in the body but in the old Adam person who lives in the body. While the body may be cremated and reduced to ashes, the old natural person lives on.


The natural man the person who lives in the body always gravitates toward natural things. This is why natural religion attracts such an abundance of natural followers. This natural person will seek for safety and security in the earth realm. He will be unduly influenced by the natural dangers and disasters. This is why the end time peppers look for hiding places in the earth. Their solace is in storing food and water and in the survival of the natural man.


This is a few examples of how the natural man the outer person reacts to natural dangers. Their hiding places are in the earth realm.


Judges 6:2 And the power of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of Midian the sons of Israel made for themselves the dens which were in the mountains and the caves and the strongholds.


1Sam 13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait (for the people were hard-pressed), then the people hid themselves in caves, in thickets, in cliffs, in cellars, and in pits.


Eze 33:27 “Thus you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “As I live, surely those who are in the waste places will fall by the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in the strongholds and in the caves will die of pestilence.


Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains;


During natural disasters and perceived dangers, the dichotomy between the inner man and the outer man will be most obvious. The outer man will seek for earthly safety and security and the inner man seek the secret place of the Most High. God is not particularly impressed with those (people of God) who turn to the earth and natural things for their solace and safety.


The New Inner man also exists in this same body with the old natural breath of life/dirt man. The body is inert, neither good or bad. It doesn t even have an opinion nor does it present new ideas. It is neutral in all matters. It just responds to the strongest and most dominate of the two persons who reside there.


God s plan is for the natural man to decrease while the new inner man who is spirit increases. Water baptism is the first defense against the dominance of the natural man who is called the old man. The body of sin is not the dirt body that is neutral to sin but the body of sin is inherent within the old man. It is this old man that we are calling the outer man.


2Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.


Even though we generally think about the outer man as the body that is decaying, this also can be translated as ruined or corrupted. The outer person, in our context, is ruined and corrupted and God s only plan for him is death and burial. While the body is baptized it does not die but the old man is the one sentenced to death.


G1311 δ αφ ε diaphtheiro dee-af-thi’-ro From G1223 and G5351; to rot thoroughly, that is, (by implication) to ruin (passively decay utterly, figuratively pervert): - corrupt, destroy, perish.


The flesh is not the body but the old person who lives in the body. The next defense against the flesh is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. However, this is just the introduction or the down payment upon the fulness of the Spirit.


Rom 8:5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.


Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.


Our ally against the flesh, which is the old man the outer man , is the Holy Spirit. Our enemy is NOT the body but the old person who insists upon living in the body long after he was sentenced to death. This old person has deeds that identify him as our enemy. This enemy is within us and he is the one we are identifying as the outer man.


Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


Gal 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.


We have NOT crucified the body with Christ but the flesh which is the old inner man who is now the old outer man. The confusion about the body being the outer man has confused the intended purpose of these scriptures and detracts from the clarity of these documents. We hope that everyone will take the time to correct their thinking to be compatible with these definitions. Baptizing the body to defeat the old inner man has been a source of this confusion. How? By assuming that baptizing the body has eliminated the old inner man, the flesh! Baptism is the death sentence while the Holy Spirit attempts to render him inactive by our cooperation and standing against him.


Of course there is no possibility of summing up this study by a few statements. Outward doctrines do not affect the foreign inner man. The old inner man is a citizen of the outward realms. It is the new inner man that is the stranger and the pilgrim in this earthly realm. His citizenship is in the heavenlies.


There is a helplessness of living without meaning and without some understanding of the world yet to come. That world is the Tabernacle of God. Also a futility of losing our vision of Christ, the Living and Abiding Word of God, by which we are birthed into the eternal realms. This unity is essential or we soon lose our eternal vision and become a stranger to spiritual reason.


The true Christian has entered into an Eternal Life Realm that is focused upon our Eternal Goals which is centered in the Tabernacle of God and His Eternal Purpose! However, the True Christian possesses a zeal to fully redeem this lost generation so they might possess this same Eternal Vision. This inner Life is NOT directing us to flee the present and contemporary problems but overcome them! We seek to make sense of them by infusing them with some eternal meaning within the processes of our preparation for eternity.


This is quite different from the religious systems that deceive people, who have a good feeling about Jesus and His work, into believing that is eternal salvation. They refer to that as faith but fail to insist that they dwell in the Exalted Christ or have Him dwell in them. These people are easily trapped in the rhetoric of some gospel songs that refer to His sweet, sweet presence or about walking up to shake hands with the earthly Jesus! These songs convey more cliches about the mystical Jesus. These songs seek to reveal the earthly Jesus who is recorded in scriptures as our Savior but then miss His Eternal and Exalted role as Christ Jesus the King and now the High Priest over the House of God. The revelation of Him in John one, Ephesians one, Colossians one, Hebrews one, 1 John one and Revelation one, cannot be confined to a song. This revelation of Him draws us to that higher realm of Life where He now exists, at the Right Hand of God. However, we begin this journey and transition by recognizing Him as the Christ in us, our hope of Glory. He (Christ) alone then must become our Wisdom from God, our righteousness, our sanctification and our redemption. He does NOT give these things but He Becomes these things in us. He IS our Great Salvation!


If you have received a THING called salvation be very careful and check out if CHRIST DWELLS IN YOU. This LIFE should be self evident and produce an inner witness!