Another "Overemphasis"; the New Covenant?
What Was God's Reason To Establish "The New Covenant?"
What is the Value Of Being In Covenant With God?
Why Is Tongues Related to the New Covenant?
November 9, 2014
It appears that most of our studiers appear to have bordered on the extreme and the exaggerated nature of each subject. I admit to certain guilt in exceeding the "Normalcy Bias" that has enslaved many sincere believers into a comatose state. It is this confusing and mysterious "Normalcy Bias" that sets the standards of acceptance among many believers. This obscure "Normalcy Bias" is sometimes related to something called "orthodoxy."
orthodox >adjective 1 conforming with traditional or generally accepted beliefs. 2 conventional; normal. (from doxa 'opinion')
doxology; >noun a liturgical system or formula of praise to God.
My unorthodox "opinion" is that we continue to fail practically and, therefore, fail to advance spiritually simply because we fail to adjust to a progressing standard that may be higher or more demanding. Why is that so often the situation in "normal" church circles? That is because the new standard is not considered "normal among church leaders." We generally just adjust to our "normalcy bias." There is also the "denominational bias" that must be adhered to. There is also an uncertain and undefinable "ministry bias" that rejects anything more or different from what that ministry thinks is "normal."
It is true that I have no defense when charged with departing from what is considered the "normalcy bias" that has been accepted by the greatest majority of the leaders in the visible church. In many of these studies I have certainly departed from what is considered as "normal orthodoxy."
It should be noted that much of these concept are just fantasy because there really is NO standard "orthodoxy!" Why? That is because "orthodoxy" varies from the radical to the extreme within the hundreds of denominations. It is some particular "doctrinal difference" in each group that is the reason for that particular denomination to exist and it is their particular doctrines that makes them unique. For example; The Jehovah Witnesses and hundreds of others have establish their own "standards of faith and acceptance."
If everyone held to the exact same "orthodoxy" they could all be part of the same denomination and it is assumed then that "we could all be one as He and the Father is One." But, is it really "orthodoxy and a standardized doctrine" that is required to be "one?" This "oneness" surely cannot be applied to the wild variations of doctrinal orthodoxy that is accepted as "normal."
Therefore, we conclude that there is no universal "normalcy Bias" or universally accepted orthodoxy that even exists except that which is created by each denomination. What is now considered as "normal orthodoxy" swings into the extremes from totally liberal and unbiblical, to fully restricted fundamentalism, to various kinds of legalism, and then even into the cults. Therefore, we can only conclude that "universal orthodoxy" is a fantacy.
It is for that reason that I reject any necessity for "orthodoxy" that depends upon this fantasy called the "Normalcy Bias" as the standard that we must maintain to be accepted as "doctrinally correct."
I can only accept what is clearly scripturally "orthodox" and a continually changing adjustment to an advancing "Kingdom Bias!" This is the only practical possibility for a growing and advancing church that is in the ascending mode of the Christian Life.
I boldly reject any "visible church normalcy" that can be the standard for a developing and growing group of believers. Why? That is because "orthodoxy" has demonstrably failed in perfecting the believers by their systems of standardized religion. I might accept some "standard" if it could adjust to the New Covenant and to a "standard" that leads believers into the next restoration of the Church He is Building. Of course the "Pure Gold Lampstand Church" which He is building has escaped the natural light of the "Outer Court Preparation Process" and has transitioned to the Holy Place dimension. In other words; the Pure Gold Lampstand Church is the only "standard" that is relevant for a developing group.
This "Lampstand Church Realm"is what we are relating to the functioning New Covenant
Priesthood! This Priesthood must function under the Sovereign Headship of Christ Jesus, our High Priest.
Any "separated 'ministry' priesthood" is no longer valid simply because every believer, functioning within the New Covenant, is called to the "Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek and to become that Kingdom of Priests." Those that "minister" in the Holy Place realm MUST have been completely prepared and equipped by the Outer Court Foundations to qualify for participation in the Lampstand Church. The New Covenant "Priesthood" functions in that realm. Neither the Lampstand Church nor the Priesthood can include someone who has just been ordained by man because of an education. This "seven fold preparation" has been exclusively designed by God to produce a people for His own possession and His own purpose.
For example; both the forgiveness of "SINS" must be settled AND the personal damage that "SIN" has caused in each of us must be reversed. Then God's Life and Power must be received so we can serve God by both sacrifice and obedience. Then, we cannot serve God in the flesh but ONLY in and by the Spirit. THEN, a full consecration must be experienced to function as a priest of God, Most High. ALL the garments suitable to the first Adam must be removed and ALL the garments related to the Last Adam must be fitted upon us.
To ignore these "seven foundational transformations" will eliminate us from the Lampstand Church. This, in turn, will eliminate us from the New Covenant Priesthood which will eliminate us from the Kingdom of Priests which will eliminate us from participation in God's Eternal Purpose. It is for this reason that after we leave the natural Light of the Outer Court and enter the Holy Place (Lampstand) realm "orthodoxy" becomes irrelevant! Why? Jesus, Himself, takes over our "discipleship" as we see in Revelation 2 and 3.
It seems obvious that all these next realm experiences are too "unorthodox" to be considered as "normal" for the visible realms. While it is certainly true that these "unusual truths" are in a higher realm, it is also true that they cannot be acceptable for the average believer in the visible church. The invisible realms will surely be rejected because they will appear to be far too mysterious to be a valid Christian experience. Why? That is because the "normal Christian experience," that is considered typical today, will be severely challenged by this other realm and the higher cost related to the New Covenant Priesthood.
It is this higher calling, which is inherent in the Next [Holy Place] Restoration, that will produce much more controversy and even anarchy in the future! This "mystery" will produce an even more violent response from the status quo groups. Why do I suspect this? That is because this rejection has been the trend of every restoration since "repentance from dead works" in the 14th century. Since these past restorations were just in the visible realms, it seems certain that the next restoration will be far more controversial. Why? That is because these experiences will be far too extreme and radical to be accepted. But we could ask; Too radical as compared to what? This is much less radical than what Jesus taught.
Luke 14:25 Now great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
To be His disciple means that we must be in that realm where Jesus, our High Priest, can teach us. This is the realm that we see in Revelation 2 and 3 and is identified as the Lampstand Realm. It is in this realm that we can witness Jesus, our High Priest, building HIS CHURCH!
Does this "Realm and this Requirement" eliminate most "normal" visible church believers?
Sadly, Yes! The difficulty is that the "normalcy bias" has been set far too low to embrace all these other scriptures.
This is certainly true of the tremendous blessing of the Nine Gifts of the Spirit that are developed and advanced by the Speaking in Tongues.
Our thesis is that "Speaking in Tongues" is essential to the maturity of the New Inner Man and is therefore essential for this next restoration to the Lampstand Church and to the Priesthood Ministry.
One local pastor has suggested that much confusion still exists between the "Gift of Tongues" used for corporate edification by the Gift of Interpretation during a meeting and the "Speaking in Tongues" used for personal edification. Of course this is true and some confusion exists in the last study because we did not make that specific distinction.
Our intention was to show that speaking in "personal" Tongues was for the building up of the new inner man so HE COULD BEGIN MINISTERING in place of the outward man. Too much "orthodoxy" is just limited to the ministry of the outward man ministering through a traditional delivery of another religious "message" from a pulpit. By this time in church history it should be obvious that this method has "perfected" no one!
At this time in "the restoration of all things spoken by the prophets" there is currently NO acceptable priesthood ministry! Why? It could be simply because the essential sevenfold foundations for the Christian life has been ignored! Why is that essential? That is because this next restoration is focused upon the ministry of the new inner man. This "ministry" is limited to a cooperation between the believer and the Holy Spirit! Why? That is because "Spiritual Ministry" requires that "spiritual words" must be spoken to convey Spiritual Thoughts that have been given by the Holy Spirit. Since these words being spoken out of the New Creation Man are spontaneous and originate in the Holy Spirit, they cannot be judged by "normal" visible church methods. Since these "spiritual words" have been given by the Holy Spirit and are not the product of man's the mind, they cannot be judged by any human standard.
What is considered as normal "ministry" for the outward man should be considered as far too shallow for the "ministry" of the new inner man. Why? That is because this anticipated ministry is "OF THE SPIRIT." The next big problem to surface is how to escape from the extreme shallowness of this failed human ministry. What has been considered as "normal ministry" will be finally rejected when the new inner man begins his ministry. Of course, this may be too extreme and radical for the visible church realm and violent criticism can be expected. Therefore, let us begin!
In the last study we suggested that ALL Spiritual Ministry BEGINS with Tongues. Why? That is because Tongues is essential to the development and function of the new inner man. Since all Spiritual Ministry is a cooperation between the new inner man and the Holy Spirit, the growth and maturity of the new inner man is the key to all Spiritual Ministry! It is amazing how this function of "tongues" has met with so much misunderstanding because it is quite simple how Tongues connects us to the Priesthood Ministry.
In this study we will suggest that the continual practice of Personal Tongues directly connects us to the New Covenant Provisions contained in the "Promise of the Father." Even before the condemnation begins, I understand that this will be widely considered as too radical and very strange and will be condemned by some as an absurd interpretation of scripture!
I am NOT offended by that criticism because I accept the pattern of the Tabernacle for my confidence, reasoning and understanding. Why is that? Seventeen times in Exodus chapter 39 and 40 the scriptures says that Moses constructed the Tabernacle exactly how God commanded Moses to build it.
Exo 39: 42 So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses. 43 And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the LORD had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them.
It is for this reason that I have assumed that the Tabernacle is just as valid a type / picture of eternal things as the Ten Commandments or the Law or the Priesthood. Also since the Book of Hebrews uses all these things over and over to apply to the Christian life, the Tent, the Preparation, the Consecration, the Transformation etc, these are all pictures for us. Therefore, the Priesthood function in the Holy Place is a valid type / picture for each of us who will pay the price to qualify as a Priest after the Order of Melchizedek.
Of course our suggestion that the active and continual use of the Personal of Tongues is essential for this "other" dimension of Christian Ministry is still somewhat controversial to those who DO NOT speak in tongues! Nevertheless, directly relating personal tongues to the Preaching of the Kingdom and the Priesthood Ministry is rejected by many among those who DO still "speak in tongues." We certainly admit that this use of Tongues really does sound strange even in Charismatic and Pentecostal circles.
However, this reaction is especially true among those who have rejected Tongues universally because it is considered one of God's worthless Gifts. Their "Religious Bias" eliminates any possibility that Tongues are valid for the individual OR the church today.
In this document we are NOT addressing the "Gift of Tongues" for interpretation as a ministry to the Assembly even though that is certainly valid. Our total focus will be upon the "Personal Tongues" for the building up of the New Inner Man so he can serve God! This IS the New Species of person (who IS the Christian) that speaks in tongues! While the words are spoken by the voice of the outer man, the utterance (words) are arising out of the New Species of Man. The ultimate source of the words is the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, the Bible says that "They spoke as the Holy Spirit gave them the utterance." If the "words" rising out of the New Inner Man are offensive it is not the person that should be condemned but the Holy Spirit who gave the words and the inspiration to speak them. This is just adhering to what the scriptures say.
Nevertheless, a certain "negative bias" has developed simply because some carnal outward men have misused the "Gift of Tongues" in a meeting and has offended someone! This was also the situation that Paul was addressing in 1 Corinthians. We are NOT addressing that problem of misuse of Tongues in this document so there should be NO objection.
bias >noun 1 inclination or prejudice in favor of a particular person, thing, or viewpoint. 2 a slanting direction; to influence unfairly; prejudice.
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the Gift of Personal Tongues began on the day of the
first Pentecost and the restoration of that blessing began again with the Pentecostal restoration in 1906? "Tongues" (both kinds) were restored to the Pentecostal assemblies at that time. This experience was "restored again" among the poor and uneducated believers in a horse stable in Los Angeles. There were healings, miracles and various signs that accompanied this outpouring of the Holy Spirit but is was a socially unacceptable "place" by most in the "local church." Why? That was because of the humble location and rejection of the people that were "ministering." Most "believers" in Los Angeles rejected this God given experience because of the "social bias" in which it took place. Some asked why would God pour out His Spirit in such a common place and not in our marvelous facility among orthodox believers? Ah, to the contrary, we could ask; Why was the Messiah born in a very similar place or why was Moses found floating in a hand made tar coated basket?
We sometimes forget that God is absolutely Sovereign in the way He designs things for His Purpose! "Orthodoxy" is a thing created by man to meet man's needs and his standard of religious satisfaction.
Now, the standard accepted by much of the visible church has been set very low on the eternal scale. However, much of this "standard" was established by those who do not speak in tongues. However, there are a few "Pentecostal and Charismatic groups" who also have reject this experience of "Speaking in Tongues" simply because they saw no real value in that experience.
Several years ago there was a book published named "I used to Speak in Tongues." The author reported that he quickly discovered that there was no benefit in the Gift. He alluded to the fact that in his investigation there was no difference between those who speak in tongues and those who don't. He could be totally correct in his evaluation and I have witnessed the same thing. Still, that is NOT the standard to which we have been called. Therefore, leaving the "personal tongues" for edification and let us progress to the "introduction of Tongues" as it relates to the Promise of the Father and the New Covenant.
We find it disturbing that still others are offended by our constant reference to the New Covenant in these studies. If we just read the Bible we will know that being offended by the mention of New Covenant borders on the absurd. Why? That is because there is no Christian Church that can function under any other Covenant because no other covenant exists.
Because of those facts, I am speculating that it may be too controversal if I point out that God designed and ordained the "gift of personal tongues" as the open gateway into the New Covenant experiences. Why is this important? That is because the New Covenant is just basic to becoming a Christian. There certainly are many realms related to our predestination that we have not fulfilled in the six past restorations. The Gift of Tongues is also the gateway in the other eight universal gifts of the Holy Spirit! These "GIFTS" are essential for the spiritual dimension of "ministry."
It is for that reason that Jesus warned His disciples NOT to do any ministry until after the First Christian Pentecost in Acts 2. We are making the distinction between the Jewish Feast of Pentecost and the Christian Feast of Pentecost. That is because the Jewish Feast has been fulfilled by the Christian Feast of Pentecost! This Christian Experience of the Feast ARRIVED when ALL of those in the upper room began to Speak in Tongues. Fact; the New Covenant ARRIVED with Tongues. Will this will be a very disgusting statement to the average church goer? Yes!
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
This violent shaking was a repeat of exactly what happened at Mount Sinai when He violently shook the earth and God came in fire. Of course there were no "tongues" at Mount Sinai because God Spoke directly from the mountain in an audible voice at that time.
Deu 5:4 "The LORD spoke to you face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fire, 5 while I was standing between the LORD and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the LORD; for you were afraid because of the fire and did not go up the mountain.
Exodus 19:16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
It was at Mount Sinai that God ordained the Feast of Pentecost, or the Feast of the Fiftieth Day, and commanded Israel to always keep this feast after they entered into Canaan. This is a Harvest Feast that could NOT be kept in the wilderness because there is NO harvest there. At this Feast of Pentecost Israel was to remember how God gave them the Law, the Priesthood, the Tabernacle, the sacrifices and the ordering of the tribes at Mount Sinai. Nevertheless, this is just a copy of the reality but the fulness is designed to be experienced within the "Christian Pentecost" and essential for the Church He is Building.
At the Feast in Acts 2 THEY spoke as the Holy Spirit gave THEM the WORDS.
In Exodus 19 God Spoke directly from the mountain in an audible voice but the people begged Moses not to permit God to speak to them directly again. From that time until Pentecost in Acts 2 God only spoke through the prophets. In Acts 2 God began to speak directly to His People again through the Holy Spirit. How did God speak? Through tongues, exactly as the prophesy said!
Isaiah 28:9 "To whom would He teach knowledge? And to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast?10 "For He says, 'Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there.'" 11 Indeed, He will speak to this people Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue, 12 He who said to them, "Here is rest, give rest to the weary," And, "Here is repose," but they would not listen.
1Cor 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
It seems strange that anyone could read this and then evaluate ANY of the "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" as worthless, unimportant or just for the early church. Since the New Covenant was introduced to the Church He is Building at the very beginning, it seems clear that the Gifts of the Spirit arrived at the exact same time. The Church, the New Covenant, the Promise of the Father and the Gifts of the Spirit are all related to each other.
It is too common to only relate the New Covenant to Lord's Table and the participation in the Bread and the Cup! Why? That is because Jesus was connecting the New Covenant to the giving of His body and to the shedding of His Blood when He served the Lord's Table. Jesus was announcing this tremendous time when the "Promise of the Father," to establish a New Covenant People, was to be fulfilled. The Lord's Table was an announcement of that NOW is the time for "the Promise of the Father" to be fulfilled and EXPERIENCED.
Luke 24:49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
God established the Old Covenant at Mount Sinai during the First Jewish Pentecost AND God established the New Covenant at the First Feast of Christian Pentecost in Acts 2. In the Old Covenant God gave the Law written on stone but in the New Covenant God gives the Law written upon the Tablets of the Heart. In the Old Covenant circumcision was outward in the flesh but in the New Covenant circumcision is inward in the heart. The EXPERIENCE of the New Covenant came with the Speaking with Tongues. Why? This is where the REST AND THE REFRESHING begins when God speaks to HIS PEOPLE through foreign Tongues. These "tongues" were NOT just babbling and unintelligible sounds but were actual "languages."
It has blasphemously been reported that some seriously retarded persons have been heard speaking in similar ways. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit in that way is a very serious offence.
Acts 2:5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because they were each one hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and marveled, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
Even if we can readily accept the "personal tongues" as valid for every believer, some will surely question if tongues has anything to do with "ministry and the New Covenant?
Well, brother, it even seems strange when you always connect the "ministry" with the New Covenant? Isn't the "ministry" just related to the church? The point we are making is that the New Covenant Ministry is directly related to the Priesthood Ministry after the Order of Melchizedek.
All priesthood ministry after the Order of Aaron was according to the Old Covenant! All "Priesthood Ministry" after the Order of Melchizedek" is according to the New Covenant. It is for that reason the "ministry" is NOT of the letter (natural and intellectual about facts and information/ knowledge) but ONLY of the Spirit. The Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek is 100 % OF THE SPIRIT! It is for that reason 100% in the Life dimension.
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.
2Cor 3:4 And such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
It is common in the visible church for the New Covenant to be nearly totally ignored EXCEPT when taking the bread and the cup during the Lord's Table. The cup certainly represents the New Covenant in His Blood! Still, to limit the New Covenant to the Lord's Table is very ignorant and we must wonder what kind of teaching these "ministers" have received. Of course the Lord's Table was the announcement that the time had arrived for the New Covenant to be realized.
How can any Christian Church be totally ignorant of the New Covenant and yet be considered a "normal orthodox church." If some group called "church" is NOT a New Covenant church, what other possible kind of "church" can it be? If a "church" is NOT a New Covenant church then it is not even a valid church! This can be a group of believers but NOT a valid Church. IF some group relies upon the Lord's Table for its authenticity but rejects the New Covenant EXPERIENCE, it is NOT an authentic church, even if it has orthodox doctrines?
I personally see no need to defend the statement that all Ministry is related to the New Covenant because it should be the standard EXPERIENCE for EVERY "genuine" Christian Believer. All "ministry" is also directly related to the Kingdom of Priests. It seems ridiculous that this issue of the New Covenant should ever be questioned in "Christian Circles." My only conclusion is that nearly total darkness or total ignorance is the only possible explanation for this misunderstanding. For that reason let us review some of the "statutes" contained in the New Covenant.
First, let us clarify these terms of the Old Covenant that are used. This is from a Biblical perspective.
Covenant; Includes three elements; (1) The Commandments that Governed their personal lives as they related to God! (2) the Judgements (Statutes) that Governed their social lives and how they were to relate to each other! (3) The Ordinances Governed their Religious Lives and how they could approach God ON HIS TERMS!
statute >noun 1 a written law passed by a legislative body. 2 a standardized rule of an organization or institution. 3 a 'thing set up'.
The Various covenants that God established in Old Testament times will give us some insight into the "Stability of Covenant," the "Substance of Covenant and the "Strength of Covenant." If we revert again to our "radical applications", we could say the "Absolute of Covenant." Why? Because our Sovereign God is a Covenant making God and has a history of making Covenants. These Covenants were made by God and were irrevocable except when the people failed to obey the content and the intent of the Covenant.
In this Church age, God has once again "made Covenant!" This church age requires a much higher and much better Covenant built on better promises. Why? That is because now God's people are being prepared to fulfill His Eternal Purpose. None of the former Covenants were able to perfect a people to enable them to fulfill God's Ultimate Plan for the world yet to come! One of the things Jesus is now doing is being the mediator of this New Covenant. This New Covenant is nothing like the Old Covenant and it is upon so much better promises than any of the former covenants. Why is it essential that each of us is experiencing the better promises today? That is because of our special and much higher calling is to become a Kingdom of Priests, to provide a functioning Government and to fulfill God's Eternal Purpose!
Heb 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
Christ Jesus' "ministry" is directly connected to the New Covenant. All the other Covenants were made with the natural man and related to this earthdimension and focused upon the outward realms. The New Covenant is no longer external but now has become a Covenant that is INTERNAL and involves a New Species of man! It is the New Species Inner Man that is Christian and now it is the New Species Man that can relate to the New Covenant. That is why we relate the Christian Life and the New Covenant to the INTERIOR area of the TENT part of the Tabernacle. How do you justify that statement? This area is invisible from the Outer Court realm. That "Holy Place" is where the Lampstand Church is supposed to function! THIS "tent" IS the Spiritual Realm of the Tabernacle and the location of the Seven Spirits of God that Illuminate it. It is for that reason that we relate "our preparation to qualifying to function in this realm." This qualifying is related to our "Speaking in Personal Tongues." Why? It is the Spirit who gives the utterance! Seven Spirits of God speak of fulness! The Fulness of the Spirit is related to the Holy Place realm.
Act 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 Words came out of the mouth but the source of the Words was within the New Species of person or the New Inner Man but it was the Holy Spirit who was giving the Spiritual Words.
1Cor 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.
This Spiritual dimension of ministry should be judged as "normal" New Covenant Ministry. This Holy Place dimension of the Seven Spirits of God, the fulness of the Holy Spirit, is ONLY available to us within the New Covenant. All New Covenant Ministry is by the Holy Spirit! "Which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words."
First to be taught the spiritual words and then to SPEAK the Spiritual Words we must be fully equipped with the fulness of INDWELLING the Holy Spirit. Why? ALL New Covenant ministry is NOT by the letter but by the Spirit. This "adequacy" can ONLY come from God and NOT from man or from human organizations or by discipleship training.
In each instance in the Old Testament when God was dealing with different men in "deliverance or redemption or a radical change," God made a Covenant with that man and also to his descendants. Nevertheless, every Covenant came directly out of God's Absolute Sovereignty. It was non-negotiable! For example; God made Covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, with Jacob, with Joseph, and again with Moses and with the corporate Israel when God gave the Law at Mount Sinai. Each time, FOLLOWING a serious confrontation, God made Covenant.
Man was not consulted about the details of the Covenant and neither was there any negotiation possible. Man could accept the Covenant exactly as given or man could reject it but man was NEVER offered the opportunity to change it! Man could neither alter it nor modify it, nor to accept part of the Covenant and ignore the rest. Each Covenant was a complete agreement that consisted of each of the various elements that made the Covenant effective for each person or group. Breaking part of the terms of the Covenant invalidated the Covenant.
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Jacob is the example and picture of the natural man, "the deceiver" who met God at Bethel but had no idea Who He is." Therefore, Jacob wanted to negotiate a deal with God.
Gen 28:20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, 21 and I return to my father's house in safety, then the LORD will be my God. 22 "And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God's house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee."
This is still a common practice today among those who have met God but have no idea Who He is. This "vow" would be a good "revelation of how God is obligated to us" among the prosperity groups and in many "orthodox" settings today. God, if you bless ME in every way then I am going to bless you by making You my God. Not only that, If you make me wealthy I will give you my tithe. I will also build a house for God! It is just a stone but God knows my heart. Jacob thought his response to God was really nice. Of course that "agreement" was by Jacob, the natural man! In this case God could accept it or reject it but Jacob set the conditions of the "agreement."
To evaluate each Covenant of the Old Testament is beyond the scope of this document. Nevertheless, to open up the Old Covenant made at Mount Sinai is very profitable. "Open" does not include every detail but an overview, just an observation, of the Covenant. Why? That is because we will focus upon the New Covenant in this document.
It is important to know that the Old Covenant, as well as all the former Covenants, were with the natural man after the genealogy of the first Adam. These decedents of Adam knew the difference between good and evil because that was the "fruit" promised! Good and evil is the basis of that realm of knowledge. These covenants had to do with the outer man and the dirt dimension.
The New Covenant is NOTHING like the Old or the former Covenants because it is about a New Creation Man who is of a different species from the first Adam and his genealogy. The New Covenant is assigned to those who have been born of God and can ONLY be received by the New Species of persons. It is for that reason that too much of the visible church has rejected or is totally ignorant of the New Covenant.
Hebrews 8:6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says, "BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL EFFECT A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 10 "FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND I WILL WRITE THEM UPON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 11 "AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ALL SHALL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. 12 "FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE." 13 When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
Jeremiah 31:31 "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the LORD. 33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 "And they shall not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the LORD , "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
This is one of the promises God made to Israel and this one is permanently connected to the New Covenant. Even some details of the New Covenant are clearly spelled out in these verses. For example we know that this Covenant is directly linked to a new inner man. Why? That is because God will put His Laws within us and then teach us to know Him. Of course, at the time of this prophesy there was NO new inner man. That better Promise would require a New Inner Man so the New Covenant Laws could be placed within him. This Promise must wait for New Covenant Man. Each of must wait until our genuine experience of Calvary. That means our forgiveness of sins and the release of the Divine Sperma so we could all be Born of God. That is when a New Inner Man could be birthed. Also some inner provision of growth must be made so that each one could be "taught directly by God" and to Know God in that new dimension.
Another Promise that was said to Israel and offered to Israel was that God was going to put a New Spirit within them and then He was going to put His Spirit within them. Some received "the Promise" on the First Christian Pentecost but Israel as a nation rejected the blessing.
From other scriptures we learn that God is going to accomplish all this through a New Spirit and also by putting HIS SPIRIT within us. A New Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, is so we can be born again and His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, so we can each respond, function, complete His Purpose and be Taught by Him. How do we know that? Just be reading John Chapters 14-15 and 16 when Jesus shared what would happen when the Holy Spirit came. HE is the One who will teach us ALL things etc. In other words Jesus was explaining OTHER details of the New Covenant that would be ratified and enforced in His Blood.
While this New Covenant was offered to Israel, it was not possible for the natural man, who was only flesh continually, to be recipients of it or participate in it. For that reason the Messiah and Calvary must precede the Promise. The Old Covenant was made with Israel, the northern kingdom, and with Judah was the southern kingdom. Of course this is quoting Jeremiah a few hundred years before the New Covenant was activated as a genuine experience in Israel, however, it was promised to both groups. When the New Covenant was initialized at the First Christian Pentecost, the bulk of Israel rejected it because it was not "an orthodox Jewish expectation." At the Lord's Table Jesus announced the arrival of the New Covenant which was called "the Promise of the Father." This "Promise" certainly included the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. Why? That is because THAT is what Jesus called the Promise of the Father!
Luke 24:49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
Act 1:4 And gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
There is no question that the Promise of the Father is the New Covenant and that is made available to us at the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. How do we know that?
Ezekiel 36:26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 "And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.
But, brother, why do you always connect the New Covenant to Pentecost rather than to Calvary? Didn't Jesus say "The Cup is the New Covenant in My blood?" Yes, that is called the "blood of the Covenant" and the blood certainly initiated the Covenant but the New Covenant was much more than forgiveness of sins and the New Covenant arrived at the First Christian Pentecost. However, it was the blood that tied them to their obedience to the Covenant.
Heb 9:18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, "THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU." 21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
It should be easy to make the distinction between the "blood" and the "covenant." The Covenant was inaugurated with blood but the covenant had much more and profound content. But why do you connect the New Covenant to Pentecost?
Exodus 19:1 In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
Israel arrived at Mount Sinai of the first day of the third month. Passover was on the 15th day of the first month in Egypt so it was 46 days from Passover to Mount Sinai. When they left Egypt there were 15 days remaining in the first month plus 30 days of the second month which is 45 days. The first day of the third month is 46 days. Moses went up and down the Mountain three times or until the 49th day! God came down on the Mountain on the 50th day. Therefore, it was called the Feast of the Fiftieth Day or the Feast of Weeks!
Fifty in Greek is PENTA so that day is called Pentecost in the New Covenant. This feast is called the Feast of the 50th Day in the Old Testament! It was on the 50th day that God established the Old Covenant with Israel and it is on the 50th day following Calvary that God establishes The New Covenant with us. It was the Blood of Calvary that inaugurated the New Covenant and THIS is what Jesus referred to at the Lord's Table.
It was 50 days from Passover to Pentecost. This Feast was also called "The Feast of Weeks" which was seven weeks (49 days) plus one day or 50 days. Pentecost was on the first day following Sabbath or on our Sunday.
Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
It should be easy to understand why we connect the New Covenant to Tongues and Tongues to the New Covenant and how "TONGUES" is the Gateway to the New Covenant. Without the New Covenant there could be NO TONGUES! This is just rudimentary IF WE ARE HONEST! It should be easy to understand why we link the New Covenant and the Christian Pentecost to Mount Sinai and the Old Covenant.
Exodus 19:18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 20 And the LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
The same things took place at the First Jewish Pentecost and the establishment of the Old Covenant that took place at the First Christian Pentecost and the establishment of the New Covenant. The similarity was that at the First Jewish Pentecost God spoke in an audible voice in words of the people and they could understand in their own language! The same thing took place in the First Christian Pentecost but the PEOPLE spoke in Tongues and the visiting people, who were from many different countries, once again understood them speaking in their own language native to the country they were from.
Exo 20:1 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me.
God spoke the Law of Commandments in the Old Covenant but in the New Covenant God puts His Laws within us and writes His Laws within the new inner man.
All this introduction of Tongues took place on the First Christian Pentecost. Our Personal Pentecost is when God speaks in us and the Holy Spirit gives us the words to speak in Tongues.
But, brother, couldn't we just "keep the Feast of Pentecost" without speaking in tongues? Well, why would we want to do that and attempt to circumvent God's total plan? What if God spoke at Mount Sinai but Israel couldn't understand what He said. But, brother, the natural man cannot understand any of this! Yes, I know and that is why there must FIRST be a new creation man who is Born of God. That is supposed to take place at your experience of Calvary and forgiveness of sins. It is just the New Species of Person who has the ability to Speak in Tongues. The old species, after Adam is, generally, always offended by Tongues.
Exodus 20:19 Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, lest we die."
When God speaks, it is like death to the natural man! Is it any wonder that the natural man rejects the Tongues? Why do you assume that? That is because God speaks to His people through stammering lips and Foreign Tongues but they refuse to listen. That is exactly what Israel did that God said would lead to their captivity. This is STILL happening today by those who reject God's gifts because they have determined, by their own orthodoxy, that Tongues is a worthless gift.
Maybe God should be embarrassed because He gave such a worthless gift that has no use in the church nor for the believer. Paul must have really been confused. Why? Paul said "I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all." (1Cor 14:18)
Heb 10:15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 "THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND UPON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM," He then says, 17 "AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE." 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
This is clear that God relates "forgiveness of sins" with the New Covenant so to reject the New Covenant, out of ignorance, is a very dangerous mistake. It is the Blood of Forgiveness that initiates the New Covenant. Why is the visible church ignorant of this reality? That responsibility of teaching "TRUTH" is placed directly upon their chosen kind of "ministry." But why is the "ministry" ignorant or refuse to share these things? All ministry is by the Holy Spirit and within the New Covenant! The anointing that abides in us and teaches us all things is inherently linked to the New Covenant. If we ignore the New Covenant we will also ignore the Anointing that abides in us!
2Cor 3:4 And such confidence we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Any "minister" that is "inadequate" as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; cannot qualify as a New Covenant "minister." Any "minister" that assumes he is adequate simply because he is "doctrinally orthodox" is badly deceived. Any "minister" that is ignorant of the New Covenant and failed to experience its Laws of Life, its Statutes and its Ordinances, has disqualified himself from the "New Covenant ministry." It is sad and very distressing but that is the experience in much of the visible church today. My opinion is that this is why the visible church is in such a pitiful condition.
The Pure Gold Lampstand Church, that He is building, will have participated in ALL of God's provision within the New Covenant. To experience ALL that the New Covenant offers us is the minimum requirement for the real "Priesthood Ministry." Since ALL MINISTRY begins in the Holy Place and as members of the Lampstand Church, every foundation inherent within each of the Seven Outer Court preparation experiences is essential to the Christian Life. NONE of these experiences are optional. Why? That is because the lack of any of these seven foundations will cause us to stagnate in the preparation stage. Why? God will not permit us to go on.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about baptisms, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we shall do, if God permits.
Is that extreme and radical? Certainly, but what we should be asking is this; IS IT TRUE? IF we determine that this IS true then what is our responsibility? But, brother, you must understand that these things are not taught in our group. Then stop all your excuses and get out of that group and start moving into the REALITY of the New Covenant Ministry. But, how will I know when I have discovered the New Covenant ministry?
Isaiah 59:20 "And a Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD. 21 "And as for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the LORD, "from now and forever."
When we have received the same fulness of the Spirit that Jesus received and when the same Words that were in Jesus mouth are in our mouth then we know God has made THIS COVENANT effective within us. Another way we can be certain is that the Inner Anointing upon the New Inner Man has begun to teach you all things.
1John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. ---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.
If this is NOT happening, at very least in the Ministry, something has gone wrong or someone has failed to advance into the New Covenant Dimension of Ministry. Why?
The Redeemer has already come to Zion, His name is Jesus, so all this is part of the Promise of the Father. This all became possible within the New Covenant AND The Baptism with the Holy Spirit and the Speaking with Tongues. The "Promise", "The New Covenant, "the Baptism with the Holy Spirit" and our "Speaking with Tongues" all were activated at the First Christian Pentecost, 2000 years ago. It has NEVER been repealed so all this is available today.
Act 2:32 "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
Act 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself."
The very popular message today that "tongues have passed away" is easily revealed as another big lie. Why? This "promise" is for everybody and for every body's children and their children's children for all the church age. Of course if "God has NOT called you to Himself" then the promise is NOT for you!
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"-- 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Heb 9:15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
It is inexcusable if we isolate ourselves from the New Covenant and the PROMISE OF THE FATHER though ignorance or stupidity! It is inexcusable if we just foolishly endure the shallowness of the "ministry" we have ignorantly chosen. Why? That foolishness is VERY clear IF we just read the scriptures.
This is certainly NOT COMPLICATED. The "Promise of the Father is the New Covenant AND the Promise of the Father IS receiving the Holy Spirit and Speaking in Personal Tongues. It is also clear that we must receive the Promise of the Father because that is essential to receiving the eternal inheritance.
Peter explained "speaking in tongues "as the Promise of the Father" which he said is what you BOTH SEE and HEAR. "Hear" means speaking in tongues. "See" means something radical was happening. When did all this become available to those during the church age? This clearly happened on the First Christian Pentecost when Jesus had been exalted to the right hand of God and received the Gift of the Holy Spirit from the Father. Regardless of what the theologians say; NONE of this has been done away with and all is still available to us today. How do we know that? That is because the New Covenant has NOT been done away with and Jesus is still seated at the right hand of God. The Holy Spirit has been given to be with us forever.
The Promise of the Father, the New Covenant, the Priesthood after the Order of Melchizedek, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and Speaking with Tongues, is still available to us today and will be available to ALL that the Lord calls to Himself. Of course if the Lord is NOT calling you to Himself, you may be excused!
Act 2:38 And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself."
It is certainly disingenuous to say that all this passed away soon after Pentecost! The carnal reasoning insists that this "manifestation" was only given to get the "first" church started! These scriptures reveal THAT IS ANOTHER LIE told by those who hold to their "doctrinal orthodoxy" which too often ignores the clear Word of God.
To be led astray by the devil is a serious thing, but to be led astray by the so called "ministry" is inexcusable. Why? Even if they were not appointed by God but were appointed and ordained by themselves, they are still held to the "standard of teaching" called for in the written Word of God. God will certainly judge any minister for his ignorance, his arrogance and his failure to preach truth when the Bible is so clear.
At Mount Sinai the Jewish people begged Moses that God would NEVER speak to them again. They preferred to hear the words of God through the prophets. Isaiah said there was another day coming when God would once again speak directly to His people. This time it would be through stammering lips and another Tongue (a foreign language).
Paul clearly linked the Christian Tongues to the prophesy of Isaiah in Chapter 28 but still, today, they will simply NOT LISTEN to God OR to His Word!
1Cor 14:21 In the Law it is written, "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord.
Mar 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. 17 "And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
One pastor I heard explaining this verse said I used to curse a lot but after I got saved I quit cussing and now I speak with a new converted tongue. Why would someone who knew scripture say such an ignorant thing? That is because their group denied the validity of Personal Tongues and had to come up with this stupid excuse. This is simply dishonest!
Of course he was sure that all the other parts of this verse have passed away. Now the logical and popular excuse is this; What they used to think was demons we now know was just a mental illness that can be cured with chemicals to bring the brain back into balance! We no longer lay hands on the sick because today God heals through doctors. We all have heard about the snake handlers in the backwoods and their "dancing with the snakes."
These groups also say that water baptism is just an "outward sign" of an inward change so baptism is irrelevant or at least optional. Why? They insist that EVERYTHING happened at Calvary through forgiveness of sins. They also insist that there is only one faith and ONE baptism, NOT TWO, so the Baptism in the Holy Spirit was just for the beginning. Here is their ONE proof.
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
When groups like this disagree with these documents I am not disturbed. However, many of the objections come from those who ought to know more and better. However, it is still true that the teaching in some groups is so shallow that it cannot be expected to produce any maturity. Much of the "teaching" is about trying to get people to "act like Christians" rather than to lead people into an experiential Kingdom Christianity!
To sum this "concept" up we will review the facts. Jesus spoke about His death, Burial and His Resurrection. He also told them He would be seated at the right had of the Father.
Mat 26:64 Jesus *said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN."
Peter confirmed that Jesus had made it to the Throne. He knew that Jesus had "arrived" because He had received from the Father the Gift of the Holy Spirit that He poured out at the First Christian Pentecost. Now the Promise of the Father had been poured out, the Holy Spirit had been released, the New Covenant was put into effect. The confirmation was that they ALL spoke in tongues as the Holy Spirit was giving them the words to speak. This was also confirmed because they were speaking languages they never learned or understood. In other words, the source of the words was NOT coming from the brain but from the New Creation Man. Their mind was disconnected!
Establishing a universal Kingdom of Jewish Priests was revealed as God's purpose at Mount Sinai. However, all of Israel MUST come up the Mountain into God's Immediate Presence and hear His voice and obey BEFORE that could happen. Since the people refused to ascend the mountain, God made the Old Covenant for the natural man. God SPOKE the Ten Commands in an audible voice which was the "short form" or summation of the Old Covenant Law, the details which were revealed soon after! Then God called Moses up the Mountain for 40 days when God added all the details and explanations to much more completely reveal the depths of the Ten Commandments. This was called "THE LAW of Moses." This way EACH commandment of the TEN was give a total explanation.
When we each EXPERIENTIALLY received the Living and Abiding Word of God AND the indwelling Holy Spirit, God puts His Kingdom Laws within us. These Laws come as Life. These are NOT doctrines about "a law" but are the Governing Powers Within each of us. This is how the Kingdom begins within us. As we surrender in obedience to these laws we are becoming Kingdom Persons. As Kingdom Persons in the Lampstand Church, we become candidates to become part of that Kingdom of Priests that will govern the World Yet To Come.
Well, brother, I have been in church for 25 years but I have no idea if these Laws are
in me or not. Am I supposed to know that experientially? Yes! This is simply receiving the provision of the New Covenant. Then, brother, what can I do to rectify this problem?
You must focus all your time upon EXPERIENCING each of the Seven Foundational Experiences. As far As I know THAT is the Only provision God has given us to compete in His Eternal Purpose! After we move into the Lampstand Church, Jesus will take over our training as we see in Revelation 2 and 3.
Our "preparation steps" today are rather easy for the committed Christian. Just complete each of the seven Outer Court Foundational Experiences that we have identified. The real SERIOUS preparation comes later when Jesus walks among the Lampstands and starts His Training Process. He is the Sovereign Head and the Top Sargent in the Training Camp. Here you MUST obey, go forward and succeed or you are washed out (eliminated) from of the Training Camp. (Vomited out of His body)
The "happy go lucky" church service, with the believers singing and dancing and waving the victory flags, IF THEY GROW AND PROGRESS, will eventually meet the reality of the Sovereign King and His Sovereign Kingdom and discover what Revelation 2 and 3 are all about.
The MESSAGE here is; shape up and overcome or be vomited out of His Body and eliminated from God's Ultimate Purpose. But, brother, I am only interested in being "saved" and even if I spend eternity on the New Earth, that is OK. Well, tell that to Christ Jesus and see if He has another plan that requires NOTHING but to believe something, anything. After all, God surely loves the little babies who make it to the Big Nursery in Heaven!
Just tell Jesus, the King, you don't want to grow up and you want to be excused from the burden.
Luke 14:16 But He said to him, "A certain man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; 17 and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for everything is ready now.' 18 "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first one said to him, 'I have bought a piece of land and I need to go out and look at it; please consider me excused.' 19 "And another one said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please consider me excused.' 20 "And another one said, 'I have married a wife, and for that reason I cannot come.'
There is a scriptural precedent for making excuses as we see here.
Luke 14:21------ Then the head of the household became angry and said to his slave, 'Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'
Each of us were predestined to this calling but if you asked to be excused SOMEONE will be found to take your place. Well, brother, just explain the very minimum I can do to be saved! That is someone else's calling but it shouldn't be difficult to find today!