Author: Shirley Gohner

Our first valid faith we exercised toward God was by means of reckoning {to acknowledge that something is true on the basis of established facts}. We looked upon Christ Jesus as our personal Savior and therefore saved {delivered}. Nowhere is this principle more explicit than in Colossians chapter three. Let’s see if we can tie Romans chapters 6,7,8 together with Colossians chapter three in its fullness.

Colossians 3:1 KJV – If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 

“If since then you were raised together with Christ.”  Paul shares this same truth in Ephesians 2:6.  

Reckoning ourselves alive in God in Christ amounts to our taking our position in Him. Since the heavenly sphere is now our true position, it follows that we are to seek there the things of Christ–spiritual realities. Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. Our Father yearns for intimacy and fellowship with His Church.

Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Our mind is set upon the One in whom we live, not upon self and this world unto which we have died.  

The Holy Spirit ministers life exclusively from the true heavenly Source, Christ. It is the Spirit of the Father given by Christ. We must reckon upon our having died unto sin at Calvary, the old earthy source {our Adamic nature} within will continue to produce its life of carnality.  We must take our minds off the things of this world. When we set our minds upon Christ and abide in Him as our risen life, we become increasingly conformed to His image. Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

“For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  Paul compresses the entire finished work of Romans Six, the whole truth of our identification with Christ.

Paul is dealing mainly with our relationship to the world and things earthly. Our having died on Calvary not only separated us from the reign of sin and self, but also from the deadly influence of this present world. “By means of the Cross”  Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

“FOR YOU DIED” The only way we can escape the influence of the earthly sphere, the very element in which the self-life thrives, is to count upon our having died unto it. The death that we passed through now stands between us and the world.

Colossians 3:3 For you are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. Our life is anchored in, and maintained by, our risen Lord Jesus. The reason so many Christians are not living for their heavenly position in the Savior is that they are not established in the truth of their freedom from the influence of the world.

When we learn to fix our mind upon Christ and rest in Him in the heavens, we will not be oppressed by self, circumstances, and situations here on earth! Our spiritual position is not down here, praying and pleading for help from Him at the throne of God, just the opposite! We do not go to Him for help, but we rest in Him as the all-sufficient One. We do not bring Him down to our level for our use; We abide in Him at His level for His use.

Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  Christ is our Christian life, therefore, as we grow spiritually, we become more like Him.  

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: :21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.   

Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; When was this accomplished? At Calvary! It is there we were separated from the old man by our death in Christ. 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:  The new man was put on when we were re-created in the Lord Jesus. This new nature is the very life of the One who is the express image of God.  Therefore, our growth in the knowledge of Him results in the manifestation of His life.

The old man, we seek to suppress self or crucify the old nature. The new man, we plead with God to change us for the better, and we try to be more Christ-like. But in all, we never seem to emerge from Romans Seven–total defeat.

Finally, we learn to meet the problem indirectly, by reckoning. We see in the Word that the old man has been effectively “put off” at the Cross; and we also see that the new man has been “put on” through our resurrection in Christ. Instead of being taken up with the problem, we now set our mind and heart on God’s answer: The crucifying Cross and the Risen Christ.

Your brother in Christ,

Ron

There is a Spiritual hunger and longing in the hearts of every growing Christian of the heaven-on-earth walk in Romans chapter eight. The very purpose of reckoning means {work out-counting-calculation} is that way we may live in this wonderful, and practical realm of life in Christ.

All that the Holy Spirit teaches us in Romans Six and takes us through in Romans Seven combines to prepare us for the walk in Romans Eight. This in turn, brings us to the blessed heights of Colossians. We may touch on this in a later article.

Through the years, weather we realize it or not, the Holy Spirit is developing us “glory to glory” 2 Corinthians 3:18 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.  Along the Path that has been laid out for us the Romans 6 is the step that deals with the principle of sin and the answer to its power. Romans 7 is the struggle we all endure {usually years in duration} that has to do with the principle of law and brings the answer to its bondage.  Romans 8 is the walk based on the principle of life in Christ administered by the Spirit of life.

Let’s look at Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made us free from the law of sin and death.

There is a dual application in the truth of these two verses.  Concerning the future, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ has freed us from the eternal condemnation of the law of sin and death, Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  As for the present, the Holy Spirit ministers the LIFE of the Lord Jesus within His end time Temple for our daily walk, continually freeing us from the power of sin and the deathly influence it brings in our lives. Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more {certain} now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved {daily delivered} from sin’s dominion through His {resurrection} Life. We are saved from the condemnation of sin because of His reconciliation; we are delivered from the power of sin because of His Life.

Especially in our early years as believers, most of us have felt that it was our responsibility, with the Lord’s help, to live a Christian life. Our unqualified failure in attempting to do so has been the Holy Spirit’s means of showing us that we cannot produce, nor are we meant to do so. Only the Lord Jesus can live His life through us, and He does this as we reject our own strength and resources, to walk in accordance with the Spirit of Life. Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  

What it takes years for us to learn thoroughly, is that the Holy Spirit of our Father ministers All. By the Spirit we are sealed, we live, we grow, and we shall be raised. Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. It is especially important for us that He is the Spirit of Life.  

Even though we are alive in Christ Jesus, we have no power by which to live the new life in Christ, for that, as well as for everything else, we must rely upon the Holy Spirit of our God. This blessed gift of God’s Holy Spirit has been offered to us by Him whose Spirit and Life are pure. Think about this most wonderful gift and the guiding hand that has His Spirit will be for us when we truly trust Him for all matters.

Too many Christians today are seeking to live for the Lord on the basis of the principle of love. Now you might feel this to be a strange statement, for even I teach “love, mercy, and compassion” in all things as His way.

Our love is far too weak and vacillating for such an understanding; SELF will surely see to that. Romans 7:18,22,23.  

There is only one true and adequate motivating power in our Christian life, and that is the very life of the Lord Jesus, ministered within the Spirit of Life Himself. This is not a motivation of love, but the empowerment of life.  Philippians 1:21 For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

It is not; only what we have done for Christ that will last, but rather, only what is done in us by Christ that will last!

In Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Verse 7 reveals the nature of the flesh, 7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me {that is, in my flesh,} dwells no good thing; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Our old man/Adamic nature was not changed, but crucified; it was exchanged for the new creation in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  

We exchanged the position of death {Adamic nature} for the position of life {New Man in Christ} By means of our identification in the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, Romans 11:24 For if you were cut of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree; how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? How glorious to be a newly created branch grafted into The True Vine!

As the life of the vine flows by the Spirit of life, the fruit of the Spirit is increasingly manifested in the branch. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.

In the vine, we are complete; in ourselves, we are being “completed” through the growth based on reckoning. Romans 8:29 And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Your brother in Christ,

Ron

A few thoughts for those who keep the appointed time. John the Baptist came baptizing in the river Jordan. Mark 1:7 – And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 – I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Our Savior after His resurrection promised his followers; Acts 1:5 – For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. And that day was Pentecost.

The Jordan River comes from the melted snow of Mount Hermon. It is living water that flows, yet it ends up in the Dead Sea, where it moves nowhere. The river starts out with life–and ends up in death. Unless the water is used along the way, it is of no value–later on we will look at the Spiritual application of the physical example.

The Eternal is the primary source of the Holy Spirit. He is full of love–His love flows out from Him to us. God continues to give and to love in order to uphold His name.  Notice Jesus’ words in John 7:37 – In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.  

1st, one must thirst

2nd we are to come

3rd then we must drink

4th and go on to believe (includes repenting & obedience).

Jesus Christ has promised the Holy Spirit to those who will do these things.  Notice verse 38 – He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. Whenever rivers go, they give life.  After tapping into the Eternals life giving water, then we become the primary source of these spiritual rivers.  We are the secondary sources.

What are these rivers of living water? Galatians 5:22 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 – Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. There are two main sources of water.  One is a well where you must dig to find it. The other is a spring or river where water is bubbling out and flowing–the water comes to you.

If you are a river, no one will have to pump or work hard to get something out for you. You will respond and share the life-giving waters. Words and actions of life-giving qualities will flow outward to others.

Some people decide to be wells. They withdraw into their own shells, and you have to pump out the water instead if it is flowing out. It does not come up by itself. A well is an unconcerned person who prefers to remain hidden. This person may have goodness, but it is buried deep inside. Proverbs 18:1 KJV – Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeks own desire.  

The Eternal has given us the capacity to be like Him, even in this life; John 5:26 – For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.  Isaiah 55: 1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Joel 2:28 – And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: John 6:33 – For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, for the transgressors given life unto the world. Isaiah 53:12 – Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.  

It is a law of nature that if you stop using your hands or legs, then they become useless. The same thing holds true for spiritual qualities as well. If we do not allow the qualities of love and giving to flow from you to others, then you will cease to have those qualities, for they will die within us. We have to continue to give of our gifts and substance to others or else, the quality of giving will stagnate and die, just like the “Dead Sea.”  

Even when you feel someone does not deserve it, do it for your sake, not someone else’s sake. God does not give to us depending on if we deserve it or not.  Humans do things on merit–whether one deserves it or not.  Outgoing love has nothing to do with feeling. You may not feel like giving to someone, but the law of love commands you to do it. Matthew 5:14 – Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.15 – Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

A light bulb that is not switched on does no good. The Eternal did not with-hold His only Son from us John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Neither are we to withhold ourselves from others.  God gives us so much to give. People get bored because they are not giving enough. When you have the capacity to give, do it. If one does not deserve it, then it is his/her problem, not yours.

We have the ability to give life to others through the Holy Spirit. Are we doing it? We can use the Holy Spirit and God’s goodness for the benefit of others. We can use our voices to comfort and give support to others. We can use our faces to smile to give life giving qualities to others.

How do we determine if we are a river or a well? The degree to which we yearn and ache to give to others will tell us. Giving to others should be a pleasure.  When you find yourself stingy, you are lacking love. Let us not quench the Holy Spirit–allow it to flow to others. Stay connected to the source of the spiritual rivers and continue to give them out to others by sharing and helping. Be one who flows like a river.

Your brother in Christ,

Ron

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

² For by it the elders obtained a good report.

³ Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

⁴ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

⁵ By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

⁷ By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

⁹ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

¹⁰ For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

¹¹ Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

¹² Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

¹⁴ For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

¹⁵ And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

¹⁶ But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

¹⁸ Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

¹⁹ Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

²² By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

²⁵ Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

²⁶ Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

²⁸ Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

³¹ By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

³² And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

³³ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

³⁴ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

³⁶ And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

³⁸ (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

⁴⁰ God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

I have been reading through the Book of Romans and have gone back to Romans chapters six, seven, and eight. These are wonderful and packed full of meat for us, not to say the rest of God’s love letters {BIBLE} to us aren’t packed full of meat.

We skimmed chapter six in the last article so I would like to look into Romans chapter seven and see what we can glean from it.  

All too often we use words like “I must love the Lord and others; I must maintain my testimony; I must witness and work for Him; I must resist myself: I must stop sinning. The feeling of constraint expressed in “I must” sets one up for defeat in Romans 7.

Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. The purpose of God’s law, both in command and principle, is to bring light and cause us to face up to the fact that we are sinful.  Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

I have come to see over the years of my conversion, what we seek to do, or keep from doing, in our own strength brings us under legal bondage. The principle of law applies to self-life and can produce nothing but self-righteousness.  Thus, the law convicts us of our need for Christ.

The years of struggle and failure we experience are not only to prepare us for liberation from the principle of sin, but the bondage of the principle of law. We are brought not only to the release of Romans 6, but to the deliverance of Romans 7. We exchange the law of sin and death for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

We have been given the key to the problem of law at the very beginning of Romans 7. Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? EXACTLY!  All through the years of defeat we have been slowly learning that the harder we tried to live a Christian life, the deeper we came under the dominion of the law of sin. We tried to “be,” we tried to “do,” and there was nothing but failure year in and year out.

Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. As long as we depend on our own strength and resources, all we produced was sin. We hungered for life and brought forth death.  

Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Our Father was teaching us what we had to know for our freedom in Christ– and self is our greatest enemy. Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Along with Paul, we come to recognize an internal law; Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  All this has been specifically designed by the Spirit to bring us, to the blessed condition of defeat–where we cry from our hearts  Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.  

We must first learn that our having died in Christ on the Cross gives us our foundation for freedom from the power of sin. But unless we learn the answer to the bondage of the principle of law, we will be right back in the defeat of Romans 7, no matter how hard we strive. Law reveals sin and produces bondage. The answer to the principle of sin prepares us for the answer to the principle of law. Reckoning is the key to both, and both have to do with the death of the Cross and our life in Christ. Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in the newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.  As Paul tells us in verse 1, as long as we lived and walked in self-life, we were under the principle and dominion of law.

Thanks be to God, we not only died to the principle of sin in Christ on the Cross, but there we also died to, out from the dominion of-the principle of law! We were not only freed from the “oldness of the letter”, but were joined into the “newness of the spirit.”

Now we are able to understand that “I, through the law, died unto the law, that I might live unto God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I {self} that live, but Christ {my new life} lives in me {new creation} Galatians 2:19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

As the Holy Spirit progressively carries out the will of the Father in our life. His perfect will becomes a delight to us–not a duty.  Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Hebrews 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

You may have been wondering, what was he talking about here? The law is still in effect, and we are still commanded to observe it.

The Spirit of truth is not only explicit and thorough in presenting the truth, but He is also exact and pains taking in preparing our hungry hearts for the ability to absorb His truth. Most of His Spiritual work He accomplishes in our lives through natural means, such as prayer, our careful dependance on His Word, meditation, and the sudden changes or alterations in our everyday life.  The bondage of the principle of law finally brings us to its goal–the death of the Cross.

Your brother in Christ,

Ron

As we are brought along from elementary truths {birth truths} to the identification {growth truths}.  Today we are going to have a look at Romans chapter six and see what it has to say about identification.

The believer who knows God as his justification {meaning = to be declared or made righteous in the sight of God} may still have trouble with sin, not as to its end, but sin as to its ruling power.  It is not from the offence of sin that he/she seeks to be freed–for he/she sees that God has completely acquitted him from the charge and penalty of sin–but it is from sin as a powerful master.  

To know God’s way of deliverance from sin as a master, we must come to the truth contained  in the sixth chapter of Romans.  There we see what God has done–not with our sins, as that Paul has already dealt with in the preceding chapters of Romans, with ourselves the agents and slaves to sin.  He has taken our old man {Adamic nature}, the same place where He put our sins, Namely on the cross {stake} with Christ.  Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  The believer sees not only that Christ died for him/her–but that we also died with Christ.

Like Christ, the believer too has died to sin, he/she is one with Christ.  Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  So, the knowledge that Christ and we with him in the likeness of His death, are dead to sin, is indispensable to our sanctification {means to set apart for special use or purpose}.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.  We should not look upon these truths–as applying only to a few people, they are the “birthright” of every child of God. 

We were connected to Adam, but in Christ we died to the old man and were crucified. Since we are in Christ, we share in His death unto sin and going forward we are to reckon ourselves in relation to sin in Christ, as one who is dead to sin, and alive in Christ.  Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The old man/woman “I” in you and me was crucified in Christ.  You died and your death dates from the death of Christ.  The old man, Adamic nature in God’s reckoning –was taken to the cross with His Son Jesus and crucified and taken into the tomb with Christ and buried.

Our sins were dealt with by the Blood, we ourselves are dealt with by the Cross of Christ. The Blood buys our pardon; the Cross procures deliverance from what we are in Adam.  The Blood can wash away sins, but it cannot wash away the old man {Adamic nature}.  I {we} need the Cross to crucify us–the sinner.  Jesus says to us Mathew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  

As believers in Christ, we were joined with Him at the Cross, united to Him in death and resurrection.  We died with Christ.  He died for us.  This is a wonderful truth, for all believers.

This is the distinctive mark of the Christian–the experience of the Cross.  Have we truly experienced the Cross?  Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

The believer has been united with Christ in His death. In this union with Christ, the flesh, this body of sin-sin-ruined being with its intelligence and its own will and desires–is judged and crucified.  This is important, by faith, the believer reckons {believes and acts} him/herself dead unto sin Romans 6:3-14.

If the difference between Christ dying for us, and our dying with Him, has not been recognized, acknowledged, and applied, it may be safe to say that the “SELF” is still the dominating factor in our lives, and as such we are under the law.  Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Who died on the Cross?  Of course, our Lord and Savior died on the Cross {stake}.  But who else died there?  Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

You believe the Lord Jesus died for your sins because God says so, now take to next step and accept by faith the further fact that you died with Him your old man {Adamic nature} was taken to the Cross with HIM.

Because He died, death has no more dominion over Him, and because of our union with Him, sin shall not have dominion over you, even though it is present in you.  Our reckoning ourselves dead to sin in Jesus Christ does not make it a fact–it is already a fact through our union with Him.  

Please think and pray on these things, and see if you can act on faith, to accept what God has given each one of us through Jesus Christ.

Your brother in Christ,

Ron

What do we think of when we think about hearing the voice of Christ?  Some say that Christ has talked to them and told them to do certain things, others say Christ has never spoken to them.  Even many who read Scriptures come away unfulfilled with no contact with Christ. 

  As saints of God, we are commanded to learn to hear the sure Word of God. Notice; 2 Timothy 3:16. All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; (A Faithful Version) The difficulty is in knowing for certain that the voice we are listening to is His voice. 2 Corinthians 11:3. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4. For indeed, if someone comes preaching another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept, you put up with it as something good. 14. And it is no marvel, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (A Faithful Version) 

 Let’s go back to The Garden of Eden Genesis 3:2. And the woman said to the serpent, “We may freely eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, 3. But of the fruit of the tree, which is in the middle of the garden, God has indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”4. And the serpent said to the woman, “In dying, you shall not surely die! 5. For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like God, deciding to know— to ascertain by observing and experimenting good and evil.”6. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.7 And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.8. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. Then Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.9. And the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10. And he said, “I heard You walking in the garden, and I was afraid because I am naked, and so I hid myself.” (A Faithful Version)

 There are many didn’t things we could look at in these verses.  We want to focus on hearing God’s voice.  How Had the Lord God communicated with them?  Think about this.  Had they not heard His audible voice or Him walking before with them?  We are not told how long they were in the presence of the Lord God. 

 I believe originally, Lord God communicated with mankind directly through the union of spirit to spirit.  We will look at this more a little later.  I believe Adam and Eve had heard the Lord God’s Spirit as something new that they had not previously heard before.  What they heard was the voice of the Lord feeling they had never encountered before. It brought about a strange earthly feeling; they felt a fresh reaction.  They became afraid and aware that they were naked.  Adam and Eve became separated from the voice of God.   

The flesh sets its desire against the spirit; Galatians 5:16. Now this I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these things are opposed to each other, so that you cannot do those things you wish to do. (A Faithful Version) 

  Our task as Saints is to take every thought captive and make it subject to the Spirit of the Lord God. His voice is like Revelation 1:15. And His feet were like fine brass, as if they glowed in a furnace; and His voice was like the sound of many waters. (A Faithful Version) The future we Move away from the rushing waters of life, we begin to founder in the waves of life that come at us like the waves of the sea hitting the beach wave after wave and before we know it the voice of God is drowned out and cannot be heard. 

1 Kings 19:11. And He said, “Go forth and stand upon the mountain before the LORD.” And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains, and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12. And after the earthquake was a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire was a still, small voice. 13. Then it came to pass when Elijah heard, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out, and stood at the cave entrance. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?  (A Faithful Version). 

  There is a spiritual lesson in the above Scriptures for us, we are so busy that we miss God’s voice and presence with us.  Be still and listen to that small voice that is speaking to us. 

Galatians 3:27. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. (A Faithful Version) When we are baptized into Christ, we are clothed with Him. We buy from Him without cost, while we were like Adam and Eve naked, we are now dressed in fine white linen. When we are dressed in the Holy Spirit, we are dressed from the inside out. 

 Remember back in Genesis chapter three, I believe that the Lord God communicated with them spirit to spirit.  God has longed for mankind to be on that intimate level with Him again.  

 Ezekiel 36:26. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will 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 shall keep My Ordinances and do them. (A Faithful Version) 

 We can’t achieve our goal if we do not have the spirit of God indwelling in His end time temple.  1 Corinthians 3:16. Don’t you understand that you are God’s temple, and that the Spirit of God is dwelling in you? 17. If anyone defiles the temple of God, God shall destroy him because the temple of God is holy, which temple you are (A Faithful Version) Do we hear that small still voice of Christ in our being?  Is the light dwelling within your temple? 

  Hebrews 10:16 ‘This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days,’ says the Lord: ‘I will give My laws into their hearts, and I will inscribe them in their minds; (A Faithful Version)  If we have been baptized with hands laid upon us God has reestablished His intimate contact with us through His Spirit joined with our spirit  us.to form the image of Christ in 

 Hebrews 8: 8. But since He found fault with them, He says, “’Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah; 9. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took hold of their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them,’ says the Lord. 10. ‘For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days,’ says the Lord: ‘I will give My laws into their minds, and I will inscribe them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. (A Faithful Version) 

 God has reestablished that intimate contact with mankind that He initially had with Adam and Eve.  Just like He walked with them In Spirit, He also walks with us in Spirit. 

 Slow down and wait for that voice to come, when we were babes in Christ, He was ever there guiding our baby steps and as we grew and matured, He sometimes seems to be very quiet, this is, because in His loving care and mercy for us and of His great love for us, He is trying to get us to slow down, seek Him and listen for that small voice to lead us to Him. 

 DO we have that intimate relationship with Christ? Let that small still voice be heard within you. 

Your brother in Christ, 

Ron 

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

When God opens our eyes to see His work, it is a marvelous thing to behold. God is continually doing away with the wisdom of men/women but continues to give them His insight and power.

How do we explain this?

How does God destroy the wisdom of men/women in order to bring in His power?

These questions I have meditated on, and I have asked God to please share with me these truths so I can understand with His understanding and not my own. I believe in Him answering me, He made it very clear that in my own wisdom I couldn’t even come close to understanding it alone.

Our Father helped me come to understand in this manner, The Lord Jesus Christ Himself becomes our wisdom. Notice 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

Notice the above, He is our righteousness, sanctification, redemption. These three words are included {in His wisdom}. It is only after our own wisdom has been destroyed–only then can we accept Christ as our wisdom. This is foolishness to the world; they can’t see it.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

The power of God is manifested in a threefold way.
1st. Christ is our righteousness
2nd. Christ is our sanctification
3rd. Christ is our redemption

In short, there is nothing but Christ!

We must have revelation, then all spiritual gifts and riches are exposed to us while we are in spiritual poverty. Seeing revelations–is foundational to our spiritual affairs.

We cannot touch righteousness directly, though we can receive revelation this way. We are to possess righteousness through revelation, for this is the way God grants us righteousness. Our wisdom is a person with a personality-Christ Jesus.

Perhaps this may explain why the Lord rejects our wisdom. Because when we are wise, the wisdom of the Lord has no entrance; therefore, there can be no revelation. As revelations cease, all spiritual blessings are cut off. Spiritual strength decreases as spiritual insight diminishes, but it is increased when spiritual folly is lessened. The two are closely knit.

No one can receive divine revelation of the Lord directly since all His works are placed in revelation. If any should try to accept the Lord’s work apart from revelation, he/she shall find it wholly ineffective. He/she may know they are sinners and acknowledge that Christ is the Savior, but his/her prayers are of no avail if there is no true spiritual revelation. ONE WHO TOUCHES REVELATION GAINS CHRIST. SIMILARLY, HE/SHE WHO HAS NOT TOUCHED REVELATION WILL NOT BE ABLE TO POSSESS CHRIST. So, the million-dollar question revolves around whether or not he/she has touched revelation?

When we come to understand this spiritual principle, we can readily understand THE OBJECTS OF THE WORD AND HOW THEY CAN AFFECT THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD. Whenever people consider themselves wise and prudent, God hides Himself from them.

Spiritual reality lies in the revelation of Christ Jesus. In touching revelation, you have touched reality. When we have Christ as our wisdom, we have righteousness, sanctification and redemption. However, if those called to the ministry are proud, self-serving-self-conceited, or the Spirit is closed, they are unable to receive revelation, nor will God give it to them. For this reason, we must learn to be humble, gentle, and simple before God. 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

The prouder we are the farther we depart from God’s revelation. The minister of the Word cannot help us; but may instead be hindered by us. I shared in part 1 where I was challenged by the Spirit in giving a message by a spirit of opposition in attendance and shared how I have been told by others giving a message how something or someone hampered their spirit in delivering a message. When we release the Spirit, we release light our Adversary is present, yes even at Church services if allowed in and doesn’t want the light of Scripture delivered.

To the wise and understanding, God hides all things, but to the child-like He reveals Himself.
Romans 11:8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

How can there be repentance if there is no revelation? To seal up revelation is to seal up repentance; and to seal up repentance is to seal up forgiveness. Because those who have gone down this road have already sinned against the Holy Spirit, therefore no revelation or repentance was given to them. Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let’s break down Romans 11:8 Hearing they did not hear, seeing they did not see, nor did they understand. In other words, there were only words received, but no revelation.

God helps us not to hold on to our prejudices about Him. Let us be open to revelation, because he/she who desires light cannot afford to be arrogant. The Lord can easily enlighten him/her who are gentle and meek, and merciful. He will give to them both basic and advanced revelations, hence let us learn to open our hearts before God so that we may keep receiving revelation from Him, to bring forth light in a dark world.

I pray these two installments on the “objects of the Word” have been a blessing for you, and will get you motivated to search out more on the “objects of the Word.”

Feel free to reach out to me if you don’t understand something or disagree with something in the articles. I have had brethren reach out to me over some of the content in articles. Remember in Proverbs 27:7 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Let us therefore pray, “Oh Lord, never permit us to fall into such folly as to speak haughty words; never allow us to be so foolish as to resist light and revelation and never let us approach the point of going beyond repentance, we thank you for your love, mercy and grace”.

Your brother in Christ,

Ron

The church is not the building, but in the Greek {Ekklesia} means the “called out ones” or “an assembly”,they are the objects of the Word, they are the Church.  The Word {Bible} is written to us and for us, at a great price.  It goes without saying that we need to understand that our purpose as the objects of the Word are very important if we are going to be among His elect-His own possession.  We will look at an issue on how some responded. Were they open or closed to light?   Being able to recognize issues is foundational to overcoming and walking in the light as He is light.

Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside.

We see the Lord is speaking in parables because God cannot reveal Himself to the “wise and intelligent.”  Notice, Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Such people cannot expect revelation from God; therefore they are not able to receive understanding from the Word.  It is a two-fold directive to them.  They are not only incapable of receiving revelation directly from God, but they also are unable to receive revelation from the ministers of the Word.  Whenever there are the wise and intelligent among the audience, the Word of God is either weakened or totally obstructed from being released.  I have seen this in giving messages and have had others talk to me about the difficulty in giving messages when they have encountered this same thing.  The one giving the message is in a spiritual fight that the audience cannot feel or sense.

The more a person considers him/ herself to be wise, the harder it is for them to be enlightened.   The more they depend on themselves, the more tightly God’s Word is closed to them.

Let’s look at a couple Old Testament prophecies that frequently the words were shut up and sealed.  Isaiah 29:11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:   Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.  This shows the Word may be released or be shut up after being released.  There is an important spiritual principle, man may hear God speaking and yet that Word can be shut up to him/her.  He/she may tough God’s Word nevertheless it is still sealed toward them.  The Lord Jesus gives us its cause-man’s own wisdom and understanding {Matthew 11:25}.  The Lord hides His Word from the wise and prudent so that they may not perceive.  Hence, whoever considers themselves wise and understanding, from him/her the Holy Spirit will hide the Word in accordance with God’s mind and will.

There is a basic principle in Scripture that goes back to the Garden of Eden.  The basic principle which is revealed in the Bible is that after man has eaten of the fruit of the tree of the Knowledge of good and evil, The Tree Of Life is closed to him/her.  Notice,  Genesis 3:.24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.  As soon as a man/woman possesses the knowledge that comes from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he/she is incapacitated from touching life. Such a touch is then not only impossible to mankind, it is also forbidden by God.

This is a brief meaning of “shutting up.”  It means more than man’s inability; it is also God’s forbiddance.  How serious is this?  Whenever a person focuses on knowledge for the sake of knowledge, life will escape them.  Bear in mind that at the time we boast of our wisdom and understanding, considering ourselves superior, the Word of God is hidden from us.  This is God’s sealing.

Remember earlier in Matthew 11: 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

Perhaps in speaking to those who are newly begotten we do not need to exercise our spirit too strenuously, nor do we need to draw on much light or words, because they are yet babes in Christ.  And naturally as we tough upon those who have tasted the meat of the Word and higher revelation of God–we obviously need to use more of the spirit to push forth more light.

But suppose one comes who considers themselves wise and full of understanding, this one will God hide His pure revelation.  Not only will God not reveal them directly to them, even the minister of the Word is hampered by their presence. 

As one shares or delivers {the Word, your spirit and the Holy Spirit, as well as your words, are released}, But if there is one in the audience who thinks him/herself wise, then he/she is merely an observer and he/she automatically blocks the word from flowing purely.  

1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

The more tender the attitude of the Word, the stronger the Word comes forth.  Think on this, if the object of the Word is willing and readily obedient, the Word will be manifested in more light and revelation.  It is hard to help those who close their hearts and minds, but relatively easy to help those who come humbly and child-like.  This too is a basic spiritual principle.

In closing. We have barely scratched the surface on this topic. With anything I have shared I hope you will dig deeper into the topic and God will bless your efforts because everything on any given topic can not be covered thoroughly in one article or message.  Maybe a part 2 to follow.  Still much to cover on this topic.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Brethren, be humble and learn.  So may we ask God for mercy that He grants us the ability to learn something substantial and real.  May God give His ministry to the called-out ones, {objects of the word} and may we learn all that we should learn.

God be with you as you search for light.

Your brother in Christ,

Ron