Mercy and truth have met together
Righteousness and peace
Have kissed each other in Jesus in Jesus
In Jesus thy Lamb that was slain
Truth shall spring out of the earth
And righteousness shall look down from heaven
In Jesus in Jesus
In Jesus the Lamb that was slain
This rich exhortation is from “God Hath Spoken” by T. Austin-Sparks
God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV)
The principle of the New Covenant is a first-hand individual revelation of Christ as the knowledge of God in terms of glory in the heart of the believer. Every individual believer only comes into true Christianity by a revelation of Christ in his or her heart, so that the knowledge of Christ is all their own, and as real as when God commanded light to shine in darkness. But that is not all. That shining must be progressive. Christ is far too vast to be seen in more than minute degrees at any one time.
The bulk of the New Testament is taken up with getting Christians to see what an immense realm it is into which they have come, and how they must go on… Christianity can only be kept living and fresh and full of impact as Christians are living in an ever-growing apprehension of Christ as the Holy Spirit reveals Him in the heart.
This apprehension may only come as necessity is laid upon us by reason of suffering and trial. Capacity will increase by the stretching of suffering (see Hebrews 12, and read “child-training” for “chastening”). There is no succession in Christianity other than that of the revelation of Christ to the heart by the Holy Spirit. It is not a system to be perpetuated, but a Life to be possessed. The value of the Scriptures is that they contain depths and fullnesses which have never yet been fathomed; and when we speak of “revelation” we do not mean anything extra to them, but of that which is in them, but only known by the inward “writing” and “shining” of the Holy Spirit…. A thing can be in the Bible, and we can have read it a thousand times, but until the Holy Spirit makes it Life to us it will be unfruitful. Hence, there is a place and need for an inward revelation of the Word of God, and this is the only true succession.
Nothing can be preserved alive through generations save as every one entering its realm does so on the basis of such a personal, inward, living, and growing revelation of the truth, so that the origin and beginning is constantly repeated in experience.
Maranatha!
One of the beauties I have found in the scriptures is the principle that everything spiritual has a physical or natural expression. The physical is inferior to the spiritual though, it is always the physical first before the spiritual 1 Cor 15:46. Man was first created from the physical or natural substance and then made spiritual by God’s breath Gen 2:7.
God’s breath gave man life and spirit and His dealings with man always start in the spirit. For this reason, given man’s fall (man’s spiritual death because of Adam and Eve’s sin), spiritual resurrection must of a necessity first happen to man before man can experience physical or bodily resurrection to life. Everyone will resurrect bodily to the state they had while living in their mortal body. This accounts for why Christ came to give us life in its abundance now John 10:10, 5:24, 40.
What is spiritual resurrection
In John 3:1-10, we’re told a Pharisee (person schooled in the laws of God), ruler of the Jews—not necessarily a political leader but, obviously a religious guru or teacher named Nicodemus came secretly by night to Jesus to commend Him and interact with Him as a fellow religious teacher. He failed to realize that Jesus was not a religious man or a theologian. Jesus, being the resurrection and life, saw that Nicodemus was not resurrected though he was a sincere teacher of God’s people. So, in verse 3, Jesus told him of his need to see the kingdom of God and the only way by which it could happen is to be “born again”—spiritually resurrected. Apparently, he was confounded because he had not experienced what it means to be spiritually resurrected or born again.
In verse 5, Jesus proceeded to explain the concept of “born again” and the further benefits to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”.
To be born again is a miraculous deliverance by which, Christ comes to indwell a person. The person is spiritually resurrected by Christ into Christ. A person dead in the Kingdom of darkness is forcefully rescued by the Word and Spirit (the stronger Man) and brought into the Kingdom of Light Col 1:13, Luke 11:22, 1 Pet 2:9.
Paul the Apostle explains it as a gift of God that cannot be worked for—it’s only to be received by accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on behalf of mankind by faith Eph 2:8-9. It is a gift which the love and grace or power of God makes available to whoever believes in His only Son John 3:16. This powerful action of Water–the Word (Christ) and the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) resurrects sinners from a spiritually dead life to God’s spiritual life which, Jesus described as, to see the kingdom.
Furthermore in v6, He accentuated the difference between those who’re spiritually resurrected or born again and those who are not. All these was daunting for Nicodemus as it is today for anyone who has not received this grace of God (Jesus) that has appeared for the salvation of all mankind. Therefore, in verse 7, Jesus encouraged Nicodemus and extends the same to you today if you’re not born again, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again”. It’s not to be figured out—it’s to be believed! Believe in Christ then, the understanding comes 1 Cor 2:14.
Core Benefits of Spiritual Resurrection
Seeing the Kingdom: It is only as we’re born again that we can see the Kingdom of God. God is Spirit and His Kingdom is spiritual not intellectual John 3:3, Luke 17:20.
Entering the Kingdom: Those who’re born again enter His Kingdom—to enter, is to possess it. Being spiritually resurrected entitles us to take firm hold of the Kingdom or eternal life 1 Tim 6:12. This practically affects the quality of life of those engaging in this pursuit. It impacts their spirit, soul and body and consequently, everyone that comes in contact with them because of the fruit the Spirit bears out from them.
Sleep not death: Death for those who are born again is but sleep. They sleep in the Lord of life. They sleep waiting for their Saviour’s voice to invite their corruptible bodies to put on the incorruptible, to be clothed like the angles of God having no selfish ambition but to please God consistently Luke 20:35-36. Indeed, the creator of the heavens and earth is the God of only the living though they may temporally sleep Matt 22:32.
Physical or bodily resurrection: Most crucial, all who are resurrected spiritually (regenerated) will, without fail experience bodily resurrection to life 1 Tim 6:19. This privilege and hope of resurrecting to life makes those who have it to surrender totally to God. It creates a heavenly mindedness, Christ centeredness and a hunger for God’s will to be done on the earth (in us and among the world) that nothing on earth or from the pit of hell can dissuade Isa 45:8, Heb 6:7. Paul the Apostle and others had it as their vision and drive. It accounted a great deal for their devotion to pursue diligently and sincerely after the Spirit of grace (mercy and power) unending Heb 4:16, 1 Pet 1:13, 2 Pet 3:18.
What is bodily resurrection
God created angles that worship and serve Him ceaselessly in Heaven. Out of His sovereignty, He chose to create man that will worship, praise and serve Him on the physical earth realm perpetually. By so doing, man will look after His creation on the earth declaring His praise and glory. But, death through sin came to interrupt His plan.
But, the plan of the Almighty cannot be thwarted by a fallen angel. So, God has promised that a new earth shall come down wherein righteousness (His will) and His alone will be done to replace the present 2 Pet 3:13, Isa 65:17. To achieve it, He has promised bodily resurrection to those who will dwell in it. They will dwell as humans not spirits so that His original plan stands! A righteous earth inhabited by a new creation created new in Christ 1 Thess 4:13-18, 2 Cor 5:17.
To complete His plan, His Word by which all things were created came—praise God. Immanuel even our Christ came Col 1:16. Now, He has destroyed both the god of sin and death and all who believe in Him are restored and being restored to the former glory that God ordained for man. Praise be to God, our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus accomplished the task by shedding His Blood and His bodily resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the unfathomable privilege awaiting all who receive Christ and live or abide in Him.
In Matthew 27:50-54, a definition and description of bodily resurrection was given to all mankind so that no one will have an excuse to disbelieve. Christ rose from the dead after three days as He said John 2:19. The news that must be told clearly about His resurrection is this; many godly men and women who had died and buried came out of their graves along with Him. It was an actual event and the scriptures tell us it will happen again 1 Thess 4:14. Selah!
What are we saying, is it that spirits came out from their graves? No! Mortal men and women who worshipped and feared or reverenced God while in their mortal bodies before they slept, came out of their graves again as humans clothed with gloried or immortal bodies 1 Cor 15:44. This is the definition of bodily resurrection. Consequently, the devil will have no dust to feed on. Hell and the lake of fire will be his doom.
It is imperative that we note, all those who rose followed Christ to everywhere He went. People who knew them could see and hear them. I suspect that Simon who the Holy Spirit told that he will not see death before he had seen the baby Jesus was among them Luke 2:25-32. And probably, he would have told the people, “You all can now understand why I was excited to see the Baby at the temple on that fateful day. In Him lays the salvation of mankind”! Having this blessed hope actively affects one’s present livestyle to Holiness, Patience, Love, consistent Prayer, forgiving others etc Matt 10:16.
All who believe or accept Christ, follow or live in and for Him will resurrect to life, beauty and glory. While, all who reject Him and live for self and for the devil will resurrect to condemnation. Meaning, humans who reject Christ now are presently being enveloped with the spirit and life of the anti-Christ and consequently will suffer the same fate with the devil, demons and the prophet he used to deceive.
The implication of bodily resurrection
John 5:28 states that everyone will rise from the dead and Luke 24:36-43, makes it clear that after resurrection, we will still be humans not spirits. We will have flesh, bone and be able to eat natural food. This truth generates unspeakable joy for those in Christ because in this state, they will have the life of God in them. While those who rejected Christ’s atonement, practiced wickedness and evil will face and experience unimaginable anguish because they are cut off from His life John 5:29. Being cut off from God’s life while clothed with immortality is total darkness and irreversible doom. It is not comparable to lacking God’s life while clothed with mortality. Selah!
Mortals who reject Christ still enjoy the grace of His atonement somewhat; because they are around people with the Spirit of Christ (the body of Christ) full of life and grace who call on God through the power of the Holy Spirit consistently.
Without ambiguity, on the earth, there are two kinds of people. The first are those born of the flesh and so, are fleshly or belong to the first Adam. The second are those born of the flesh, but have become born also of the Spirit making them spiritual or belonging to Christ (the last Adam) 1 Cor 15:45.
Jesus said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Now, He is risen! He is alive today and forever—and drawing all peoples to Himself. This gospel of the Kingdom is the message of His body to the world today!
Have you responded to His call to be resurrected or born again? Don’t delay further! Answer His call today John 20:31. He is full of mercy, grace—inexhaustible grace and generosity! Even those who have responded, that is, the many membered body, He is still ever drawing her to experience more of His grace to enable her participate in all His length, width, depth and height (the stature of His fullness) Eph 4:13, 5:17.
Therefore, marvel not, “That I say to you, except you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God” even if you are a Bible scholar, a leader of religious people and sincere teacher who can theologically authenticate why Jesus is a teacher sent from God.
We must receive Christ’s sacrifice, enjoy it and suffer for it now as ordained by God; then, we shall truly, very truly resurrect to eternal life with God. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s Rom 14:8. Amen!
Maranatha!
An excerpt from Jealousy for God by T. Austin-Sparks:
I have told you all this so that you may find your peace in Me. You will find trouble in the world – but, never lose heart, I have conquered the world! (John 16:33 Phillips)
When the spiritual stands to confront the merely formal, traditional, nominal and “natural,” then there is going to be trouble. This is not now merely the reaction from the world: it is the reaction from religion. I would go further, and say it may be the reaction from Christianity. There is a very great difference between formal, traditional, nominal, “natural” Christianity, on the one side, and spiritual Christianity, on the other; a great deal of difference. So much so, that this also becomes a battlefield – the battlefield of a lot of trouble.
Leave formalism alone, and everything will go on quite quietly. Leave traditionalism alone – that is, the set order of things as it has always been; that framework of things as it has been constituted and set up and established by man; that Christianity which is the fixed, accepted system of things – and you will escape a great deal of trouble. But seek to bring in a truly spiritual order of things, and trouble arises at once. And YOU are the trouble maker! The truth is that the trouble lies in the existing condition, the situation, the state; but it is only brought out by your action.
And so spiritual men and women, and spiritual ministry, are called “trouble makers,” because the two things cannot go on together. That is where Israel was. They had the traditions, they had the oracles, they had the ordinances, they had the testimonies; they had the forms, they had the system – they had it all; but, in the days of the prophets, there was ever this vast gap between the “externals” and “internals” of life in relation with God. The heart is far removed from the lips. The spiritual reality is not found in the formal. You may have it all – but then bring in the truly spiritual meaning of things, and trouble begins in that very realm. It is the trouble which arises when what is external and traditional comes into conflict with something which is truly spiritual.
Maranatha!
Paul the Apostle in Ephesians 1:5 established beyond any reasonable doubt that God planned our salvation on His own and finished His work of making us His own or workmanship without our works Eph 2:8-9. The reason behind it is this; He uses only lively stones for building and entrenching of His spiritual house or kingdom Col 1:13. Lively stones are hewed out by God Himself for His own use.
In Eph 2:10 and 1 Pet 2:5, Paul and Peter the Apostles calls our attention to God’s love and His respect towards us by showing that His plan is to work in us and through us as we keep in step with the Holy Spirit Gal 5:25. We’re lively stones not dead stones or robots! Praise God.
We as lively stones continue to keep alive by remaining in Christ Jesus (The Rock) as we consistently study the scripture, meditating on it and labouring with it. These are the most profitable ventures any soul could possibly engage in— in this life time Isaiah 51:1. The flashes of light and life that enters our being as our souls engage with God in His great house is priceless! Psalm 119:130, 36:9, John 1:4. It causes the soul to desire to go and be with God quickly and perpetually!
But, the sight of the dying world and the knowledge that God can and is willing to impact the lives of others through us as we continue our pilgrim journey through this evil world serves as an encouragement to remain and endure sufferings and temptations Phil 1:21-26.
Seeing lives saved (brought into the spiritual house), brought into the assemblies of saints (great house) in this present world and transforming them from one degree of glory to another in Christ becomes the main reason to live beyond other reasons 2 Cor 3:18.
We desire the fullest expression of the resurrection life of the Rock from which we were hewn to envelope us as we gather together regularly unto Him in fellowship.
Though it has not yet manifested, our longing is not abated Eph 4:13. This creates a further longing to be caught up by some means to mature manhood which is an inheritance of each lively stone as the spiritual house is growing to the stature of the fullness of Christ. This surging of eternal life in us will be fully enjoyed eventually when we’re finally clothed with our immortal bodies. But, for the mean time, we keep coveting for more grace to enable us give room for His life within us and amongst us to flow out to accomplish His purpose to finish the building of the spiritual house.
The Gospel
God’s love towards us has been and is displayed to us in Christ through His physical manifestation or incarnation, suffering, obedience to death and His resurrection. This same process is ordained for us as we’re manifested to be seen by principalities and our fellow men when we are born again (regenerated in Christ). This ushers us into suffering, obedience even to death and as a result, His resurrection power is continually leading us to the resurrection awaiting us. Amen
God has made us His workmanship—causing the gospel to erupt inside our being to conform our lifestyles to His image Rom 8:29. As the early church’ lifestyle yielded to God’s image, we notice that those who believed in the Lord Jesus was added to the church (assembling of God’s people) Acts 2:41, Acts 5:14.
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10, lays out the plan of God for His workmanship (many membered body) 1 Cor 12:14, Rom 12:5. Now, God has fitted each lively stone with a nature or gift (not skill) which makes it uniquely relevant in the temple being built. Any stone that becomes lukewarm is selfish Rev 3:15-17.
Lukewarmness is making partnership with the devil and it eventually leads to wickedness, blindness, laziness and shame etc. Therefore, this is the Lord’s admonition and advice, “Would that you were either cold or hot!” Rev 3:18-20.
Failing to heed God’s counsel is met with severe consequence Rev 3:16 but by His grace, we’ll yield to Him in this present season and hour that He is speaking to you and I as part of His temple and the gates of hell will not prevail. And our reward is unfathomable! Rev 3:21. Awake Zion and trim your lamp!
Avoiding Shame
To walk with God and work for God described by Paul as “building on the foundation”, we’re to follow His instruction in order to work or build according to His pattern and purpose. Why? There are many patterns and purposes that are not God’s but come from self not even the devil. It’s the mentality of, “I can do it skillfully to the best of my ability—so long as I do it with good intentions” but, self, skill and good intentions are sacrifices He is not asking from the lively stones. He desires obedience to His well tested pattern (instruction) which is uncomplicated as laid out in the bible.
We are aware that self will be defeated by God and put to shame eventually. To avoid shame Paul admonishes us not to be presumptuous but to rightly handle (living and building according to) the word of God 2 Tim 2:15, 1 Tim 4:16. This type of obedience to God’s word makes us as individual parts and many congregations unique in our own way yet united by His word of truth in doctrine and practice 1 Cor 7:17,11:16, Eph 4:13.
Since we are the workmanship of God, we need to be aware that self (clay) has no future with God. As we attend to public reading of the scripture as the church gathers regularly, through the process of teaching; reproofing, correcting and training in righteousness (practice our gifts) the clay is debased. Through constant practice of each lively stone’s gift, competence is gained and each stone is strengthened DAILY 2 Tim3:16-17.
Paul seems to be telling us that the only way to avoid shame before God’s presence is to “rightly handle the word of truth”. This is far beyond “doing as the leaders have said”. Actually, it is doing as you’ve learnt from Christ in the scriptures by the help of the Holy Spirit within you (Acts 17:11NLT). Failure to practice this is lukewarmness.
The church is described as a great house with the treasures of gold, silver, wood and clay 2 Tim2:20. It’s important to note that the church is not the treasure. While gold and silver tell us about God’s nature in man, wood and clay depicts the earthiness of our being. Clarifying Rom9:21, the aspect of man referenced as clay and wood by God’s foreknowledge is predestined for destruction because it is earthy, dishonorable and cannot conform to His image! Nevertheless, they are found in the holy house because they were admitted by grace not by merit. However, the clay as a jar for temporal use must be broken and wood, must be overlaid inside and outside with gold and silver according to God’s instruction for the building of His temple Exodus 25:11, 13.
Every jar broken and wood overlaid with gold will be ready for every good work that is honorable to God 2 Tim 2:21. God demanded from the beginning that His gold and silver override the wood and clay— meaning that man is to obey His Spirit within him and His voice of instruction as opposed to self or external forces. For this reason, we’re referred to as lively stones (precious metal) which is destined for honourable use and not clay.
Abiding as a lively stone for the on-going construction of the spiritual house, each stone flees youthful passion— meaning everyone breaks their jar of clay so that the light which is the treasure of gold and silver or fruit of the Spirit (righteousness, faith, joy, love, and peace) may envelop the soul and flow out to confound the enemy, blessing the one through whom it is flowing and others within the great house (assembly of saints) and beyond Judges 7:15-21, 2 Cor 4:7, Gal 6:10. In the end, God is glorified.
We see Gideon typifying the Holy Spirit Who has prior knowledge of the plans of the enemies of Israel and sees their weakness and foolishness in thinking to destroy the army of God. For us (Christ’ bride), the Holy Spirit exposes the wicked plans of the enemy to us from the pages of the scriptures and gives us instruction to take the double edged sword and break our jar Rom 12:1 for light to flow out because we can’t go into darkness to fight without goodness or light Rom 12:21, Eph 6:10-18, Zech 4:6.
The brightness of His light and energy coming out against the enemy from the many membered great house, will expose the cowardice of the strong man (Satan) who is a created being made subject to the creator— even our Christ and brother Eph 3:10.
Gideon’s 300, served as a shadow of the reality of Christ’ lively stones. Like Gideon’s 300, we are being instructed on how to break our jar of clay by the process of renewing of our minds. They did not regard the clay for anything and so must we 2 Cor 5:16. We like them, are called to be single minded as pilgrims on the earth to give glory to God’s purposes at all costs 2 Tim 2:4, James 1:8KJV. Double mindedness is a deadly evil nature as opposed to doubting God in a particular situation which is common to all of God’s servants.
We, as “lively stones” must understand that the reason for being priests and kings to God and not to men Rev 5:10, is to “proclaim His excellencies” by word, walk and work 1 Pet 2:9.
We’ll finish this meditation in the second part of “Lively stones for the Spiritual House”.
The Lord keep you and may His light shine from you, giving you victory and blessing all peoples coming in contact with you. Amen
Maranatha!