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1 Corinthians 15:53-54 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (KJV)
Did you know there is a dress code in order for you to gain your eternal access into the God’s kingdom? In order to gain access into this spiritual kingdom, then one would need to be clothed in a spiritual robe as well. It is not until this mortal, meaning liable to death, is able to put on immortality, or this corruptible body is replaced with an incorruptible one, that you will receive the reward of eternal life. Until that time we are still subject to death; one separates us from our physical body, the second death would separate us from the body of Christ and result in eternal separation from God. So watch and pray always, because it is only those that endure to the end that are going to receive this reward, while the rest will be like Adam and Eve, who realized that they could not hide their sin from God, and were naked and exposed for who they really were. Hebrews 4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (KJV) God looks at the thoughts and intents of the heart; so have you properly dressed yourself with a spiritual covering, or will you be charged with indecent exposure? Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (KJV) Think about the first thing we that do when waking up; you dress yourself and prepare for the day. The Bible says to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all that is needed will be added unto us. Are we as diligent with our spiritual clothing as we are with the outward covering? You wouldn’t dare walk out of the house unclothed physically, why would you do it spiritually? That would be lewd and unlawful, and one would be subject to prosecution. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (KJV) Ever heard the term self righteous? So has the Lord; and the word of God is clear on how far our own righteousness will get us, and how disgusting it is in the sight of the Lord. Basically speaking, by trying to achieve salvation our own way, we are telling the Lord that He didn’t do a good enough job and that we know better. Without faith it is impossible to please God, my ability to hear the message delivered by Christ and operate in His righteousness. Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (KJV) The definition for endued refers to being clothed with a garment, which if coming from on high, would be referring to a spiritual covering. So are you covered this day, or are you exposed to the elements? Matthew 22:11-13 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: (12) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (13) Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (KJV) Here’s a classic example of someone that tried to do things their own way, trying to find a different way into the kingdom of God. He didn’t have much of an answer when it came time to give an account of himself and his apparel. We have all been invited to this wedding feast as well, so time to get dressed and don’t be late. Zephaniah 1:7-8 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. (8) And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD's sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel. (KJV) Have you noticed over the years how fashions change with the times? Dress codes that man would have considered an abomination years ago are now acceptable and the norm. And if you notice over the years, the coverings have gotten smaller, leaving more and more exposed. The same holds true with many doctrines of man, they change as well with the times, rather than covering the lower nature with a robe of righteousness, they leave more and more of the truth out, exposing themselves for who they really are. 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (3) If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. (4) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (KJV) You need to realize that what is appropriate in God’s sight is not the same as what man considers appropriate. God covers us completely, spirit, soul and body, while man just tries to cover his backside, which the Bible says we are to be the head and not the tail. Revelation 3:5-6 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (6) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (KJV) Are you listening Church, and do you take the message of our Lord seriously? We need to be overcomers not underachievers in order to gain access to our inheritance. When a name is blotted out, which means to erase, it means at one time it was actually a part of the book of life. So is your name still on the guest list, and do you check it on a daily basis to make sure your invitation is still intact? Remember, only those that are a part of the family and dressed for the occasion will be allowed into the wedding feast of the Lamb. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Psalms 100:1-5 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. (2) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. (3) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (5) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (KJV)
Sing unto the Lord a new song; a beautiful melody flowing from your heart in praise and thanksgiving for the new life you have been given in Him. This new song is within the new heart, and comes forth in the joy, peace, and love that you now experience in Christ. This is not an outward show, but it is an inward worship in Spirit and in truth. My dearly loved brethren, you were wonderfully made; now let your life be a new song unto the Lord; walk in truth and bless His name for this will be well with you. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 5:19-20 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; (20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (KJV) Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. (9) According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. (KJV)
[Let them make me a sanctuary] miqdaash (OT:4720), "a holy place," such as God might dwell in; this was that part of the tabernacle that was called the most holy place, into which the high priest entered only once a year, on the great day of atonement. [That I may dwell among them.] "This," says Mr. Ainsworth, "was the main end of all; and to this all the particulars are to be referred, and by this they are to be opened. For this sanctuary, as Solomon's temple afterward, was the place of prayer, and of the public service of God, Lev 17:4-6; Matt 21:13, and it signified the church which is the habitation of God through the Spirit, 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:19-22; Rev 21:2-3; and was a visible sign of God's presence and protection, Lev 26:11-12; Ezek 37:27-28; 1 Kings 6:12-13, and of his leading them to His heavenly glory. For as the high priest entered into the tabernacle, and through the veil into the most holy place where God dwelt; so Christ entered into the holy of holies, and we also enter through the veil, that is to say his flesh. See the use made of this by the apostle, Heb 9 and 10. Thus, the sanctuary is to be applied as a type: 1. To Christ's person, Heb 8:2; 9:11-12; John 2:19-21. 2. To every Christian, 1 Cor 6:19. 3. To the church, both particular, Heb 3:6; 1 Tim 3:15; and universal, Heb 10:21: and it was because of the very extensive signification of this building, that the different things concerning this sanctuary are particularly set down by Moses, and so variously applied by the prophets and by the apostles."-See Ainsworth. As the dwelling in this tabernacle was the highest proof of God's grace and mercy toward the Israelites, so it typified Christ's dwelling by faith in the hearts of believers, and thus giving them the highest and surest proof of their reconciliation to God, and of his love and favour to them; see Eph 1:22; 3:17. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary) What do you see; what do you hear in these verses? Ponder this; in the beginning, God laid out the pattern of the tabernacle and all the instruments thereof. God created us in their image and after their likeness, His pattern, His tabernacle, His instruments. Now with the fall of mankind, God covered up this pattern to protect it from the muck and mire of our fallen nature, but in His loving kindness He also made a way for us to clean up the muck and mire in our lives and have the pattern uncovered so that we could follow it according to His specifications and not man’s. Jesus Christ is the only way to see the true pattern that God intended for us to follow that would reveal a life eternal in the heavens and create a sanctuary well pleasing in His sight and fit for Him to continually dwell in. 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (KJV) So I encourage you, today, continue to be God’s instrument of righteousness, His pattern of the tabernacle which He created in the beginning; shewing forth in your own life His grace and mercy for all mankind, that possibly, one more might seek and desire a new life in Christ, a new pattern to follow. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV) 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (KJV)
Now that you have become a new creature it means that you are now operating in a new realm, one that was not available before the sacrifice of our Lord. This week our goal is to point out some of the old and compare it to the new so that you can make an informed decision based on what the Word says and not what a fallen carnal mankind keeps imitating. Do take note that these old things are passed away which describes things that are dead and not something we should be digging up again and trying to revive. Hebrews 9:8-10 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and diver’s washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (KJV) The word ‘figure’ in verse 9 is referring to a parable, a figure or a symbol of things that were done outwardly that now has a spiritual meaning for those that are able to see beyond the veil of the flesh. We have been in that time of reformation for at least two thousand years now, yet it is hard to fathom why so many in the so called churches have not caught on to what our Lord was symbolizing. Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (KJV) This week we are going to look at the old and new; how John baptized with water which he was doing according to the old law, and today, what is the new baptism that our Lord gives credence to. I believe you will see it is as different as night and day, or should I say flesh and Spirit? Luke 12:50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! (KJV) We see our Lord making mention of this baptism, and given the fact that God is a Spirit, then it would be fitting to say that the baptism our Lord desires to see His people baptized in would be spiritual as well. John 6:63-65 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. (KJV) Today we have many that believe in God, yet in works deny Him and are walking in the wrong direction. Many today still think the works of the law are in play, which keeps them stuck under the curse instead of the blessing. The key to walking in the new is getting the old out of the way, which for mankind is his own carnal ways and thoughts. Our lower nature is of no profit to the new realm we are now walking in. So the more you stay in the Spirit, the more of the life of Christ you will experience personally for yourself. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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