FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP
Proverb 16:17 The
highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way
preserveth his soul.
Last week’s post ended with this comment:
Revisit how you think of the
promise of the gospel, the promise of the resurrection
and of the body taking on
incorruption and immortality. Is it not
real in your mind?
Is the reward too far away to
have a present impact on your life? Or
is it just a
fantasy that has never held your
heart captive to the joy that is set before you? Our
choices determine whether the
grace of Elohim will rule in our heart, or the law of
sin in the flesh will exercise
dominion over our lives. Choose.
For much too long, the teachers and preachers
in this age of Christianity have focused on our position in Messiah rather than
our current experience in him. For
example, we have been taught that we are the righteousness of Elohim “in
Messiah;” that Messiah is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and
sanctification and redemption; that we are seated with him in heavenly places “in
Messiah Yahushua.” The consequence of such teaching is that believers think
they may just sit back and relax and enjoy their life and pursue their own
goals because Messiah has done everything for us. There are no consequences for
our actions for which we need be concerned. We need only to wait for the
promise to come of everlasting life.
This teaching of our position in Messiah is a
half-truth. Our position “in Messiah” has
been made possible for one reason; and that reason is not to secure for us some heavenly or eternal prize. It is so the life of Messiah in whom we have
been “positioned” might be worked out experientially in our lives.
John 15:1 I am
the true vine, and my Father I the husbandman.
2 Every
branch in
me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and
every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more
fruit…
4 Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye,
except ye abide in me.
5 I am
the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a
man abide not in
me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is
withered; and men gather then, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
The whole point of being in the vine, of
being “in Messiah,” is to bear fruit. If
we are not bearing fruit, we are worse than worthless and shall be cast off and
cast into the fire.
Romans 6:3 Know
ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Yahushua Messiah were baptized into his
death?
4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Messiah
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life.
The objective of being baptized into Messiah
is to be able to walk in newness of life.
Romans 11:21 For if
IAUE spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold
therefore the goodness and severity of IAUE: on them which fell, severity; but toward
thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be
cut off.
IAUE is not looking so much at what we
believe as much as what we do. If we
believe correctly, we will be doing correctly.
Faith without corresponding actions is not faith at all. It is a religious system of doctrine. True faith taps into the power and life of
the vine; and that life flows through us and captivates us, and takes hold and
transforms the nature of the branch and bears fruit that does honor to the
vine. The only way a wild olive branch
can demonstrate that it is grafted into the true vine is by bearing fruit that
is consistent with the true vine. The
only way it can bear such honest fruit is by abiding in the vine so as to allow
the life of the vine to take full command of the wild olive branch.
The life of Messiah is not one of deception,
manipulation, pride, ego, selfishness, anger, malice, resentment,
unforgiveness, plotting, conniving, taking offense, rudeness, backbiting, partying,
gluttony, laziness, retaliation, defensiveness, etc. If this is the kind of fruit we are bearing,
we should be fearful, for it demonstrates that we are not abiding in the vine
which is Messiah.
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are
manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness,
revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told
you in time past, that they which do such things shall not
inherit the kingdom of Elohim.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against
such there is no law.
It
is important to note that Paul says that those who “do such things” shall not
inherit the kingdom of Elohim. He does
not state, “those who are lost, who have never prayed to accept Messiah, who do
such things.” No, he says those who “do”
shall “not” inherit. He is setting forth
the distinction between the fruit of a wild olive tree (the flesh) and the
fruit of the true vine, which is Yahushua Messiah. You see, we are positioned “in him” for one
purpose…to let the nature of his life be manifest in our life.
Picture,
if you will, two hands with their fingers intertwined. One hand represents the flesh, the other
represents the soul.
Soul Flesh
This is our condition before we come to
Messiah. Our mind, will and emotions are
inseparably linked to the flesh. It is like
a brain tumor regarding which the doctor says “We cannot remove the tumor. It has so attached itself throughout the
brain; to remove it would kill the patient.”
The flesh marked every single action our soul ever chose to make because
it held death over us as extortion. Our nature was flesh, because we were
incapable of another kind of expression to our life. When we repent and acknowledge the Master
Yahushua, these “hands” are separated (the tumor is removed). The flesh and the soul still exist; but no
longer are they intertwined.
We know what it is that hinders our bearing
the fruit of the Spirit. It is the fact
we have not relinquished our hold on the flesh. In the new creation, when we were born of the
Spirit, the hold of the flesh was relinquished from us; but now we do not want
to let it go. This condition
actually serves as a litmus test to prove the quality of the gospel message to
which we have responded.
Romans 1:16 For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Messiah: for it is the power of IAUE unto
salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also
to the Greek.
Salvation is deliverance from our enemies and
all that would hinder our ability to obey the will of IAUE. The gospel is powerful to produce that
condition within man, such that man may freely devote his life to the
performance of the will of IAUE. This,
however, is not the general condition of what calls itself “the Church.” The gospel Paul preached had an entirely
different result than that which is preached today.
Galatians 5:24 And they
that are Messiah’s have impaled the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Those who responded to the gospel in the New
Testament “impaled the flesh with the affections
and lusts.” “Impaled” (“crucified”
in most English translations) has reference to a specific judgment. It represented not just the guilty verdict of
man; but the judgment of IAUE. One
condemned to death by being impaled was rejected and condemned by IAUE; and had
to be taken outside of the city to be put to death. Nothing about that person
was worthy of the city of IAUE or the people of IAUE. Such is the flesh. It bears the condemnation of IAUE. Those who are Messiah’s by proper response to
the true gospel, consent with IAUE that the flesh is not worthy to be regarded
in any manner. It is only worthy of death
in the most humiliating of manners.
The majority of believers, today, however, still
consider much good in the flesh; and certainly enough good and pleasurable
within it to turn from abiding in Messiah to entertain its delights. Be cautious Church. To the degree you entertain the flesh you
will grow and bear the fruit of the flesh.
Once you bear the fruit of the flesh, it will become known to all whom
you serve.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not,
that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom
ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Those who would be the disciples of the Master
Yahushua Messiah must choose whether or not they will return to the bondage of
the flesh (which no longer has a natural hold on their souls) or consent with
IAUE that their flesh is under sentence of condemnation; to abide in the life
of the Master and do the will of IAUE without resistance. This is not something to be pondered over
time or to approach as though it can be done progressively bit by bit. It is a choice of life versus death.
Consider that from the Father’s perspective, we are
a pearl of great price worthy of paying everything to possess; and yet, we
cannot even possess our own souls in righteousness for a day without catering
to the flesh. We must see ourselves as
IAUE sees us; and allow Him the freedom to reproduce His nature within us. We are called to this. Can you see it?
Proverb 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance
of the will of IAUE.
