DISCIPLESHIP 101 (Part 14 - The Issue of Sin -3)

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FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

DISCIPLESHIP 101

Part 14 – The Issue of Sin - 3

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 Elohim forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

The natural desire and proclivity of the new man is to do the will of IAUE.  It isn’t because the newborn man sees the law of IAUE as something he wants to do, now.  No, it is not a choice to do good; it is now his nature to do that which is pure and right and moral. Having a righteous nature is to naturally do that which is righteous; hence it is to behave in a way that is consistent with the will of IAUE.

Today, I want to discuss the aberration of sin continuing in the life of a disciple of Yahushua Messiah.  In order to have clarity on this issue, we need to revisit the definition of sin.  For most people, sin represents things they have said or done (or have thought to say or do) for which they feel guilt.  Many have done wicked things for which they feel no guilt at all because they were done in revenge.  They believe the person whom they harmed had it coming...they deserved it.  From this light, one can see that sin, in the mind of man, is a highly subjective concept.  It is not anchored in the Law of IAUE.  It is based entirely on social mores. Some cultures on the planet even justify murder. It is not perceived to be wrong when it is committed for reasons consistent with their social values.

Sin is not subjectively defined. Cultures and social mores do not define sin.  Sin is not defined in terms of man’s relationship with man.  It is defined in terms of man’s relationship with IAUE.  Until man relates his words, deeds and thoughts to how they measure up against the law and nature of IAUE, man will not consider that he/she has any need for repentance.  To a Jew, brought up under the Torah, this is self-evident; because the Torah (the Law) requires the Jew to contrast all of his life against the standard IAUE has placed upon it. To a gentile who is not born under the Law; he only has nature and common sense to define what is right or wrong.  Though his life is lived as a progression from one sin to the next, he has less reason to be aware of it than one born under the Law; hence the frail and inadequate understanding of what sin is.

In past posts we have defined sin as “disobedience to the will of IAUE.”  This is a correct definition; but we can refine that definition yet more; and this refinement will lead us to understand why sin in the life of a disciple is an aberration which should not be tolerated in his/her life.

Man sins…he disobeys the will of IAUE…because his nature is one of unrighteousness.  An unrighteous nature is one whose natural impulses and desires are not moral, pure, good, just, selfless and holy in the same manner in which IAUE is moral, pure, good, just, selfless and holy.  Based on human culture and social mores, man can think his words and deeds, even his thoughts, are good; but nothing proceeds forth from man’s unrighteous nature that is not already tainted with the darkness that defines who and what he really is. IAUE, on the other hand, is moral, pure, good, just, selfless and holy in and of himself.  His nature is to be that way despite the cultures and social mores of man. IAUE is light; and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5); consequently, only purity, goodness, justness, selflessness and holiness can proceed forth from him; because that is His nature.

We see, then, that there are two natures:  Righteousness, from which proceeds words, deeds, and even thoughts that are born of LIGHT; and Unrighteousness from which proceeds words, deeds, and even thoughts, that are born of darkness.  It is the nature of man that made procuring salvation from among our own ranks an absolute impossibility.  One who is born in darkness cannot bring man into the Light of IAUE.  Only one born in the Light can redeem man out of darkness. (This is why our redeemer had to be born of a virgin.  Any man born of the seed of fallen man would himself be fallen…born with a nature of unrighteousness; and thereby automatically disqualified from being a savior of mankind.)

Now we can understand that our redemption was based on freeing us from our own nature of unrighteousness.  It was our lack of righteousness that separated us from IAUE.  We had to have a new nature provided to us.  With a new nature…a nature that is righteous, our lives would then naturally be conducted in a manner that is consistent with the nature of IAUE; and that means we would be consistently obeying His will in all things (i.e., ceasing to sin).  In other words, we can define sin as any behavior that proceeds forth from unrighteousness; because the very nature of unrighteousness is disobedience to the nature, hence the will of IAUE.

Let’s consider this concept for a moment. If sin is behavior that is born of unrighteousness; then the objective of redemption would be to eradicate sinful behavior by replacing man’s nature.  In so doing, man could live in a manner that is consistent with the nature of IAUE.  Forgiveness of man’s unrighteousness and unrighteous deeds would be the first step; for there is a price demanded by holiness against all unrighteousness.  Forgiveness, however, does not change man’s life.  We saw in last week’s post, that forgiveness merely pays the debt placed upon man’s unrighteous deeds.  It is remission that delivers man from bondage to sin; but even remission is not enough.  Man must have a righteous nature in order to act and behave righteously; to behave in a manner consistent with the nature and will of IAUE. 

Righteousness is the nature of the New Man we become in Messiah Yahushua. If we walk in the spirit; if we walk in the nature of the New Man, we do not sin for our lives are being conducted in a manner that is by its very nature consistent with the will of IAUE.  When we understand this, we can understand how out of place sin is in the life of a disciple.

1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Saviour Yahushua Messiah, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

1 John 2:29  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

1 John 3:4  Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of Elohim was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of Elohim doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of Elohim.

This brings us to our opening verses:

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 Elohim forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

We must understand that sin has not been accommodated by forgiveness.  It has not had a place made for it because of grace.  Sin is unrighteousness in action; and it has no place in the life of the disciple.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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DISCIPLESHIP 101 (Part 13 - The Issue of Sin -2)

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FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

DISCIPLESHIP 101

Part 13 – The Issue of Sin - 2

Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Yahushua Messiah our Master.  

Neither in John 14:12, nor in Mark 16:17-20, did the Master say we would do his works and have signs and wonders follow our lives only if we had no sin in our life.  If our heads say we cannot do the works of Yahushua because we know of sin in our life, we cease to believe in the words of our Master.  We cease to expect his words to be true.  We cease to expect to be able to heal the sick, cast out demons and work miracles.  We cease to be believers; and that is the only qualification required to do his works. We need to resolve this issue of sin, once and for all; so we can move out of the realm of guilt, put unworthiness behind us, and get onto the battlefield where we belong.

Last week’s post began with this verse:

6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

We did not address this verse, directly.  It stood atop the post as a banner of the obvious.  It reveals the existence of two opposing masters with a simple indisputable message to those who desire to be disciples of Yahushua Messiah.  Here, Paul says that sin shall not have dominion over us.  This word “dominion” in the Greek, is “kurieuo“ – to be mastered.  It speaks of the domain over which a ruler’s authority is supreme.  The root word is “kurios” which is the word translated “master” every time the Scripture speaks of the “Master” Yahushua Messiah (in the KJV, it is translated “Lord.”) So, you can see the conflict here for the disciple of Messiah.  If we have been delivered out of the authority of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the Son of IAUE’s love (Colossians 1:13); our lives should no longer be lived in subjection to the authority of darkness.  We should no longer live in the realm that is under the jurisdiction of the kingdom from which we have been set free.  

The names of the two opposing masters in this verse are not given. They are Satan and Yahushua.  What is expressed in this verse is the power by which each master exercises his dominion over those subject to his authority.  (It would take many pages of commentary to lay the foundation of understanding the manner in which this verse speaks of the law. I am going to speak of it here without laying that foundation.  Please study it for yourself in Romans 5-6.)  The purpose of the law was to enable man to see how exceedingly rebellious he is against IAUE.  Every time man acts, or even thinks about acting, the law is there to say, “That is sin.  That is rebellion against IAUE.”  Through the law man recognizes that disobedience to IAUE rules his life; and that sin exercises dominion over him. Every fiber of his being seems incapable of doing anything but rebelling against IAUE; and with every act he takes; the king of darkness is there to say, “Wrong again, stupid!” 

By the law, man is conscious of his sinfulness. It reveals to man, “This is who you are.  This is your nature; and there is nothing you can do about it.”  The law is simply a list of dos and don’ts that man’s nature is incapable of obeying because he lacks the one ingredient that frees him from his own selfishness. He lacks righteousness. Paul says that the law is good.  After all, the law was given by IAUE.  The law, in and of itself simply says, “Do this. Don’t do that.” There is no unrighteousness in the law.  The problem is there is no righteousness in man.  Thus, the enemy uses the law to beat man down into a hopeless submission to a self-centered life.  IAUE uses the law to reveal to man his need for a savior. It is to those who have reached out to the lifeline of the savior, the Master, Yahushua Messiah, that Paul now says, “You are not under the law.  You are under grace.”

Let’s take a look at grace, now.  Satan uses the law to hold man in rebellion against IAUE.  Yahushua uses grace to enable man to live a life free from a conscience of sin so he can enjoy life in obedience to His Father’s will.  What is grace?  Grace is the power that IAUE gives to enable man to do His will. Unlike being under the law, where man had to attempt to obey in his own ability; under grace, man receives enablement from IAUE which makes obedience to his will effortless.  You could liken it to an electrical appliance.  Let’s use an electric mixer.  If you put bread dough in the mixing bowl and then require the mixer to mix the dough of its own ability, the dough will never be mixed.  If you plug in the cord and allow power from a source that is outside the mixer to run through the mixer, the dough gets mixed.  Such is the difference between being under the law and under grace.  One system is incapable of obedience; the other is incapable of disobedience.

Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Yahushua Messiah our Master.  

The fruit of sin is death.  Death in any and every form is the objective of Satan’s dominion; and he uses death as a whip to keep man in rebellion against IAUE.

Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

It is paradoxical that sin reigns unto death; because man sins in order to prevent death; and yet the inevitable conclusion of sin is death.  “The soul that sinneth shall surely die.” “The wages of sin is death.”  

This realm of Satan’s appears to be ruled by insanity; because reason does not prevail on any corner. His success in keeping man in bondage to sin is based on two ingredients.  The first is, man is unrighteous.  That is his nature.  There is no natural desire or proclivity within man to WANT to obey IAUE.  Man does not want to be ruled by anyone but himself.  This makes man “easy pickings” for an authority that does not operate on free will; but rather on force and subjugation.  Secondly, man is powerless to do the will of IAUE.  Even when he goes through the motions of obedience, he sins because it is an exercise of his own will which is unrighteous at its core.  Satan’s kingdom is very easy for him to rule because his subjects have no ability to usurp his authority or to overthrow his dominion.  It takes a deliverer to be removed from the kingdom of darkness and to be transferred to the kingdom of light.  This is what faith in Yahushua does.

Once we have been translated out of Satan’s domain and placed into the domain of the Master Yahushua; we live by grace…we live by the power that the Master’s Father gives us which makes our obedience to Him effortless.  Paul says that grace rules “through righteousness unto eternal life.”  If our nature remained unrighteous, even grace would be powerless upon us.  Remember, the two things that enable Satan to rule his kingdom are 1) man’s powerlessness to do the will of IAUE; and 2) the unrighteous nature of man.  Both of these issues must be resolved to free man from the dominion of sin.

Grace is the power man lacked; and it is provided to the one who is in Messiah (to the one who is no longer under the law; but under grace). Righteousness is the nature of the new creature in Messiah…the new man.  The spirit of the new-born man is clothed in the righteous spirit of Yahushua.  The unrighteous nature of the old man is removed.  It is gone.  The man/woman who has come to faith in Messiah has become something new; and its nature is righteous.  The natural desire and proclivity of the new man is to do the will of IAUE.  It isn’t because the newborn man sees the law of IAUE as something he wants to do, now.  No, it is not a choice to do good; it is now his nature to do that which is pure and right and moral. Having a righteous nature is to naturally do that which is righteous; hence it is to behave in a way that is consistent with the will of IAUE.

Many believers, having been delivered from darkness, apparently think that sin is now a playground they can visit from time to time without consequence; because they are no longer under its jurisdiction.  To this mindset, Paul shouts:

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 Elohim forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Next week, I want to focus on this aberration of the believer continuing in sin.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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DISCIPLESHIP 101 (Part 12 - The Issue of Sin - 1)

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FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

DISCIPLESHIP 101

Part 12 – The Issue of Sin - 1

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Paul declared that he always accompanied his preaching with MIGHTY signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit.  He regarded that as fully preaching the gospel; and to that end he strived always to preach the gospel with demonstration of the power of the Spirit.  Yahushua said that those who believed the gospel would be saved and that signs would follow them.  The everyday, run-of-the-mill believers were PROMISED that these signs would follow their lives.

This matter of signs and wonders in the life of a believer has been a life-long focus of my life.  I have mentioned more than once in this blog, since starting it several years ago, that when I was a youth in the Baptist church, I came across John 14:12.  I had been taught to believe the Bible was the word of Elohim, the wellspring of infallible truth not to be doubted or disputed.  If it said something, it meant what it said; and it was to be believed.  So, to a young boy reading that anyone who believed in Messiah would do the works he did, and even greater works…and looking around and seeing absolutely no one doing the Master’s works…well, you can imagine how that would be a source of great consternation.

When I was born again some seven years after finding this verse, my exasperation over this matter increased.  The truth of this verse seemed more plausible than ever before; and yet I still saw no one doing what it said.  Two years later, when I received the Holy Spirit, I got a significant portion of my answer to this dilemma.  When the power of the Holy Spirit began to move in my life, I began to move and operate in the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12), and the supernatural began to become commonplace in my life; but there were two obstacles that interfered with my experiencing the kind of ministry that John 14:12, and Mark 16:17-20 promised.  Those obstacles were 1) bad teaching; and 2) the sin issue.

When the charismatic movement restored the gifts of the Spirit to the church (when it essentially restored the Holy Spirit, himself, to the church), the whole church was filled with novices…some just a little less novice than others.  It was juveniles teaching infants; and the result was a lot of bad instruction being passed down.  We didn’t know any better at the time.  If someone had any success in healing, we listened to what they had to say.  If anyone had success in casting out demons, we listened to what they had to say; and so much of what they taught was wrong. They didn’t know any better, and neither did the rest of us.

It took years to overcome bad teaching; because it took years to discover it WAS bad teaching. One topic of bad teaching, however, which persisted throughout this learning process like a virus you couldn’t kill, is what I refer to as “the sin issue.” Simply put, it goes something like this:

Sin produces guilt.  Guilt estranges one from IAUE.  Separation from IAUE produces a belief in one’s unworthiness to minister in the supernatural.  To sum it up:  if there is sin in my life, I can’t be used by the Spirit.

I can remember like it was yesterday, though it was 45 years ago; a minister whom I greatly respected said, “Don’t you sit at home watching television all day, then go to a meeting and raise your bony finger in the air and say, ‘Thus saith the Lord.’”  Whether he intended it or not, he was communicating that you had to be constantly involved with Bible study or prayer in order to be used of IAUE. To do anything less is sin; and you can’t move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit if there is sin in your life.

This message has been repeated in so many different formats that it absolutely pervades the church’s consciousness. The reason we have bought this message hook, line and sinker, is because it makes sense to us.  It seems practical; so the reason we do not do the works the Master did is because our lives are still filled with sin.  How can we expect to do what Yahushua promise us we would do if we are still walking in sin?

The first thing we need to realize is this.  Neither in John 14:12, nor in Mark 16:17-20, did the Master say we would do his works and have signs and wonders follow our lives only if we had no sin in our life.  If our heads say we cannot do the works of Yahushua because we know of sin in our life, we cease to believe in the words of our Master.  We cease to expect his words to be true.  We cease to expect to be able to heal the sick, cast out demons and work miracles.  We cease to be believers; and that is the only qualification required to do his works. We need to resolve this issue of sin, once and for all; so we can move out of the realm of guilt, put unworthiness behind us, and get onto the battlefield where we belong.

Years ago, the Holy Spirit showed me a vision of this battlefield as a football game.  Crowds of spectators filled the stands. They were the unbelievers of this world watching to see which the greater team was.  On the field were two teams.  One was the church; the other was the army of Satan.  As the game progressed, the church appeared to be the stronger team; but one by one, members of the church would remove themselves from the field because they felt unworthy to continue the fight.  The sidelined themselves.  More and more sidelined themselves because of guilt and a sense of unworthiness to continue to be on the front lines.  They sat on the benches watching their team becoming weaker and weaker; and the crowds were beginning to be convinced that Satan’ team was the one for which they should root and cheer.  Consciousness of sin made the church weak.

Hebrews 10:10 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

Under the Old Covenant, a system of sacrifices was constituted for the very purpose of making the Hebrew conscious of his sinfulness.  It was burned into the conscience of every Hebrew that he was unworthy to stand before IAUE on his own merits because he was a sinner.  The gentiles were not so well plagued with this conscience because the Scripture tells us that where there is no law, sin is not imputed; meaning, there is no accounting for sin unless a law says “Thou shalt not” do something you have done.  Only then is there an awareness of sin.  It does not mean sin has not been committed; or that they will not be held accountable for it.  It simply means they do not have a basis for having a consciousness of their guilt before IAUE.

Hebrew 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of Elohim;

13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

15 Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith IAUE, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

There are four ways that sin is treated in the Scripture; two under the old covenant and two under the New Covenant.  Under the old covenant, sin is “covered” by the blood of the offering of atonement.  It is this to which the author of Hebrews refers (Hebrews 10:10-11) that brings a constant reminder to the Hebrew that he is a sinner before IAUE; because his sins are never forgiven.  They are simply being covered by an animal sacrifice and carried over from year to year.  The second way, under the old covenant, is the once-for-all-time sacrifice of Yahushua that paid the penalty for sin.  According to Isaiah 53:5, Messiah Yahushua took all of man’s sins and iniquities to the tree and paid the debt of sin.  He brought forgiveness to all mankind through his sacrifice.  Having the debt of sin paid does nothing to remove a conscience of sin.  The conscience of sin still exists because 1) men still sin because it is in their nature to sin; and they are aware of their guilt before IAUE for their rebellion; and 2) they do not know that they have been forgiven…that the debt of sin has been remitted.

There is a difference between forgiveness (charizomai) and remission (aphesis) of sin.  All mankind has had its sins forgiven; but they are still held in the power of sin.  One can be forgiven sin; but it does not change their nature to sin.  A President can issue a pardon to anyone who has committed a crime in the USA; but his pardon, though releasing the person from paying the penalty for their crime, does nothing to stop them from behaving in the same manner that caused them to commit the crime in the first place.  Forgiveness simply releases one from the penalty of sin.  It does nothing to release him from the power of sin.  Remission, on the other hand, is deliverance from the power of sin; and it is the first way sin is treated under the New Covenant.

We come to Messiah already forgiven; but still in bondage to sin.  When we bow our knee to Yahushua as our Master and King, the Spirit of IAUE creates within us a new spirit that is in union with the spirit of Yahushua.  The nature of that new creature is righteousness. Sin is alien to its nature.  We, however, even after being born again, are not yet delivered from the power of sin that has made its claim upon our mind and our flesh.  Peter, on the day of Pentecost, instructed the people to repent (which causes the new birth) and be baptized (which brings remission, freedom from the power of sin, release from bondage to sin), and then they would receive the Holy Spirit (which brings the power to do the works of Yahushua). 

Hebrews 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Yahushua,

22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Notice in this passage how we can have both a true heart and full assurance of faith…absolute confidence to come into the presence of IAUE.  This is produced by two things:  1) having a conscience of sin removed by the sacrifice of Messiah (This is realized in our repentance and faith in Messiah.); and having our bodies washed with pure water.  The writer is referring to water baptism following immediately upon our profession of faith in Yahushua Messiah.  It brings remission, freedom from the power of sin, freedom from bondage to sin.  It brings deliverance.  It removes “the sin issue” and liberates us from that as a hindrance to doing the “good works” of our Master Yahushua.

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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DISCIPLESHIP 101 (Part 11 - The Kingdom is in Power)

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FUNDAMENTALS OF DISCIPLESHIP

DISCIPLESHIP 101

Part 11 – The Kingdom is in Power

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of IAUE is not in word, but in power.

The gospel is not just a message to bring freedom to your life.  It is a message of conscription. You do not just get to enjoy being set free and have a blessed personal life lived in a bubble of your own self-interests. You are conscripted into an army that is charged with setting others free of their captivity to the power of darkness.  Congregational Christianity is focused on building their businesses; and so focused on teaching the members of their congregation like students that never leave college to go out into the real world…ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the Truth.  The totality of their objective is self-growth as a purpose all in itself.  It isn’t learning in order to do the work of the ministry.

The true church of Yahushua Messiah is not found in buildings on Sunday morning.  They are living life in the real world, conscious that their life has ceased to be about them.  It is now about doing the will of IAUE and setting the captives free from bondage to sin, sickness, disease and all the works of the devil.  The New Testament is absolutely saturated with declarations to this effect; but the Sunday Christian simply cannot hear them.  Today, I want to do a simple verse by verse brief commentary on these passages of Scripture.  We will take them in the order in which they appear in your Bible.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

If you are not walking in power, either you have not received the Holy Spirit, or you are not witnessing unto Yahushua Messiah.  The power is given to accompany your testimony, to magnify it and to corroborate it.

Acts 2:43  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

They received power when they received the Holy Spirit, and they gave the Spirit the opportunity to work signs and wonders by testifying/witnessing of Yahushua Messiah.

Acts 3:12  And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Peter acknowledges that the power was not of him.  It was not present in his life based upon his own holiness.  Power accompanies testimony; it accompanies the gospel.

Acts 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Yahushua Messiah of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom Elohim raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Simply asked and simply answered, the miracle was wrought by the name of Yahushua Messiah.

 Acts 4:29  And now, IAUE, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Yahushua.

33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Master Yahushua: and great grace was upon them all.

They were threatened to cease speaking in Yahushua’s name; so the assembly prayed for boldness to continue testifying of the Master.  At the same time, they quite reasonably connected the need to perform healings and sign and wonders to be done in his name.

Acts 5:12  And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

By this point in the Scriptures, people will believe that the “apostles” could do healings and sign sign and wonders.  After all, they are the only ones, so far, that seem to be doing them.  They also quite comfortably believe that there were only 12 apostles…ever.  Actually, there are 25 apostles identified in the New Testament; but we are going to see, starting in the next few verses, that this was not restricted to the apostles.

Acts 6:8  And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Stephen did not just do wonders and miracles; he did GREAT wonders and miracles.

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Messiah unto them.

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Philip won over virtually the entire city of Samaria to the Master BECAUSE they witnessed the corroborating power of the Holy Spirit confirm his message with healings and signs and miracles.

Acts 14:3  Long time therefore (in Iconium) abode they (Paul and Barnabas) speaking boldly in IAUE, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Paul and Barnabas testified of Yahushua and signs and wonders followed.

Romans 15:13 Now the Elohim of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit…

18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Messiah hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of IAUE; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Messiah.

20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Messiah was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

Paul speaks a blessing to the Roman believers that their hope would abound “through the power of the Holy Spirit.”  When the power of the Holy Spirit is in demonstration, it empowers our own hope in the gospel, the hope of the resurrection in immortal bodies, living forever with the Master.  Paul also declares that he always accompanies his preaching with MIGHTY signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit.  He regarded that as fully preaching the gospel; and to that end he strived always to preach the gospel with demonstration of the power of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of IAUE.

Paul stated succinctly here why the Master told the first apostles and disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with the power of the Holy Spirit.  The gospel is not in word; but in power.  Men’s faith was not to rest in the wisdom of words; but in the power of IAUE.

1 Corinthians 4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Master will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

20 For the kingdom of IAUE is not in word, but in power.

Paul was coming to put an end to a rift in the Corinthian church, and he was going to prove the supremacy of his message by contrasting his power in the gospel with their lack of power.  They had words only.  Paul warned the Ephesians that men would come teaching doctrines to draw men away unto themselves.  A message without power is an uncorroborated message; and it is not to be believed.

1 Corinthians 12:28  And IAUE hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

There are those that would say the power was only for the apostles.  We have seen that was not true.  Then they would say that Stephen and Philip were two of the seven appointed by the apostles by the laying on of hands to do the work of the ministry.  There are also those who would say that the gifts of the Holy Spirit were only for the first century church; but here Paul says that IAUE has SET in the church workers of miracles and those with gifts of healings.  They are SET, not temporarily placed.  Who are these “set” ones?  They are whomever the Holy Spirit empowers to do miracles and to heal.  Every believer is “SET” in the church of Yahushua.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of Elohim, and not of us.

We did not receive our resurrection bodies when we came to Messiah and were born of the Spirit a new creature in Messiah.  Our new spirit in union with the Spirit of Messiah resides in a mortal body in order to not confuse the power displayed when we testify of Messiah with our own person.  The resurrection body is going to be something of awe and amazement.  If we were in our resurrection bodies, people would naturally connect our healing the sick and casting out demons as something we would quite naturally be able to do.  No.  We have this power in earthen vessels in order to magnify Elohim.

                                    

2 Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of IAUE, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of IAUE, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

The demonstration of the power of IAUE is an evidence that approves one as a minister of IAUE.

2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Signs, wonders and mighty deeds are the calling cards of an apostle.  If they are not present in a person’s life, they can be anything else in the church; but they cannot be apostles.

Galatians 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Paul does not identify who this person was or who these people were (his language could mean one or many); but obviously someone was healing the sick and casting out demons among the Galatians.

1 Thessalonians 5:1 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

The record in Acts 17 does not cite any miracles wrought by Paul; but here we see that his preaching of the gospel WAS accompanied by signs and wonders.

2 Thessalonians 1:11  Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our Elohim would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

12 That the name of our Master Yahushua Messiah may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our Elohim and the Master Yahushua Messiah.

Paul fully expected the believers in Thessalonica to testify of the Master and to expect that signs and wonders would accompany their witness of him in order to glorify the name of the Master Yahushua Messiah.  The testimony is for men to believe.  The signs and wonders are to demonstrate the power of the kingdom unto which they are giving witness.

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

A casual reading of Mark 16 would cause most to miss this point.  Yahushua was speaking to his eleven remaining apostles.  He commanded them to preach the gospel.  Then he said that those who believed their preaching would be saved and that signs would follow them.  They would follow those who believed…not the eleven.  They already had the power to heal and cast out demons.  The Master had given that to them long before this moment.  Here, he is saying that the everyday, run-of-the-mill believers were PROMISED that these signs would follow their lives.

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Master, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

4 IAUE also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will?

How shall we?

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Kingdom heart: a heart that offers no resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.

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