God is Spirit

God is Spirit. He fills the universe. When he made himself a body, Jesus Christ, he was in Christ as well as in all the universe. When he paid the price for sin on the cross, he made a way for us to be filled with his Spirit. When we repent of our sins, and are baptized in Jesus name, (his blood washing away our sins), he promises to fill us with his Spirit. With his name “Jesus” and his Spirit, we become part of the body of Christ. He is in us, and at the same time he fills the universe.

2 Corinthians 5:19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. (NLT)

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Holy Spirit)

Ephesians 1:23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (NLT)

Milk and Meat; Obeying and Ministering the Gospel

John 4:32-35 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him [ought] to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

It appears that "meat" refers to ministering the gospel. It appears that "milk refers to obeying the gospel and learning the elements of the gospel.

Hebrews 5:12-14, 6:1-2 ¶ For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk [is] unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. ¶ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

“Perfection” (Hebrews 6:1) is from the Greek word “perfect”. Besides meaning “perfect”, it means “full-grown, adult, of fullll age, mature” (Thayer).

1Corinthians 3:1-3 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

When Jesus was ministering in the gospel, he had compassion on the multitudes and made a plea.

Matthew 9:35-38 ¶ And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

It appears the Lord is saying, It's time to GROW UP! There is a harvest READY of lost, hurting, and dying souls that NEED the ministry of the gospel!  Acts 2:38-39

Joseph - Forgiving, Forgetting and Perfection

Joseph went through many trials and suffering because of his brothers’ jealousy and the evil they did to him. When Joseph became ruler of Egypt, he named the first son born to him "Manasseh".

Genesis 41:51 NLT Joseph named his older son Manasseh,* for he said, "God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father's family."

Footnote:

* Manasseh sounds like a Hebrew term that means “causing to forget.”

When Joseph’s brothers came to him (Genesis 50:15-21), repenting of the evil they did to him, it appears he had already forgiven them.

Genesis 50:20   But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive. {See: Romans 8:28}

When Jesus was on the cross, he said, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

When God forgives, he forgets.

Isaiah 43:25 "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.

Jeremiah 31:34 … I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Paul spoke of knowing Christ and becoming “perfect”. (Philippians 3:12 “perfect”) “Perfect” includes the meaning of spiritually mature, full grown.

In the midst of Christ’s sufferings, and at his death, Christ forgave. In verse 3:13, Paul spoke of “forgetting”. When God forgives, he forgets.

Philippians 3:10   That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

Philippians 3:11   If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

Philippians 3:12 ¶ Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 3:13   Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before…

Philippians 3:14   I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Becoming “perfect” includes becoming forgiving and forgetting others evil towards us.

Matthew 5:44   But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 

Matthew 5:45   That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust… {Note: sun and rain are BOTH blessings from God}

Matthew 5:48   Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.    

Joseph - All things work together for good

Joseph had faith and trust in God knowing "that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Joseph was envied by jealous brothers and thrown in a pit, hauled out and sold into slavery, falsely accused and thrown into prison. From start to finish, he was innocent, and faithful to God.

It was by these trials and tests... that God perfected Joseph, preparing him to be used in a great way.

The Lord was with him through it all, elevating him in every situation. Finally, God elevated him to rule over all of Egypt, making him a savior in a world wide famine.

When Joseph was given the opportunity for vengeance upon his brothers, he responded with mercy.

Joseph's crowning statement:

Genesis 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I [am] Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Genesis 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life...Genesis 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:8 So now [it was] not you [that] sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

Repentance and Joy

Repentance is a good thing - it is surrendering the weight of sin to the cross, releasing a burden too difficult to carry and still survive. It is release - tears of sorrow turning to tears of joy. The promise of a new life in God, the baptism of his Spirit with a new walk. Love, joy, peace... Take this whole world, but give me Jesus - I won't turn back! I won't turn back!

Hebrews 12:2 Looking... unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand ("right hand" = "power") of the throne of God.

When we repent and nail our old sinful nature to the cross, we have the joy of the Holy Ghost before us, with power and authority over sin and death.

The Godhead

The word “Godhead” means “divine power”, “deity”, and “divine nature”.

“Godhead” describes the SPIRIT of God.

 

The “Father” describes the SPIRIT of God.
The “Holy Ghost” describes the SPIRIT of God.

“Son” on the other hand, describes the FLESH of God. 

Clearly, the "Son", which is the FLESH of God, should not be considered part of the Godhead.

The concept that the “Son” (the FLESH of God) is in the Godhead is a concept that is a tradition of man! RATHER, as the Bible states, the Godhead is IN the body (flesh) of Christ.   

Colossians 2:8   Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

Colossians 2:9   For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 

The SPIRIT of God is IN the SON.  

John 14:7 ¶ If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

John 14:8   Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

John 14:9   Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou [then], Shew us the Father?  

Jesus told His disciples that God would give them the Comforter, also called the Spirit of truth, which is the Holy Ghost.

The SPIRIT of God would be IN THEM.

John 14:16   And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 

John 14:17   [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.    

When a person is born again of the water and Spirit, he BECOMES a SON of God. This person, as a son of God, is flesh with the Spirit of God dwelling in him. He is God’s body. 

John 1:12   But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13   Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.    

A person that has been born again of the water and Spirit becomes part of the body of Christ. 

Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

Exodus 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

Exodus 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

Amalek – “doubt” (Jewish sages). Amalek was the grandson of Esau. Because Esau sold his birthright (spiritual position) for a bowl oflentils (appetite/flesh), it appears that Esau represents carnality/flesh. Because Amalek is Esau’s grandson, it seems Amalek also represents carnality/flesh.
Rephidim – “resting place”. The Holy Spirit is the rest and refreshing (Isaiah 28:12). We have rest in Jesus. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Just as Amalek (carnality/flesh) fought Israel in Rephidim (resting place), so also the flesh/carnality fights the people of God that walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-17 [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Exodus 17:9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

Rod – representing God’s Divine Justice/Judgment

Exodus 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

Moses – “drawn out” Aaron - “light bringer” Hur – “hole”

Exodus 17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Moses hand – power Moses rod - God's Justice and Judgment

Exodus 17:12 But Moses' hands [were] heavy; and they took a stone, and put [it] under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Stone - Jesus 1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Exodus 17:13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Joshua – “The Lord is salvation” (“Yeshua” – “Jesus”). Sword – sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

Exodus 17:14 And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this [for] a memorial in a book, and rehearse [it] in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

Put out the remembrance of doubt (or carnality). Rehearse it in the ears of Joshua – Jesus conquered carnality and doubt (sin).
Colossians 2:15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (NLT: In this way, he disarmed*(he stripped off) the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
John 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
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;
Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Exodus 17:15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:

“The Lord is my banner” – “Something lifted up – a token to be seen far off”. Jesus was lifted up on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.
John 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.

Exodus 17:16 For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn [that] the LORD [will have] war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation – war with the flesh/carnality, Jesus came to die on a cross. Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.