"The Mystery of The Faith"
In the course of natural life on earth, there is a God -created genetic cycle in a woman's
life wherein she is ready only in a certain set time period of her cycle, to conceive and
bring life to birth - Eccl.3:2. The timing of natural age plays a part in the ability of a
woman to conceive. Even the egg is released in the appropriate time of the month and
brought into a place where if it meets the male sperm, it will become fertile
if the Spirit
of Life mysteriously so directs. The natural mind would more likely think
if the
circumstances so dictate. As in the natural birth process, so it is in man's spiritual birth.
I
n God's own cycles of timing, He draws the soul of man (Jn.6:37, 44,65; 12:32) and
prepares and places him or her in a place of the presence of His living Word..ready to
become a part of the woman (the church). In similar manner through His Spirit, through
ways beyond human comprehension, He brings forth every natural child into the womb
of His mother just before birth.
In Jesus' day when He was present in the form of the Word as the Son of God and as the
Son of man---all those in His presence would not believe in the divinity of His spirit -
Jn.6:44. They saw the flesh and heard the word on the level of human sight and human
understanding only. Therefore they could not accept it. Was this due in part or in its
entirety to their human choice of unbelief and to their own self-generated hardness of
heart? Or rather, did the Spirit of the Father of all spirits somehow have a part to play in
it? We believe He had a major part and still does!
Scripture indicates Jesus knew those who were prepared of the Father at that time to
receive a spiritual quickening, and he also knew those that were not - Jn.6:64. So it is
even today. God alone chooses who should hear and who should believe - Ac.15:7-9.
"Blessed is the man you choose and cause to approach you." Psa.65:4. Know that "God
from the beginning hath chosen you to salvation" 2Ths.2:13. Yes, "you who through
Him" (1Ptr.1:21; Ro.5:11) and not at all through yourself
have come to have the
necessary faith to believe in Him. Truly you are of "a chosen generation" (1Ptr.2:9) who
in His divine timing are "ordained" (Ac.13:48) to become those "which had believed
through grace." Ac.18:27. Not only does He divinely choose who should hear and
believe but also when they should hear and believe - 1Cor. 12:18; Matt.13:11; Gal.1:15;
3:23; Jn.3:8; Lk.24:32.
Evident in the world today is a form of belief in Christ which yet makes the word of God
of none effect. This can stem from Satanic origin - Jas.2:19. Closely connected and
intertwined with godly faith is natural human belief. This is a kind of faith which is of no
spiritual life-giving effectiveness. This kind of belief originates and proceeds directly
from the unregenerate regions of soul and flesh - Ro.10:1-4. We all are yet susceptible to
draw from this earthly well. On the other hand, there can be a life-giving belief of truth
found in man which originates primarily from a supernatural importation of the Spirit of
God.
One type of belief (in a biblical sense) is strictly a belief per the natural letter of the
word, the other is wholly by the Spirit of the Word - 2Cor.chapter.3. One is implanted
through grace from a divine source that is apart from our adamic nature; the other comes
strictly from the shallow inner source of our adamic self-spirit.
The Spirit of Truth comes supernaturally from the Father at His will unto His chosen
ones to testify of the power of Christ - Jn.15:26. It is only this "Spirit that quickeneth; the
flesh [adamic nature spiritually] profiteth nothing." Jn.6:63. The words that the Spirit of
Truth inwardly speak
only they are of a Spirit which brings to men a righteous new life,
new birth, and new faith. Just as the fruit tree yields fruit after his kind (Gen.1:11), a
good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit---nor can an evil tree bring forth truly good and
lasting fruit - Matt.7:18. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of
the Spirit is spirit. Ye must be born again - Jn.3:6,7. Applying this truth to faith, we find
that natural human faith can produce only natural fruit---fruit that eventually perishes.
But divine spiritual faith produces divine spiritual fruit, fruit that perishes not.
True living faith has its fruit come forth through the heart of man but its seed and roots
has its origin in the heart of God---even in the midst of Him who is our tree of life. This
faith of which we speak is a divine substance of God's own perfect nature which has its
expression through Jesus Christ our Lord. The letter of the word hangs on the branches
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil ready to fail. The Spirit of the Word as the
fruit of the spirit of eternal life will hang forever on the tree of life. Just as sure as
natural fruit is produced in its season, so God will ensure the production of faith in His
"trees of righteousness."
We find that just as Jesus Christ in the flesh was the human expression of God's word
[thoughts], so are the written words in the Bible a part of human expression of God's
word. Just as Christ was both thoroughly human )Phi.2:7,8) and also fully divine
(Col.2:9), so also is the Spirit of His holy word found in the scriptures. Christ Jesus was
not partly human and partly divine, but was basically human and thoroughly divine.
So, we see the same principle carried through into the written word of God [the Bible],
wherein the letter of the word remains subject to death but the quickened Spirit of the
Word ministers glorious new life within humanity - 2Cor.3:1-11. We find that the Old
Testament law in likeness to the letter of the word, is as that veil of soul and flesh, which
without first the power of the Spirit to rend it, hides all the true wisdom and knowledge
of the true life of the word.
In Christ, we find the Spirit of the Word first came veiled in the flesh [the man Christ
Jesus], just as the Spirit of the word now comes to man veiled in the letter. This Word
who came in a body of flesh, and now comes in a body both individually and corporately,
also had the power of the Spirit to rend this veil. Christ's flesh became a revelation as
well as a veil. So it is with the written word of God. Unless the surface letter of the
word is unveiled by the Spirit of Christ to be seen in its spiritual reality, it is void of true
life giving Spirit. The rending of the veil that brings faith for our salvation, begins at the
top through both the will and the choice of God. It can never begin at the bottom in the
selfwill or belief of man. If the origin of saving faith could ever originate and be
generated from within man himself, then it would have been unnecessary for Christ to be
faithful to the Father, even to His death on the cross.
The Father had perfect faith in His Son to carry out His divine mission for mankind. The
Son was entirely faithful in fulfilling this commission. Could it have been any other
way? See our writing entitled "The Sinless Son." Now the righteous faith that was in
His blood [His life and His Spirit] becomes ours, not through anything we decide to do,
say, think or believe of ourselves (Eph.2:8,9), but entirely through this grace and seed
faith that come to us from God - Ro.3:22-27.
It is in reality, His faith that resides and generates in us is that produces our faith in
Him! In other words, the righteous faith men are given to possess , whether for their
initial salvation or for further work of God, comes in no way from themselves. That
which comes from the Spirit of God is trustworthy and lasting. That which originates
with man is not. We will elaborate on this in much more detail and much more scripture
later.
Now, just as there is a substantial difference between soul and spirit, between natural
birth and spiritual rebirth, between the letter of the word and the Spirit of the word,
between natural knowledge and spiritual wisdom, so is there also a vast difference
between man's faith and the faith of Christ. Both do manifest and operate within adamic
man, but the truly righteous and necessary kind of transforming faith that the Bible says
we must have in order to please God (Heb.11:6), must originate from the faithful holy
Spirit nature of God Himself.
Saving, healing faith is a product entirely of God's own nature, mind and timely will. It is
not at all a product of the mind, will nor whims of man. It sprouts from a godly seed and
produces godly fruit. It begins as a holy righteous root and ends as a holy and righteous
tree of life. I germinates in the soil of darkened minds, it springs heavenward in the light
of God's revealing love and in the life-giving rain of His Spirit.
Belief or faith as man often calls it, by itself, is a natural, ever-present ability that
inherently exists in the souls of all men. It is present in mankind from natural birth---a
product of man's own individual mind. It ranges from practical assurance to conjecture,
from slight apprehension to blind trust
always in sincerity. It is a condition of mind, a
positive mental and intellectual conviction that has its beginnings and ending entirely in
the mind, will, intellect, notions and emotions of the unregenerate soul. It begins and
ends in the common realm of spiritual death, confined and imprisoned in its limited
allotted power. Hence, any human belief (faith) found in the common forms of
assumption and presumption are only unrighteous and self righteous counterfeits of
genuine Godly faith. The fruit of this natural type of faith grows only on the tree of the
knowledge of good and evilthe tree of death. Its branches are spread everywhere
throughout the earth.
In contrast to this natural everyday faith that we commonly live by, there is a true God
given faith that is ever present, but only in the realm of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.
It begins in righteous holiness and ends in perfect holiness
because only Jesus is the
author and the finisher of it - Heb.12:2. The power of true godly faith begins right where
man's power ends! This kind of fruit grows only on the tree of life. Godly belief or faith,
originating from the mind and Spirit of God when one is "born again", is a gift
(1Cor.12:9) that produces the firstfruit of much further effectual spiritual faith - Gal.5:22.
The true fruit of faith begins in the initial seed gift of faith (Eph.2:8,9) and begins
growing and maturing through your God imparted spiritual belief being put into action.
Human belief exercised apart from the working will of the holy Spirit, is spiritually vain.
It is dead. It is a dead work, an unrighteous faith which condemns rather than justifies. It
is void of any righteous faith giving life of God. Because God is the Spirit of love, any
faith void of the working of God's love is also dead because it profits man nothing -
1Cor.13. It is only His divine power that gives us all things which pertain unto true life
and godliness - 2Ptr.3:3. True faith is a basic and essential thing. This faith is a part of
the very nature of God Himself which becomes a part of our new nature in the divine
process of human salvation.
The fruit of faith (even one's ongoing salvation) is essentially produced through the grace
of God in opening ones eyes, ears, heart etc. to hear and to understand, not only the letter
but also the life giving Spirit of His word. Contrary to popular opinion, human will
power and belief does not initiate the hearing, the understanding, nor the believing that is
necessary to obtain salvation by faith. Futher, the divine will of the holy Spirit must first
impart the living faith of God whether it be for a spiritual or physical healing of the body.
The point is, that without the miracle of God's perfect imparted faith giving us the power
to believe, we could not ever even begin to hear, see nor understand how that Christ is
the way, the truth and the life of our salvation.
Effectual godly faith "cometh by hearing", hearing the life imparting Spirit of the word
through spiritual ears which are divinely opened to hear. The physical letter of God's
written word is not alive and therefore cannot give to anyone any true sounds of faith nor
life unless it be divinely quickened.
There is only one kind of believing faith that is acceptable for salvation. It is the result
of an act of God, not of man, that enables man to engage in a new and personal mode of
personal communication with God. This kind of faith has a divine origin. Only the
activated faith of God is able to free man's spirit from the death grip of his old nature,
supernaturally releasing him to be able to receive and believe with an effectual divine
faiththe enlightening revelation of personal saving grace. It is a totally supernatural
life bringing force that must be initially imparted from God in His timing of grace. This
is true of both spirit-soul and body healing.
Individuals must first be impregnated by divinity to conceive godly faith in the womb of
their minds. Note that the Father did not first need the intervention of man [Joseph] to
bring forth the life of His Son in Mary. Neither does He need, nor even use, the
intervention of man in conjuring up any of his very own initial thoughts or actions to
bring forth a new life of faith in man.
Natural belief or faith does not have divine origin. As we have been revealing, it is born
of human soulish origin and can just as easily be the influence of Satanic origin. We
would not hesitate to say that human faith and belief is actually as far apart from the
saving gift of faith---as the fruit of human love and natural lust is from the true fruits of
God's agape love. The carnal mind is unaware of the difference between these things
because they are only spiritually discerned.
In the understanding of the carnal mind even in Christian circles, natural faith is seen
tied unto the true gift of godly faithjust as worldly sorrow is seen to be no different
than godly sorrow---though in reality, there is a world of difference. Godly sorrow
worketh repentance to salvation, whereas natural sorrow cannot continue but to work in
death - 2 Cor.7:10.
Human faith or belief denotes a persuasion, a trust, a reliance, an acceptance either with
or without manifest proof of truth or reality. One can say he has faith, or trust in a thing
or a person regardless of whether his belief in that thing or person is right or wrong. For
example, one can believe in freedom or slavery, or even in the man Christ Jesus. That
will not necessarily save him. One can believe that the bread and the wine is good
without necessarily partaking of it. That is Human faith! In comparison to righteous
godly faith it is nothing more than an unrighteous pseudo faith!
New Testament biblical faith is always the acceptance of some form of absolute truth
whether it be manifestly persuasive or not. It begins with a God imparted promise of
truth and ends with the manifested fulfillment of that promised truth. Biblical faith is not
the end, but rather the beginning and the endurance of a divinely inspired belief.
Natural human faith is always prone to failure. Divine faith can no more fail than can
divine love. True biblical faith therefore is found in the steadfast reliable assurance of
God promised things we can hope for, and in the promised evidence of things we have
not yet seen, in the natural, or in the spiritual realms of reality - Heb.11:1; Ro.4:20, 21.
The hope we lay hold upon, is a sure and steadfast anchor of our soul, anchored firmly to
the foundation of truth of that which the God of the Bible has spoken. The rope which
holds the vessel of our soul steady in the stormy waves of the sea of humanity, is the
trustworthy Spirit of God whose strength and faithfulness is most assuring. Our
endurance in the buffeting waves of affliction, whilst we look not at the things which are
seen, works spiritual faith in us as an eternal weight of glory.
Just as there are two types of faith, one natural and one spiritual, so there are two main
types of God's word, whether they be written or spoken. One, the LOGOS [Grk.],
operates in the realm of reasoned human speech. The other, RHEMA [Grk], is in the
realm of divine utterance. This produces spiritual faith in the ability to hear and believe
the living Rhema word of God. The Logos is knowledge in the lower soulish ream.
Rhema is spiritual knowledge and revelation in the spirit realm.
The Logos word is visible to the natural eyes and able to be heard through natural ears.
Whereas the rehma word, is able to be seen only through opened spiritual eyes and heard
through opened spiritual ears - Rev.3:18b, 22. Logos denotes the natural expression of
thought and word concerning a concept, idea or even belief. It alone, and apart from the
Rhema, is totally devoid of any true life generating power of the spirit. It exists as the
letter of the word in both the spoken and the written word of the gospel. One could
liken it to the one edge of "God's powerful two edged sword - Heb.4:12. It is the Logos
word that only brings general, mental-soulish head knowledge, and if used improperly
can easily produce a natural, meta-physical faith and belief.
Often, in our knowledge of the Logos word only we have failed to appropriate the true
faith from God. Many so called faith-healers substitute this faith for the Rhema either
through ignorance or lack of knowledge. Confessing this logos word does not produce
true faith, true salvation, or true healing. This is not the faith needed to sustain us in
living godly lives. We need to learn how to distinguish and then apply the living Rhema
word of faith. It would appear the church has been slow to learn. Many have yet to learn
that there is a big difference between the Logos and the Rhema, between human faith and
the faith of God.
The Rhema word is that which we should earnestly desire to know and apply. If any man
lack wisdom in this, let him ask of God. The Rhema word is the sharpest edge of God's
sword. It is this edge of the sword that the Lord uses to divide the natural from the
spiritual. The understanding and the utterance of this word comes from deep within the
spirit, not from the shallowness of the mind or soul. Deep calleth unto deep, and the
spirit and memory awaken as the holy Spirit imparts the Rhema "word of faith" (Ro.8:8)
in varying proportions to your spirit, imparting that righteous faith of the life of Christ.
The Logos word supernaturally becomes energized with life giving power of the Spirit
and becomes a living Rhema word in the transforming and renewing of the mind. It is
only the Rhema word of the gospel which is the power of God unto initial and
progressive salvation to everyone that is believing - Ro.1:16.
The Logos word must be divinely quickened by Christ before there can be true Rhema
substance. As we walk and live, in and by the word, this type of faith grows (2Ths.1:3)
only through practice in learning to exercise both the natural and spiritual senses to
discern both good and evil - Heb.5:14. The righteousness of God is revealed from faith
to faith, transferred from a natural to a supernatural faith
then gradually increased from
a comparatively weak faith to a sound faith. Bodily exercise profits the decaying body to
a small degree. How much more spiritual exercise profits the maturing spirit! It could
be, those that suffer lack of faith in certain areas also suffer from a lack of spiritual
exercise!
It is apparent then, that in our partial knowledge of the Logos word, we've often taken
faith that has not originated from the Rhema word, trying to apply it and stand on it.
Since it was of the soul and its foundation was not in the true Rhema of Christ, or not in
the timing of His perfect will, we've often failed because we were living by a faith that
cannot give substance from God. If we try to believe ourselves into a faith experience, it
will never operate higher than the realm of human soul or flesh.
True godly faith is not an intellectual mental assent or ability. Natural belief is! Faith
only works as an imparted gift of Christ - `Jn.3:20,21. It is the hand of mercy extended
out from the cross of Christ, reaching out and touching the hearts of whomsoever it wills.
It does not produce godly fruit just because we attain to a certain magic level of our own
striving.
We of ourselves cannot work up the divine faith of the Rhema word. Our natural ability
to believe cannot bring a true and lasting healing in either spirit or in flesh. We may
believe and act on our belief, but it is only God imparted faith that brings true lasting
results, and that only according to the will and timing of the Lord. Divine faith fulfills
the timely will of God and not the corrupt selfwill of the carnal mind of man.
We have touched on three diversities of the operation of faith. Divine faith is a gift to
bring salvation, a gift to bring inner healing and outward working of miracles, and is also
described as a work or a fruit of the Lord's own holy Spirit. It is not a work of man. It is
a life forming, life giving substance born and wrought solely of God.
Let's look at this subject now from another angle, still viewing it from a heavenly or
spiritual viewpoint. First of all, faith as a gift of God is carried by the Spirit of God (like
as the wind - Jn.3:8), and is divinely planted in the human spirit of man---in the inner
most recesses of his mind; in the womb where conscious thought is born. Saying it
another way, the ark of the covenant is brought back into the consciousness of man where
it is placed in the holy of holies, even that renewed heart and spirit that receives its
salvation with exceeding joy.
Diving faith, in its initial operation of saving grace can be likened unto Logos words or
seed, some which are destined to become Rhema life-giving words
.the others destined
to fall on ground which the Sower had not yet prepared - Matt.13. There are also
parallels here like unto the human reproductive processes which we will touch on later.
In the planting of a natural seed [word] such as a corn of wheat (Jn.12:24) in the ground,
it needs the prepared land [the soul} as well as the direct intervention of the water and
the sunlight from above [the holy Spirit]. Jas.1:17; Jn.3:17. All these things must be in
their right season in order to bring forth new life.
As the two realms merge [the flesh, the soul, the earth---with the Spirit, the faith, the will
power from on high], the old shell of life that existed slowly decays and dies. The
remainder, in due season is transformed into something new. The human spirit is
empowered and enabled by the holy Spirit to take rightful dominion over the corruption
of the soul. Much like a perennial plant, a new growth of life comes forth from the old.
The nature of man is designed to become a partaker of Christ's divine nature. It is then
that the righteous will of God becomes the righteous will of man. The faith of Jesus
Christ replaces the natural faith of man. The two are in the process of becoming one.
The salvation of God becomes the salvation of man. Our life is on the way to becoming
His life - Gal.2:20 The Spirit of His imparted faith becomes known also as our faith and
our righteousness - Ro.4:5. Our faith is being born again. When the Son of man comes
again, He shall surely find the first ripe fruit of [Grk. "the"] faith which in reality is
actually His faith, firmly planted, rooted and grounded in the earth (lk.18:8), even in His
honourable earthen vessels of clay
the body of Christ.
There is also much spiritual analogy we can use in looking at the spiritual operations of
faith. In connect with the salvation experience, many close parallels can be found in the
basic creative processes of male and female. First of all, it is helpful to see that in
scripture analogy, especially concerning the inner makeup of mankind, that the "soul"is
feminine and the "spirit" is masculine in gender. Without going into a detailed scripture
study on this for lack of space, we will simply state that the human species interior
makeup, parallels the outward visible nature and gender of the human race. Male and
female created He them - Ge.1:27.
We see also, just as God chose for the first adamic race, a natural woman [Eve], who
became the mother of all the living (yet, who are existing in spiritual death); and the Old
Testament nation Israel is portrayed as a woman chosen out of the adamic race to
become the mother of those who would receive spiritual life, so now is the New
Testament church typified a new creation woman---chosen of the last man Adam. The
spiritual order is created and ordained to take dominion over the soulish order just as
Christ has dominion over the church (woman).
In natural human reproduction, the female always bears the egg, the male produces the
sperm. There must be a union of male-female in order to form new life. In science, we
learn that the egg is always female in gender. The sperm carries both potential male and
female gender and characteristics. We won't go any deeper here than to say the Spirit of
God like unto the natural sperm, carries both masculine and feminine characteristics. In
the natural world, feminine sperm characteristics in union with the female egg can
produce only female gender. So it is in the spiritual order.
The soul [the female], can produce only soulish characteristics without the presence of
the male [the Spirit]. In natural union of male gender sperm with the female egg, the
male predominates. This was ordained to be so also in the present order of the lowered
human race - Gen.3:16; 1Cor.11:3. In a higher order, the Spirit will always dominate the
natural lower order in carrying out the will of God. The same principles are found in
salvation of the soul, in that where sin abounds, grace and its gift of divine Spirit does
much more abound - Ro.5:15-21.
Based on the preceding principles, we use the following analogies to try and make clear
some basic principles of faith. Natural human faith could never be a requirement nor
condition of man's salvation. Like the female egg, it alone can never produce life. In the
natural human reproduction system there must be some kind of union between two
opposite creations [male, female] in order to produce new offspring. There does not
necessarily have to be mutual consent in either the natural or spiritual realms.
Transferring this two creation factor to the spiritual realm, the Spirit of God overall, is
always referred to as male gender [i.e. Father, Son, holy Spirit], and humanity on the
whole is referred to as the female gender - Rev.chtrs.12 & 17, Eph.chptr.5.
The entire human race is created of God's substance, namely "spirit". The soul of
un-regenerate humanity is female. Man's soul receives of the male life [living spiritual
God substance] in the biblical new birth experience. Now in order to be born again in the
spirit, it follows there must be a spiritual sperm and egg in likeness to the natural. To
better understand the analogy we summarize it as follows:
The FEMALE = mother = egg = [seed] = soul-spirit = man's
human will.
The MALE ^ = father = sperm " " = Christ's " = God's will.
Logos word = natural faith = natural existence in death = birth
Rhema word = divine faith = spiritual existence in life = rebirth
In the process of natural creation and childbirth, the union of male sperm with the female
egg produces a newly created life. The process of change begins only when sperm has
finally merged with the egg. In like manner, the union of divine Spirit with natural soul
brings a progressive action of new growth
dependent entirely upon the operation of the
higher life force of God's Spirit. The activated sperm of holy and eternal life in the
"Spirit of Christ", the "Spirit of grace", carries within it the necessary gift of faith that
begins the birthing of new life. This divine and righteous faith which is entirely the
operation of God, brings with it to the soul, the revelation or realization of His saving
grace.
When the enlightening Spirit merges with the darkened spirit and soul of man [even the
mind of the chosen woman, the church], it produces the necessary offspring of faith and
righteousness that is entirely "born of God." Saying it another way, the natural belief of
the soul [the egg which exists in the carnal mindedness of death], must be actively and
supernaturally overshadowed and penetrated by the faithful life giving Spirit of God [the
sperm]. The overshadowing sovereignty of God's will, and the merging of God's will
with our will in His salvation plan, brings about a truly immaculate conception of new
life and birth.
Like as Christ was conceived in the natural by the divine order of the Father of spirits
Heb.12:9) apart from any act or will originating of the carnal man, in like manner also is
our personal spirit given newly created birth - Jn.1:13. Jas.1:18. As Christ, the Son of
man was birthed of a spiritual father only and of a natural earthly woman [Mary], even
so, the Son of God within us is birthed of a spiritual father and a natural womanthe
soul. As Christ was mysteriously birthed apart from the natural order and intervention of
man, so it is in the "born again" experience.
The natural order can produce only after its kind; the spiritual order after its kind. There
needs be divine intervention initiated by God. Human faith operates in the first order and
can reach no higher order. It is only the higher life giving power of God's creative faith
that operates in the second and reaches out to man with the hand of grace. This is called
"the faith of the operation of God." Col.2:12. It is God's operation alone and God's faith
alone that is given to man.
We can also look at the egg or ovum as being the natural man in natural soulish life, that
will in Gods own order of calling, be externally merged with the Spirit of eternal life. In
the inner man, we see the egg as the seed [soul, mind, womb] of the unregenerate human
spirit that must be divinely penetrated and given revelation of the eternal heavenly
qualities of the newly joined sperm. The life of a natural man that dies without Christ
and passes from this earth realm is comparable to a woman's natural egg that dies apart
from fertilization and passes away in its due season with lifeless blood. It goes through
the cycle of earthly existence but is not yet surrounded in true eternal life.
If you can receive it, the natural sperm that dies and passes from the natural body,
contains potential individual spirits of God's creative word. This is comparable in a way
to the logos word of God that for reasons unknown to man, do not penetrate the
spirit-soul of individuals that hear it.
Before we were born into this world in either natural or spiritual birth, we were in the
mind and the thoughts of our Creator - Jer.1:5; Psa.139:13-17. We were in the loins of
His mind so to speak, from before the foundation of the earth - Eph.1:4 etc. You as a
unique individual in natural birth and even as a new creature in spiritual birth, are a
result of His creative thought and word spoken forth through Christ into this earthly
realm. You as a Christian, have the ability to express His life. Creatively, in the first
adam nature, all men are the offspring of God - Ac.17:29. Not only that, He is the Lord,
the God of the spirits of all flesh - Nu.27:16; Jer.32:27 etc. The soul also of every living
creature is in His hand - Jb.12:10.
He has according to the divine plan of redemption, of His own will (Eph.1:11)
sovereignly chosen to bring many spirits to the truth of Christ in this life, by first placing
them under subjugated authority and travail of their soulish father the devil, even their
own carnal minds. Man remains therein until such time as God in the unfathomable
wisdom of His own plan and purpose, draws all back unto Christback into the
realization and experience of true family life and fellowship of God their Father -
Jn.12:32. Eph.3; Eccl.11:5. In due season, every man shall be made alive and as prodigal
sons return to their Father in God's own divine order - 1Cor.15.
In the process of natural creation and childbirth, the little egg having been penetrated by
the new life and now joined in a new bond and union, begins to automatically divide and
multiply in growth. So it is with the faith of God and the Word of God within you. The
spiritual word of God [the Rhema, the life giving sperm], divides asunder between soul
and spirit (Heb.4:12) and the old carnally minded soul and renewed spirit begin to change
and the spirit begins to grow in godly stature.
Shortly before the woman is ready to give birth and bring to light that new born spirit, she
needs to go through a necessary period of pain and travail. There is a painful natural
resistance and labour of the flesh in birthing this new life. So it is also in our inner man.
This is the Jacob and Esau principle - Gen.25:22. The soul will resist this soon to be born
spiritual manchild until the time of deliverance. Unbelief will resist God's faith until the
greater power overshadows and overcomes it. This principle is equally true before our
initial new birth experience as well as in our progressive deliverance after receipt of the
holy Spirit.
The same processes also apply to the church as a corporate woman. The Spirit of God
continues to divide those who are becoming spiritual from those who are resisting the
Spirit and remaining soulish - Jn.7:43; 9:16; 10:19; Matt.13:30 etc. Just as Joseph was
divided for a time from his half brothers, even in this time we know that the whole
creation groans and travails in pain until now as a woman about to give birth - Ro.8:28;
Rev.12:5.
This unregenerate soulish nature [including "mother nature" herself], having been
penetrated in principle by the divine intervention of the Spirit of Christ (Lk.12:51) and
being changed and prepared as a bride, shall also in the process of due time, be fully
delivered of the spiritual bondage of death and unbelief that corrupts her soul - Ro.8:21.
The ever faithful Son of God was obedient even unto the death of the cross, whereby the
living righteous seeds of HIS FAITH carried in His blood are being sovereignly planted
by the Father in the souls [mind, wombs] of mankind to reproduce once again, a
conscious and manifest image of His own life in us
His very own creation.
(Continued in ...The Mystery Of The Faith..Part 2)
Great is thy faithfulness" Lam.3:22
"
Ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God,
who hath raised Him from the dead." Col.2:12.
K. Ross McKay
|
|