· Web viewappendix a: scripture references. lesson one: spirit and flesh
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FOR BASH AND HEATHER
Transcript of · Web viewappendix a: scripture references. lesson one: spirit and flesh
FOR BASH AND HEATHER
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. SPIRIT AND FLESH2. THE POWER OF BELIEF3. SOWING AND REAPING4. TWO MASTERS5. THE ART OF CONSIDERING6. THE MIND OF CHRIST7. MANY MANSIONS8. INSIDE OUT9. HEAVEN IS NOW10. ABIDE IN JOYAPPENDIX A: SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
LESSON ONE: SPIRIT AND FLESH
One of the most commonly used analogies in the Bible is that of Spirit and flesh. To understand this important distinction we need to ask ourselves some simple, if not foundational questions:
1. What came first- Spirit or matter?_________________________
2. Who was in the beginning before the earth was created?_______________
3. Is He Spirit or flesh?_______________________
4. Is Spirit visible or invisible?_______________________________
5. Is matter or the physical visible or invisible?____________________________
6. Is Spirit the cause or result of the physical?______________________________
7. Is the physical the cause or result of the spiritual?_________________________
Using the synonyms listed below, put the words in their appropriate columns:
Spirit, Visible, Physical, Effect, Cause, Invisible
GOD FLESH
________ ___________
________ ____________
_________ ____________
Read the following verses describing God as Spirit and the world as His creation:
"God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."(John 4:24)
Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it.(Is. 42:5)
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.(Heb. 11:3)
THE GLORY OF GOD
Since God is the Creator, or the cause of the physical creation, His hand or attributes are seen within that creation. God’s first creation was this planet we call Earth.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse..(Rom. 1:20)
Look at the verses below and write what part of creation is mentioned and what attribute of God is described:
"Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."(Acts 14:17)______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.(Ps. 19:1)________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
God’s next and most crowning creation was man.
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.(Gen. 1:27)
“Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." (Is. 43:7)
When it is written God created man in His own image, it is not implying God has a physical image. God is Spirit, not flesh. If He had meant a physical image then that would mean that God is both male and female in His anatomy. Therefore the image, or likeness described must be referring to Spirit.
MAN AS CREATOR
If the physical elements such as the mountains and the sea reflect the attributes of God, then man being a higher creation must also reflect God in his abilities of creation, dominion and power.
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (Gen. 1:26)
Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Gen. 1:28)
So then, it is logical to assume that if God being Spirit created the physical world, then man being made in the image of God is also a creator and in turn creates his own reality.
So, let’s review what we have learned so far:
-God is Spirit
-God created the World or the physical
-The creations of God reflect His glory or attributes
-Man being made in the image or likeness of God also shares in His creative power and dominion
MATCH THE VERSE
Match the verse that describes the following statements:
1. God Is Spirit______ Gen. 1:28
2. God’s attributes are reflected in His creation_____ Heb. 11:3
3. The visible was created by the invisible_____ John 4:24
4. Man is a creator with dominion and power_____ Rom. 1:20
LESSON TWO: THE POWER OF BELIEF
Building on the foundation that man is a creator, it is logical to assume that if God's creations reflect His glory or attributes then the same can be said about the creations of man. In other words, man's world is a reflection of his attributes.
TO THE PURE ALL THINGS ARE PURE
As we consider the creations of man, it is important to understand that each man creates according to his own beliefs and perceptions-not only of himself, but of the world he perceives around him. So if someone believe the world to be a terrible and dangerous place, or if they believe themselves to be a victim, then their creation or reflection of that belief will mirror a world of crime, violence and anarchy. If however, they believe the world to be a place of beauty, and perceive themselves as a child of God, the world reflected back to them will be one of peace, harmony and joy.
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.(Titus 1:15)
ACCORDING TO THY FAITH
Throughout the Gospels Jesus taught that we receive in direct proportion to our belief, or our faith in the promises of God. Read these well known verses:
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23)
"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. "(Mark 11:24)
Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"(John 11:40)
But what does it mean to believe? The Webster dictionary has this definition for the word "belief":
-a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
-conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some phenomenon based upon examination of evidence
Using these definitions, rewrite the verses we had read previously:
Jesus said to him, "If you can ________________________________, all things are possible to him who ________________________________________"
"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, ________________________________that you receive them, and you will have them."
Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would___________ you would see the glory of God?"
Before we move on to the next section, answer these questions:
1. Did Jesus say some things are possible, or all things are possible if you believe?
2. What is the first step in receiving those things we pray for?
3. What is necessary to see the glory of God?
ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you"(Matt. 7:7)
Many people complain that they have asked God for something, sometimes repeatedly, and never received it as this verse promises. But what they don't understand is that this asking is not with words, but with your belief. They are quite often the exact opposite. For instance, look at this common prayer:
"God please take this sickness away from me!"
With the words used in this prayer, what is the person asking for? But based upon this prayer what is their true belief about the situation?
So although they are asking for healing with their words, with their belief they are claiming themselves to be sick. How is God able to give them the thing they ask for(healing) when they do not believe it to be true?
Going back to the definition of belief that we read earlier, if you believe you are sick you are putting trust or confidence in that sickness based upon evidence:
"I feel sick"
"The doctor says I have this disease"
In order to receive healing, you need to transfer your confidence or trust from the evidence of sickness to that idea or promise of health and well being provided by God. The hardest part is taking God's word as your evidence and denying what you see or feel with the body.
For we walk by faith, not by sight(2 Cor. 5:7)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen(Heb. 11:1)
Let's review what we have learned in this lesson:
-Just as God's creation reflects His attributes, man's world is also a reflection of his own attributes or beliefs.
-What man believes creates and defines his perception of the world, and it is different for each man
-God says that whatever we believe will come to pass
-However what we want, or ask for, and what we truly believe are quite often two different things
LESSON THREE: SOWING AND REAPING
As a review of what we have learned in the past two lessons, fill in the blanks:
-God is __________________________________
-Spirit creates the _______________________________________
-Spirit is ______________________________________ but the physical is visible
-God's creation reflects His ________________________________, or glory
-Man is made in the _________________________ of God
-Therefore, if God is a creator and spirit, man is also a _________________and ____________________
-Man's world is created not by what he wants, but by what he_______________
TAKE HEED
"Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you; and to you who hear more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away"(Mark 4:24-25)
Many times in the Gospels we read of Jesus proclaiming, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” At these times Jesus wasn’t questioning whether those He was speaking to had the physical capacity to hear with their ears, but He was asking whether or not they were “taking heed” to the words of God. Were they truly listening or were they completely ignorant of the spiritual truths that were being taught?
"Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear?"(Mark 8:18)
"He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God." (John 8:47)
The scriptures from Mark 4:24 give a blueprint to how our beliefs are manifested or reflected back to us in the world. To understand this more clearly let's break the section down verse by verse.
TAKE HEED WHAT YOU HEAR
The word “heed” is translated from the Greek word “blepo”, which means “to see, to discern, to consider”. Likewise, the word “hear” is translated from the Greek word “akouo”, which also means to “consider” or “comprehend”. So the beginning of this verse can be translated “Consider what you consider”, or “Think about what you are thinking about”.
WITH THE SAME MEASURE YOU USE, IT WILL BE MEASURED BACK TO YOU
The English word “measure” comes from the Greek word “metron” which means “determined extent”. So when we are paying attention to what we are thinking, or how we are living-then to the same extent situations and circumstances are measured back to us.
"Judge not, that you be not judged. "(Matt. 7:1)
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38)
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (Gal. 6:7)
It is spiritual law that whatever we consider or believe to be true will be measured back to us to the degree and extent that we believe it.
AND TO YOU WHO HEAR MORE WILL BE GIVEN
The word “more” is translated from the Greek word “prostithemi” from which we derive the word “evangelize”. It means to “to add unto” or “to receive of like kind”. This implies that not only will we get back what we put out, but more like it will be added or given to us.
If we focus on blessings, then all types of blessings will flow back to us. However, if we set our minds on trials and problems-then it is spiritual law that more of the same and other things like it will then be measured back to us.
Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth"; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:11-12)
And so it continues to this day. God’s creation reproduces according “to its kind” and God proclaims it to be “good”. Whatever seed we choose to plant(believe)-good or bad, true or false-will grow because God has ordained it to be so. The soil has no preference in what is planted. It’s only job is to bring forth a harvest.
FOR WHOEVER HAS, TO HIM MORE WILL BE GIVEN
The word “has” comes from the Greek word “echo” and means to “possess” or to “regard or consider”. Again, notice the verse does not qualify whether the thing you believe you possess is a good thing or a bad thing, or whether it is true or false. The only thing that matters is that you believe you possess it. And to the degree or extent you believe it(metron), to that same degree it will be measured back to you.
“According to your faith let it be to you”(Matthew 9:29)
BUT WHOEVER DOES NOT HAVE, EVEN WHAT HE HAS WILL BE TAKEN AWAY
You may be asking how is it possible for something we don’t have to be taken away from us? It’s the same concept as the one we just discussed, but looking at it from a different perspective. For example-if you choose to believe you will always struggle financially, even when God has promised you provision and blessings in Christ, then that promise is of no use to you. You will simply not consider it. And because you do not consider it, what you believe to be true(poverty, lack, struggle)is added to you and what you have or possess in Christ(provision, blessings, abundance) is taken away.
Again, it is not important what you believe in or whether you think it is a good thing or a bad thing. But whenever you choose to believe in that particular condition or belief, then its opposite is taken away because it is not considered. Remember the soil is not concerned with what seed is planted, its job is only to grow the harvest accordingly.
One easy way to remember this concept is with this saying:
WHERE YOUR ATTENTION GOES...GROWS. WHAT YOUR ATTENTION DENIES...DIES
Let's review what we have learned in this lesson:
-We are told to take heed or to consider what we think about and believe to be true
-Based upon the law of sowing and reaping, what we focus upon is returned to us and more like it
-Likewise, what we choose not to focus upon is taken away from us or removed
-The soil does not judge according to good or bad, right or wrong. Its only job is to grow the seed or bring forth the harvest
LESSON FOUR: TWO MASTERS
As we studied the distinction between Spirit and flesh in the first lesson, we must now apply the same principle to the words “inside” and “outside”. The Spirit, or the invisible would be defined as that which is on the “inside”. The physical or visible world would be that which is “outside”.
Although we live in a physical body, that is not who we are. We are Spirit, created in the image of God. The body was created to be the temple or home of the Spirit:
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?(1 Cor. 3:16)
The problem is that we too often identify ourselves as the body and not as Spirit. Look at the statements below and write “S” next to the statements that describe living as a Spirit and a “B” next to those that describe living as a body.
“I am so tired today”_________
“I’m afraid I might get sick”__________
“I will live forever”__________
So it is logical that we if identify ourselves as a body, then we will place the most importance on things related to the body. The physical world will take priority over the spiritual and we will begin to believe that our own reflection has power over us. But the Scriptures teach us plainly that the outside is created by what we believe to be true of the inside.
"There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Mark 7:15-16)
Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.(Gal. 4:1-3)
Since we are the creators of our world, there is nothing on the outside or that exists in the physical world that can have power over us, because it is us. It is a reflection of our attributes or beliefs. However if we are ignorant of this great truth and forget who we are, we give away our inheritance and forfeit our dominion. As the verses in Galatians teach we are indeed the heirs, or the masters of our own reality. But as long as we continue to act like children we will be in bondage to our own reflection.
So we are faced then with a dilemma. We can continue to live our lives based upon the outside, giving heed to the physical and what we see with our eyes or we can return to the truth of who we truly are and begin to lives our lives from the inside.
Living from the Outside
REACTING to the reflection and its varied situations-"I am powerless"
Living from the Inside
CREATING the reflection-"I am responsible for what I sow”
Jesus describes the choice we have to make in this well known verse from Matthew:
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other…”(Matt. 6:24)
And in the Book of James we are taught:
For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.(James 1:7-8)
As long as we are torn between whom we will serve and who we believe ourselves to be, we will receive a little of this and a little of that. Some blessings, some trials. Some good days, some bad days.
BE A DOER OF THE WORK
The key to reclaiming the power of our inheritance is to remember who we are and that we are the source of the physical world around us.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.(James 1:22-24)
The man who hears that the world is but a reflection of his beliefs but then chooses not to act upon it will eventually return to his former way of living. But the man who chooses to act and create deliberately will be called a “doer of the word”.
But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.(James 1:25)
Blessed is the man who looks into the reflection and recognizes the spiritual law of liberty at work therein. He does not forget that he is the creator. He does not give the physical world power or priority over the Spirit. He does not claim that the visible is the source of its own reflection.
REVIEW:
1. Just as “invisible” and “cause” are used as synonyms for God and Spirit, which words are synonyms for “outside”?
2. Give a verse that teaches the inside of man is spirit or that God lives within man.
3. Why is it impossible for those things on the outside to defile us?
4. What are two symptoms that we are not acting like the heirs that God has called us to be?
5. What is the description in James of a person who tries to serve two masters?
6. What is the difference between a doer of the word and a forgetful hearer?
7. What is promised to those who look into the law of liberty and continue in it?
LESSON FIVE: THE ART OF CONSIDERING
In the last lesson we learned that we are heirs of God and the true creators of our reality. However, we must choose to remember this and then act accordingly. This is what the Bible calls "walking in the Spirit".
I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.(Gal. 5:16)
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit(Gal. 5:25)
The foundational struggle, then, is to remember who we are in the Spirit and to pay no heed to the reflection or physical until it reaps that which we are deliberately choosing to create.
THE LAMP OF THE BODY
“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore that light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness.”(Matthew 6:22-23)
The word "lamp" is often replaced in some versions of the Bible with the word "light". In both examples, the Bible is teaching that the eye is the instrument God uses to bring us revelation and clarity.
In the same way the ear is used as a metaphor for understanding or "hearing" God's word, the eye is used also as symbol of truly perceiving or "seeing" spiritual truth. The word “eye” is translated from the Greek word “ophthalmic”, which means “the eyes of the mind” or “the faculty of knowing”.
IF YOUR EYE IS GOOD
Next, Jesus says if your eye is good then your body will be full of light. Usually we interpret the word “good” to mean as opposite of evil. But the Greek word it is translated from(“haplos”) means “single”, “whole” or “fulfilling its office”.
The purpose of the eye, then, it is to wholly focus on one thing, and one thing alone. In doing so it is “good”-meaning it fulfills its purpose. However if it focuses on more than one thing, then it is "bad", or not fulfilling its purpose.
IF YOUR EYE IS BAD
The verse goes on to say if your eye is “bad” your whole body will be full of darkness. Again, the word bad is not defined here as being or doing evil, but rather it is taken from the Greek word “poneros” which means “labor”, “hardship”, or “to be harassed." In other words, if your eye is not wholly focusing upon one then it is causing you labor and hardship.
It is hard for us to accept that all of our problems are caused by our lack of choosing one thing and that thing alone. We are double minded and that lack of focus produces hardship and labor in our lives. If we choose to live in the Spirit with our eye single and good, then nothing can harm us or cause us trials.
"A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit."(Matt. 7:18)
MOVING MOUNTAINS
So let's examine now a practical way of using our eye or focus as it was intended by God to function. Think of a problem or situation in your life that may be overwhelming or fearful to you. Perhaps you can see no way out of this ordeal and even thinking about it causes you to feel hopeless and defeated. This is what Jesus referred to as a mountain. There seems to be no way over it, around it, and certainly not through it. But look what Jesus says our attitude toward this mountain should be:
"For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says."(Mark 11:23)
In order to remove a mountain from our lives we must believe(have confidence in) and not doubt(based upon evidence to the contrary) that we have the power to cast it into the sea. How is this possible?
To solve this riddle let's return to what we learned in a previous lesson. If the mountain is our problem, and we continue to focus on how big and wide it is, what will be returned unto us? More of the mountain, and more like it! So then the solution is to not focus on the mountain but focus instead upon the blessings or solution to the problem. And as we stay focused solely on the blessing or promise, then more of that comes our way and the mountain is removed from our reality because it is not considered("even what you have will be taken away"). By giving attention or life to the blessing, we deprive the problem of the same.
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."(John 15:5-6)
If we stay focused or abide in Christ, then that which is planted will bring forth a harvest. And that which we no longer give our attention to does not abide in the promise and therefore is cast away and destroyed.
LESSON SIX: THE MIND OF CHRIST
So we have learned quite a bit up to this point. We have learned that Spirit creates the physical. That God created man, who is made in His image. And likewise, man is also a creator who's reality reflects his own image, or beliefs. Man's world is not made up of what man wants, but of what he truly believes.
We went on to study the law of sowing and reaping which teaches that whatever you give your attention or belief to, grows. And whatever your attention or belief denies, dies. Because this is a spiritual law that never fails, it is important that we choose which master we serve, and that we take care to plant the most noblest of seeds.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.(Phil. 4:8)
The key to creating deliberately is to focus on the promises and blessings of God, and them alone. Only in this way are we able to remove the mountains that cause trials in our lives. Using all these wonderful concepts as our foundation, now we are ready to move on to the practical aspect of our lessons which is to put this spiritual law into practice
THE MIND AND DIANOIA
Jesus said to him, "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."(Matt. 22:37)
The word "mind" is translated from the Greek word dianoia(STRG1271) which is defined as:
-the mind as faculty of understanding, feeling, desiring
Usually we associate this with our normal processes of reasoning, argument, logic, etc. But if we look at this other verse that also uses "dianoia" we find an entirely different application:
He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. (Luke 1:51)
Imagination is one of those words that is often used in varied situations to mean different things. For instance, if we are encouraging someone to be creative or daring, we tell them to "use your imagination!" However, if we want to discredit someone's opinion or observations, we say "Oh, that was just your imagination". If we use the word in the Biblical sense we see that we are called once again to be creative as our Father in heaven is creative. Just as He imagined this world and all of its beauty, we are also given the same opportunity to imagine and deliberately create ours.
Read these following verses which use the word dianoia and insert the word "imagination".
..that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your ___________________being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints..(Eph. 1:18)
..among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the _______________________, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.(Eph. 2:3)
..having their ____________________ darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.(Eph. 4:18)
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your _______________ by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.(Col. 1:21)
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their _______________________and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people(Heb. 8:10)
Therefore gird up the loins of your _____________________, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ(1 Pet. 1:13)
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an ____________________, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.(1 John 5:20)
We can either choose to believe that the reflection has power over us and follow our logic and reasoning-described in Scripture as the unrenewed mind- or we can trust in the imaginative power God has given us in Christ and deliberately create according to the Spirit.
CHRIST AS THE MEDIATOR OF CREATION
When we think of how God created the world, we often are taught that He created it "by His Word". While this is true that God did indeed "speak" and creation occurred, the more important question to ask is what happened before He spoke?
Did He not first "picture" the world in His imagination before He spoke it into existence? Look at these verses from the Gospel of John to give an interesting perspective on the process of creation:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.(John 1:1-3)
We know that the Word being described here is Christ Jesus. Notice that the verses plainly state that ALL things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was created that exists. Read these other verses that teach Christ as the Mediator of creation:
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.(Col. 1:15-17)
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.(Eph. 2:10)
..and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ.(Eph. 3:9)
Look at these verses again and notice the word "all". If we take God at His word then we have to admit that all things are created through Jesus. Just as it was written in John, "without Him nothing was made that was made." If we take this to its logical conclusion, are we to say that Christ created the wheel, electricity, or the automobile? Can we say Christ is the source of creation for cell phones and satellite TV?
Well, where did cell phones come from? Someone had an idea, or used their imagination to think of a world where we could have a phone with us at all times and not be limited to a landline.
We would all agree that this is the truth or source of the matter-someone imagined it and at some later time it eventually became a reality. Is this not the same way God created the world? Does this not show the same principle of sowing and reaping that we studied earlier? The only loose ends left to tie up is to make the connection that if our imagination creates, and Christ is the Mediator or means of creation-then Christ is our Imagination.
To understand the mind of Christ then, is to understand that He is our imagination. To close this lesson look at these verses that teach what it means to have the mind of Christ.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God..(Phil. 2:5-6)
I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God , but with the flesh the law of sin.(Rom. 7:25)
For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ .(1 Cor 2:16)
LESSON SEVEN: MANY MANSIONS
In the last lesson we studied how the word "mind" is often translated in the Bible as "imagination". Then we learned how Christ is the Mediator of creation. The Scripture plainly teaches that ALL things were created through Him. Tying these two concepts together, we reasoned that if it is imagination that allows man to create in his world, and all things were created by and in Christ-then Christ must be our imagination.
To put such emphasis on the imagination might sound farfetched to most people. But if we are honest with ourselves and really take the time to consider what we believe and how we create, then we will see that we have always used our imagination-even if unknowingly or by default. To understand this more clearly let's look at a well known verse from the Book of Job:
For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.(Job 3:25)
We see in this verse evidence of the concepts we have been studying in our lessons and the power of imagination:
The thing Job has feared-his belief(not what he wanted, but what he truly believed)
Has come upon him-what he has sown he has reaped
And what he dreaded-focused upon, considered
Has happened to him-"to him who has, more will be given"
But now we must take it to the next level-where did all of this sowing and considering take place? In Job's imagination. Before the physical events manifested and destroyed Job's life, he was already considering them in his mind.
THE ALREADY AND THE NOT YET
We live our lives in three different mental states-the past, the present and the future. Although our bodies are physical and can only live in the present, by the power of Christ we can travel to both our past and our future in our imagination.
When you are feeling sorrow about something that has happened in the past, how are these feelings aroused? By imagining. When you are fearful or worried about things that may happen in the future, what causes your anxiety? The power of your imagination. So although we may live physically in the present, much of our time is spent regretting the past(the already) or worrying about the future(the not yet).
Answer these questions:
1. Does Spirit create the physical or does the physical create the spiritual?
2. Is our imagination the source of creation or the result of creation?
3. Then what is "more" real-the things we imagine or the things our imagining creates?
Although it is a hard pill to swallow we must admit that the imagination is our only true reality-while the things we imagine, although they are material and "real", are only reflections or manifestations of the source.
TRUE FAITH
Although this might all sound very new and scary, the basic thing we are describing is what the Bible calls faith. But what is faith? The Book of Hebrews give us a foundational description:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for(the not yet), the evidence of things not seen(the already).(Heb. 11:1)
What is the substance of the things hoped for? Faith. But where do we consider and contemplate the object of our faith? In our imagination. The things we hope for must first become a reality in our imagination before they will manifest in the physical world.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.(Heb. 11:3)
If the things that are seen(the physical) were not made of things which are visible, then what were they made of? The Spirit or the invisible. Returning again to the example of Christ as our imagination, we read:
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.(Col. 1:13-15)
In these verses we learn that Christ, as our imagination, has rescued us from our darkness( from the Greek word poneros-meaning strife, blindness). He has removed us from that place and transferred or "conveyed" us to the kingdom of His love. He is the image of the heavenly things(promises, blessings) of God. We will learn more about this in a later lesson, but we must understand this concept before going any further in our studies. Only by focusing on the blessing and the promise in our imagination(single eye), and believing those things to be true on the inside-can we ever see them manifest on the outside.
Christ is the Deliverer, the Door, the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the means by which we are ransomed from our present darkness("reality"), and translated or conveyed into a new mansion of blessings and peace.
Before we can ever experience this blessing in the reflection, we must first live there in our imagination.
"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."(John 14:2-3)
Now do you see the beauty of the Gospel? In the mind of Christ is our true freedom:
"He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.."(Luke 4:18)
If we look to the physical or outside world to give us liberty, freedom and sight, we can never be sure that it will be accomplished. But Christ said "It is finished!" because only by Him and in Him(imagination) we can be certain of being healed, confident of regaining our sight and completely assured we will be released from our chains. There is no man or power that can hinder or shackle our imagination-only we hold that key.
"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."(Matt. 16:19)
If we believe the mind of Christ to be foolish or false, then we bind the freedom and blessings that would otherwise be ours. If we believe that the reflection has power over us, we also bind our blessings in heaven. However if we embrace Christ as our imagination and trust in Him, then nothing is impossible to us-all is loosed and we have complete authority and dominion over our reality.
LESSON EIGHT: INSIDE OUT
One of the recurring themes of our studies is that we put more priority or attention on the outside and neglect or undervalue the inside. We call the outside "reality" and the inside "imaginary". While the latter is true, it is imaginary, it is also reality. The outside is merely a reflection of the reality we perceive inside.
One of the terms the Bible uses to describe living life from the outside in, and giving priority to the reflection is "flesh". Read these verses from the Gospel of John:
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."(John 3:3)
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing".(John 6:63)
"You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one."(John 8:15)
And the Apostle Paul echoes this theme in his writings from the Epistles:
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.(Rom. 8:1)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.(Rom. 8:5)
Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?(Gal. 3:3)
CHANGE COMES FROM WITHIN
The struggles and trials in our lives are the result of us attempting to change the reflection and our frustration of being unable to do so. We then attribute our failures to outside forces or events such as Satan, the government, the economy, and even God Himself. But read this verse from Hosea that describes the true problem:
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.(Hos. 4:6)
Notice the verse mentions nothing of Satan, the government or any other outside forces. The reason for our failure or destruction is our lack of knowledge. The word "knowledge" is translated from the Hebrew word "da'ath" which is the equivalent of the Greek word "blepo" that we studied in an earlier lesson-which means to consider or understand. We are destroyed because we fail to consider what is real and what is reflection.
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Jesus knew man and understood the futility of trying to change the reflection
"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. "(Matthew 6:31-33)
"What shall we eat? What shall we wear?" These are all concerns of the reflection. Jesus instructs us to seek first the kingdom, or to give the "inside" priority and THEN all these things(the reflection) shall be added unto us.
Have you ever wondered, "Where is the kingdom of God"? Although we may have been taught that the Kingdom of God or heaven is far above us in another sphere, or that it is a physical city lined with streets of gold, Jesus teaches something entirely different:
"The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."(Luke 17:20-21)
We will study the topic of the kingdom and heaven in greater detail in the next lesson, but for now it is enough to understand that the kingdom is within. Therefore if we want to change the reflection we must seek the kingdom within first, and only then will the outside be transformed.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.(Rom. 12:2)
To be conformed to this world is to say the reflection is the source of all things and has power over us. To renew our minds in regards to type of perception will take repentance, or a change in our thinking. Often in the Gospels Jesus would challenge those He was teaching to change their own perceptions and way of thinking about the world, and in asking them to do so many of His disciples became offended and left Him. Here are a couple of "hard sayings" from Jesus that people found so challenging and offensive.
"And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire."(Matt. 18:9)
"He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life"(John 12:25)
If we read these verses literally, yes, they do seem to be harsh. But by reading them in the context of our lesson, see if you can decipher their true meaning and answer the questions below:
1. Is Jesus talking about our physical eyes?
2. How would we benefit from having only one eye?
3. How do we often define our life, in the physical or spiritual?
4. How would we go about losing our life in the manner Jesus describes?
THE INSIDE CREATES THE OUTSIDE
"But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."(Matthew 5:28)
This is a well known verse and many people feel they understand its meaning. They would say that if a person looks at a woman with lust in their heart, then the act of imagining this sin is just the same as if they had actually committed the act of adultery. While this is true to some extent notice it still puts the emphasis on the outside. Looking at the verse from this perspective we could describe the event as follows:
1. Looks at a woman 2. Lusts in his heart 3. Commits adultery
But if we study the verse closely, we see an important word that changes the whole meaning. This word is "already". The act of lusting is not taking place in the present, but has ALREADY(in the past) taken place in the heart. So the correct chain of events would be:
1. Lusts in his heart 2. Commits adultery 3. Looks at a woman
Do you see the difference? In the first example the outside("looking") creates the inside("lusting"). But we have learned from the first lesson that the inside creates the outside, not vice versa. And the word "already" confirms this to be true. When the person considers lust in their heart or imagination, they commit adultery, and then it is inevitable that this will reflect in their experience as them having the opportunity or physical desire to look at a woman in that way.
As we close this lesson, let's look again at a verse we studied in a previous lesson and remind ourselves again that the inside creates the outside, therefore our true reality lies within.
"There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man."(Mark 7:15)
LESSON NINE: HEAVEN IS NOW
As promised in the last lesson, we will now take a deeper look at heaven and eternal life. To start with, ask yourself these questions regarding heaven and what it will be like to actually live there.
1.Will there be suffering?
2. Will there be death?
3. Will you be in the presence of God and sinless before Him?
4. Will you afraid, worried or in bondage?
5. Will heaven ever end?
All of these hopes and dreams we have of heaven are completely true. However, we are mistaken in one crucial area of our thinking-we look for heaven in the future, at some distant time. But look what Jesus says at the start of His ministry:
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."(Matt. 4:17)
Jesus teaches the kingdom as being within and being present with us now. Read the following verses and put a "P" if you believe the verse teaches the kingdom of God as a present reality or a "F" if you think it describes a future event.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."(Matt. 5:3)__________
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force."(Matt. 11:12)_________
"But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you."(Matt. 12:28)__________
He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given."(Matt. 13:11)__________
"Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."(Matt. 18:4)_________
ETERNAL LIFE
Another related concept to heaven is that of eternal life. In the same way that we often think of heaven as someplace we will go to in the future, we also think of eternal life as something that begins after we die here on earth. However, as you may have guessed, this is not what Jesus taught:
"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life.."(John 3:36)
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."(John 5:24)
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life."(John 6:47)
Just as heaven is a present reality, so is eternal life. It becomes truly ours and part of our reality once we believe we possess it(he who has) and act from that place of confidence and faith.
OUR INHERITANCE IN CHRIST
Let's look again at the distinction between inside and outside. When we look for heaven as a future reality, where are we placing it-on the outside or the inside? When we believe eternal life to be something we receive at a later time, where are we placing it? So again, it becomes essential that we stay true to our foundational concept that the Spirit comes before the physical, and the inside creates the outside.
Look at these verses and ask yourself if they are describing an outside event or a inside reality.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.(John 1:4)
"For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself.."(John 5:26)
"But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life"(John 5:40)
"For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."(John 6:33)
"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."(John 10:10)
It is clear that the verses do not describe "life" as a daily routine or a span of years, but rather as a spiritual blessing. We have been taught to associate blessings with things that happen on the outside, but the Apostle Paul says the blessings are within:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ..(Eph. 1:3)
The heavenly places are not some physical location with streets of gold. It is within.
..the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.(Eph. 1:18-19)
It is by the mind of Christ, or our imagination, that these blessings manifest into our physical lives. We are called to consider who we are in Christ-upon the truth of that which we possess on the inside and not to focus upon what we see reflected on the outside. By walking or abiding in the Spirit and not giving heed to the flesh we are sowing a new and blessed reality that will reflect the glory of God.
And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.(1 Cor. 15:49-50)
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.(Col. 3:23-24)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you..(1 Pet. 1:3-4)
LESSON TEN: ABIDE IN JOY
We have spent several lessons studying the distinction between Spirit and flesh, between the reality of who we are called to be and the reflection of what we believe ourselves to be which is manifested in our lives. We have learned that Christ is our imagination, and that by trusting in Him and considering His great and precious promises, we can access our inheritance. These blessings are perfect, eternal and powerful. As we close this first set of lessons we come now to a point of rest, to the sabbath that God promised to all who believe in Him. In this sabbath is joy, and the very presence of God Himself.
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.(Ps. 16:11)
THE REFLECTION AS HELPER
We do not want to come to a point where we see the reflection as a bad thing. To do so would be to put the cause of creation on its shoulders and relinquish our dominion. As we have studied the reflection is us, because we create it from our beliefs. Anything we see in the reflection that is lacking, hurtful or ungodly is an indicator of that which we believe we lack in our spirit. So by detaching judgment from the reflection and just looking carefully at what "is", we can see what our beliefs truly are and then change them accordingly. In this way the reflection becomes our helper, our teacher to guide us back to who we truly are.
So then what are these lessons that the reflection is trying to reveal to us by the Holy Spirit?
1. I am the creator of my own reality
2. There is no lack, poverty or struggle
3. There is no death
4. I am one with all my brothers and sisters in the world
5. We are all sinless and at one with God
WALKING BY FAITH
Our lives are to be spent walking in this truth day by day. Each new morning gives us an opportunity to forgive the things we have sown in the past, and to choose deliberately to plant new and better seed. We will find it increasingly harder to walk in our old ways once we see the new ways God is trying to teach us.
"Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."(Matt. 9:17)
In the past before you knew of the law of sowing and reaping you sowed seed by default. Then when that crop appeared you began the process again by reacting to what the reflection was showing you-and thereby planted new seeds of ignorance. But then there came a time when you learned of the great spiritual truths and you became aware of this process of considering and imagining. Now, in the present, when you see the reflection of what you have sown in the past, it teaches you of what you believed at that time.
At this point you can be a doer of the word and choose not to react to the reflection, but to take dominion and create according to who you are, or you can forget what you see in the reflection and react as you have done in the past. But the crop you reap in your future from this point on is a deliberate crop, it was not one created by default as before. You have to take responsibility for whatever you reap because you know the truth and have chosen which master you will serve.
FORGIVENESS
We now come to the important topic of forgiveness. Although we will study this in greater detail in Book Two, we need to briefly study it now to understand what it means to abide in joy.
As we live in our present moment, and we are reaping what we have sown in ignorance in the past, we are tempted to look at the reflection and pass judgment on what we see. We do this by blaming others, by feeling victimized by certain situations and events, or by getting down on ourselves for our poor choices in
sowing. But in all of these situations we need forgiveness. We forgive others because they only played the part we gave them to play in our lives. We forgive the situations because they are only indicators of what we believed at that time, and we forgive ourselves because we were unaware of who we truly are. As Jesus so profoundly taught at the Cross:
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."(Luke 23:34)
Remember the concept of the keys of the kingdom. If we choose not to forgive and to try to point the finger at people, situations or ourselves-then we repeat the whole cycle again of putting the reflection before the spirit. However, if we release others and ourselves from blame, then we are free to create a new life and live in the joy and promise that God has intended for us to live.
ABIDING IN JOY
So what does it mean to rest or to abide in joy? It means that each day we choose to forgive the past things we have sown and choose to create deliberately according to the blessings we have within. We change our old patterns of thinking and renew our minds and imaginations. As we do this we can have complete faith that nothing can harm us and that all will be well, and truly that all is well. And as we invest our days in sowing to our highest ideals and beliefs, a new day will arise when we see the deliberate crop of joy and peace manifest in our lives and the thrill of that revelation will spur us on to higher ideals and loftier crops.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.(Rom. 15:13)
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.(Col. 3:15)
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.(2 Thes. 3:16)
APPENDIX A: SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
LESSON ONE: SPIRIT AND FLESH
John 4:24; Is. 42:5; Heb. 11:3; Rom. 1:20; Acts 14:17; Ps. 19:1; Gen. 1:27; Is. 43:7; Gen. 1:26; Gen. 1:28
LESSON TWO: THE POWER OF BELIEF
Titus 1:15; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:24; John 11:40; Matt. 7:7; 2 Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:1
LESSON THREE: SOWING AND REAPING
Mark 4:24-25; Mark 8:18; John 8:47; Matt. 7:1; Luke 6:38; Gal. 6:7; Gen. 1:11-12; Matt. 9:29
LESSON FOUR: TWO MASTERS
1 Cor. 3:16; Mark 7:15-16; Gal. 4:1-3; Matt. 6:24; James 1:7-8; James 1:22-24; James 1:25
LESSON FIVE: THE ART OF CONSIDERING
Gal. 5:16; Gal. 5:25;Matt. 6:22-23; Mark 11:23; John 15:5-6
LESSON SIX: THE MIND OF CHRIST
Phil. 4:8; Matt 22:37; Luke 1:51; Eph. 1:18; Eph. 2:3; Eph. 4:18; Col. 1:21; Heb. 8:10; 1 Pet. 1:13; 1 John 5:20; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17; Eph. 2:10; Eph. 3:9; Phil. 2:5-6; Rom. 7:25; 1 Cor. 2:16
LESSON SEVEN: MANY MANSIONS
Job 3:25; Heb. 11:1; Heb. 11:3; Col. 1:13-15; John 14:2-3; Luke 4:18; Matt. 16:19
LESSON EIGHT: INSIDE OUT
John 3:3; John 6:63; John 8:15; Rom. 8:1; Rom. 8:5; Gal. 3:3; Hos. 4:6; Matt. 6:31-33; Luke 17:20-21; Rom. 12:2; Matt. 18:9; John 12:25; Matt. 5:28; Mark 7:15
LESSON NINE: HEAVEN IS NOW
Matt. 4:17; Matt. 5:3; Matt. 11:12; Matt. 12:28; Matt. 13:11; Matt. 18:4; John 3:36; John 5:24; John 6:47; John 1:4; John 5:26; John 5:40; John 6:33; John 10:10; Eph. 1:3 Eph. 1:18-19; 1 Cor. 15:49-50; Col 3:23-24; 1 Pet. 1:3-4;
LESSON TEN: ABIDE IN JOY
Ps. 16:11; Matt. 9:17; Luke 23:34; Rom. 15:13; Col. 3:15; 2 Thes. 3:16
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