If we could really get a vision that our spirit man is complete, it would change many of our emotions and our actions. Most of us see ourselves in light of eternity as being different. We think that when we get to heaven, we"ll see that everything we experience on earth is going to be worth it. We sing songs like "Farther Along We"ll Know All About It." Many Christians really believe that in heaven there is going to be a total transformation and we are going to become something special. But right now they don"t see themselves as being complete in Christ.
A transformation will take place in the physical realm and in the soulish realm when we go to heaven, but in the spiritual realm, we are right this moment the way we will be throughout all eternity. Our spirit is as complete right now as it will ever be. One-third of our salvation is through - it"s over, it"s complete. We don"t have to wait to get to heaven to see that G.o.d created our spirit man special and complete.
If you can get a vision of that truth and renew your mind accordingly, perceiving yourself and acting the way you really are in your born-again self, then you will experience the life that is already in your spirit. You can experience all that right here in the physical realm to the degree that you renew your mind through G.o.d"s Word and let your spirit man reign and rule over your natural man. It will make a huge difference in your life and your emotions.
I thank my G.o.d, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Philemon 1:4-6 In this pa.s.sage Paul basically says the same thing I have been saying in this book. In order to make your faith effectual, you have got to acknowledge the good things that are in you in Christ Jesus.
Notice the terminology - Paul says acknowledge. acknowledge. You can"t acknowledge something that doesn"t already exist. Most Christians have the mistaken idea that what they need is out there somewhere in heaven. They think it is their job to try to get what they need from G.o.d and bring it to themselves. But that"s not what the Bible teaches. We"re not to go looking for something we hope exists. The Bible doesn"t say that our faith becomes effectual by getting G.o.d to put His life into us. No, it"s already there. It"s just a matter of You can"t acknowledge something that doesn"t already exist. Most Christians have the mistaken idea that what they need is out there somewhere in heaven. They think it is their job to try to get what they need from G.o.d and bring it to themselves. But that"s not what the Bible teaches. We"re not to go looking for something we hope exists. The Bible doesn"t say that our faith becomes effectual by getting G.o.d to put His life into us. No, it"s already there. It"s just a matter of acknowledging acknowledging it. it.
Once you are born again, the rest of the Christian life is simply renewing your mind and acting according to who you are in Christ, which releases the life of G.o.d on the inside of you.
Paul uses the same terminology in Colossians 2:2 where he prays for those in Colossae and Laodicea that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full a.s.surance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of G.o.d, and of the Father, and of Christ. that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full a.s.surance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of G.o.d, and of the Father, and of Christ.
Paul speaks of the full a.s.surance of understanding. the full a.s.surance of understanding. Now, you can"t be a.s.sured of something that isn"t already a reality, and you can"t understand something that doesn"t exist. Paul also uses the expression, Now, you can"t be a.s.sured of something that isn"t already a reality, and you can"t understand something that doesn"t exist. Paul also uses the expression, the acknowledgment of the mystery. the acknowledgment of the mystery. Both of these terms refer to getting a revelation of something that already exists. We have already seen in Colossians 1:27 that this mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is not "Christ is going to be in you," but rather "right now, Christ is in you, the hope of glory." Both of these terms refer to getting a revelation of something that already exists. We have already seen in Colossians 1:27 that this mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is not "Christ is going to be in you," but rather "right now, Christ is in you, the hope of glory."
In Ephesians 1:18, Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus that the eyes of their understanding might be enlightened so they could know the hope of their calling and the riches of the glory of their inheritance in the saints. in the saints.
G.o.d"s inheritance isn"t in heaven somewhere, it"s in us. G.o.d Himself lives on the inside of us. We don"t have just a little dab of heaven. We don"t have just a tiny bit of salvation - just enough to let us squeak by. In your spirit your salvation is complete. Your spirit is as holy, as righteous, and as pure as it will ever get. Your inheritance is inside of you. You don"t need to close your eyes and picture heaven with its streets of gold or great piles of money and wealth. You already have all that.
For in him [Christ] [Christ] dwelleth dwelleth all the fulness of the G.o.dhead bodily. all the fulness of the G.o.dhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all princ.i.p.ality and power.
Colossians 2:9,10
The power and the glory that indwells you would bankrupt heaven. You have everything that is in heaven because you have Jesus, and in Jesus are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). Jesus is the fullness of the G.o.dhead bodily, and you are complete in Him. Praise G.o.d, your spirit is so perfect, righteous, holy, and pure that you can"t get any better. (Colossians 2:3). Jesus is the fullness of the G.o.dhead bodily, and you are complete in Him. Praise G.o.d, your spirit is so perfect, righteous, holy, and pure that you can"t get any better.
Open Your Eyes to the Power Within You!
[I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the G.o.d of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to fin the proportion or to the degree] fin the proportion or to the degree] the working of his mighty power, the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 1:16-20, author"s inserts Paul is saying, "Open your eyes to the fact that you have the same power on the inside of you that raised Jesus Christ from the dead."
If you could measure the different displays of G.o.d"s power, I guarantee you, raising Jesus from the dead was the greatest manifestation of G.o.d"s power that ever took place - and you have that same power on the inside of you right now! It"s not off in the future, it"s already there. Your spirit is one hundred percent complete.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:6
You may say, "How can this be? If I have G.o.d Himself living on the inside of me, and if I have the same awesome power in me that raised Christ from the dead, then why can"t I feel it?" Again, you cannot feel feel the spirit realm. As Jesus told Nicodemus in this scripture, physical things are physical and spiritual things are spiritual; they are two different realms. the spirit realm. As Jesus told Nicodemus in this scripture, physical things are physical and spiritual things are spiritual; they are two different realms.
You are spirit, but like most Christians, you only perceive the physical, emotional part of you. There is a spirit you on the inside that you cannot feel - you have to believe it. Once you believe it and bring what is a spiritual reality into your physical, mental realm, then you can begin thinking spiritually and your emotions will correspond and follow the way you think. But if you don"t think it, if you can"t see it, and if you don"t renew your mind, you can have this life of G.o.d living in your spirit and never feel it.
If you will renew your mind, your emotions will follow your thinking. They do not follow your spirit. You perceive what G.o.d"s Word says by faith, take it as being spiritual truth, and believe it. Then your emotions follow what you think. If you think you"re just a nothing, you"re a no one, and you don"t have any power, then your emotions will reflect that. But if you begin to see who you are in Christ and renew your mind to that truth, your emotions will correspond and go along with it.
And that ye put on the new man, which after G.o.d is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Ephesians 4:24 For he [G.o.d] [G.o.d] hath made him hath made him [Jesus] [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of G.o.d in him. to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of G.o.d in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 How holy do you think your spirit is? Your spirit, which is your new man, was created in righteousness and true holiness. You didn"t just get a little bit of righteousness when you got saved; you are are the righteousness of G.o.d. the righteousness of G.o.d.
Again, I"m not talking about the physical man. Some Christians just choke when anyone starts talking about this subject of being the righteousness of G.o.d. When I say that we have been made the righteousness of G.o.d, they look at the soulish realm - the physical, mental, and emotional part - and say, "I am not righteous! I still have rotten thoughts. I still get angry and depressed. I"m like this and you say I am righteous?" Then they begin to condemn me saying, "That"s not true. I won"t be righteous until I go to be with the Lord."
But these scriptures are talking about the spirit. The spirit is the part of you that is righteous and truly holy. Your spirit man has been created in righteousness and holiness.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
1 John 4:17 That is such an awesome scripture that most people read it and say, "Man, the Bible is so hard to understand, because I can guarantee you, I"m not as Jesus is. I don"t look like Him, I don"t talk like Him, and I don"t act like Him!"
If you look at your physical self in the mirror, you are likely to say, "Is this what Jesus looks like?" You see wrinkles or zits or something you aren"t pleased with, and you think, This just can"t be what Jesus looks like! I just can"t This just can"t be what Jesus looks like! I just can"t understand the Bible. understand the Bible.
The reason you have problems understanding the Bible is because the Bible is a spiritual book and speaks in a spiritual language. (See 1 Corinthians 2:12-14.) When it says, "As He is, so are we in this world," it is not talking about our body, it is talking about our spirit. Your born-again spirit is exactly as Jesus is, because your spirit has become one with Him.
You Are One With Jesus
He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:17
In this verse the Greek word translated "one" is this, meaning "one to the exclusion of another." (See James Strong"s, meaning "one to the exclusion of another." (See James Strong"s, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville: Abingdon, 1890), "Greek Dictionary of the New Testament," #1520.) It doesn"t mean one in principle or one in purpose; it means one in actuality. It is the same word used in Ephesians 4:5, which says that there is (Nashville: Abingdon, 1890), "Greek Dictionary of the New Testament," #1520.) It doesn"t mean one in principle or one in purpose; it means one in actuality. It is the same word used in Ephesians 4:5, which says that there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. one Lord, one faith, one baptism. We know there aren"t multiple G.o.ds. There"s only one G.o.d. He manifests Himself in three persons, but He is one - one to the exclusion of another. There is no other. This same G.o.d says that he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. We know there aren"t multiple G.o.ds. There"s only one G.o.d. He manifests Himself in three persons, but He is one - one to the exclusion of another. There is no other. This same G.o.d says that he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.
Our spirit has become so united with Jesus that it is identical to the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible says that as he is, so are we in this world as he is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). It doesn"t say, "so are we going to be." That"s the way religion has interpreted that scripture - that some day we are going to be like Him. But the truth is, in our spirit we are exactly as He is right now. (1 John 4:17). It doesn"t say, "so are we going to be." That"s the way religion has interpreted that scripture - that some day we are going to be like Him. But the truth is, in our spirit we are exactly as He is right now.
However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of G.o.d dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
Romans 8:9 NASB NASB Because ye are sons, G.o.d hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:6 Our born-again spirit is literally the the Spirit of Christ. When we are born again, the new spirit we receive is actually the Spirit of Christ. It is our spirit and it is His Spirit. They are joined together as one. Everything that can be said about the Spirit of Jesus is also true of our born-again spirit. Spirit of Christ. When we are born again, the new spirit we receive is actually the Spirit of Christ. It is our spirit and it is His Spirit. They are joined together as one. Everything that can be said about the Spirit of Jesus is also true of our born-again spirit.
I know some people who freak out at this concept, get upset, and say, "Man, you can"t believe that. You"re saying that you"re a G.o.d." No, not in my physical person. In my soulish person, definitely not. But in my born-again spirit, I have become united with the Lord, and I am as complete in my spirit at this exact moment as I will be in eternity. My spirit isn"t going to be changed or improved. It is perfected right this moment, and so is yours.
You Are Sanctified - Forever By the which will [G.o.d"s will] [G.o.d"s will] we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever, sat down on the right hand of G.o.d; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Hebrews 10:10-14, author"s insert When Jesus died on the cross, He put into effect a will and a testament that sanctified us once and for all. That doesn"t mean that one offering worked for everyone; it means that one offering works for each individual who receives it -forever. There"s no need for an offering or a sacrifice to be made over and over again. There"s no need for an offering or a sacrifice to be made over and over again.
Jesus" sacrifice dealt with sin once for all once for all (Hebrews 10:10). His sacrifice was made (Hebrews 10:10). His sacrifice was made for sins, for ever for sins, for ever (Hebrews 10:12). By the sacrifice of Himself on the cross (Hebrews 10:12). By the sacrifice of Himself on the cross he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified (Hebrews 10:14). This scripture tells us that if we have accepted Jesus, we have been sanctified once for all, perfected forever. There is no need for additional sacrifices. Jesus paid a one-time price for our righteousness. (Hebrews 10:14). This scripture tells us that if we have accepted Jesus, we have been sanctified once for all, perfected forever. There is no need for additional sacrifices. Jesus paid a one-time price for our righteousness.
Yet some people will say, "Man, that doesn"t make sense, because I still have so many problems in my life." That may be true in the physical, mental, and emotional realm, but in the spiritual realm you are sanctified and perfected forever. Your spirit is forgiven of sin forever. You"re perfect, holy, and righteous in your spirit. There is nothing impure in your spirit.
To the general a.s.sembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to G.o.d the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect. the general a.s.sembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to G.o.d the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.
Hebrews 12:23 This scripture tells us that our spirit has been made perfect. Viewing this in light of Hebrews 10:10-14, we can see that our spirit man was made perfect - not just temporarily, but forever.
So regardless of how you may feel physically or emotionally, you are are righteous. You are the very righteousness of G.o.d in Christ Jesus, who has sanctified you and made you spiritually perfect, pure, and holy - now and forever. You are one spirit with Him, and as He is in this world, so are you. righteous. You are the very righteousness of G.o.d in Christ Jesus, who has sanctified you and made you spiritually perfect, pure, and holy - now and forever. You are one spirit with Him, and as He is in this world, so are you.
That is who you are!
Chapter 8 8.
Operating with with Your New Your New Mind Mind
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
1 John 2:20 As some people read this scripture their reaction is, "Man, what is the Bible saying? It"s so hard to understand. I certainly don"t know everything. I can prove that by my test scores."
What these people are talking about is their soulish realm. In the spirit, we Christians have an unction, a special anointing from G.o.d, and therefore we know all things. There isn"t anything we don"t know or cannot call to remembrance, because we have the mind of Christ.
But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16
You may read this Scripture and say, "If I have the mind of Christ, where is it? It surely doesn"t seem to help me in my life."
The mind of Christ is in your spirit. To benefit from it, you have to draw it out. How do you do that? By the Word of G.o.d, which is Spirit. The Word of G.o.d is the mind of Christ put into physical print. As you read it and the Holy Spirit illuminates it to you, the wisdom that is located in your spirit begins to come out, benefiting your physical mind, your emotions, and your actions.
Drawing on G.o.d"s Wisdom
Ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.
Colossians 3:9,10 When Paul says we have put off the old man and have put on the new man, this is the same terminology he used before to distinguish between our old unregenerate spirit and our new born-again spirit. Our new man - our new spirit - is renewed in knowledge after the image of the One who created it -Jesus Christ.
We have the mind of Christ in our spirit giving us the same wisdom and knowledge of G.o.d who created us. We have an unction from the Holy One and we know all things. We just need to learn to access that wisdom and knowledge.
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Proverbs 2:6,7 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:3 You might say, "Well, that wisdom is found in the spirit. My brain is in the physical. The tests I have to take in school, the work I have to do on my job, the problems I have to solve in my daily life - all of these things are physical. What benefit is it to me to have the mind of Christ in my spirit if I"m living in a physical world?"
Knowing that the mind of Christ is within you is the first step toward reaping those benefits. Once you know it is there, the Bible teaches that you can access that wisdom and knowledge. And there are many ways to do that. Speaking in tongues is one way to draw on the wisdom and knowledge of G.o.d. Some people think that speaking in tongues is just something Christians do to prove they have the Holy Spirit. But as we speak in tongues we are actually drawing on the wisdom and knowledge of G.o.d. (See 1 Corinthians 14:2.) Once you understand that the mind of Christ is within you, you can begin to make withdrawals from it. But if you don"t know it"s there, you will never draw on it. If you didn"t know you had any money in the bank, you would never write a check. The first step is knowing what your balance is. Then you"ve got to know how to draw from that account and obtain that money.
Suppose you had a well with water in it. In order to satisfy your thirst, you would have to figure out a way to get the water out of the well. You would have to have a bucket and some way to let it down and draw it back up. But first of all, you would have to know that the well is there, and that there is good water in it. It is possible that someone could die of thirst right next to a well if they didn"t have any way of drawing out the water. It is the same with G.o.d"s wisdom. The first step to accessing His wisdom is knowing that it is there for us. He wants to impart divine wisdom to us.
Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32 Most Christians don"t know what"s on the inside of them. Therefore, they don"t even know they have an option. When depression comes, most believers don"t realize that their spirit is always rejoicing and praising G.o.d and they can draw and live from that. So they think there"s no hope.
"What"s the use, Lord?" they pray. "I have been asking You to take away my problems, but it hasn"t happened. Here I am, miserable and depressed. I might as well accept my situation and adjust to my circ.u.mstances." But that is just not an option to me anymore. I know the truth and the truth has set me free, just as Jesus said it would. (See John 8:32.) I remember an instance when I was pastoring a church and things weren"t going my way. People were doing terrible things to me. I tried to resist discouragement and depression, but it just wasn"t working. Finally, one evening I felt like giving up and accepting that depression. I was waiting for Jamie and the boys to go to bed so I could have a pity party. I was looking forward to getting down on myself, griping, complaining, and telling G.o.d how disappointed I was, but the Lord started bringing to my mind the very things I am sharing with you in this book.
In my flesh, I wanted that depression so I could have a pity party, but all of a sudden I was presented with the truth from G.o.d"s Word that I had a choice: Was I going to operate in the flesh or in the spirit? Intellectually, I knew that I should be operating in the spirit, but I felt like being in the flesh. I thought about it for a little while and ultimately I made the right choice. I said, "Praise G.o.d, I don"t care what I feel like. I am blessed because G.o.d loves me and cares about me." I started building myself up by speaking forth what G.o.d"s Word says about me. I started thinking about who I am in Christ, and instead of griping, complaining, and having a pity party, I wound up shouting, rejoicing, and having a great time in the Lord. I drew upon G.o.d"s wisdom.
Every time you are depressed, you have that same option. You may not have known it then, but you know it now. If you didn"t know what G.o.d"s Word says about you, you couldn"t draw on it. But now you do know, and from this moment on any time anger, depression, or any negative emotion comes at you, you can take authority over it. You don"t have to accept it. You can say, "Wait a minute, this is not according to G.o.d"s Word. My spirit man is not b.u.mmed out. I"m not upset. I"m not angry. I"m not hopeless. My spirit is in charge, and I can choose to let my spirit dominate. I choose to live by my spiritual emotions, not the old carnal emotions. I have the Spirit of G.o.d living inside of me, and I choose to walk and live by the spirit, not by the flesh."
What I am sharing with you in this book is really just scratching the surface. There is so much more to share. It takes a lifetime to learn about everything we have in Christ Jesus, meditate on it, and let it literally become a part of us.
Drawing upon G.o.d"s wisdom involves a process. It"s not easy, easy, but it is but it is simple. simple. It"s as simple as the fact that you have the life of G.o.d in your spirit. In your flesh is where you"re experiencing the negative, carnal emotions, and you have a choice. You can either walk in those negative carnal emotions or you can deny them. You can turn from them and say, "I"m not going to let that happen in me, because I"m a new person in Christ." You can focus your mind on who you are in Christ, what G.o.d"s Word says about you, and those realities in Christ will manifest themselves in your physical emotions. It"s as simple as the fact that you have the life of G.o.d in your spirit. In your flesh is where you"re experiencing the negative, carnal emotions, and you have a choice. You can either walk in those negative carnal emotions or you can deny them. You can turn from them and say, "I"m not going to let that happen in me, because I"m a new person in Christ." You can focus your mind on who you are in Christ, what G.o.d"s Word says about you, and those realities in Christ will manifest themselves in your physical emotions.
That is the truth and that truth will set you free!
Using Your Faith