In this section we will discover another attribute of the new creation. It is the tabernacle of God.
Hebrews 9:2-5
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
The first room of the new tabernacle is the holy place. This is the soul. The place of communion with the Body of Christ is at the table of shewbread. There, at the altar of incense in the midst of the light of the golden candlesticks (which is the knowledge of God) intercession is made for the lost and hurting.
Hebrews 9:6-10
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
The entrance into the presence of God could not be manifested while the first tabernacle was yet standing. The law of God had to have been fulfilled before the penalty it carried could be abolished. This fulfilling was in the flesh of Jesus Christ. He became the Word of God and the fulfillment of the Law.
Hebrews 9:11-14
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The blood of Christ has been applied to the conscience by the Holy Ghost. The sacrifices of the old covenant merely figuratively sanctified the flesh. However, there was still a memory of sin. The inner man remained under the captivity of the enemy of our soul.
Hebrews 9:15-23
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
The Body of Christ is a heavenly thing. It must be cleansed by a better sacrifice than those that were offered by Moses. The tabernacle in the wilderness was only a pattern of the heavenly tabernacle to come . . . Man -The Temple of God.
The testament of Jesus must become the testimony of the Sons. We must reckon ourselves as dead in order to serve the promise of eternal life for others. As long as the flesh lives, our testimony of Christ is of non-effect. There will be with a demonstration of the power of the resurrection. Note also that the power of redemption or reconciliation is resurrection power. There is, however, no resurrection unless there is first a death.
Hebrews 9:27-28
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews 10:9-10
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The body or flesh of Jesus was our offering for sin.
Hebrews 10:11-14
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
This offering sanctified and perfected the believer forever.
Hebrews 10:15-18
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
The sin issue in the spirit has been resolved. Therefore the spirit, the hidden man of the heart or the conscience as He is called, has become the Holy of Holies in the temple of man. It is the place of the presence of God. The inner man is also called the heart. This is the seat of the law or oracles of God.
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:19-22
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
The Lord has consecrated for us a way to God the Father. By the sprinkling of the blood within our inner man, we are now able to enter into the presence of God the Father communing with and petitioning Him. The body or temple is washed with the water of the Word. Notice that the water of washing must be pure.
The Renting of the Veil
Hebrews 10:5
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Hebrews 6:19-20
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
The Father provided Himself a Lamb to be offered up for the sins of the world. It is the Father that chastens or trains the Sons. As He has said, every Son that comes to Him, He chastens. Those that endure chastening are indeed Sons. Those that do not regard the chastening of the Father are bastards. The Father will prepare us into His purpose. He will conform us through the knowledge of the truth into the image of His Son, Jesus.
Ephesians 2:16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby . . .
How the cross of suffering is the vehicle used to destroy the enmity that stood between God and man. From the garden it was man’s own flesh that separated Him from God. We know that on the cross the Spirit was given over to the Father for preservation and underworld ministry. It was the flesh that was slain. Rightly so, for it was flesh that rose up in sin against God.
The law of the Garden of Eden declared the penalty for sin to be death. The Father prophesied concerning the coming of Christ to destroy the works of the devil.
St. John 20:17
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Psalm 68:18
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
Acts 2:36
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Ephesians 4:10-15
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ . . .
If we look at the passages above, they signify the entering of the Lord into the Holy of Holies in Heaven on behalf of the human race.
Corinthians 15:21-23
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
By man came the spirit of death into the world. At this point, death became an enemy of God because it ordered the destruction of the race of man whom the Lord loved.
Death also became the captivity of man, for it is the spirit of death that was able to hold man in the grave, separated from God the Father. This spirit lived in the inward parts of man.
Now it is interesting to note here that the devil held the power of death. This means that the devil was able to separate man from his God by the spirit of iniquity which he gendered in the heart of Adam. This is explained further in the following verses.
Hebrews 2:14-18
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Because men of old went into the grave under the power of death in the inner man, It was necessary for the Lord to be made a little lower than the angel for the suffering of death. That He might through death, which is the payment or wages for the sins of the people both dead and alive, destroy the devil. In the end of time this will be accomplished.
However, for the moment we can rejoice in the fact that the captivity of the soul is loosed.
Hosea 13:14
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
I Corinthians 15:55-57
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The sting or power of death is sin, and the strength in sin is the Law. In other words, having tempted man into sin, the devil caused the power of the law to come against man. The law demanded the death of the sinner. This is the law of God, not Satan. Therefore, for Satan to have the power of death does not necessarily mean that he is the overseer or ruler of this spirit. The power of death is sin. Therefore for Satan to hold the power of death, also means that he is the author of sin.
I John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Because the devil sinned from the beginning and brought sin into the world the Son of God was sent. Through death the Lord has paid the penalty of the sins of the human race. But the work of redemption does not stop here.
After the death of the cross, the Lord ascended into heaven to present the sacrifice. The renting of His righteous flesh qualified Him as the perfect peace offering for man. Forasmuch as He sinned not, during His walk on the earth, He is accepted by God as the sacrificial lamb. The power of the sacrifice was the righteousness thereof. It is the righteousness of the lamb that mandated that it be raised from the dead. No one else could redeem man because all had sinned and come short of the grace of God. All men were under the power of sin, which is death.
St. Matthew 27:50-53
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
When Jesus gave up the ghost, the veil of the temple in Jerusalem was rent, exposing the Holy of Holies. His spirit went into the grave and purged the saints of the captivity of death and they were able to rise from the dead. This was the proof of the acceptable righteous sacrifice. Because of the righteousness of the Lamb of God, the penalty of the law was paid, and death lost its power over the first creation. The dead saints rose unto the righteousness of God. The captivity that held them was spoiled by the Lamb. He led their captivity captive, made an open show of principalities, and led those who died in the promise into the presence of God.
The Lord overcame death by righteousness. We, too, have overcome death by taking on the righteousness of God by Jesus Christ.
The veil of the temple was rent. The wall of petition that separated God from His people was destroyed. The Jews did not consider that God was doing a new thing in the earth and efforts were made to repair the veil. The true veil of separation was the flesh of mankind. It was the flesh that offended the Father and it is the flesh that must be destroyed.
The crucifixion was the renting of the flesh of all mankind. One died for all. He was the atonement for the sins of us all. Therefore, we were at-one-with the suffering and death of the Lamb. He died in our stead. He allowed His flesh to be torn and the body to be destroyed so that we might live.
Now with the renting of the veil of the flesh, the God in the man Jesus was exposed to the world. The Spirit of the Father was loosed on the day of Pentecost, to procure many more sons.
II Corinthians 5:14-21
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
All things pertaining to the new Creature are of God, for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead. We are now the sons of God, waiting for the redemption of our bodies. We know that it does not yet appear what we shall be but we do know that when He comes, we will be like Him.
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
SUFFERING RENTS THE VEIL
We know one day we will be fashioned into a glorious body. Therefore, we are not mindful of the things pertaining to the flesh. . . . And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves. We are indebted to live unto the Lord for we have been bought with the price of His blood, and the suffering of His flesh.
Jesus came to manifest the Father to the world. His body was the temple of God. His suffering and death released the Spirit of God into the world.
We, too, must take on the mind of Christ. We must prepare to suffer for the sake of those who do not know the Father. We must expose the world to the Holy of Holies. We are now the table of God, and the dwelling place of His power. The world will never see Him, except we are willing to suffer in the flesh.
THE MIND TO SUFFER IN THE FLESH
If the body of Christ is to fulfill the purpose of God on planet Earth, the revelation of the suffering saints must cease to be an offense in the Church.
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The only way we can prove the will of God is by renewing our minds and thinking concerning the things pertaining to God. Our mind must be renewed in the knowledge of God. For it is with the mind that we serve the Lord. It is the control center of the flesh. It is the mind that is at war with the purpose and plan of God. We will always exist in a struggle to achieve righteousness.
We are the sons of the Most High God. The mind must accept this as a fact. This renewal is crucial to the work of the ministry. To think wrong is to remain outside the boundaries of the faith. Wrong thinking will never allow the creature to achieve the will of God through the flesh.
I Peter 4:1-2
1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
The right mindset concerning suffering is a weapon against the temptations of this world. Without the mind of Christ, we are most vulnerable to the wiles of the devil and the lusts of the world. To suffer in the flesh is to cease from sin. Let us look a little closer at what is really meant by suffering in the flesh.
The following passages speak concerning the mentality of the believer regarding suffering in the flesh.
Romans 8:1-13
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 4:21-24
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
The fleshy mind must take on the mind of the new creature. We must take off the lifestyle of the old man. This is accomplished by entertaining the truth of the Word of God. We must hear the voice of the Spirit and allow Him to teach us the ways of God.
I John 2:27
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
The Holy Ghost is the voice of Christ. He abides in us. To lead and guide us into the will of the Father. He is our helper to understand the Word of God. For the Word is spiritual and must be spiritually discerned.
Colossians 3:10-17
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Whatever you do must be done in the Spirit. Notice we give thanks to the Father by Jesus Christ. This means that we must praise the Lord with the inner man. He is the one that is in Christ Jesus.
I John 2:27
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Romans 13:12-14
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
I Peter 2:19-21
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps . . .
II Corinthians 6:16-18
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
II Corinthians 2:1-7
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
I Corinthians 4:7-18
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Romans 8:36-37
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
II Corinthians 1:5-7
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
DEATH IN THE FLESH RELEASES THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
We must be willing to die in the Flesh. In fact, Paul told us to reckon ourselves as dead in the flesh relative to sin. When the flesh is dead to sin, the love of God can flow to His people.
Galatians 2:19-20
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
II Corinthians 12:9-10
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
I Peter 4:12-14
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Sometimes, the fact that we are expected to bear such trials is the reason for offense. This is an offense against the Father. For He is the one who ordained the trying of the saints.
Nevertheless, faith and knowledge are the powers that protect our joy. The scripture “the joy of the Lord is our strength” is not just a song. It is a fact. It is the joy in the trials of life that maintain a righteous attitude toward God and man.
COMING FORTH AS GOLD TESTED IN THE FIRE AT CHRIST'S APPEARING
I Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ . . .
This is the hope of the believer. We must seek to please the Father now in this lifetime if we are to receive the honor and glory of the next world. Therefore, the life of the son must be praiseworthy now.
I DO WHAT I SEE THE FATHER DO
You must see and understand this. I asked the Lord to explain to me the principle of doing only that which we see the Father do. For this is the example that Jesus left us to follow.
The question is whether this means that God gives the believer a spiritual vision of the things He wants to accomplish. Not only did the Master testify that He did only what He saw the Father do, but also that He says only what He hears the Father say.
If we are going to be successful ministers of the Gospel we must master this principle. As always, the mystery of God is hidden inside His simplicity. A very good illustration of this operation can be seen in the following event.
St. John 5:8-17
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
HITHERTO
"even until now," the rest of the Father and the Son having been broken by man's sin, they were engaged in the accomplishment of their counsels of grace with a view to redemption. (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)
This is such an awesome operation. Jesus’ response to the Jews regarding healing of the Sabbath day was, “My Father worketh hitherto”, or, up to now the work you see is that of the Father. In other words, the Father decided to heal on the Sabbath day, therefore, my body obeyed by speaking the Word into the life of the lame man.
Now, what you see is the fleshy man Jesus doing the work, but what the man Jesus sees is the Father doing the work through the body. Therefore, He is able to say, what you are seeing is me, the man, doing what the Father, the Spirit who dwells in me is doing. It is another way of saying that He is led by the Spirit. After all, they who are led by the Spirit are the Sons of God.
Remember, Jesus said that He was only doing what His Father was doing. He further said, “I can do nothing on my own. It is the Father who does the work.” In order words, this fleshy body is only doing that which the Father is doing.
“I only say what I hear the Father saying.” My mouth is only a vehicle to articulate what the Father is saying. In order words, what you hear are the words of the Spirit voiced by the flesh. Just as what you see are the deeds of the Father, performed by the flesh.
St. John 5:18-19
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Of itself, flesh is powerless. The power is of God. The body must become one with the Spirit. The war between the flesh and the Spirit must be won by the Spirit, so that the new creature can go about his Father’s business.
St. John 5:20-22
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son..
The Father starts out in the ministry of Christ doing the work and making all the decisions as to what works would be done. However, because of the love of the Father for the Son, as a result of His obedience (though the power remains of God the Father), Jesus is allowed to make decisions as to what works would be performed. This is the ultimate degree of trust that the Father can bestow upon a Son. That is to allow Him to institute the power of God as He sees fit in any given situation. Note, the Father quickeneth, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will. The Father has ceased to judge, instead He has committed all judgment of man in the hands of the Son.
The apostles also experienced this trust.
St. John 20:23
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
St. Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
