One with God, Jesus & one another, chapter 18
One with God the Father, Jesus & one another, chapter 18
To 33,300 subscribers to Church of God teaching, God’s 5th Mo Ab 18, 5,781, 7/28/21.
God the Father’s commandment is eternal life. A quote from Jesus. at John 12:50) Obviously Jesus isn’t speaking of doing or keeping the ten commandments as the way to obtain eternal life. If He were that’d be, ‘by keeping the ten commandment one could earn eternal life’ and boast about it. If eternal life could be earned by good works many could boast. Followers of Jesus are spiritually led to understand, “the root” “the foundation” of God’s commandments is LOVE and “through believing IN Jesus is eternal Life!” God the Father’s commandment is that we believe IN God the Son, “Jesus.” Not a ‘belief that’ but a ‘belief IN’ that compels obedience. Loving God is to love His commandments and live immersed in Jesus. Jesus repeatedly said; “He and God the Father were in agreement.” At One with one another.
(John 12:49; For I have not spoken from My own authority, but the Father Himself who sent Me has commanded Me what I should say and what I should speak.) We can’t love Gods Way independent of His spirit and revelations. Jesus inspired these teachings through His apostles.
God the Father and God the Son are Spirit. They host and command many loyal angelic beings, ‘angels.’ Through God’s Spirit is “eternal Life.” God imputes His Life Giving Spirit, ‘immortality.’ Described as, ‘being born from above’ or ‘fathered.’ Without His fathering no one can enter the kingdom of God. So, let’s attempt to understand the workings of God’s miraculous spirit.
(Gen 1:2; Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. Genesis 1:2) Here, spirit is likened to, ‘wind from the breath of God’ or ‘mighty wind’ the Word of God” representing the superlative. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, the phrase refers consistently to the divine spirit that empowers and energizes individuals. (EXAMPLE: Exodus 31:1-11; The Lord spoke to Moses; “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in skill, in understanding, in knowledge, in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work with gold, with silver, with bronze, with cutting, setting stone, with cutting wood and to work in all kinds of craftsmanship. Moreover, “I have also given him ‘Oholiab’ son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, and I have given ability to all the specially skilled, that they may make everything I have commanded you: “the tent of meeting, the ark of the testimony, the atonement lid that is on it, all the furnishings of the tent, the table with its utensils, the pure lampstand with all its utensils, the altar of incense, the altar for the burnt offering with all its utensils, the large basin with its base, the woven garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and garments for his sons, to minister as priests, the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the Holy Place. They will make all these things just as I have commanded you.)
God also gives us the example of Balaam’s spirit gifted prophecy and his being tempted with riches. His is looking back to a millennial prophesy.
(Numbers 24:1-8; When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at the other times to seek for omens, but he set his face toward the wilderness. When Balaam ‘lifted up his eyes’ he saw Israel camped tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. Then he uttered this oracle: “The oracle of Balaam son of Beor; the oracle of the man whose eyes are open; the oracle of the one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, although falling flat on the ground with eyes open: ‘How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, and your dwelling places, O Israel! They are like valleys stretched forth, like gardens by the river’s side, like aloes that the Lord has planted, and like cedar trees beside the waters. He will pour the water out of His buckets, and the descendants will be like abundant water; their king will be greater than Agag, and their kingdom will be exalted. This Lord God brought them out of Egypt.
They have, as it were, the strength of a young bull; they will devour hostile people and will break their bones and will pierce them through with arrows. They crouch and lie down like a lion, and as a lioness, who can stir him? Blessed is the one who blesses you, and cursed is the one who curses you.)
As with God’s spirit gifting Bezalel with special talents in craftsmanship, “through His spirit” God caused Balaam’s eyes to be spiritually opened, “he then understood the words of God and gave true prophecy regarding God’s chosen people:” later Balaam was tempted with riches. (A gentile ruler; “Balak” played with Balaam’s vanity and asked him to curse Israel.) As Israel continued to be blessed, Balak became angry with Balaam.
(Num 24:10-14; Then Balak became very angry at Balaam, and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and look, you have done nothing but bless them these three times! So now, go back where you came from! I said that I would greatly honor you; but now the Lord has stood in the way of your honor.” Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not also tell your messengers whom you sent to me, ‘If Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord to do either good or evil of my own will, but whatever the Lord tells me I must speak,’ And now, I am about to go back to my own people. Come now, and I will advise you as to what this people will do to your people in the future.)
By gifting His spirit to individuals, God can give talents beyond natural abilities, open minds, reveal Himself, give people like Abraham, Moses, David and Isaiah prophetic visions. (Remember Psalms 69: from our previous study?) Through His spirit God gave Isaiah a vision of Jesus’ coming rule.
(Isaiah 42:1-7; Here is My servant whom I support, My chosen One in whom I take pleasure. I have placed My spirit on Him; He will make just decrees for the nations. He will not cry out or shout; He will not publicize Himself in the streets. A crushed reed He will not break, a dim wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully make just decrees. He will not grow dim or be crushed before establishing justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait in anticipation for His decrees.” This is what the true God, the Lord, says – the One who created the sky and stretched it out, the One who fashioned the earth and everything that lives on it, the One who gives breath to the people on it, and life to those who live on it: “I, the Lord, officially commission You, “Jesus” I take hold of Your hand. I protect You and make You a covenant Mediator for people, and a Light to the nations, to open blind eyes, to release prisoners from dungeons, those who live in darkness from prisons.)
Through His spirit, God emits spiritual understanding. Through His spirit God gives breath and life. Through His spirit God the Father resurrected Jesus who will establish justice on earth, through God the Son, “Jesus.” May we be led to praise Him.
When explaining ’being born from above” to Nicodemus, Jesus said; (John 3:7-8; Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.) We can’t earn salvation or conjure up God’s mind opening spirit.
JESUS was the One revealing His Father’s commission to Himself, “His own status and characteristics to Isaiah.” Next God reveals through Isaiah, Jesus’ powers and Israel’s future millennial promises.
(Isaiah 49:1-13; Listen to Me, you coastlands! Pay attention, you people who live far away. The Lord summoned Me from birth; He commissioned Me when My mother brought Me into the world. He made My mouth like a sharp sword, He hid Me in the hollow of His hand; He made Me like a sharpened arrow, He hid Me in His quiver. He said to Me, “You are My servant Israel, through whom I will reveal My splendor.” But I thought, “I have worked in vain; I have expended My energy for absolutely nothing.” But the Lord will vindicate Me; My God will reward Me. So now the Lord says, “the One who formed Me from birth to be His servant – He did this to restore Jacob to Himself, so that Israel might be gathered to Him; and I will be honored in the Lord’s sight, for My God is My source of strength – He says, “Is it too insignificant a task for You to be My servant, to reestablish the tribes of Jacob, and restore the remnant of Israel? I will make You a light to the nations, so you can bring My deliverance to the remote regions of the earth.” This is what the Lord, the Protector of Israel, their Holy One, says to the One who is despised and rejected by nations, a servant of rulers: “Kings will see and rise in respect, princes will bow down, because of the faithful Lord, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen you.” This is what the Lord says: “At the time I decide to show My favor, I will respond to You; in the day of deliverance I will help You; I will protect You and make You a covenant Mediator for people, to rebuild the land and to reassign the desolate property. You will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ and to those who are in dark dungeons, ‘Emerge’ They will graze beside the roads; on all the slopes they will find pasture. They will not be hungry or thirsty; the sun’s oppressive heat will not beat down on them, for One who has compassion on them will guide them; He will lead them to springs of water. I will make all My mountains into a road; I will construct My roadways.” Look, they come from far away! Look, some come from the north and west, and others from the land of Sinim! Shout for joy, O sky! Rejoice, O earth! Let the mountains give a joyful shout! For the Lord consoles His people and shows compassion to the oppressed.)
Through His spirit, God revealed these things to Isaiah and through His GIFTED spirit, “Believers IN are trusting through gifted faith in His Word.” Jesus is the subject of Isaiah’s prophesy. (Now Jesus reveals His suffering.)
(Isaiah 50:4-11; The sovereign Lord has given Me the capacity to be His spokesman, so that I know how to help the weary. He wakes Me up every morning; He makes Me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do. The sovereign Lord has spoken to Me clearly; I have not rebelled; I have not turned back. I offered My back to those who attacked, My jaws to those who tore out My beard; I did not hide My face from insults and spitting. But the sovereign Lord helps Me, so I am not humiliated. For that reason, I am steadfastly resolved; I know I will not be put to shame. The one who vindicates Me is close by. Who dares to argue with Me? Let us confront each other! Who is My accuser? Let him challenge Me! Look, the sovereign Lord helps Me. Who dares to condemn Me? Look, all of them “THOSE WHO CONDEMN ME” will wear out like clothes; a moth will eat away at them. Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys His servant, “Jesus?” Whoever walks in deep darkness, without light, should trust in the name of the Lord and rely on His God ‘Jesus.’ (Look, all of you who start a fire and who equip yourselves with flaming arrows, walk in the light of the fire you started and among the flaming arrows you ignited! This is what you will receive from Me: “you will lie down in a place of pain.)
This world’s populations are walking in deep darkness, rely on their thinking and practiced way of living. This world’s populations ignite their own way and equip themselves.
Through His spirit, God reveals His promises and truths to followers of Jesus, and Jesus reveals God’s is love, ‘that His commandment foundation is from His Life, “spirit.’