Material of Bible School "The anointing of Abundance and Excess ", Kyiv
Сourse: "The Glory"
Part 1. Obedience To The Lord Jesus
Lesson 2. Obedience through Humility
The basic verse of this message: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Plan
Repeating the main points of lesson 1
Introduction
1. Obedience to the Lord is attained through humility of the soul.
2. In what ways we may express humility of the soul?
Repeating the main points of lesson 1
Remember the question: “What exactly (I didn't say “who”) am I saying: “what was lost by the first man in the garden of Eden?”. Let us add another question for clarity: “What was laid as foundation for freedom of acts of Satan in human life, and what was the beginning of his path not only in life, but on earth?”.
And now the answer. Attention!
And that's what the Holy Spirit said:
It is because of disobedience of man to the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of the Lord was forced to leave the spirit of man. Therefore:
Here's what else I received in my spirit from the Holy spirit:
Attention! The next question the Holy Spirit asked me: “If disobedience to the Spirit of the Lord began the fall of man, what is the first thing to be recoverable by each person after his repentance before the Lord, so the Spirit of the Lord was will be able to do something for what He comes into the spirit of a born-again?”.
The answer is simple. The first thing that needs to be restored in every born again, is obedience to the Spirit of the Lord because the Spirit of the Lord builds new, glorious life for man prepared by God.
Listen carefully to what has been mentioned by the Holy Spirit:
It's written: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9). And again:
Introduction
So, we begin to form the biblical idea of obedience to the Lord and the ways to achieve it. Many people think that if the person is a called and anointed servant of God, on full time ministry, then it is easy to be obedient to the Lord, that he (the servant) always wants to be obedient. But this is only a good opinion, which is more based on external factors.
Attention! One of the paradoxes, which every person living on earth is experiencing and it's subjected to a curse - is the virtual absence of a free and continuous desire to be obedient to the Lord Jesus and his Creator. As it is written: “…For all (in their mind) seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's” (Philippians 2:21). And many people, as they say, deep inside - in conscience - aware of the importance of obedience to the Lord Jesus and their Creator, but they do not find particularly any aspiration to it. Someone may say: “But the born-again want to be obedient.” Yes, maybe in spirit, but in fact, no conscious and constant desire. For this reason, the Bible speaks about the “narrow gate” (Luke 13:24), “taking up your cross” (Matthew 16:24) and the necessary effort (Luke 16:16).
Someone will say: “No wonder: the world is cursed, and people – sinners”. But we are talking about “freedom from the power of sin” as born-again spirits, who also do not have an easy and constant desire to be obedient to the Lord. Yes, reading the Bible, they know how important it is and what the Lord expects from them, but there is the fact that even being born again, man continues to desire the opposite. It is written: “…the flesh (using unupgraded soul) lusteth against (or the opposite) the Spirit, and (born again) the Spirit against (or opposite desires) the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other (there is no agreement between them) so that ye (the born again spirit) cannot do the things that ye would (in mind).” (Galatians 5:17).
Again note that: even a born-again christian in his mind has no permanent free will to be obedient to the Lord Jesus. Attention! This means that:
• Obedience to God is not achieved simply through a desire to be obedient.
1. Obedience to the Lord is attained through Humility of the soul
Working with this material and realizing the importance of obedience to the Lord, I sought to find a way to achieve obedience to the Lord, and how exactly born again christians shall achieve obedience to the Lord, and what he has to do.
In the process of meditation and prayer, the Holy Spirit (the Teacher) drew my attention to the word "humility". I read one definition of the word "humility".
Humility – voluntary submission of one person to the will of another person.
In my spirit I knew that in this definition, as in others, there is no an element on which the Holy Spirit wants to draw my attention. And the Holy Spirit reminded me of what I already knew, and He linked it with humility.
Attention! While a born-again spirit has not renewed his mind enough, and still containing the wisdom of worldy, sensual, devilish - he will experience the impact of the world and the dictatorship of the will, whose wisdom is. Let's talk about this wisdom.
So, again: while born-again spirits have not their renewed their minds enough, still containing the wisdom of world, sensual, devilish - they will experience the impact of the world and the dictatorship of the will, whose wisdom is. Therefore, when in the mind of a born-again christian there are the remains of this wisdom, by himself, in his mind, he will not be willing to be obedient to the Lord. This shows us that:
Then there is a legitimate and important question: “What exactly does a born-again need to humble? And what is expressed to be in humility?”
In one of his messages Apostle Paul wrote about conflict, which angered him, and in this conflict there is an answer: what exactly we should humble.
We read some of the details of the conflict: “For that (in mind) which I do I allow not …” (Romans 7:15). In other words: I'm surprised what happens with me sometimes.
“…for what I would, that do I not (in the spirit, knowing that this is God's will); but what I hate (by his spirit), that do I (he finds it necessary, in his mind, and under his mind’s influence to achieve this)” (Romans 7:15).
It's amazing that a man through whom the Lord Jesus has done so much and wrote messages to the churches speaks about the conflict within the spirit of his soul. The fact is that his soul is very loyal and indulgent to what God's will is against, and sometimes it imposes itself. Yes, many believers think that after being born again and after some time (a year, two, five) conflict of spirit and soul will cease, and especially from anointed ones of God. It is not fact. This conflict will remain until the glorious day of the Lord. And from the Scriptures, we have a true representation of how to form the correct attitude of the spirit to the soul during the conflict.
Word from the Spirit: “Humility of the soul (mind), which has the wisdom of the world, haughty and proud - this is the inevitable stress and conflict, which is reflected in its resistance.”
On the basis of the conflict of the spirit and soul of Apostle Paul, we will read a few radical radical verses.
First Verse: “Whosoever abideth in him (in the Spirit of the Lord) sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him” (1 John 3:6), radical statement, but not as much as the next, we should also note: “He who abides in Him does not sin.”
Second Verse: “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. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he …” (1 John. 3:8-9), now, be very careful, “…he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3:9). Notice it yourself: “Born again can not sin.”
The third verse: “We know that whosoever is born of God (born again), sinneth not…” (1 John 5:18). Perhaps you did not know, but Apostle John says that all believers should know this. And then he says: “…but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not” (1 John 5:18).
And now the key phrase of the Apostle John in his radical statements: “My little children, these things write I unto you …” (1 John 2:1), he wrote to the born again, “…that ye sin not. And if any man sin …” (1 John 2:1). We add to his words the words of another follower of the Lord Jesus: “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all…” (James 3:1-2).
It looks as if there is a contradiction, but there is no any contradictions. Attention!
This is true because:
But a mind that is not renewed enough, in alliance with the needs of the body is always trying to persuade man to sin. Therefore, a born-again spirit does not sin, but living in the flesh, and having soul with the remnants of the wisdom of the world, can sometimes do things that are sinful. But these actions do not originate from the born-again spirit, but from the partly renewed soul. This tells us that:
And now, having an idea about spirit and soul, we will continue to read what the Apostle Paul shares: “If then I do that which I would not (it is clear to us what he doesn't want to - in the spirit), I consent unto the law that it is good” (Romans 7:16). In other words, through the articles of the law are revealed sinful deeds, imposed on insufficiently renewed minds and implemented through the body. “Now then …” (Romans 7:17), or finding out that this act is a sin, it becomes clear that it is “…it is no more I (spirit) that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me (in my mind)” (Romans 7:17).
Attention! Living in sin in the mind - are the remnants of wordly, sensual, devilish wisdom, which encourages the Apostle Paul to do what is contrary to the will of God. Disobedience to the will of the Lord through the wisdom of the world took place in the heart of the Apostle Paul.
Then he writes: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing …” (Romans 7:18), that is pleasing to the Lord, “…for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not (in mind)” (Romans 7:18). This shows that the mind of Apostle Paul tried to keep it's focus on what was acceptable to the wisdom of the world, the troubles and distract to the spirit of Paul from performing his apostolic mission.
Continue reading: “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” (Romans 7:19-20). This is a very important statement of the Apostle Paul, it helps to separate the spirit that does not want to sin, from the heart, which may relate to sin loyal.
“I find then a law (regularity of the soul), that, when I would do good (by spirit), evil is present (resists) with me (in soul)” (Romans 7:21). It is a conflict of spirit and soul, in which to burn from the Spirit of God is given more than a hint in the conflict to act.
“For I delight in the law of God after the inward man (spirit)” (Romans 7:22). For the born-again spirit is quite natural to be obedient to the Spirit of the Lord, he wants it.
“But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members” (Romans 7:23).
I repeat: this conflict of soul and spirit describes Apostle Paul, who called himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1: 1), who for the sake of obedience to the Lord gave his life. It is obvious that during his ministry, Apostle Paul had to continually humble his soul or resist pressures emanating from it, which removes him from the will of God.
We pass to the next question: "What exactly should we humble to be in obedience to the Lord?". The answer to this question can be clearly seen in the humility that the Lord Jesus has revealed himself.
Jesus, being sinless, but having a body and senses, which are in contact with a cursed world, experienced through the mind on His spirit pressure. Here, it is clear from the words of the Lord Jesus: “Now is my soul troubled …” (John 12:27). The word "troubled" in this verse means: not agree with what will be, it did not agree with the will of God for Jesus. Jesus is the Son of God from the beginning of His mission, He knew that one of the tasks assigned to Him by God - at a certain time to become a lamb for the remission of the sins of the people. While the day was unknown, the soul is not actively working on drawing images of possible physical abuse of body. As Jesus said: “But I have a baptism (immersion) to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! ” (Luke 12:50). He had to be immersed in death (Romans 6:3-4).
But as soon as Jesus knew the exact day, the mind automatically began to represent images of all possible abuses of His body He could have know. Thereby persuading Jesus from what ought to be, pushing him to appeal to the goodness and mercy of God. Attention! Perturbations of which Jesus speaks of in the illustrated verse - is not in the Garden of Gethsemane, we will look further into it.
And then the Son of God, Jesus, the Spirit in the flesh, He speaks as if it comes from his soul. He speaks with His soul as to a man standing next to him, addressing to the soul with the question: “…and what shall I say?...” (John 12:27). In other words: "Soul, you know what will be, and you do not agree with the will of My Father, do you want me to ask: “…Father, save me from this hour!...” (John 12:27)?”
Attention! This encourages Jesus to speak to His soul. It means that the soul of Jesus was not always in harmony with His spirit, he also felt the pressure.
And then Jesus says to his disturbed soul: “…but for this cause came I unto this hour” (John 12:27), and to consolidate His will to the will of the Father adds: “Father, glorify thy name …” (John 12:28). This means that:
This is what is said about the humble soul of the Lord Jesus - the Spirit of God through the Apostle Paul: “he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).
From our research, we now know that the Son of God - Jesus humbled with God's desires and those decisions that came from Gods' soul. His spirit was always in harmony with the Spirit of the Father and His will. In such time, humility needed only the soul of Jesus.
2. How exactly we express humility of the soul?
Attention! We will not talk about the details and forms of humility, we note only the basic humility, on which forms and details are shown. The first thing that is important to know about the basic humility - this:
The soul of born again under the influence of the wisdom of the world, always offers something to him, or somehow respond to what is happening. And when a person has no knowledge of the Lord's will, what his mind offeres him might look quite good and even important, but it is no knowledge of God's will. As it is written: “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him” (Proverbs 18:17 When a person learns from Scripture God's will, then what comes out of his mind, enters the light of truth and it becomes apparent what kind of wisdom is this, and what the consequences might be. It is written: “…And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
Attention! But sometimes it happens that even when born-again (based on the will of God) knows that the soul imposed decision or action is sinful, he can stay under the influence of the soul, and do what it induces. With the available light or knowledge of the will of God from the Scriptures, no one imposes it to man, God has left the choice to the born again. As He said: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). It is important to note the phrase "therefore choose" which looks increasingly clear in the light of what has been written in the book of Proverbs: “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings” (Proverbs 4:20).
The wisdom of God uses two important words: "attend" and " incline," these words, like the phrase "therefore choose," saying that this is not what the person had wanted to do, but must do it, because God said it. God with whom man has a covenant. What does this mean?
The will of God - is the desire of God presented in the Scriptures, or the Holy Spirit in the human spirit. The desire or decision that comes from the mind, it may be the desire or the decision of Satan, because in human mind there is the wisdom of Satan. Here's how it is presented in Scripture: “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day” (Matthew 16:21). Hearing the words of the Lord did not renew the minds of the disciples who had different reactions to them. According to the mind, the reactions were good and behold, this is how Jesus commented on one of responses which represented the mind of Peter. Read: “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matthew 16:22-23). Peter was not possessed by the devil, but what is in his mind and put in his mouth was formed by the order of the values of Satan. And even after such a sharp response, the mind of Peter continued to offer their ways of solving issues related to Jesus: “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? ” (John 18:10-11).
Keep reading further, Jesus reveals to us basic humility and the way it really is achieved: “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me…” (Matthew 16:24). Then He says what should be done in relation to what is already there and what will come out from the soul: “…let him deny himself …” (Matthew 16:24), or do not listen to the ideas coming from the mind, “…and take up his cross …” (Matthew 16:24), do what I will say to your spirit and in word, “…and follow me. For whosoever will save his life…” (Matthew 16:24-25), or will continue to be guided by what comes out of it its representations, “…shall lose it…” (Matthew 16:25), or will be disappointed.
Then Jesus says,: “…and whosoever will lose his life for my sake…” (Matthew 16:25), humble what is coming out from it under my will, “…shall find it” (Matthew 16:25), it will be good for him or for his benefit.
Verses from Scripture about humility
Substitute the word "spirit" and meditate.
“For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold” (Proverbs 3:34).
“When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2).
“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility” (Proverbs 15:33).
“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility” (Proverbs 18:12).
“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life” (Proverbs 22:4).
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Isaiah 57:15).
Three verses (from the presented) speak about the connection of humility and glory, in the future we will speak more about it.
www.rimes.biz.ua Course “The Glory”. Lesson 1. Page of