Transitioning ...Part 3A

Jesus’ ministry on earth was in a state of constant transition. He was persistently pressing towards the “mark”. The “mark” for His final transition was the “cross”; a kind of “X marks the spot” focus. He not only manifest on earth to fulfill the “redemption” purpose of the Father, but also to prepare “common man” to do the same. He was to prepare a people to walk as He did, in His steps and in His image and in His glory.
Time after time, scripture reveals to us, the secret.

“Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”.

Jesus tells us that; Whoever has determined (will) to come and go (come) in His shadow (after) must die to their own desires and wishes (deny himself) and take a stand (take up his cross) and walk as you have seen Him walk (follow me).

This message is mirrored through out scripture, both Old and New Testament. As we have seen in previous lessons, sometimes the “Bible story” can hide the “apostolic” or the “present truth” of Gods Word. Peter admonished us;

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 2 Peter 1:12 (KJV)

The phrase “established in the present truth” refers to one who by conscience decision, and unwavering resistance, to externally applied pressure, becomes fastened securely upon a foundation that allows for God’s truth to become near at hand. It is a truth that is relevant to the “kairos” that they are presently in.

We have been told that the Word of God is the Living Word. In order for something to be living, it must be ever-changing, ever growing. Not that it “changes” in its truth, so much as it changes, in it’s focus on particular truths. It must be active in its function or use. Because of the active nature of God’s Word , it allows itself to be read, many times over and get different truths from the same passage. The volume of truths that can be received from just one passage of His Word, could possibly fill all of the libraries of the world, and still not uncover all that is hidden therein. It is beyond the comprehension of man to fully understand even one jot or tittle of the Supreme God's Word.

It is for that reason, that we must never be satisfied, with those things that have been revealed unto us. No matter how complete they may seem.

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29

The secret things do belong unto God and it is within His Sovereign right to reveal them unto whosoever He desires. The word used here 'revealed' is a word that also means to uncover that which is hidden. It is our right and responsibility to seek out the secret things that the Father has placed in His Word.

Martin Luther was a nobody in the Catholic Church when God opened his eyes to the now simple biblical truth; “the just shall live by faith”. But God opened one man's eyes to something that had been there all along. It is mind boggling to think “how many” people had read that scripture and never “read” that scripture. That was Martin Luther’s “kairos”. God had created him for that purpose; to uncover a simple truth that would challenge twelve hundred years of false teachings. Martin Luther stepped into a transition move of God and literally challenged and began a dismantling process of the most powerful organization on earth.
And what was the key to the success of that early reformation? “Present Truth”. Martin Luther took the insight that God gave him and “reproved” the Word of God. He tried to share it with the religious leadership of his day, but to no avail. The truths that he shared with them threatened their very existence in the same way that Jesus’ manifestation of present truth, threatened the Pharisees.

The Pharisee is still alive and within the church today. As God begins to “open” your eyes to “present truth”, you will, at the same time, begin to see the Pharisee spirit arise. It must! For the truth to be manifest, the key holders of the present religious system must be challenged. When they begin to arise, instead of cowering and backing down; press in and reprove for the battle is the Lords! Take your stand (cross) and walk as you have seen Him walk (follow Him)!

Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
Luke 11:52 (KJV)

The Pharisee spirit is a religious assertion, that takes a position, that hinders the release of most anything new within the kingdom. They see God “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”. While that is a true biblically based statement, the Pharisee spirit receives it from the standpoint that says; their position is all that is to be known on any particular issue or scripture.

The Pharisee spirit calls anything that disagrees with their position heresy, when in fact, any stance that declares itself to know all that there is to be known on any scripture is in fact a true heretical position! It is impossible for any man to know all that there is to know about God. And any man or religious institution that takes such a position, even on the slightest of biblical truths, is bordering on the foolish.

Take for instance this scripture,

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (KJV)

We have been taught and conditioned that the thief is the devil and that he came to steal to kill and to destroy the people of God. This has been a “tried and true” doctrinal position throughout the modern church. How it came to pass, none truly can ascertain. Its origins within the church are most likely untraceable, but we take it at face value without question. But does that mean this is the truth and all the truth of this scripture ? Could there be more?

This particular scripture is part of a much larger interchange between Jesus and a group of Pharisee's. In John Chapter 9, we see a man who had been born blind as the focus of one of Jesus’ miracles.

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John 9:1-3 (KJV)

Just prior to this scene, in John 8, We see that Jesus had a confrontation with the Pharisees. During this dialogue the Jews reiterated the point that they were Abraham’s seed. And that premise was their foundation for being the “chosen” of God. All that they believed was founded upon Abraham’s relationship with God. Jesus than makes a statement that causes the “religious” spirits to rise to the boiling point.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. John 8:56-59 (KJV)

It is at this moment, as Jesus passed by, his disciples inquire about a man that had been born blind.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. John 9:2-3 (KJV)

This question was not an out of order inquiry. The mindset of that day was, that if you were afflicted with a physical infirmity, you or your family must have offended God and this was to be you punishment. But Jesus right away dispels that religious argument and tells them of the Fathers hand in it. This is even quite contrary to some of our current religious positions! Lets now turn our “apostolic” eyes and see what may be hidden within the “story”.

First, this man had probably been around the Temple most of his life. We can derive this from his parents reaction. They were afraid of being “kicked out” of the synagogue. So it would be safe to say that this man had a “religious relationship” with the Father. But because of his surroundings he had been “born again” blind. He was saved according to the rule of the day, but he couldn’t see the truth in his relationship with God. He knew that he was lacking something in his walk, but because of hypocrisy and false doctrine he was legally blind, “Blinded by Law”.

Jesus, leaving the Temple after confronting the Pharisee’s “blindness”, crosses the path of our “born again" blind brother. Notice that he tells his disciples that he must “work the works” of He that sent him and begins to make a compound to rub upon this mans eyes. He didn’t even speak to the guy, just started smearing the mud on his face! Boldness!

And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is, by interpretation, Sent). He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. John 9:7 (KJV)

The word 'sent' used here is the Greek word apostello. It is the same word that is used to describe an apostle. What Jesus was telling our brother is; to go and get under an apostolic anointing and allow the washing of water by the word [Eph 5:26] to free him from his enslaving religious position. The pool of Siloam represents a place where apostolic liberty brings us into a deeper relationship with God.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5 (KJV)

Now the true Pharisee spirit begins to show its face.

Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. John 9:16

This manifestation cannot be of God for he violated a religious principle! What they couldn’t understand because of their “closed vision” of God, was that new rules had come to pass during the transition period. Mandatory worship had been replaced by those who would worship in spirit and in truth. It didn’t matter what the manifestation was, if it was contrary to “their” standards, it couldn’t be God.

Next, we see the manipulation that accompanies the Pharisee spirit.

But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. John 9:18-22 (KJV)

The first appearance of manipulation is through the releasing of a spirit of fear. “If anyone stands and associates with this new move of God, we will separate them from amongst us. We will “excommunicate them”. [para]. Notice also that their tactic was to attack the family body. The spiritual principal is that a house divided cannot stand. Could this be insight into the technology that Jesus spoke of when he said:

And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:36-38

The Pharisee’s intention was to get the parents to cause the man to deny the manifestation of the “new move” of God. To quench the fire on the inside by using those closest to the receiving party. This is a common tactic.

When Jesus said that a prophet was without honor in his own country and among his own kin, could he have been speaking of this type of scenario? Those that are closest to you may very well be the ones who will be used of the Pharisee spirit to try and dissuade you from pursuing the deeper things of God. Transition will never be an easy thing!

This is also seen in the interaction between Peter and Paul. When Paul first had his “blinded eyes” opened [Acts 9:8] he separated himself unto God for a season [3 years Gal 1:18] in order to receive from the Spirit those things, that were to be required of him in his service to God. He separated himself unto God, not unto the existing structure [the existing apostolic order]. He remained separated until released to approach the apostolic elders at Jerusalem. And when he did go up to Jerusalem, he only met with Peter and James, and with them for only fifteen days. But it must be noted that in that fifteen day period, the apostles bore witness of the hand of God upon him. In Acts 9:26-30, we see that fifteen day period spoken of, and it only took Paul fifteen days, to persuade the opposition to kill him! Paul then went back to his own ministry and remained there for another fourteen years and then by revelation of the Spirit he returned to Jerusalem. [Gal 2:2]

What did Paul find when he got there ? The apostolic structure had been corrupted by false teachings! [Gal 2:4] And what was the purpose of those teachings? To bind up the people of Christ and bring them back into the previous structure of religious practices. This corruption can be seen later also at Antioch.

But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
Galatians 2:11-12 (KJV)

Peter had been caught up in the web of hypocrisy that had invaded the structure of the “new move” of God. He would be a gentile when alone with the gentiles, but became a “Pharisee” when among those of the circumcision. And his second worst nightmare was when the two clashed! Paul’s martyr spirit arose!

But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all…. Gal 2:14

That which is hidden will be brought to the light! And what did Paul say about the matter ? 'Peter, no one will be justified by the requirements of the previous religious system, but only by the faith of Jesus Christ… [Gal 2:16 para]

TO BE CONTINUED...