On Earth

One of the most destructive and erroneous theologies crippling the church is that of financial moderation. It was okay for God to bless the Jews as part of the Old Covenant but as Christians, we should not want to prosper too much. Ours are only spiritual blessings…

Yes, the so-called Faith movement started to scratch at this heresy and took it in the neck. Mocked openly as those 'prosperity teachers,' satan made sure the status quo was maintained. Throw in a little 'it's not humble, or it's not godly,' and most respectable Christians won't touch it.

Then there’s the poverty lie. Think about poverty…babies dying with distended stomachs, girls selling themselves to feed their families…horrid, wretched poverty. Do we really think this is God’s will for His beloved children?

Mainstream denominations finally compromised a little by backpedalling to 'Okay, you can prosper a little, but not too much. It's not godly to prosper too much.'

As I am sick of these crippling lies, I have several comments on this topic. Take them or leave them, but remember…they’re all right from the Word.

1) Grafted In
First, we are grafted into Israel [Romans 11] and blessed with Abraham, the believer [Galatians 3:9]

We're redeemed from the curse of the Law [Galatians 3:13] but the promises—the blessings—are all ours in Christ!

2 Corinthians 1:20 says 'For as many as are the promises of God, IN HIM they are yes.' All of the promises, including the many promises of financial abundance, wealth and riches.

Look at the Patriarchs of the Old Covenant. Not poor, not even just moderately well-to-do. Rich. Really, really rich.

2) The Temple of God
When you've got nothing to do, read about the tabernacle built in the wilderness and later, the temple Solomon built in Jerusalem.

These were not little shacks, folks. They were the earthly dwelling places of the Most High God and they were glorious.

Guess what? We are now the temple of God. I don't think He wants to live in a shack here, either. [1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19]

3) Wise Men
When Jesus was born, God provided abundantly for Him and His family. Wise men came and gifted Him with gold, frankincense and myrrh—all costly, extravagant gifts.

While tradition says there were three, no number is actually given in the Biblical account. Instant, massive wealth, conferred in a moment.

4) Rich Women
We're told of only one officer among Jesus disciples—the treasurer. Obviously, a treasurer is not necessary unless the cash flow is significant. Significant enough for him to steal from and not be missed...

Where did this money come from? We're told that many women contributed to their support out of the private means. [Luke 8:3] Once again, God provided liberally.

5) Grace
'For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich (wealthy, abounding in material resources), yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich (to have abundance, of outward possessions, richly supplied).' [2 Corinthians 8:9; New Testament Greek Lexicon]

Usually explained away as spiritual wealth only—the original Greek words do not support this error.

6) All Things
All things is a pretty big theme in the Bible, but because of religious and cultural heresies, we just don’t see it, even when we read it. Jesus used the phrase many times…if you don’t believe me, do the homework.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” [Matthew 6:33]

Thank God we’ve already been transferred to His kingdom already and made the righteousness of God in Him! [Colossians 1:13, 2 Corinthians 5:21]

“With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” [Matthew 19:26]

“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” [Matthew 21:22]

‘And Jesus said to him, “If You can? All things are possible to him who believes.”’ [Mark 9:23]

“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” [Mark 11:24]

‘He Who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all—how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? [Romans 8:32]

‘…for all things belong to you, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come; all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.” [1 Corinthians 3:21-23]

‘Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us EVERYTHING pertaining to LIFE and GODLINESS, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.’ [2 Peter 1:2-4]

And here’s one more that will really cramp your brain…

“Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of ALL THINGS, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in the lack of all things; and He will put an iron yoke on your neck until He has destroyed you.’ [Deuteronomy 28: 47,48]

Thank God we’re redeemed from that particular curse of the Law [Galatians 3:13], but please note God’s original intention!

Anyway, the study of all things in the Word would need to be fairly exhaustive…I just picked out some of the really good parts for you to enjoy here.

7) The Lord's Prayer
Jesus prayed that God's will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Read descriptions of Heaven sometimes. Not a slum, and you're living in a mansion. And they pave their streets with gold. I wonder just how bright that is?

8) Ambassadors
2 Corinthians 5:20 says that we are ambassadors for Christ.

Think about the metaphor. An ambassador is not a citizen of the country he or she is living in...they are not subject to the laws of that country and are not supported by that country. They are fully and lavishly supported by their home country.

In fact, it is imperative that they represent the power and might of their home nation—even the poorest country's ambassadors live in beautiful mansions.

Why? To show the glory of the nation...to prove its substance and and wealth to other nations.

Romans 12:2 puts it like this: '...so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.'

An ambassador represents the will of his or her home and demonstrates the power and glory of that nation. We are citizens of heaven, of God's own household.

9) Overflow
Don't be fooled. God is not a God of moderation, He is a God of abundance, overflow, extravagance. If you don’t believe that, look what He showed Abraham, our father in the faith…children like grains of sand and stars in the sky. That’s a lot, people.

Read Psalm 23—He pours until the cup is running over. Don't you think He'd know enough to stop before it spilled over? Hmmm...

Hebrews 9:12 says that Jesus entered the holy place ONCE FOR ALL, having obtained ETERNAL redemption. He paid for every sin, every disease, every failure ONCE FOR ALL! Even the sins you haven’t thought about yet. Now that’s extravagance…

10) As He Is
1 John 4:17 tells us that ‘…as He is, so also are we in this world.’

I’ve saved the best for last—as He is, not as he was, walking on the earth, but as He is, present tense, seated at the right hand of God!

How is that possible? We’re in two places…on the earth, and seated IN HIM in heavenly places. [Ephesians 2:6]

But guess what: He’s in two places, as well! Seated at the Father’s right hand AND dwelling in a physical body on the earth—the church!

Consider these scriptures:

‘For of His fullness we have ALL received, and grace upon grace.’ [John 1:16]

‘For in Him ALL THE FULLNESS OF DEITY dwells in BODILY form, and in Him YOU HAVE BEEN MADE COMPLETE, and He is the head over all rule and authority…’ [Colossians 2:9,10]

The Greek word for complete in this verse is pleroo—to fill to the full, to the brim, to render perfect, to MAKE COMPLETE IN EVERY PARTICULAR!

Then of course there are these to consider:

‘…and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow [or joint] heirs with Christ…’ [Romans 8:17]

‘But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one Spirit with Him.’ 1 Corinthians 6:17

Hallelujah!! I feel like screaming and jumping up and down!!

As He is, so also are we IN THIS WORLD!! And that ain’t poor, my brothers and sisters! It’s not sick or depressed, either…

A Start
There's so much more, but this is a beginning, something to meditate on. Take the blinders off and see what the Word really says. And while you’re at it, consider Isaiah 60 & 61, in light of our dual status as kings and priests. That will really blow your mind!

Stingy is not His MO. Believe it—His will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.

Hallelujah!!

Read Wealth...The Mark of the Covenant

His Eternal Word

We know that God's word is settled forever and stands forever [Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 40:8], but we tend to think of that in a time-forward direction...at least I do.

Earlier in this blog, we have looked at some quantum verses, like Matthew 16:19..."I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." We've also discussed Hebrews 4 at length...God's works were finished from the foundation of the world and He has rested from His works.

But look at this, speaking of Abraham...

'...and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God.' [James 2:23]

What's curious about the verse is that, when Abraham fulfilled the scripture [Genesis 15:6], IT WASN'T WRITTEN YET!

Finished

Waiting for something to [maybe] happen is a lot different from knowing that it has already happened.

When we're waiting for something, there's a chance that it won't actually happen. Like Schrodinger's Cat, we can't really see the future.

Or can we? What if the future is already the past? Isn't that what Solomon was saying in Ecclesiastes?

'That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there anything of which one might say, "See this, it is new?" Already it has existed for ages Which were before us.

There is no remembrance of earlier things; And also of the later things which will occur, there will be for them no remembrance among those who will come later still.' [Ecclesiastes 1:9-11]

'That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.' [Ecclesiastes 3:15]

'Whatever exists has already been named...' [Ecclesiastes 6:10]

Solomon had great wisdom—I think he saw glimpses of eternity but could not really grasp what he was seeing. I think, and this is just my opinion, that he was seeing the truth that God's works were finished from the foundation of the world and that God has already rested from those works. [Hebrews 4:3,10]

In fact, I think he was probably the first quantum physicist! Followed, of course, by Jesus, Who manipulated time and space and physical reality as easily as He breathed.

But Solomon did not understand the New Birth fact that we are full of God and that we dwell in two places—on the earth and seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I think he saw something but didn’t know exactly what it was.

What?
Psalm 119:89 says that God's Word is settled forever...Isaiah 40:8 says it stands forever. And 2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us that all the promises of God are YES in Him!

God declared that His Word will not return to Him without 1) accomplishing what He desires and 2) succeeding in the matter for which He sent it [Isaiah 55:11]. Jeremiah 1:12 says He watches over His Word to perform it.

But Hebrews says He's done! Here we have a quantum conundrum...things are already finished but still happening.

That's because, in the Spirit, there is no time...it is already finished. But here, in the physical plane, we are prisoners of linear time, set in motion by the rotation of the earth. Day and night come and go, and come and go again...the body ages, children grow, we live and die.

His Word was sent to accomplish His desire in the earth...although in Heaven, it is already finished. Jesus taught us to pray "Your will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven..." [Matthew 6, Luke 11]

Great News
While this may be a bit of a brain scrambler, it's really very good news for those who believe.

If every promise is YES in Him and we are redeemed from the curse of the law [Galatians 3:13], and if His Word is not only settled forever but already finished, for and about us, then WOW! We're no longer waiting for things to [maybe] happen, they're already finished! When we look at the unseen, the forever-settled-already-accomplished Word of God, we can move to a place of peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Why? Because joy is a result of answered prayer, and our prayers are already answered! [John 15:11]

Hallelujah!!

Believe You Receive
This is how we can believe we receive when we pray, how we can make our requests known with thanksgiving. Philippians 4 puts it this way:

'Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.' [Philippians 4:4-9]

Hebrews 4 says that God has rested from His finished works, but entreats us to be diligent to enter His rest.

What does that mean, exactly?

God's works are indeed finished from the foundation of the world, but ours are not...not until we accept His works as done in our lives through faith.

Hebrews 3, 4 tells why Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years—no, it was NOT God's will that they have a wilderness experience!

It was because of unbelief.

'And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?

'So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.' [Hebrews 3:17-19]'

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

'For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.' [Hebrews 4:2,3]

We enter into His finished works, His rest, by uniting the Word with faith!

For example, God has said "By His scourging you are healed" [Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24]. That was a work, finished not only at Calvary but when the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world [Revelation 13:8]. It was finished in the natural at Calvary, but in the Spirit it was done before the foundation of the world!

So our healing is already finished, already accomplished. But unless we unite that word with faith, we will not enter the rest of the finished work of healing.

In other words, God has already done His part.

'Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.' [Ephesians 1:3,4]

Examples
The Old Covenant has a lot to teach on this subject. When Israel and Judah believed God's word—united it with faith—they had rest and peace. When they did not, they had war and captivity.

God had already blessed them in His covenant with Abraham, but when they did not unite the blessing with faith as a nation, they fell out of His rest, so to speak, even though their rest was settled forever!

Okay, Now What?
So, God's works are already finished FOR YOU. He is at rest.

How do you enter into that rest? If Hebrews 4 tells us to be diligent to enter His rest, we must be able to do so.

Unite the forever-settled Word with your faith. Believe that every promise is for you in Christ [2 Corinthians 1:20] and that they are finished, accomplished facts. Then unite it with faith—see it, believe it, say it. See the unseen, believe God's word over temporary circumstances.

Enter His rest.

Related posts: That Which Has Been Will Be, Already Blessed, God Inside, Stop Begging—It's Inside, Camping in the Desert, Enter His Rest Today, Waiting for God...in fact, all of them!

Renewed Strength

"You were tired out by the length of your road, yet you did not SAY, 'It is hopeless.' You found RENEWED STRENGTH, therefore you did not faint." [Isaiah 57:10]

The Hebrew word for renewed is CHAY, meaning living, alive, life, fresh flowing. The Hebrew word for strength is our old friend, YAD...hand, strength, power...the powerful hand. [Read Yad, The Yad of God, The Yad of God 2]

We've seen in earlier posts that God's yad is in His mouth, and according to Proverbs 18:21, so is ours! Yes, we have physical hands, but it is the hand in our mouth that shapes physical reality.

Isaiah 57:10 tells us how to press on when hopelessness descends on us...the Hebrew word for hopeless here is YA'ASH, meaning to despair or to cause to despair. The instruction is clear...do NOT say 'it is hopeless' but find or attain LIVING YAD...LIVING STRENGTH so as not to faint!

Living strength is in your mouth. In fact, everything is in your mouth...see it, believe it, SAY IT.

Remember the Tower of Babel? That's what the power of the tongue can do, even in the mouths of unregenerate men! Jesus demonstrated how to reign in life with the tongue throughout His entire ministry, and in fact explained how to do it clearly in several places!

Liar, Liar...Pants Definitely on Fire!

Satan has one objective in mind...to keep us from understanding that we are one Spirit with the Lord, filled up to all the fulness of God. [2 Corinthians 1:20, Ephesians 3:19] He does not want us to know that we are called to reign in life and that the Father has gladly given us the kingdom. [Romans 5:17, Luke 12:32]

He wants us to feel afraid--helpless and alone. To feel separate from God, separate from Jesus. And he really loves to make us feel guilty and unworthy--to keep us beating ourselves up over and over again over some sin. He does not want us to know that we've been forgiven, once for all time, past, present and future, and that God doesn't even remember our sin! [Jeremiah 31:34]

And he really doesn't want us to know we've been strengthened with ALL POWER in our inner man! [Colossians 1:11, Ephesians 3:16]

He will throw everything at us--any circumstance, any weapon--to keep us from finding out who we really are in Christ. His worst nightmare is that we just might find out that Jesus is the Word and we're the Word multiplied! [Acts 12:24] That by believing, we're freed from all things, from which we could not be freed through the Law of Moses! [Acts 13:39]

The Quantum Table 2 [re-post]

[ref The Quantum Table, Stop Begging--it's Inside!]

What is This Quantum Table for the Believer?

It is the fulfilled Word of God...

'And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you."' [Mark 11:22-24]

"Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it." [John 14:13,14]

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." [John 15:7]

"In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full." [John 16:23,24]

'In Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge' [Colossians 2;3]

'For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete [full]...' [Colossians 2:9,10]

'...heirs of God and fellow [joint] heirs with Christ...[Romans 8:17]

'...heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him.' [James 2:5]

'...all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.' [1 Corinthians 3:22,23]

'For as many as are the promises of God, in him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.' [1 Corinthians 1:20]

'He Who did not spare his own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will he not also with Him freely give us all things?' [Romans 8:32]

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for its is written "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"--in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.' [Galatians 3:13,14]

'...through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.' [Acts 13:39]

'But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.' [2 Corinthians 2:14]

'...God, Who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.' [1 Timothy 6:17]

'Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ [Messiah] is born of God...For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. [1 John 5:1,4]

'Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.' [3 John 2]

Just the Highlights
These are just the highlights--a fraction of the blessings that belong to us in Christ, for every blessing in the Old Covenant is ours as well, and none of the curse! Hallelujah!

See it, believe it, speak it. It belongs to you.t belongs to you.

The Quantum Table [re-post]

[Re-posted from June 2009]

Psalm 23:5 states 'You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies...'

Where exactly is this table?

It is a quantum table...prepared for us in the Spirit.

In the Presence of My Enemies...
David describes this table--an obvious metaphor for abundant provision--as being laid in the presence of his enemies.

The table is where the enemies are, which can't be in heaven. We don't have to wait until we die to sit and partake of the table. Our enemies are those arrayed against us, and they are here, where we are. We cannot see them, but they are here. And the bountiful table is here, as well.

It's a lot like Hagar's well, or Isaac's ram, or the coin in the fish's mouth. We know that our every need is already met by His riches in glory [Philippians 4:19]...it's the table laid before us, in the presence of our enemies!

Don't Make Him Mad...
Psalm 78:19 says 'Then they [Israel] spoke against God; they said "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?" They were questioning His ability and willingness to provide for them in a hostile environment. Verse 21 and 22 explain His reaction...'Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; and a fire was kindled against Jacob and anger also mounted against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation.'

Deuteronomy 28:45-47 reinforces this idea. "So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the LORD your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. They shall become a sign and a wonder on you and your descendants forever. Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things..."

So don't make Him mad. He has already provided everything for us in Jesus. Believe in His ability and His willingness to provide in a hostile environment--believe that His table is here, now, in the presence of your enemies. And partake!

Just Walk Away

We see in the Bible that when angry mobs tried to throw Jesus off of cliffs to kill him [Luke 4:28-30] but did you know that they tried to stone Him at least twice as well? [John 8:59; 10:31] And the Pharisees were always scheming to seize and destroy Him.

The Word says that 'He hid Himself' and walked away.

You've seen angry mobs in movies and on the 6:00 news...you know there's nothing that can stop them.

But in every instance where they sought to seize or kill Him, He 'eluded their grasp' or ‘hid himself.’ [John 10:39, John 8:59]

Luke 4:30 simply says ‘But passing through their midst, He went His way.’

In other words [my take on it…] ‘I’m not doing this, I’m outta here…’ And He just went His way!

Only Half Right...
I've said, in earlier posts, that the reason He could do this was because He knew the Word that promised protection or because He chose the reality where He was protected by the Word.

But I think now that it was more than either of those. He WAS/IS the Word, totally fulfilled, in human form.

He WAS the Word ‘No man will be able to stand before you…’ [Deuteronomy 7:24, 11:25; Joshua 1:5]

In the synagogue, when He got up and read Isaiah 61 [Luke 4], He said "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

It's not only that He knew Isaiah 61...He WAS Isaiah 61!

His ability to disappear from the midst of angry mobs wasn't just that He knew His protection rights as outlined in the Word…He WAS the fulfillment of those scriptures, the WORD made flesh! No weapon formed against Him could prosper because He WAS Isaiah 54:17! Not just protected, but the fulfillment, in the flesh, of every scripture promising protection!

Not only the fulfillment and embodiment, but the demonstration of God's will for His children!

And we are the Word multiplied! [Acts 12:24] Think about that for awhile...

As He Is
Colossians 2:9,10 puts it this way: 'For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete...'

1 John says '...for as He IS, so also are we IN THIS WORLD.' We've seen in multiple posts that we as Christians dwell in two realities...in the earth and seated in Him in heavenly places. [Ephesians 2:6]

But we are, now, AS HE IS IN THIS WORLD! Jesus prayed that The Father's will be done on earth as it is in heaven because He knew that He was already blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places...as are we! [Ephesians 1:3] He knew that the Father had already rested from His works [Hebrews 4:3] and that which has been done is that which will be done. [Ecclesiastes 1:9; 3:15]

We are one Spirit with the Lord [1 Corinthians 6:17], His Body in the earth, individually and collectively. [1 Corinthians 12:27]

Just as He was/is the fulfillment of the Scriptures, so, too, are we.