02.06. CHAPTER 06: THE GROWTH OF THE SPIRIT MAN
CHAPTER 6: THE GROWTH OF THE SPIRIT MAN
Through the supply and provision of the contents of the Spirit Of MASHIAH YESHUA (CHRIST JESUS), GOD develops our spirit man. Hence the declaration that through CHRIST WHO strengthens us, we can actually do all things (see Php 4:13; Php 4:19; Php 4:23)!
CHRIST is able to strengthen us to do all things in spirit, soul, heart and, even body. That’s the Biblical proposition that becomes the basis of our spirituality – its development and its expression. The potentials are exciting and stand in the context of a call upon our lives. It is important that we understand this call as flowing out of an actual revelation of JESUS CHRIST – the true, full and perfected knowledge of HIM – alive in our inward parts (see Ephesians 1:17-19). The contents of the Spirit of MASHIAH YESHUA include HIS faith, love, wisdom, understanding, strength, passion, character, nature, thinking, ability, power, etc. and all the ingredients that constitute the reality of each of these expressions of faith, love, wisdom etc. These ingredients are what constitute the Mystery of CHRIST.
These ingredients can’t be accessed by the intellect of man. It is only accessible by revelation from GOD being perfected and completed into our inward parts (see Deuteronomy 29:29; Mark 4:22; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:5-6; 2 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV). This communication is the exclusive basis to the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in our inward parts! Being able to do all things – through CHRIST WHO strengthens us - is the practical expression (and evaluation) of the redemptive process of salvation!
All that GOD supplies comes to us through the contents of the Word of GOD (see Revelation 19:13; John 17:6 a; 26; Psalms 138:2 c). The Word gives specific expression to the life-giving Spirit of JESUS CHRIST. The written Word of GOD forms the spiritual frameworks of GOD’s provision to us, in and through the actual communication of the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST. The specifics of the Word give form and substance to the spiritual frameworks of our spirituality in GOD. These frameworks of the Word define an operating system in GOD and of GOD (see Jeremiah 1:11-12).
[The spiritual frameworks of the Word of GOD are necessary to form the functional boundaries that will govern the realms of spiritual experience that are available to us in GOD. The frameworks of the Word – actually formed in us in the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST - protect us from deception and the occult.] The HOLY SPIRIT releases the contents of GOD’s Word (see John 16:14; John 16:13-15) into our inward parts. The HOLY SPIRIT gives expression to communications of the Word in the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST (see John 6:63; John 16:14). The HOLY SPIRIT releases the contents of the life-giving Spirit of JESUS CHRIST. And, the HOLY SPIRIT also works the contents of the life-giving Spirit of JESUS CHRIST into us.
[Aside On Angels: In this book we talk of all things being manifested by the HOLY SPIRIT in CHRIST JESUS. However, in reality the actual processes of manifestation involve the actuality of angels on assignment in this process of communication. Angels are called ministering spirits in Hebrews 1:14.
Angels are often involved in ministry impartations by the HOLY SPIRIT towards us (see Hebrews 1:14). Angelic ministry is often involved in making specific deposits or impartations or spiritual expressions of the contents of the Word of GOD into us (see Psalms 103:20; Hebrews 1:14)! Angels make these deposits in many forms according to the specifics of the Spirit and Life of YESHUA contained in each deposit. The point is that spiritual deposits – delivered or ministered by angelic entities - are constituted in Word-based actualities described in the Spirit and Life of YESHUA through living expressions of HIS faith, HIS love, HIS Character, HIS Nature etc. This is why the Bible declares that HIS Fullness is designed to fill all-in-all.
One such reality is the crystallized realities of the Word that are called precious stones. In Ezekiel 28:12 b-13, we see such precious stones becoming the covering of Lucifer (before his fall) that was addressed as the ‘seal of perfection’! These precious stones are crystallized realities of the Word that – in the case of Lucifer - enabled him to operate in specified realms of authority before GOD. These realms of authority and influence were addressed as “sanctuaries” which Lucifer tragically defiled (see Ezekiel 28:18 b; Isaiah 14:12 a).
It is interesting that we are each addressed as tabernacles – the dwelling places (or, sanctuaries) of GOD – in the Scriptures (see Psalms 84:1; John 2:19-21; 1 Corinthians 3:15-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19-22; 2 Chronicles 7:16). We are being built and developed into becoming functional sanctuaries in GOD (see Psalms 91:1) and of GOD (see 2 Chronicles 7:16) having spheres of influence and authority over nations (see Isaiah 54:2-3; Isaiah 60:1-7).
All of these Word deposits, designated as multi-faceted precious stones that fill the treasuries of the Kingdom of Heaven, are of the fullness of JESUS CHRIST (see Revelation 19:13 b; John 1:1-3) - the fullness designed to fill all-in-all (see Ephesians 1:23) from the foundations of the creation (see Ephesians 3:3-4; Ephesians 3:8 c-11)! Colossians 1:19, declares that it is the FATHER’s Will for all the fullness to dwell in JESUS CHRIST. John 1:3 declares the following: All things came into being by HIM, and apart from HIM nothing came into being that has come into being. ] The Word of GOD has the potential of communicating the Spirit and Life of MASHIAH YESHUA – and the contents of HIS Spirit and Life – into us, in realities described in the Word. These spiritual realities come alive in us through the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT. These spiritual realities develop our functional spheres of influence in GOD.
[Aside On Angels: And, this often involves angelic ministry to the saints. For example, although the HOLY SPIRIT indwelt MASHIAH YESHUA, we see an angel come and minister to HIM at the Garden of Gethsemane (see Luke 22:43).
Similarly, from a human standpoint we see that although the HOLY SPIRIT indwells us, we see that HE uses others amongst us to minister to us. Angels are called ministering spirits in Hebrews 1:14; and, they are involved in ministry. Specifically they have been “sent out to render service (or, ministry) for the sake of those who will inherit salvation”.] The Word of GOD communicated by the HOLY SPIRIT in the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST has the potential of supplying all of the intimate and specific spiritual needs of our inward being – comprising our spirit, our soul and our heart – according to the call upon our life. The Word communicated – into us - in the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST also open to us the ability to function in the SPIRIT of GOD, in the actualities of the Kingdom of Heaven. In the contents of the Spirit and Life of YESHUA all of our natural pursuits – consistent with GOD’s Law – can also be empowered and energized so that we come forth as the head and not the tail in fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (see Deuteronomy 28:13). The spiritual governs the natural and in CHRIST, the spiritual will re-define and expand our natural abilities.
We have – by the HOLY SPIRIT – the capacity to receive deposits of the spiritual as “spiritual with spiritual” (see 1 Corinthians 2:13 c, NASB). It is crucial that we understand the reality of “spiritual deposits” in GOD as being of the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST (see John 1:3; Ephesians 1:23; Colossians 1:19). In subjection to GOD’s call, will and purpose over our lives, all things become possible to us – in terms of fully enabled functional spiritual realities - through the Spirit and Life of YESHUA MASHIAH. When we understand that the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST can communicate the infinitude of spiritual realities like, faith, love, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, courage, power, strength, character, nature etc., we can come to understand why the LORD JESUS declared that all things are possible (see Matthew 17:20 c). And, we can also understand why Scripture declares that through CHRIST WHO strengthens us we can do all things (see Php 4:13, KJV). This is why CHRIST declared that in HIS Name anything – consistent with the frameworks of GOD’s Word (Will) - is possible because it can be given and it can be done (see John 14:12-14) for us or, performed (see Jeremiah 1:11-12) in us and through us (see Php 2:13).
[Aside On Angels: It is in the context of ministering the Spirit and Life of MASHIAH YESHUA to us, that the angels are called ministering spirits in Hebrews 1:14 and, their ministry involves spiritual ingredients to the redemptive processes of salvation to us! Their ministry also involves spiritual ingredients to the functional realities of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Angels on assignment are implicit to the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT towards us!
Similarly, angels are implicit to the ministry of JESUS CHRIST (see Revelation 1:16 a, 20) as the Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1); as the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2 a); as the Mediator of the New Covenant into our inward parts (Hebrews 9:15); and, as the ONE WHO intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25).
There is in fact, a whole economy of salvation in which angels and saints are actively involved in spiritual realities that give expression to the dynamics of the realm called the Mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven (see Matthew 13:11; Matthew 13:23) that opens to our inward parts. Angels and saints are actively involved in the spiritual dynamics of the Kingdom of GOD all the time. We however do not pray to angels or to saints.]
All this great complex of Kingdom ministry forms, contribute towards the revealing of the sons of GOD which, the Scriptures declare the creation is anxiously longing for (see Romans 8:19)! There is something awesome that GOD will open to all creation when the sons of GOD from among men are established before GOD – through salvation! And, this is because only the sons of GOD from amongst men have the Testimony of YESHUA as an inheritance and a possession functionally (see Ezekiel 44:28; John 1:16-17, KJV+NKJV+NASB). The Word of GOD communicated by the HOLY SPIRIT in the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST is prophetically addressed as the Testimony of JESUS (see Revelation 19:10 c, 13b). The Testimony of JESUS is the basis of “spiritual deposits” that gives expression to all our spiritual functions in GOD.
Luke 21:33 declares that the Logos Words of the Testimony of JESUS – HIS Words - are everlasting!
[It is from the reality of HIS everlasting Words that we can see how HIS Words give expression to the everlasting treasures of the Kingdom of GOD. Just as GOD spoke: “let there be light and there was light”; so, there are many other treasures – crystallized spiritual realities of GOD’s Word - that GOD has spoken into prophetic being. The many-faceted complex of intertwined promises of Scripture give rise to an infinitude of spiritual treasures that will make eternity a treasure trove of possibilities that gives expression to the glory of GOD’s grace towards us (see Revelation 21:9-11)! And, it is the pursuit of GOD that gives rise to such exciting possibilities.] The Rhema (or, quickened) expression of the Logos Words of JESUS’ Testimony (see Revelation 1:15 c; Ezekiel 1:24) are communicated by the HOLY SPIRIT (see John 6:63) into our spirit man so that we will actualize the capacity to live through the enabling spiritual contents of the Spirit (and Life) Of CHRIST JESUS! In this realized actuality, eternal and abiding spiritual realities and their potentials – inscribed in the contents of the Spirit and Life of YESHUA - open to our inward parts through our spirit man. This enabling and empowering revealed in the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST, (commences and) develops through a process of hearing, understanding and accepting the Word of GOD (see Romans 10:17; Matthew 13:23; Mark 4:20; Revelation 19:13 b).
Hearing involves the willingness to hear our mouth articulate the spoken Word. As we hear the articulated Word, the capacity to understand opens to our spirit and surfaces to our mind through the interface of our heart. When we accept the revelation in our own free will – something comes alive into our inward parts in a potentially abiding reality. When lived, the potentially abiding becomes the functionally abiding fashioned into our inward parts. In this process we are perfected and completed in the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST!
It is in this process of actualizing the contents of the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST – that are contained in the Word of GOD – that the Mystery of CHRIST (see Ephesians 3:3-4; Ephesians 3:7-11) unveils in a growing revelation into our inward parts.
[The use of the gift of tongues energize and quicken this revelatory process, that flows out of the Word of GOD, into our inward parts (see 1 Corinthians 14:2; Deuteronomy 29:29; Mark 4:22).
Tongues energize the Mystery of CHRIST (see Colossians 1:26-27) into our inward parts according to the Word (see Revelation 19:13 b) that we are willing to pursue. I have spent hundreds of hours, speaking in tongues, to receive insights into the Word by the HOLY SPIRIT (see 1 Corinthians 14:6; Isaiah 28:9-11).]
GOD has in the Rhema expression of the Logos Words of JESUS’ Testimony – with all the potentials contained in the contents of the Spirit and Life of YESHUA MASHIAH - reversed the fall of Adam. But, we have to actualize this supernatural reversal in our own free will response to GOD.
[GOD has opened to us a realm of possibilities in HIM that stretch into eternity. This is the Glory of HIS Grace that we are called to possess (see Revelation 21:9-11; Ezekiel 44:28; Ephesians 1:3-6; Ephesians 1:9-10; Ephesians 1:17-23; Ephesians 3:3-4; Ephesians 3:8 c-12, 16-19) from our inward parts. Biblical Spirituality has astonishing potentials in GOD! That all this will involve the intimacy of our inward parts being alive to GOD – in an online functional reality - is simply astonishing!]
“This inwardly engineered reality” facilitates the progression of our salvation in all eternity! Nothing is impossible with us – in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT (see Romans 8:2)! No wonder the LORD JESUS CHRIST declared (in Matthew 17:20 c) : …. and nothing shall be impossible to you.
“This inwardly engineered reality” flows out of the faith and love of YESHUA expressed for us through the Cross. “This inwardly engineered reality” derives from what YESHUA MASHIAH calls “MY Words” (see John 6:63; Luke 21:33). HIS Words are designed – in the contents of HIS Spirit and Life that form HIS Words - to enable the functioning of our total inward being in GOD – through JESUS CHRIST.
All things are in fact actually possible through CHRIST WHO strengthens us (see Php 4:13). The possibilities arise out of all that is contained in the Spirit and Life of YESHUA! Revelation 5:6 speaks prophetically of the LAMB having seven horns and seven eyes that are the seven Spirits of GOD!
[Seven represents perfection and seven also represents the process of our being perfected in all that the LAMB has attained and obtained for us in HIS merits - that are prophetically described as seven horns and seven eyes! Through JESUS CHRIST – in the conduits of HIS Spirit and Life – we have “seven horns and seven eyes” given to us in JESUS CHRIST, through which we will be equipped to walk into the perfect purposes of GOD (see Matthew 5:48). The seven horns express the perfected oil of YESHUA’s Spirit (see 1 Samuel 16:13) that enables us to function by lifting up the horn of HIS Name (see Psalms 89:24 b; Revelation 3:12 c). The seven eyes express the perfected capacity to see and understand, made available to us in YESHUA’s Spirit.] The possibilities find definition and fulfillment out of the faith and love of YESHUA (see 1 Timothy 1:14) actualized in our inward parts! The possibilities find description and application through the Word of GOD – in the functional actualization of every Word-based principle, proposition, reality, promise, gift, anointing, plan and purpose of GOD for us each – consistent with the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.
Ephesians 2:10 actually declares that we are the workmanship of GOD created in CHRIST JESUS for good works! This is the enabled capacity to live fruitfully, actualized from JESUS CHRIST through the communication of HIS Words in HIS Spirit and HIS Life (see John 6:63) into us. This communication into us – into our spirit man - is the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT. From our spirit man, HIS Words then find functional expression in our heart and soul.
“HIS Words” are the living spiritual expressions of YESHUA’s Testimony that actually give pure and perfect and practical expression to the Word of GOD, in the actualities of YESHUA’s Testimony - in us and through us. “HIS Words” communicate specific deposits of the “spiritual” so that we can actualize “spiritual with spiritual” in our spirit man (see 1 Corinthians 2:13 b, NASB).
YESHUA ADONAI is the WORD and HIS Words (or, HIS Testimony) give pure and perfect spiritual expression to the Word of GOD (see Revelation 19:13). HIS Words expound the Word of GOD – by revelations orchestrated by the HOLY SPIRIT – into functional actualities in our inward parts! HIS Testimony – comprising HIS Words (see John 6:63; Luke 21:33) - is thus addressed as the Spirit of Prophecy (see Revelation 19:10 c) invested with the potentials of actual fulfillment. Fulfillment is the design and purpose of the prophetic. Fulfillment is the fundamental proof of Biblical Spirituality! And, this fulfillment aligns with the witness of the Law and the Prophets as proclaimed in Romans 3:21.
And, in HIM and through HIS Fullness, the prophetic potentials of each and every one of our lives are limitless (see 2 Peter 1:19; Matthew 13:23; Luke 21:33)! The next chapter outlines some of the fulfillment potentials of Biblical Spirituality in GOD.