03.08. THREE THE S E E D OF GOD'S FAITH
THREE THE S E E D OF GOD’S FAITH
We have learnt that the faith of GOD is communicated through the seed of the Word. This communication takes place in GOD’s Sovereign will (see Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16; Jeremiah 31:31-34; 2 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV; 1 John 5:10 a, 7-8, NKJV). GOD’s Sovereign will is unveiled in CHRIST JESUS to / into us. And so, the seed of the Word was first implanted in us as the Seed Of CHRIST! And this enabled us to be born again (see 1 Peter 1:23 and Galatians 3:16). Our spiritual growth is designed in all that is contained in the seed of the Word. The seed of the Word is the conduit for the revelation and the expression of GOD’s faith. As a seed will grow into a tree in the natural, GOD is giving us a picture of how we grow spiritually out of the seed of HIS Word.
And, this growth is meant to become the conduit in which GOD’s faith will find expression in us and ultimately also through us. The seed of GOD’s Word also takes form as the New Covenant in a heart of flesh in us. The seed of GOD’s Word is the seed of CHRIST. The seed of GOD’s Word is designed for actual communication - in substance - in the full- ness of CHRIST. And so, GOD’s Word takes form in us as CHRIST is formed in us!
Such a reality of GOD’s Word did not exist in the Old Covenant! The New Covenant reality is in the Word that has been magnified and glorified according to all of GOD’s Name (see Psalms 138:2 c) through the Witness and Testimony Of JESUS. This is the Word Of The Cross that, is the power of GOD (see 1 Corinthians 1:18). The New Covenant reality of GOD’s Word opens to us in the actuality of the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in the finished work of the Cross. The seed of CHRIST (crucified) communicates this reality of the New Covenant Word. The entire communication is of CHRIST JESUS’ fullness - HIS sub- stance! And, this communication brings into being within us realities that stand in the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets! When the seed of CHRIST was first planted in us we were born again. And, the process of building Covenant into our hearts was begun as the Word of GOD began to be communicated into us in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT. The seed of CHRIST planted in our hearts opened "the Witness" in us. The seed of CHRIST is the seed of GOD’s Word that communicates the seed of GOD’s faith into a dynamic Witness within us.
And, as CHRIST is formed in us the seed of GOD’s faith takes functional form in us in the image and fullness of JESUS CHRIST! And, this actualization - in a living Witness - fulfills the Law and opens the poten- tials of the Prophets fulfilled into our lives!
GOD’s faith for us is designed to produce this evidence of each of us being created in the image and fullness of CHRIST JESUS! The functional form of the seed of CHRIST is also the functional form of the seed of GOD’s faith - in us. And, this functional form of the seed of CHRIST is "the Witness" that we are called to actualize by the HOLY SPIRIT, in CHRIST JESUS (see John 16:14; John 16:13-15). The Witness is designed to be a Witness of Covenant in GOD - an actu- al functional Oath in GOD (see Hebrews 7:28; Hebrews 7:22; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16; Exodus 32:2 Corinthians 3:3, NASB+NKJV). This functional Oath is entirely and exclusively GOD’s Sovereign work communicated through the seed of HIS faith because of HIS love for us. The Witness is designed to communicate realities in GOD’s faith into us and through us - as a functional Covenant enabled into our lives through the will of GOD. This functional Covenant Witness, is brought into being within us, by the HOLY SPIRIT, in the fullness of CHRIST JESUS. It is the living expression of GOD’s faith and love for us.
Ultimately every function of the sons of GOD - both male and female, Jew and Gentile - will be manifested into functional being, in a Witness formed out of the faith (and love) of GOD for us. In this realization - which takes place by the HOLY SPIRIT, in CHRIST JESUS - we will have come to give functional expression to the reality of being fearfully and wonderfully made! In a moment of time when we were born again, what GOD’s faith (and love) - operating by the HOLY SPIRIT in the Testimony Of JESUS and, opened in us as the seed of CHRIST - did inside of us, all the religious practice under the Law could never do! A new creation - in GOD’s faith (and love) - was begun (see 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:10 and, Revelation 3:14 b). A new plane of reality in GOD has been opened in us and amongst us. The Word Of GOD - when understood in the finished work of the Cross - is a conduit of GOD’s faith (and love) to accomplish GOD’s purposes. This conduit of fulfillment is achieved by all that grows out of the seed of CHRIST!
GOD’s purposes in CHRIST JESUS are unique to each one of us accord- ing to HIS call upon our life and our response to HIM. The Word Of GOD - when understood in the finished work of the Cross - has the potential of giving expression to the faith (and love) of GOD in us and through us. The intent is to enable us to function through the faith (and love) of GOD that operates in us by Covenant framed in HIS Sovereign will into our inward parts!
Salvation - which is the process by which GOD builds Covenant into us - flows out of GOD’s faith (and love) for us. The (Rhema) Word Of The Cross is a living expression of GOD’s faith and love for us through JESUS CHRIST. And, this Rhema Word Of The Cross is the Witness - true and faithful - that GOD has opened in us (see 1 John 5:10; 1 John 5:8 and John 19:30; John 19:34). This Rhema Word Of The Cross - which is the Witness - is the power of GOD (see 1 Corinthians 1:18, NASB; 1 John 5:10; 1 John 5:7-8, NKJV; John 19:30; John 19:34; John 17:8; John 17:7; Ephesians 3:20) made alive in us in fully functional terms.
And, this communication of GOD’s faith brings to life - in us and amongst us - the fulfillment of the Mystery of GOD’s will which is pre- destined to be revealed in, and by, and through, the Testimony Of JESUS (see Ephesians 1:3-10; Colossians 1:12-20; Ephesians 3:3-4; Ephesians 3:7-10, NASB+NKJV). The Testimony Of JESUS is the blueprint through which all of GOD’s work in man is expressed and brought into growing fulfillment. And, this is why the Testimony Of JESUS is the Spirit Of Prophecy! The Testimony Of JESUS is the blueprint for the outworking of GOD’s faith (and love) in HIS perfect will. And, this perfect outworking of GOD’s will is entirely communicated in HIS faith (and love) for us.
It is the HOLY SPIRIT WHO unfolds this outworking of GOD’s will. The faith of GOD - in HIS perfect will for us - is released into us when we hear the Rhema Word Of GOD (see note 3.1) with:
● Understanding (see Matthew 13:23) ● Acceptance (see Mark 4:20)
● The perseverance to live the Word opened into our hearts, with honesty and integrity (see Luke 8:15) in all that we do in word and deed (see Colossians 3:17).
We need to persevere with the Word Of GOD in the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, in order to realize the transcendent "Passover" real- ities - of GOD’s Sovereign Provision - inherent in GOD’s faith (see 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 in the context of both Genesis 22:14 and Psalms 24:3-4) towards us. The Passover is prophetic of GOD’s perfect will to have us each "taber- nacled" in the secret place of the MOST HIGH GOD, under the shad- ow of the ALMIGHTY (see Psalms 91:1). This is a position that is to be developed in us (by faith) in actual func- tional terms - defined in CHRIST JESUS and, brought alive in us by the HOLY SPIRIT. This "Passover" is an actualization of the transcendent realities of the Word Of GOD unveiled by the HOLY SPIRIT, in the faith of GOD communicated into us through the Witness and Testimony Of JESUS. The communication of the Rhema Word Of GOD - and the faith of GOD inherent to the Word Of GOD - is exclusively the min- istr y of the HOLY SPIRIT (see John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6-8; John 16:13-15). The Rhema Word Of GOD is exclusively communicated in the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST (see note 3.1). This communication is the exclusive ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT. This communication is exclusively of the will of the FATHER (see John 16:15; Ephesians 1:3-9; Ephesians 1:15-23).
GOD has the intent of communicating HIS faith perfectly so that we can flow (or function) in HIS perfect faith - revealed in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT. HIS faith unveils the transcendent realities of HIS heart, which are to flow through HIS sons, both male and female, Jew and Gentile (see Galatians 3:26-29) - forever (see Revelation 22:1-6). In this way we will be taught to live exclusively by GOD (through HIS faith that sees each one of us as perfectly functioning sons of GOD)! This is why we are to grow into the perfection that is expressed in CHRIST (see Ephesians 4:13; Ephesians 4:15-16). The perfection comes into us out of CHRIST being formed in us. In this way we will become actual sons of GOD.
And, through the realization of the faith of GOD - through the growth of the seed of HIS faith in our hearts - GOD will become our life. In GOD - the FATHER, the SON (the WORD) and the HOLY SPIRIT - will we actually live, move and, have our being in fully functional terms.
And, this state of being will function entirely in the Tree Of Life that has grown out of the seed of CHRIST, which is the seed of GOD’s own faith! This is what GOD’s faith to us is designed to do - in the FATHER’s will. AMEN! (See Revelation 3:14 b) So the seed of GOD’s faith opens the transcendent reality of true life (Greek: "zoe") in and by and through GOD, into us and amongst us.
[Through the implanting of the Seed Of CHRIST that manifests the immanent reality of HIS Witness within us, we see that the transcendent realities of actual sonship to GOD open to us in the glory of HIS grace!] The seed of faith that is inherent to GOD’s Word, has the potential of growing into a transcendent life form - described in CHRIST JESUS and brought to life by the HOLY SPIRIT (see Mark 4:20-27) in us and amongst us. AMEN (See Revelation 3:14 b)! This transcendent life form is entirely expressed in the seed of CHRIST. And, the HOLY SPIRIT is charged with revealing, developing and establishing this transcendent life form before the FATHER (see John 17:22; John 16:13-15; John 17:6; John 17:26; 1 John 5:14-15; Revelation 21:9-11) in the Testimony Of JESUS! The seed of GOD’s faith - communicated into us as the seed of CHRIST - has an astonishing purpose that stretches into all eternity. It is therefore crucial for us to align our inward parts with the realities of the Word that stand in HIS faith.
Only the HOLY SPIRIT can bring such a position in CHRIST JESUS into being in us before the FATHER!
Paul testifies of the first fruits of such a reality in Romans 9:1 < Iam telling the truth in CHRIST, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the HOLY SPIRIT >.
What Paul proclaims is a reality that flows out of the Witness of the Master. John 8:12-14 reads: < ... JESUS spoke to them saying, "I AM the Light of the world ...... ." The Pharisees therefore said to HIM, "YOU are bearing Witness of YOURSELF; YOUR Witness is not true." JESUS answered and said to them, "Even if I bear Witness of MYSELF, MY Witness is true; for I know where I came from, and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from, or where I am going." >
Here the LORD is proclaiming what Paul is proclaiming. The LORD is declaring that HE is telling the truth because HE has the Witness of the HOLY SPIRIT within HIM as to where HE has come from and as to where HE is going.
Ultimately HE goes to the Cross and GOD vindicates the Witness of the MESSIAH by raising HIM from the dead!
HE also tells the Pharisees that they are not operating in such a reality in the SPIRIT of GOD and therefore they do not know where JESUS CHRIST has come from and where HE is going. And so we know that ultimately they crucified the MESSIAH. The Witness of true faith is described as follows in 1 John 5:14-15 < And this is the confidence which we have before HIM, that if we ask any- thing according to HIS will, HE hears us. And, if we know that HE hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from HIM. > The LORD JESUS in John 11:41-44, describes the fully functional real- ity of the Witness that is alive to GOD: < .... FATHER, I thank THEE that THOU heardest ME. And I know that THOU hearest ME always.... . HE cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth." He who died came forth .... > So we see that the Witness in us actually knowing what is truly in GOD’s will, is the key for the faith of GOD to be operating from our inward parts.
There is also a reality of timing - GOD’s appointed timing - for the faith of GOD being actually released from our inward parts.
Scripture References & Notes - Chapter 3
(3.1) Compare Romans 10:17 (KJV/NKJV) with Romans 10:17 (NASB/NIV) and understand that the Rhema Word Of GOD is made manifest as the Rhema Word Of CHRIST through communication of the Spirit and Life of JESUS CHRIST as noted in John 6:63. See also John 17:8; John 17:7; John 17:6.