Thursday, January 29, 2015

Redeeming Love



I just finished Redeeming Love and I have to say it's now one of my favorite books and one of the only works of fiction that made me good cry or cry at all for that matter.

I loved how it really showed how a person overcomes their tormenting past through encounters with God and his love.

What really sunk into me is how I need to make Jesus bigger in my life and how freeing humility is. Pride is a cruel master. I want to continually lay down my heart at the feet of Jesus so I can tap into his strength and power. And So I can experience freedom to live my life to the fullest and walk out my dreams without the crushing weight of having to be god for myself.

Also the Hymn Rock of Ages which is featured in this book sings of Dunamis Sozo.
Particularly this line:
"Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power."
We must become free of the Guilt of Sin by Repenting at the Cross THEN we must become free from the EFFECTS of the sin by stepping into healing and freedom by tapping into the power of the resurrection available while we encounter Jesus personally as a loving person. 
(See the Wiki Commentary on the Lyrics.) 

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Isn't Repentance Enough?

If Jesus Died for our healing and freedom why are we sick and in bondage? 

This subject is big enough for a book and is what this blog will address over time. For now I’m going to touch on what the bible says bout it.

But First let’s start with the core of the Issue.
Isn’t Just repenting and partaking of what Jesus did on the Cross enough? If it where then why are active believers who are trying so hard to be free, still in bondage and sick?

I will first state that We MUST partake of what Jesus did for us on the cross to experience any level of Freedom. It’s VITAL.

         What Jesus did on the cross was world changing. Just the act of taking all the sin of the world upon him self is mind blowing. A miracle in itself. BUT If jesus just died and was buried and never resurrected it would not have completed what he did in the cross. JESUS HAD TO RESURRECT. Anyone can Die but to conquer death Jesus HAD TO resurrect. 

         Death is the power that brings not only final death but all destruction and decease in our lives. It is the opposite of life which is from God and brings us energy, healing, reservation  and all provision. Until we partake of ALL that Jesus did for us. Sacrifice AND Resurrection. We can’t fully experience the LIFE that jesus won for us by his work on the cross. 

         Us christian’s get how partake of the cross by internationally repenting and calling upon the love and blood of jesus to wash away our sins. I will take a moment to note that the washing in the blood is a metaphorical act. An abstract term to describe something deeper which is submitting oneself to the power and mercy and grace of Jesus to become free of the sins we lay before him. We know this is true from experience and the many times in the old testament and new when the bible talks about confession and repentance. Those terms only refer to being freed from our sins. Which is the first vital step into walking into freedom.

         The sin is the thing that inflicted the damage to begin with. Say a spike is impaled in our arm. To be healed we must first remove the spike. That is repentance. Removing the cause of the damage so it won’t cause more damage and healing to begin. The healing process. Healing the damage of the sin corresponds to the resurrection of Jesus. And Jesus used Dunamis power to resurrect.

Dunamis is simply the Power Jesus has to heal and restore It’s a part of who he is. The Holy spirit is the helper the Power of God and Jesus. So Holy Spirit is basically Pure Dunamis. 

Purpose of the Holy Spirit - Ruach Adonai
The Holy Spirit it our Helper and the way that we tap into the Power of Jesus.
OTHERWISE Jesus would have just stayed. But Jesus Intentionally Sent the Holy Spirit. Jesus works through the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is Vital for us to tap into the power of God.
http://www.openbible.info/topics/holy_spirit

John 16:7(ESV) 
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
So we seek the Holy Spirit when we need help and Power. Us, God, Jesus and the holy spirit work together to complete our healing and freedom.


Digging into the Greek New Testament 
We mostly focus in the church on The blood of Jesus and repenting and confessing but the bible actually talks even more about partaking of the healing and freedom of Jesus.

         Let’s look at these words in the new testament. Make a special note of how many times the words show up in the new testament. You’ll notice the words Dunamis and Glory and healing show up MANY MANY More times than even blood or confession or repenting. Please view the links and check my resources and even Read the verses listed to see how frequent and important these words are. 

         Between the Greek, Aramaic and original hebrew the original biblical texts have a vocabulary of around 150,000 words. And that isn’t even considering the cultural context of the words. The average native language translation only has a vocabulary of 15,000 words. So you can see how much info is inevitably lost in translation.

         This is why it’s so important to really know what the bible says about this so I urge anyone who wants to experience everything Jesus did for us to really use the following resources and become familiar with what the bible is really saying in he original translation. The more you dig the more you will be amazed.


The first step is partaking of the cross and blood of jesus by confessing and repenting focusing on the sacrifice of Jesus. 

Washed in the blood:
Matthew 26:28 (AMP) 
For this is My blood of the new covenant, which [[a]ratifies the agreement and] is [b]being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.


These words are used:
Blood poured out
The Greek Word Ekcheo 
27 Occurrences in the New Testament

Blood 
The greek Word Haima
98 Occurrences in the New Testament
(not many actually connected with specifically the blood of Jesus washing our sins.) 
Verses about the blood:

Repentance
Greek Word Metanoeo
34 Occurrences in the Bible
Luke 13:3 (ESV) -3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Acts 3:19 (AMP) 
So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat (effects of the sin), of [a]reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;


Confess 
Greek Word homologeó
26 Occurrences in the bible
1 John 9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confessing Sins and Healing 
When We need to Confess our sins to receive healing
         Though notice the use of the word Kamno’ which means sickness from weariness which is different from Infermity which is a sickness causes by demonic torment 


Cleanse 
Katharizó - cleanses
1 John 1
9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness (injustice) [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].


Name of jesus 
Tapping into the authority of jesus
Romans 10:13  (AMP)
13 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord and both submitting and using his authority] will be saved. (SOZO). 
kurios - master

SOZO
The Word Sozo shows up as many different words in the bible as Saved, Salvation, Rescued Healed, Delivered, Cured Freed ETC. But it is the core of what it means when you are SAVED by Jesus. It’s a very important word that most people don’t know about.
108 Occurrences 
http://biblehub.com/greek/4982.htm
In the verse of the woman with this issue of blood Jesus Sozo’s her and she is healed:
         And pretty much every other healing though there are some that use other words that mean a healing that was not as deeply connected to soul healing. 
Sozo is specifically when a healing or freedom occurs when the effects of the sin are removed. So it’s often in verses with the word Dunamis which is the power of healing and miracles.


Second Step of partaking of what Jesus did.
         Whenever the bible talks about being healed and restored or Saved (freed from bondage) or Made in the image of God. In other words when we start to live what Jesus died for, it uses the words Power (Dunamis) or Glory or the presence of God, the Resurrection Power that frees us from the EFFECTS of the Sin.

         Let's Say a person commits a crime and lands in Jail. But they meet Jesus and repent and are fully forgiven of their sin. But they still have the effect of Sin which is that they have to complete their prison sentience and inevitably have difficulty getting work for the rest of their life. Resurection in that situation looks like the believer tapping into the dunamis power of Jesus and being restored. Their prison sentice is shortened or they find fullfilment while in Jail. Then they find supernatual favor to find work after they get out. That's the word dikaiosuné in the bible.

Justice, Righteousness
Greek Word dikaiosuné
92 occurrences
Deep down it means that God restores all back to his original intention.
Definition: justice, justness, righteousness (usually if not always in a Jewish atmosphere), justice, justness, righteousness, righteousness of which God is the source or author, but practically: a divine righteousness
http://biblehub.com/greek/1343.htm


Then there is the power that God uses to heal and free us:
Power, Might Strength, ability to perform miracles
Greek word Dunamis
120 occurrences (all in reference to people being healed or freed)
Definition: (a) physical power, force, might, ability, efficacy, energy, meaning (b) plur: powerful deeds, deeds showing (physical) power, marvelous works.


Where does Dunamis come from? And How is it connected to Healing and Jesus???

Acts 4  (AMP)
The Disciples stand accused by people wanting to know HOW they healed people.
7 And they set the men in their midst and repeatedly demanded, By what sort of power(Dunamis) or by what kind of authority(By whose name) did [such people as] you do this [healing]?

8 Then Peter, [because he was] filled with [and controlled by] the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers of the people and members of the council (the Sanhedrin),

9 If we are being put on trial [here] today and examined concerning a good deed done to benefit a feeble (helpless) cripple(INFERM - Ongoing sickness due to a soul wound which allows demonic oppression), by what means this man has been restored to health(SOZO),

10 Let it be known and understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him and by means of Him this man is standing here before you well and sound in body.

11 This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone].

12 And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved (SOZO).


Also a note the disciples are not god or saints to special people who have something we don’t. They are examples and not mini-deities to put on a pedestal. They were mere humans. NO DIFFERENT OR SPECIAL THAN US. They were simply the first people jesus worked with. We can do ALL that they did. We are to follow their example. 


Glory

Greek Word doxa
115 occurrences 
http://biblehub.com/greek/1391.htm
167 occurrences 
Definition: honor, renown; glory, an especially divine quality, the unspoken manifestation of God, splendor. Weightyness
http://www.openbible.info/topics/glory_of_god
You can see by all the occurrences that the bible is very concerned about us spending time in the intimate manifest presence of God.
2 Corinthians 3:18
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 


         “beholding the glory of the Lord” means an intimate encounter in which we experience the manifest presence of God. So this verse is saying we become like our Lord when we spend intentional time focusing (Beholding) him while in his Glory (presence.)


The Glory is the Presence 


Light is a FORM of the Presence of God
Greek Word Phós 
73 Occurrences 
Definition: light, a source of light, radiance.
5457 phṓs (a neuter noun) – properly, light (especially in terms of its results, what it manifests); in the NT, the manifestation of God's self-existent life; divine illumination to reveal and impart life, through Christ.

Jesus is the Light of the World. Light is an aspect of him.
John 8:12 (ESV)
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light (phos) of the world. Whoever follows (accompanies) me will not walk(peripateó - participate) in darkness, but will have(echo - posses) the light(phos) of life(zóé).

Skotia - darkness, lies/absence of truth, spiritual darkness


Life is A form of Jesus, Jesus is Life.
Zóé - Source of Life
135 Occurrences 
Definition: life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence.
(See below in 1 John 1)


1 John 1 Amplified Bible (AMP) Wraps ALL of this up:

1 [We are writing] about the Word of Life (Opposite of the lies of death) [[a]in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands. 

2 And the Life [[b]an aspect of His being] was revealed (made manifest, demonstrated), and we saw [as eyewitnesses] and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the eternal Life [[c]in Him] Who already existed with the Father and Who [actually] was made visible (was revealed) to us [His followers]. (we have received through jesus all access to God’s full intention at creation) 

3 What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may [d]realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship (Koinonia - active participation) that we have [which is a [e]distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

4 And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy [in seeing you included] may be full [and [f]your joy may be complete].

5 And this is the message [the message of [g]promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light(Phos), and there is no darkness (Skotia) in Him at all [[h]no, not in any way].

6 [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness(Skotia) (still experience darkness/death in our life), we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents].(we do not know and practice the FULL gospel of Jesus)

7 But if we [really] are living and walking(peripateó - actively conducting my life) in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts].

9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse) us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].

10 If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts].


We must be Active
In the above you can find these words:
Peripateó - Actively Walk on a daily basis 
Akoloutheó - Accompany
Echó - have, posses

They are referring to how we need to be active in our participation in getting healed and becoming more like Jesus. We must Abide


Abide
Greek Word Meno 
118 Occurrences
Definition: It means to remain, stay or await but deep down it means to live to reside. It is an active conscious state of existence. It becomes so natural that it is a state of rest. Like how you are restful in your own personal space. 
John 8 (AMP)
31 So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them, Know the truth], you are truly My disciples.
32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

See the words in the Greek:
Know, experience
Greek word Ginóskó 
222 occurrences (that is a lot!)
Definition: I am taking in knowledge, come to know, learn; aor: I ascertained, realized. ginṓskō – properly, to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance). 1097 /ginṓskō ("experientially know") is used for example in Lk 1:34, "And Mary [a virgin] said to the angel, 'How will this be since I do not know (1097 /ginṓskō = sexual intimacy) a man?'" In general to Know intimately and vulnerably. 

Truth 
Greek Word -  alétheia 
109 Occurrences
Definition: True Reality, divine truth revealed 

Freedom
Greek Word eleutheroó, eleutheros
Definition: set free, release from bondage; (figuratively) to remove the restrictions of sin (darkness) because delivered by God into true spiritual liberty (growth).


To Sum it Up
I will go on more about all of this but basically what I am getting at is the Bible focus ALOT more on the steps of partaking of the power and presence of God. That is Partaking of the resurrection the COMPLETE work of the Cross even more than it does about repenting of sins which is just the first step. 

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Expand Your Horizons

This Post is about where I am coming from.

I hope that anyone coming from any perspective can appreciate what I am sharing. The following is just to get us all on the same page despite out differences. 

Subjective Understanding 
Each human has their own experiences and limited yet unique perspective. We all bring our own impressions and observations when we are seeking higher truth. We are all influenced by our specific environments. 

We are ALL Subjective. 

Even though I have my own inevitably subjective view of the world I have endeavored to see all perspectives yet I am still coming from my own experiences and what I know has worked for me. So I ask first and foremost that you take in everything that I say with that in mind. 

Beyond our Understanding
Also much that I touch on is dealing with things outside of this dimension.

There is still so much I don’t understand, That I don’t think anyone will ever be able to understand.

Simply put we are 4 dimensional (space-time) beings and we can only partly understand things beyond our dimension. 

Let’s say you are looking at a photo of a location. 
It’s a 2D, still representation of a 3D place. A place that also changes with time. You can gather a lot of information from your photo but you must infer the rest. You must guess at the sounds, what is beyond the frame, What objects look like from different angles. If you are lucky you have multiple shots of different angles and even shots over time. But still you are processing information about something in a higher dimension through the limitations of a lower dimension. 

We can glimpse at concepts outside our dimension but we can’t fully comprehend their true nature until we are free of the limitations of this dimension. 

I seek to understand what’s out there but I have also found peace with my limitations. 

I ask that you take my observations with the understanding that I am a single finite being, reaching into the vast depths of wisdom and attempting to translate that wisdom into practical things we can do to experience life more fully. 


I ask that you do not check out when you detect my limitations. It’s because you may see an angle I cannot. I simply ask that you take in what is good and what rings in your spirit as valuable. I also ask that you don’t just disregard things you don’t get and allow what I share to challenge your understanding.