What Would Paul Say To Us Today? – Dr. Bill Stephenson

I hear the word “mixture” in my heart and mind. Webster’s defines this word as “a combination of several different kinds.” Rather interestingly, it also means “to bring into such close relationship as to obscure individual characters.”

A recent study conducted in America found that 65% of the population of the U.S. considered themselves to be born-again Christians. However, out of that number only 3% had a Biblical or Christian worldview.

This reminds me of what Jesus said.

“And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and [of] the leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:15).

“And he charges them, wording, See! observe the fermentation of the Pharisees and the fermentation of Herod.”(exegeses Bible)

This word “leaven” in Greek is zym and is defined as being of inveterate mental and moral corruption and is viewed in its tendency to infect others. Jesus clearly stated that the leaven of the Pharisees was their doctrine (teaching). The leaven of Herod was the world system. This particular leaven is extremely dangerous to believers in Christ. Why? Because through our joining and association with these leavens, corruption will result. These two leavens of the Pharisees and Herod will soil, stain, corrupt, or infect. This is why Jesus warned us of this. Paul also said to the Galatians, “a little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Notice, it only takes a little bit to become infected!

The leaven of the world and or the leaven of the Pharisees, when mixed with the leaven of the kingdom, will result in impurity and therefore neutralize the power and glory of the kingdom, making it unfit for use. The leaven of the kingdom is watered down when a mixture is allowed in our lives. Thus, we become unwholesome and anemic and therefore ineffective and at risk of loosing our intimacy, fellowship, and communion with the God of our life.

We must guard what comes into our hearts and minds and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal any leaven not of the kingdom of God. Of course we still live in the world but the Lord has called us out to be a separate people unto Himself.

“Be not getting diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Beliar? Or what part hath a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement hath a shrine of God with idols? For, we, are the shrine of a God, that liveth: – even as God hath said – will dwell in them, and walk, and will be their God, and, they, shall be my people. Wherefore come ye forth out of their midst, and be separated, – saith the Lord, – and, one impure, do not touch; and, I, will give you welcome, And will become your Father, and, ye, shall become my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). (Rotherham)

“And be not sons of yoke with who trusts not!
For what partaking has justness with unjustness?
Or what mingling has light with darkness?
Or what shalom has the Meshiah with Satan?
Or what part have the trusting with those not trusting?

And what unity has the nave of God with demons?
And you are the nave of the living God,
as worded, I inhabit in them and walk in them:
and I be their God and they be my people.
Because of this Go from among them and separate from them, words Yah Veh, and approach not the impure: and I take you, and be to you, Father,
and you be to me, sons and daughters,
words Yah Veh Holder of All.”
(Aramaic New Covenant)

What we pay attention to through our eyes and ears will have an affect on us positively or negatively. Television, radio, books, movies, magazines, music, and the Internet are vehicles that carry the leaven of Herod and of the Pharisees. Also, educational and religious systems can leaven the kingdom of God. Even our own personal attitudes and mindsets, spiritual perceptions and personal relationships can adversely affect the kingdom of God in our life.

We must beware.

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

It is imperative that we operate in discernment. The word means “to see or understand the difference.” Unless we have true Biblical, spiritual discernment we will not be able to tell the difference between the just and the vile. To discover the true character of something or someone, the discernment of Hebrews 5:14 must be in place. We are encouraged to develop our senses through continually realizing we have been dead, buried, raised, and seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Outside of Christ’s work discernment is clouded and unable to “judge righteous judgment.”

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).

Paul said, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”

What advice would brother Paul offer to us in these desperate and uncertain days?

“Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

“Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3).

Well said, Paul. Thank you for sanity dear brother!

Let us take heed…

Blessings Beloved.

Bill

© 2009 www.OnTheRock.Net – Dr. Bill Stephenson. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.

Rest Rerun – Dr. Bill Stephenson

Two weeks ago, I heard one word and sent it to you. Today, I hear that same word. I keep hearing the word “REST” in my heart. Therefore, I am sending this one word out to you again. Ask the Lord if this word may mean something to you personally.

The only way we can have rest, true rest, is by realizing we have been crucified, dead, buried, raised and seated in union with Christ Jesus. Today there remains an offense in the cross of Christ. When I say “cross” I am always referring to the full and complete death, burial, and resurrection with our Lord Jesus Christ. If we’re not embracing our union with Christ in His death and resurrection, a true Christ-rest can never be fully experienced in our personal lives. This is the Father’s prescribed way of victory. Don’t substitute this for a cheap imitation. It won’t work! Remember what the scriptures say about God’s rest. That rest is exclusively based on the death, burial, suffering, and resurrection with our Lord Jesus Christ. Please never forget that in the days we live.

In my thirty five years of being in Christ, I have discovered that many in the body of Christ are still self conscious and sin conscious. There seems to be an almost obsession over these two things. The Lord dealt with these things in His death, burial, suffering, and resurrection. The blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse us from all sin as we continue to abide in Him moment by moment. The world, the flesh, and the devil are completely dealt with in our death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony concerning our redemption He purchased for us.

Many perhaps know all these things religiously, but what really matters is knowing them experientially. That is, truly having the experience of freedom from the world, the flesh, and the devil. This is only realized by an abiding grasp of our death and resurrection with the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The realm of victory in our lives will never be truly known outside of our personal and experiential death, burial, and resurrection with Christ.

Peace is only possible when He vitally becomes our peace. The only way for that to happen is for Him to vitally become our life. This is when we can say with Paul, “I no longer live but it is Christ who lives in and through me..” (Galatians 2:20)

Abide in Him. Wait in His presence. Eat the scriptures concerning your death, burial, and resurrection with Christ. Eat His flesh and drink His blood, for only then do we have an abiding inner life in Him.

Beware of false teachings which promote victory apart from your death and resurrection with Jesus. Beware of another spirit, another gospel, and another Jesus. Keep sanity in this perverse world. The only way out of error and deceit is through a continuous abiding in our Father’s prescribed way of redemption- the death, burial, and resurrection with His Son Jesus Christ.

Through this work, Christ now lives in us as our very life. Let us therefore enter into our rest as we go beyond the outer court into the most Holy Place. There alone is where He dwells in all of His splendor and glory. He has invited us to live out of that place. There will always be successive glories to pass into as we commune with Him face to face. His blood has granted us access to His inmost place.
Will we be among them who give testimony throughout eternity of those who lived out of that place He died, suffered, and rose again to give us? You alone must answer. No one else can do that for you.

“There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:9-11).

“So exhort to enter that rest, lest anyone fall in the likeness of those not convinced.” (Aramaic New Covenant)

“So be diligent to enter that shabbath, lest anyone fall in the same example of trustlessness.” (exegeses New Testament)

Rest:
a putting to rest
a calming of the winds
a resting place
a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities
a freedom from activity or labor
a state of motionlessness or inactivity
a place for resting or lodging
peace of mind or spirit
silence
marked by inactivity or repose
tranquilly at rest
causing no trouble or symptoms
free of anxieties

Bill

© 2009 www.OnTheRock.Net – Dr. Bill Stephenson. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.

Peace – Dr. Bill Stephenson

I keep hearing the word “PEACE” in my heart. Therefore, I am sending this one word out to you along with some verses. Ask the Lord if this word may mean something to you personally.

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15).

“And let, the peace of Christ, act as umpire in your hearts, unto which ye have been called in onebody, and be thankful.” (Rotherham)

“And the shalom of the Meshiah guide your hearts…” (Aramaic)

“For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14).

“He, in fact, is our peace..” (Rotherham)

Peace:
a state of tranquility
an exemption from the rage and havoc of war
harmony
security
safety
prosperity
a state of tranquillity or quiet
freedom from disturbance
freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
silence
calm
the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God.

Ask yourself, “Am I living in His peace in this moment?”

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile (bring back a former state of harmony) all things unto (Greek: into) himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:20).

Through His precious blood we now have peace. Why? Because IF we have been born from above, we too have been crucified, dead, buried, raised, and seated in heavenly places in union with Christ Jesus!

A word is in order here from Hebrews. Find the word peace here in this passage (listed twice) and put it into context with the entire chapter. Then, ask the Holy Spirit to apply it to your personal life. Get ready to be FREE!

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.
PASS THE OUTER COURT AND ENTER INTO THE INNER COURT. REST THERE IN THE HOLY PLACE. BE STILL AND KNOW I AM. THAT STILLNESS WILL THEN USHER YOU INTO THE HOLY OF HOLIES. IT IS THERE, IN THE DEEPEST PLACE OF ASCENSION, THAT HE LITERALLY BECOMES OUR PEACE.

Bill

© 2009 www.OnTheRock.Net – Dr. Bill Stephenson. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.

Rest – Dr. Bill Stephenson

I keep hearing the word “REST” in my heart. Therefore, I am sending this one word out to you along with a verse. Ask the Lord if this word may mean something to you personally.

“There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (Hebrews 4:9-11).

“So exhort to enter that rest, lest anyone fall in the likeness of those not convinced.” (Aramaic New Covenant)

“So be diligent to enter that shabbath, lest anyone fall in the same example of trustlessness.” (exegeses New Testament)

Rest:
a putting to rest
a calming of the winds
a resting place
a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities
a freedom from activity or labor
a state of motionlessness or inactivity
a place for resting or lodging
peace of mind or spirit
silence
marked by inactivity or repose
tranquilly at rest
causing no trouble or symptoms
free of anxieties

Bill

© 2009 www.OnTheRock.Net – Dr. Bill Stephenson. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.

Guard Your Heart – Dr. Bill Stephenson

I believe I hear the Lord saying, “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.” This passage from Proverbs speaks of the necessity of staying on guard in the days we live.

“Above all that must be guarded, keep thou thy heart, for, out of it, are the issues of life.” (Rotherham)

“Guard your heart under guard; for from it are the issues of life.” (exeGeses parallel BIBLE – used by permission)

The word keep in this passage not only means, “to watch over,” but also “to protect, preserve, and to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction.”

We are to guard our heart from dangers by cutting off anything that would hinder, injure, or damage our inner life in Christ Jesus. We are not to leave our heart exposed and susceptible to outside forces or influences. Webster’s defines exposed as “the condition of being presented to view or made known, the condition of being unprotected, the condition of being subject to some effect or influence.”

Our heart in this passage is our inner man. This includes our mind, will, understanding, and soul. Our heart also consists of our conscience, the seat of our appetites, the seat of our emotions and passions, and even the seat of our courage. You can easily see why it is of utmost importance for us to diligently keep a guard of protection over our heart so nothing can enter that would be an enemy of the truth and therefore defile our heart.

Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.”

“Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.” In the original language, the word “issues” is defined as “the source of life.” Our inner man is where the Lord lives – our source of life.

“He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life” (1 John 5:12).

“All who take the Son also take life: and all who take not the Son of God have not life.” (Aramaic New Covenant – used by permission)

“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:4).

“And when the Meshiah manifests – who is our life, then you also manifest with him in glory.” (Aramaic New Covenant – used by permission)

Christ Jesus is now our very life because of our death, burial, and resurrection with Him.

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

“So if you rose with the Meshiah
seek that above
where the Meshiah sits
- upon the right of God.
Think of that above and not that of the earth.
For you have died
and your life is covered
with the Meshiah in God.”
(Aramaic New Covenant – used by permission)

Through our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ, we have now been joined one spirit. “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17).

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick: but [when] the desire comes, [it is] a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).

“Hope drawn out wearies the heart; and when desire comes, it is a tree of life.” (exeGeses parallel BIBLE – used by permission)

Christ in us is now our hope of glory. Christ in us is our ultimate desire! We must guard our heart because the treasure of Christ is there.

There are two basic ways to guard our heart. The first is through continually meditating in the scriptures and seeing we have been crucified, dead, buried, made alive, raised, and seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. The second way is to spend quiet time with the Lord every day and wait on Him until your transformation takes place. You may say, “But I have no time for this!” Oh, but beloved, you must make the time- someway, somehow. After all, how important is your heart’s health? Is it worth ignoring and neglecting your spiritual life? The cross of Christ tells us that our old man is already dead. We don’t have a life of our own anymore. Our life is hidden away in the person of Jesus Christ! He alone is our true life.

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:3-12).

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4)

“The things on high, hold in esteem, not the things upon the earth.” (Rotherham)

In order to guard our heart effectively, we must continually press in toward the upward calling in union with Christ.

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” (Philippians 3:11-15).

Rotherham says, “As many, therefore, as are full-grown let, this be our resolve; and, if, somewhat differently, ye are resolved, this also shall God unto you reveal.”

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

“But they who await Yah Veh, change their force; they ascend with pinions as eagles; they run, and belabor not; and they walk, and weary not.” (exeGeses parallel BIBLE – used by permission)

The word wait in Hebrew carries with it the meaning of lingering and of being slow in parting or in quitting something. It also means “to stay in place in expectation of and to remain stationary.” Let us be slow in moving away from the Lord’s living presence within us. If at first we are not aware of His presence, let us linger long enough until He arises in us with healing and transforming glory. Our change is sure to come as we continually eat His flesh and drink His blood. At the same time, we’ll be keeping a watch over our heart so that no enemy can rob us of our glorious inheritance, who is God Himself.

Guard that heart, Beloved!

Happy pressing!

Bill

© 2009 www.OnTheRock.Net – Dr. Bill Stephenson. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.

A Word For You – Dr. Bill Stephenson

Greetings again Beloved!

I believe I hear the Lord say He is calling you deeper into Himself. Do not let your heart be troubled. Simply believe; trust in Him.

As we ponder our death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus Christ, there will be a transformation within us.

The Lord has a lot to say to us in these days we live. We must put our inner ear to His heart; wait there, and listen.

Stay fixed upon your Lord in you. Read and meditate the scriptures through His eyes and Spirit. Feed upon the Word of Life. Drink your fill of the Lord.

Read John 6. Read Romans 6. Commune with the Lord. Take time for Him. Just be with Him. The more we are simply “there” with Him, the more we will actually “be” in our daily lives.

So much can distract our attention away from our sole devotion to Christ. See that you be not distracted. Come aside and apart for a while just to “be with Him.”

As we commune with our Lord, satisfaction will be certain. Be cautious not to bog down into heady or weighty words, attitudes, or influences. Stay free as the eagle and soar into the heights of heaven in Christ Jesus. Read Ephesians 2:1-10 and see what the Lord will show you.

Keep your heart fixed on heaven. Paul did. Read Colossians 3:1-5.

Here’s an assignment. Who did Paul say was an “enemy of the cross?” Read Philippians 3. You’ll find out! Wow!

We are crucified, dead, buried, made alive, raised, and seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. He is now our very life within us, joined one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17)

What does Galatians 2:20 say to you personally right now?

Peace, joy, righteousness in the Holy Ghost.

Bill

© 2009 www.OnTheRock.Net – Dr. Bill Stephenson. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.

An Urgent Word – Dr. Bill Stephenson

Greetings again Beloved!

I trust this letter finds you well in Christ our life. We are in a crucial time when decisions are being made in the courts of heaven. The Lord is calling His own into a deeper place within Himself. The death, burial, and resurrection with Christ Jesus will be our only solid foundation in these days. I encourage you to re-discover the true meaning of the death, burial, and resurrection with your Lord. Christ now lives within you as your very life.

Spend time in His living presence and then in the scriptures. Fellowship with like-minded believers and develop an intimate fellowship and prayer life with the Lord. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort, correct, and mend you. Give yourself wholly to God. Wait and watch. Be cautious to only do as you see your Father in you do.

I hear the Lord say, “I will lead you in these days.”

© 2009 www.OnTheRock.Net – Dr. Bill Stephenson. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.

Galatians 3:1 – Dr. Bill Stephenson

The Puritan theologian Jonathan Edwards said that the evidence of true revival was an elevated regard for the Holy Scriptures and an elevated esteem for the Biblical Jesus. A recent poll revealed that over 60% of all evangelicals do not believe in absolute truth. In other words, absolute truth as found in the scriptures. Everything today seems to be “relative.” The opposite of relative is absolute. That helps us to clearly understand the meaning of this word.

When I was a university student in the mid 1970’s, many of my classes were introducing these laws of relativity. I had a debate in class with one of my professors on the issue of the story in Genesis of Adam and Eve simply being a myth. The Lord filled me with the Spirit of wisdom and I posed a question to him concerning the error of that hypothesis. Instead of firing back a quick answer, he paused, looked to the floor in silence and then looked back up at me and said, “You know, you’re right. I haven’t thought about that angle.” In essence, he was acknowledging the truth of Scripture.

The belief that “nothing is good or bad until it’s related to something of meaning to you” sums up the current worldview mindset. Truth has now become subjective to the individual human experience. Objectivity is a thing of the past in the modern philosophical trend. All truth is relative to the individual.

We know truth is a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. But the truth of scripture reveals the truth- Christ. Paul said some things to the Galatians we need to be reminded of.

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3:1)

The Galatians had been bewitched into swerving from the truth. It sounds very much like the what has happened in our day, doesn’t it? This word bewitched means “to charm” which is a trait that fascinates, allures, entices, and delights. It means to attract artfully by arousing hope or desire. Simply put, it is a temptation. Reminds me of the first charm.

“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3).

Today we are tempted to look away from the cross of Christ. When I say cross, I am referring to the full and complete work of our death, burial, and resurrection with our Lord Jesus Christ. Programs, theologies, ideologies, and philosophies have all replaced the saving power and glory of the true gospel.

When we do not adhere to the true gospel every day of our lives, we sway from the Truth. The truth is a person. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” Let us feed on Jesus. After all, He alone is our life. Apart from Him, we have nothing and are nothing. But wait! It’s not just any Jesus we are talking about, it’s Jesus who was crucified, dead, buried, raised, and seated in heavenly places at the right hand of our Father. The precious blood of this Lamb of God was put upon the very Mercy Seat of heaven.

Christ’s suffering on the cross, becoming our sin (2 Corinthians 5:21), giving out not only His body, but pouring out His soul unto death (Isaiah 53), His subsequent suffering under His Father’s wrath in hell (Matthew 12:40/Jonah 2, Acts 2:24,31), and the applying of His spotless blood upon the very mercy seat of God’s heaven (Hebrews 9:11, 22-28) after His resurrection spells out one word- REDEMPTION. Christ alone is our redemption and in order for that to vitally be worked out in our lives there must be a daily, hourly, minute-by-minute communion and intimate fellowship with Him. Stay in His scriptures. Stay in your death, burial, and resurrection with Him. Stay in intimate and living communion with the God of your life in you. Pray in the Spirit and pray in the understanding.

Beloved, we have a responsibility to abide in Him. Wait and rest in His presence. Remember, if you are indeed a true believer, Christ lives within you as your very life. God is now your beloved Father. The Holy Spirit is your comforter and teacher.

Abide in Him.

You’ll be free from sin.

You will not be bewitched.

© 2009 www.OnTheRock.Net – Dr. Bill Stephenson. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.

Galatians 2:18-21 – Dr. Bill Stephenson

“For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Galatians 2:18-21).

The entire reality of our redemption through Jesus Christ is so we “might live unto God.” This is the crux of our redemption. We have been brought back to God and we are now joined as one spirit. This is the order of the new creation in union with Christ Jesus. The secret to Paul’s revelation and also of his personal life is found in these verses.

“For if I build again what I razed, I show concerning, my soul, to have transgressed concerning the misvah — I. For I, by the torah, was deathified to the torah, to live to God. And with the Meshiah, I am staked: so it be not I who is living — I, but the Meshiah living in me: and this life I am now living in the flesh I am living by the trust of the Son of God, who loved us and gave his soul in our stead. I reject not the grace of God: for if justness be through the hand of the torah, then the Meshiah died vainly.” (Aramaic New Covenant – used by permission)

“So be it not. For if I build again what I disintegrated, I constitute myself a transgressor. For through the torah I died to the torah to live to Elohim. I am co—staked with Messiah: nevertheless I live; — no longer I, but Messiah lives in me: and the life I now live in the flesh I live in the trust of the Son of Elohim, who loved me and surrendered himself for I set not aside the charism of Elohim: for if justness is through the torah, then Messiah died for naught.” (exeGeses parallel BIBLE – used by permission)

It is extremely interesting that the original language says we were co-staked with our Lord Jesus Christ. What an awesome picture of the reality of His marvelous work. We were co-crucified, co-buried, co-quickened, co-raised, and co-seated with Christ Jesus. The old life has dissolved and the brand new life has come into being through our union with Christ.

This is a solid fact. We have been co-crucified, buried, and raised with Christ Jesus. However, we can only enter into His rest if we believe this for ourselves personally. Ask yourself, “Do I truly believe I am now dead, buried, raised, and seated with Christ Jesus?” If you do not believe, you will not enter into His rest. Unbelief in the Greek in Hebrews Chapter four means, “obstinate rebellion against the divine will of God.” What is the will of God? Jesus is the will of God. Jesus crucified, dead, buried, raised, and seated with you. I rebel against the finished work of Jesus Christ when I do not believe it is for me personally. This is where the rubber hits the road. This act of rebellion gets one into a lot of hot water. Deception is rampant in the church because of not properly discerning the body of Christ. His death is my death. His life is my life. Without this revelatory grasp of truth there will continually be an off-balance in our spiritual life. So much can add to or take away from Him as our life if we are willing to let go of Him being our centrality. It is only in the death, burial, and resurrection with Jesus Christ that we find total and transforming truth to keep us free.

All kinds of funny ideas and doctrines are oozing out of so called stable ministers today. Anything from all men are going to be saved to the belief there is no hell or a devil. Paul would say, “Who has put a spell on you that your should not obey the truth?” The truth here in Galatians Chapter three refers not only to Christ, but Him crucified.

Check up. Have you a strong grip on your death with Christ? Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Do you know it? Do you believe it?

We are dead to sin but alive unto God through our blessed union with Christ Jesus.

Freedom!

Don’t loose your grip on the death, burial, and resurrection!

© 2009 www.OnTheRock.Net – Dr. Bill Stephenson. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.

Galatians 2:11-17 – Dr. Bill Stephenson

“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. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. (Galatians 2:11-17).

Paul again embraces total faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone as the only way to man’s salvation and righteousness. Paul advocated that only through the death, burial, and resurrection with our Lord Jesus Christ was our redemption applicable. One must ask himself if the modern church has fully embraced Paul’s revelation. A little leaven will ruin the entire loaf. Paul warned that it was exclusively Christ in us that would bring us into perfection. In fact, he warned every man of the seriousness of this final truth. It is in coming to know the Lord intimately by dwelling in the living presence of the Holy Spirit that we vitalize the realities of the new creation in our life. Spend time in His tangible presence soaking in the transforming glory as Paul taught us to do in 2 Corinthians Chapter 3:18.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

“And, we all, with unveiled face, receiving and reflecting, the glory of the Lord, into the same image, are being transformed, from glory into glory, even as from a Spirit that is Lord.” (Rotherham)

“And we all, with exposed face, as the glory of Yah Veh, seen in a mirror are transformed into the same image from glory to glory as by the Spirit of Yah Veh.” (Aramaic New Covenant – used by permission)

Go back over your death, burial, and resurrection with our Lord Jesus Christ. See how His sufferings have now released freedom within our spirit, soul, and body. Don’t let anyone or anything steal the reality of redemption from you. There are many voices in the world and in the body of Christ today. Make triple sure that you guard your heart and only listen to that which centers exclusively around Jesus Christ AND Him dead, buried, and raised WITH YOU,

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:27-28).

“to whom God wills to notify what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among this peoples — the Meshiah in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach and doctrinate: and that all the sons of humanity understand with all wisdom — to present all the sons of humanity when perfected in Yah Shua the Meshiah.” (Aramaic New Covenant – used by permission)

© 2009 www.OnTheRock.Net – Dr. Bill Stephenson. Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution provided this notice appears.