Made whole and complete
In the last Teaching letter we saw that the LORD is calling HIS Body to arise and do the things that the HEAD (JESUS) has done. So many have said that this had spoken to them, so this week we need to look at how we can do that. What is needed for us to rise up?
As the picture above shows, GOD has opened the door for this to happen, HE has done absolutely every last thing that is necessary for us to be able to rise up. HE has given us :--
· HIS SON to die in our place,
· HE has raised up HIS SON so that we too would be raised up in HIM,
· HE has set HIS SON as the example for us to follow,
· HE has given us all of the written instructions that we need in order to accomplish all that HE has called us to,
· HE has given us HIS HOLY SPIRIT to dwell inside of us (we are the Temple of the HOLY SPIRIT), this is so that we can talk directly to our Heavenly FATHER GOD just as JESUS did whenever HE went alone to pray,
· HE has given us understanding and wisdom in order to be speaking just as JESUS did whenever HE spoke the truth to those around HIM,
· HE has given us power and authority through HIS Holy Word in the form of the great commissions seen in Matthew 28:16 - 20 and Mark 16:15-20, and finally
· HE has given us HIS Heart for the lost so that we will go out to them in Power and Love, meeting their every need just as JESUS did.
In order to understand just what is meant by being made "Whole and Complete" let us take a look at the Word of GOD.
1 Peter 2:24-25
(24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED.
(25) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
In the verses above you will see that at the end of verse 24 it says that we were healed, but what exactly does that mean? This word "Healed" is the Greek word ee-ah'-om-ahee and it means it is the middle voice of apparently a primary verb; to cure (literally or figuratively): - HEAL, MAKE WHOLE.
When our LORD JESUS went to the Cross HE suffered horribly for us, not only did HE go to the Cross but HE also suffered at the hands of the "Purger". This was a master of the purging whip. This whip was a cat of nine tails type whip that had the ends plaited with pieces of bone, metal, stone or and any sort of solid object that would cut into the skin of the victim. It was intended to inflict the maximum pain and injury to the one being purged. Every time the whip landed across the skin of the victim the tails of the lash would wrap around the body and the solid objects would be drawn inwards so that they cut deeply into the skin. This caused great pain and anguish as well as a great deal of loss of blood, let alone the skin that was torn off the body as the whip was pulled back ready for the next blow.
These purge marks are the "stripes" that the Apostle Peter referred to in 1 Peter 2:24 above. It was these that took the place of our Pain and anguish, it was these same stripes that set us free as JESUS became our substitute for our sins. Because JESUS took our place HE opened the door for us to become once again the Children of GOD that we were created to be.
No longer were we slaves to sin and all of it's negative effects, but instead we became new Creatures (as seen in 2Cor 5:17 and Gal 6:15). The old beings that were us, were replaced by Sinless, Blessed ones that were totally acceptable in the eyes of GOD, because we came in through the blood of GOD's own SON. These stripes literally made us whole, as seen in the definition of the word "Healed" seen above.
Verse 25 of 1 Peter chapter 2 explains just why JESUS went to the Cross, and what the results of that action achieved, "We now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls". We are now returned back to GOD.
When sin entered into the world back in Genesis chapter 3 we see that GOD had to set up barriers to keep the sinful ones away from the TREE of LIFE in case they ate of it and lived, but who is that tree of life? HIS Name is JESUS.
(Matthew 7:14) For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
(John 1:4) In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
(John 3:15) that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
(John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
(John 5:39) You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,
(John 6:35) Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
You see, overcoming is not something that you do in your power, it is ONLY done through the victory of the Cross.
Now that you know that you are seated in Heavenly places (In CHRIST JESUS) and at the right hand of GOD, our FATHER and Creator you can better understand that you are seated in a superior place of Power and Authority.
As you can see through the explanation immediately above that you are right now seated ON the throne of JESUS, and JESUS is right now seated upon HIS FATHER's Throne. A throne is an emblem of a place of Authority. It is the place where a Ruler sits to issue out the commands that will effect the realm he rules.
The place where you are now seated, and now reside, is the Throne of JESUS. You are now seated in the place of Authority of the one who has already overcome this World and that world is where we (and our senses) live, but don't reside.
JESUS is the door, not just back to our FATHER, as seen in the parable of the Prodigal son of Luke 15:11 – 24. But HE is also the means for us to go to our FATHER and get every last weapon that we need to fight against the enemies that come against us here in this flesh and blood place.
Another thing we need to remember is that a door has a two way function, not only are we now able to go into GOD's presence through the door called JESUS but through HIM also we are able to go to GOD's storehouse mentioned in the book of Malachi and bring back to Earth all of the Heavenly Blessings stored up in there.
GO IN POWER, ENTER IN THROUGH CHRIST JESUS
AND BE BLESSED. DON PHILLIPS 23/06/19