FROM WHENCE WE CAME
Monday – November 14, 2016
Greetings from The Three Minute Word publication of Eastern Gate Ministries International. I trust that no matter your circumstances this last weekend that you choose the higher plain in Christ Jesus. No matter how boisterous the storm, no matter how much the dragon breaths fire we reign in this life in Him.
Romans 5:17 (KJV)
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
When Adam sinned, spiritual and physical death reigned until Christ Jesus. But now in and by one Christ Jesus we have been quickened, made alive, spiritually by Grace (Holy Spirit) and He will soon give us an uncorrupted body. We have been saved by Grace when we were dead in our sins, we were dead souls. Now, quickened by Grace we are again living souls like Adam but unlike Adam we are in Christ Jesus. By the sacrifice of Christ Jesus who was made sin in our place we have been gifted the very righteousness of Jesus, the righteousness of God. We have the same standing with our Heavenly Father that Jesus has with His Heavenly Father. With salvation we gain entrance into the Kingdom of God and by the exercise of faith in love as led of the Holy Spirit all of its benefits are available and before us. Righteousness gives us entrance right into the Throne of God where we are seated in Christ Jesus. This right standing assures us that our case, our words will be heard. It is not that God does not hear every word and thought on the planet but only His children have right standing such that He not only hears but gives attention and renders justice. The matters that we bring before the Throne are the business of kings and priests.
Revelation 1:5-6 (KJV)
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Brother and sister you and I are already kings and priests in the earth doing business on behalf of the Kingdom of God led of the Spirit of God according to the will of God (Jesus and the Father). This is a wonderful thing, we must train ourselves with the help of our Helper to not think in the temporal realm and not speak in the temporal realm concerning the work of the Kingdom. We have cast the cares of our natural life (1 Peter 5:7) onto Him and we must not allow our focus to become entangled with this life (2 Timothy 2:3-4). We are new unique creatures created in Christ Jesus so that all of this is not only possible but our duty. Now let’s pick up with our primary text in Ephesians.
Ephesians 2:10-13 (KJV)
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Picking up with Ephesians 2:11, the Apostle Paul is reminding us to remember from whence we came. The people at Ephesus (located in modern day Turkey) were for the most part Gentiles as opposed to Jews. The Jewish people, starting with Abram, were the people with whom God initiated and consummated The Blood Covenant that guarantees salvation for all who will declare Jesus as Lord (Messiah). The Jewish people are also the ones who recorded and preserved the Scriptures. No Jew, no Jesus, no Jew, no Scriptures. We the Church of Jesus Christ must be careful to honor, to value the Jews, the Nation of Israel. We are partakers of the same root which is God. Everyone who is not a Jew, a Hebrew, is a gentile and outside the covenants God had with Israel starting with Abram. However out of Israel there came a Messiah, who was not just for Israel but for the whole world. The Jewish people were the vehicle for Messiah and have a special place in the heart of God. God called Israel a son before Pharaoh.
Exodus 4:22 (KJV)
22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
We, the Church, are not to be haughty against Israel but to embrace and empower (bless) them. We are of the same root, God.
Romans 11:16-18 (KJV)
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
We gentiles were once afar off but are now nigh by the Blood of Jesus. When we (gentiles) receive Jesus as Savior we are grafted into God, we are in Christ Jesus because of the Blood Covenant between Abram and the Heavenly Father, consummated by Jesus on Calvary facilitated by the Holy Spirit. In Romans 11:17 above the branches broken off are the unbelieving (in Christ) Jews. Jews are grafted back into God the same as we gentiles which is by recognizing and receiving Jesus as Lord, at which point they like us are a part of the Church of God. Thank you Father, thank you Jesus, and thank you Holy Spirit. We must be careful to be grateful to the nation of Israel for faithfully preserving the Word of Truth (Holy Scripture) down through time.
Romans 15:26-29 (KJV)
26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
When we bless Israel in the carnal things (generally money) we are first in line for “the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” Meditate and consider the full meaning of that phrase. Each of us must ask ourselves, am I honoring Israel or am I just giving them lip service? To honor means to place value upon.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
