WORD MADE FLESH

WORD BECAME FLESH

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14)

The essence of Christianity is the Word being made flesh... the engrafted living Word that is able to bring salvation to our mind, will and emotions- our soul, our flesh. 

Word made flesh (Heb. 1:3)

His desire is that the engrafted Word find expression in US, 

If then, the Word being made flesh is so central, let us explore HOW this happens. We are going to look at three things: the EAR canal, the VOICE canal, and the BIRTH canal;

 Since we know that the Word was made flesh in the womb of Mary, and brought to fruition in the body of Jesus Christ, perhaps there is a prototype we can glean from. “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus... Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee... For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy WORD.” (Luke 1:30-31, 34-35, 37-38)

Here we see that the WORD, Who was in the beginning (John 1:1), ‘sent word’ to Mary through a messenger. 

The EAR Canal/Gate-

Perception

 Hearing the Voice of God

Fear and unbelief, prejudice and ignorance is when you are dull of hearing.

Some had ‘ears to hear’, some were ‘dull of hearing’.

Just a few verses previous to the messenger bringing the Word of the Lord to Mary, there is a very similar message for Zacharias concerning the birthing of John. If you remember the account, it would seem that Zacharias had been listening to those other ‘sound waves’- opinions of men, fear and unbelief, prejudice and ignorance.

 Take note of the vast difference in Mary’s response to the Word, “be it unto me according to thy WORD.” (Luke 1:38) Even today, no have ‘ears to hear’ the message that the Father desires to spiritually ‘impregnate’ us, in order that we may give ‘birth’ to a holy thing,

The VOICE Canal/Gate- Proclamation

As we just saw, Mary’s proclamation was “be it unto me according to thy WORD.” (Luke 1:38)

She not only had ears to hear, she also joined HER VOICE with the Word, therefore establishing it as a reality in her life. Keep in mind that this was no light thing for her to proclaim, for to be pregnant and unmarried in that culture and period in history was absolutely devastating.

For Mary, any thought of being socially acceptable or living the ‘American dream’ so to speak, was entirely out of the question now. In fact, under the letter of the Law, she could be stoned to death. She had to entirely ‘die’ to self to make that proclamation, “be it unto me according to thy WORD.”

Jesus makes an interesting statement in John 5:30, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I HEAR, I JUDGE: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

So as with Mary, we see the same process with Jesus, He HEARD the Word of the Father, and joined His VOICE with the Word, therefore establishing it as a reality.

2 Cor. 13:1 states this principle so clearly; “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every WORD be established.”

 Mary was  dead to the desires of self, to be able to say “be it unto me according to thy WORD.”

Jesus was a living martyr, dead to the desires of self, to be able to say “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

RHEMA- the God-breathed, living, NOW-Word of God.

Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Rhema /now word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Shall every RHEMA, God-breathed, living, NOW-Word be established!”

My friend, this is not ‘Kingdomized’ name it and claim it, blab it and grab it! This is ruling and reigning in Christ. This is bringing the Kingdom of heaven to bear upon the earth. This is the ‘real thing’!

The BIRTH Canal/ Gate

- Procreation

Perhaps you are thinking about now, “How can this be?” Well don’t worry, Mary asked the same question in Luke 1:34. The angel’s answer to Mary rings just as true for us today, “For with God NOTHING shall be impossible.” (Luke 1

Birthing Process

 There was certainly no ‘extra room’ in the birth canal, the baby was pressed on all sides. “We are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed...” (2 Cor. 4:7-9)

Let us press forward in understanding the EAR canal, the VOICE canal, and the BIRTH canal.

 Let us advance in our perception, proclamation, and procreation. Let us grasp the essence of Christianity, which is the Word being made flesh... the engrafted living Word that is bringing salvation to our mind, will and emotions- our soul, our flesh.

LOVE AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER

LOVE AND CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER

 Let’s face it we live in a world greedy for self-gratification. It is I, I, I, me, me, me, mine, mine, mine.

We know that the spirit of antichrist is in the world and that the antichrist nature produces the kingdom of self.

1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

What is the spirit of antichrist? Anti means opposes, Christos means the Anointed One, Christ, Messiah. Look at 1 John 2:18 and 1 John 2:22.

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

 We are made in God’s own image and likeness Gen. 1:26.

Philemon 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

 The issue is that there are two images of you:

1. Christ, which is His image of you.
2. Antichrist, which is your image of you or others image of you.

There were two trees in the Garden of Eden, the tree of life, Christ Jesus, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, self. We as Adam and Eve make a choice everyday. Choose life, Christ Jesus or choose death, self.

Christ is the image of God. We must keep our eyes on Jesus. He is our example. We are being changed into that image if we allow Holy Spirit to do the work in us.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Let us emulate the character and image of Christ. You are the light of the world reflecting Jesus to everyone you meet. You are the only Jesus Christ some people will ever see. I’m not saying you are Jesus, but you reflect His character if you are a believer.

We are to be different from the world. We are to love and care for one another.  Whether in WalMart buying groceries or at the local game, let’s reflect Christ’s character. Let’s do the golden rule. Let’s love and care for one another.

There are 250 one anothers in the Word of God. Here are just a few:

List of One Another Commands

Accept one another

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. (Rom. 15:7)

Admonish one another

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Col. 3:16)

Bear one another's burdens

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal. 6:2)

Bear with one another

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Eph. 4:2)

Build up one another

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification (original=build up one another). (Rom. 14:19)

Care for one another

. . . so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. (1 Cor. 12:25)

Comfort one another

Therefore encourage each other (original=comfort one another) with these words. (1 Thess. 4:18)

Confess faults to one another

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Be Devoted to one another

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. (Rom. 12:10a)

Encourage one another

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11)

Forgive one another

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Eph. 4:32)

Greet one another

Greet one another with a holy kiss. (Rom. 16:16)

Be Honest with one another

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices . . . (Col. 3:9)

Honor one another

Honor one another above yourselves. (Rom. 12:10b)

Be Hospitable to one another

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Pet. 4:9)

Be Kind to one another

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Eph. 4:32)

Love one another

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another . . . (Rom. 13:8)

Members one of another

So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Rom. 12:5)

Pray for one another

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Be of the Same Mind with one another

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves (original=same mind among each other) as you follow Christ Jesus . . . (Rom. 15:5)

Serve one another

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature ; rather, serve one another in love. (Gal. 5:13)

Spur one another on

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Heb. 10:24)

Submit to one another

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Eph. 5:21)

CROSSING THE BRIDGE TO YOUR FUTURE

Crossing the Bridge to Your Future

1. Let Criticism Develop You--Not Detour or Devour You.

Jesus’s Temptation was filled with criticism (Matthew 4)

You will be criticized so might as well be criticized for doing something worthwhile.

Matthew 5:44 Bless those who curse you....

2. Determine to See the Virtue in Patience.

James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Patience Truths

A seed takes time to produce.

You reap if you faint not

Knowing what you are to do is only half the equation. The other is knowing who you are and who Christ is in you.

There are times and seasons for everything.

3.Never Stop Learning!

Rom 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

When you stop learning you stop living. You become a reservoir instead of a river.

Knowledge (mentally and spiritually, revelation knowledge in your heart)

Spiritual Understanding

Wisdom

REMEMBER THE POWER OF INVESTMENT IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE!

Eph 1:15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,

4. Be a Servant

Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

5. Keep First Things First.

Mat 6:33  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

God's order

God

Spouse

Children

Vocation/Ministry

ALL THINGS BECOME NEW

This a New Year, a Reset.

New Things I declare unto you! New patterns, progressions, paths, pursuits, and pioneering dimensions I declare unto YOU! A new heart and a new spirit, according to Ezekiel 36:26. A new wine {Isaiah 65:5} and a new song {Psalms 96:1; 98:1}. A new man {Ephesians 2:15} and a new name {Revelation 3:12}. A new heaven and a new earth {Isaiah 65:17; 66:22}, a New Jerusalem out of you! {Revelation. 21-22} 

By a new and living way which he has consecrated for us...Hebrews 10:20 

All things ARE BECOME NEW 2 Corinthians 5:17

THE LORD EVEN SAYS: "Behold I am doing a brand new thing. It is all new this very day. Will you perceive it and know that it is true? Will you apprehend what I say? I'm making a NEW way to provide water in desert places and give drink (living water) to my people. 

We even have a new name.

In the Fall, the first couple lost many things - one of them was that they lost their ability to name and define creation.

In the Old Testament, God's NAME was so precious and holy that it was not ever spoken.

In the New Testament, we know that if we believe in His NAME, something wonderful happens. (John 1:12-13)! "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become CHILDREN OF GOD- ......BORN OF GOD." NIV

God calls us by NAME - it is the name of Christ that is called.

Our new God given name stands above all names. Incredibly, He gives to those who bear His name, the right to use it everyday. We can boldly approach the Father because we bear His Name. This is an EXCHANGE of identity. This miraculous interchange presupposes that we've given up our old autonomous life. In finality, we discover what our new name delivers every promise. Because of Jesus, we become heirs of all things along with Him. Our partner is the Person who opens the heavens and gives us everything that pertains to life and Godliness.

Even a Restoration

(Act 3:20-21)  And He shall send Jesus Christ, who before was proclaimed to you, whom Heaven truly needs to receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of His holy prophets since the world began.

So, in the New Year shall be a reset, a restoration.

The lost joy of salvation: Psalm 51:10–12—“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” (kjv)

The lost sense of justice: Isaiah 1:26—“And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.” (kjv)

The lost motivation for living: Isaiah 57:18—“I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.” (kjv)

Lost intimacy with God: Jeremiah 30:17—“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.” (kjv)

Lost time(Joe 2:25)  And I will restore to you the years which the swarming locust has eaten, the locust larvae, and the stripping locust, and the cutting locust, My great army which I sent among you.

The lost power to live strongly: Isaiah 40:31—“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.” (kjv)

“When I am weak, then I am strong!” (2 Cor. 12:10). Also look up in your concordance how the word “renew” is translated. You will discover it has to do with change; renewing in the sense of something passing away, and the new taking its place.

The lost youthfulness in life: Psalm 103:5—“Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (kjv)

          

GRACE AND TRUTH CAME

GRACE AND TRUTH CAME

John 1:17 - For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Why did Jesus have to be born? God chose to make covenant with man.. Jesus came in the form of a man with a body of a man in order to have dominion and authority. Jesus Christ was a man anointed with Holy Ghost. This made it perfectly legal for Jesus to destroy the works of the devil.

 The seed Mary received was the Word, the incorruptible seed that took on flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus Christ is the living Word of God. His name is Emmanuel meaning, “God with us.”

God is not with us bu in us. (Col 1:27)  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:

Luke 2:11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Is. 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born,  ( Son of God) Unto us a Son is given; (Son of Man) And the government will be upon His shoulder.(Body of Christ) And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice.

Grace and Truth came.

Jesus Christ formed a perfect union of being a Spirit-Man manifested in a natural / physical body, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”(John 1:14). He was the LAST Adam so that WE may become the Second Man - Christ manifest in His many-membered Body; “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”(1 Corinthians 12:12). We are no longer IN Adam as Jesus Christ was the LAST Adam; our true identity is created IN Christ!

Grace and Truth came and was imparted to us.

CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS

There are those that "reject" Christmas and Easter due to their association with pagan festivals. Over the years I have vacillated between a whole bunch of different points of view about these matters.

Several years  ago, my heart has been more centered in Himself, Jesus the Christ, and as a result things have changed. For the more I focus on Him, the more I see Him revealed in ALL THINGS. Christmas for some is seen as the time of the pagan festival of the sun god instituted to get the pagans involved with Christian issues. But another way to look at it........JESUS...is the Lord God of the Sun....and the Son of God. Jesus fulfills the pagan celebration in Himself. Likewise...when Easter is celebrate...the Rites of Spring...new birth from winters death...the goddess of ISIS...Jesus fulfilled all the pagan natural heart was looking to in ISIS. Jesus is the fulfillment of NEW BIRTH, NEW LIFE....He is the fulfillment of all things. So often we get looking at the "thing" through the filter of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and miss Himself....This day...this season, this year...NOW is the time of Himself, Jesus..Yeshua, my Saviour...the Lord of all creation to be worshipped and celebrated, his forgiveness received and freely given!

That is what Christmas, Easter, Passover, and every other holiday and celebration ultimately points to....The Lord God, He is One and there is NONE OTHER>>>>

LIFT UP OUR EYES-THANK THE LORD

"Therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is , the fruit of our lips GIVING THANKS to His name."      (Heb. 13:15) In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1Thess. 5:18). Giving thanks always for all things (Eph. 5:20). Thanksgiving (eucharisteo, from which we get the word Eucharist) means to be aware of our blessings and be filled with gratitude. Thanksgiving opens the vaults of the treasures of the Kingdom. Opposite of Thanksgiving:  Ungratefulness, Complaining and Murmuring Examples: 1.   Hebrew children, "Nor let us . . . grumble, as [Israel] did, and were destroyed by the destroyer" (1 Cor. 10:9-10). 2.   Some of his disciples "Do not grumble among yourselves" (John 6:43) 3.   Judas Paul warned that, "in the last days . . . men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips" (2 Timothy 3:1-9). "Lifting up our eyes." "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable . . . is right, whatever is pure . . . lovely . . . of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things" (Phil. 4:8). Remember, Paul was writing to people in the ancient Roman world. It was full of evil, full of injustice, full of reasons to grumble and be upset; but instead, God calls His people to a higher realm, where we dwell on the things that are above. (John 11:41-43) At the tomb of His dear friend Lazarus, Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD ME."  Imagine this kind of assurance! Jesus didn't need to beg or intercede. A command to the dead was all that was needed, "Lazarus, come forth." We SEE that the Father hears us BEFORE we pray (John 17:1-2). This is why we can be thankful. Thanksgiving is a holy declaration of what we SEE when we LIFT UP OUR EYES. Let's remember some of the incredible personal things that should stir a spirit of thanksgiving in our heart. Let the fruit of our lips give thanks as we confess our Thanksgiving blessings out loud together (using I, we, and/or you): The God of love has an unfolding plan of LOVE for me. I can live without fear  --being certain of this LOVE. I am a brand new creation in Christ. I am not who I used to be! Thank the Lord. I am destined to spend eternity with God. My eternity is NOW. I have already been delivered from all the powers of darkness. Christ died for a total forgiveness of my past and present sins.  I am pardoned from sins because of that inestimable gift of God. I am already a joint-heir with Christ. Jesus died to restore me to the dominion authority of the Garden. I am now seated in heavenly places with Christ. I am already co-crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6, 11, Col. 3:1-4). We have already died. We don't need to die to our old man any longer. Wrongly emphasizing our personal sacrifice to need to continually die, denies the power of the resurrection. When Jesus died, we died. I am already co-buried with Christ (Col. 2:12, Rom. 6:3-4). I am already re co-resurrected with Christ (Col. 3:1, Rom. 6:9). My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Godhead bodily dwells with me. I am already co-seated in heavenly places with Christ (Eph. 2:5-6). I am already made alive together with Christ (Eph. 2:1-2, 1 Cor. 15:23). I am already partners with God for His plan concerning every living human being. I am already part of Christ's body today on earth. I am already a ROYAL PRIEST (1 Pet. 2:5).  I have the power to draw near God's presence and fellowship with Him there.  I have the ability to communicate to others the power of a life within the veil. I can access total salvation for my body, soul, and spirit.  I can become whole in this lifetime. Every day is holy, set apart, and designed for me. I can become God's honored representatives on earth. I am not of this world (James 4:4, 1 Jn. 2:15-18). I can overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21). I was created for His glory (Is. 43:7). I have been given the power to manifest His breathtaking glory on earth. I can ask the Lord of the harvest for laborers and for rain on behalf of all humankind, that they be brought to repentance by the goodness and love of God. I can lift up my eyes to see the provision of God. For the Lord will hasten to perform His Word and reveal to His people the abundance of peace, truth, health, prosperity, deliverance, safety, and abundant life. I can put on His love and walk in absolute trust and confidence of His power, wisdom, and goodness. The Spirit of Death has no power over me. I am thankful that we don't need man's approval, distorted ambition, self-exaltation, or popularity.  I do not have to flinch in sacrifice, hesitate in adversity, negotiate with the enemy, or wallow in the maze of mediocrity. In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (1Thes. 5:18). Giving thanks always for all things (Eph. 5:20).