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Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-20

These verses state very clearly that IF we are in Christ, we are Born Again and we have a new life and a new ministry, that is, the ministry of reconciliation. We get to be used by the Holy Spirit to lead people to Christ, who is the reconciler. No man comes to the Father but by Jesus Christ. We are ambassadors or representatives of the kingdom of God. We ourselves have been transformed by the grace of God and now it is our duty to tell other people how to be Born Again and how to be reconciled to their Maker, God. It pleases God that by the foolishness of preaching others would come to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

These verses also state that God was in Christ during His earthly ministry, reconciling the world unto Himself. We understand that God the Father remained in heaven, yet His Spirit was poured out wonderfully on Christ on the day of His water baptism. He truly became the Christ, the anointed one of God. God put His Spirit upon Him and said this is my Son in whom I am well pleased. It pleased God to work through Christ, for Christ said He can do nothing or say nothing unless my heavenly Father show me.

Now, brethren, we are fellow partakers with Christ of the heavenly calling. That is, we get the pleasure of doing the work of Christ in the earth. The Father is in heaven, Christ is seated on His right hand and they have sent back the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to indwell all those that are Born Again and have been washed from all sin. Only a clean vessel is fit to have the Spirit of God dwell within it! Just as God was in Christ when He was on earth, doing the work, so God the Father and Christ the Son are dwelling in us by their Spirit, which works in us mightily.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

God command us to be holy for He is holy. That is, we are to be separated or set apart unto good works, done with the aid of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. It is no longer I that lives, by Christ lives within me. He has sent His Spirit back to earth on the day of Pentecost and now the Spirit is available to all those who will live godly lives in Christ Jesus. The Spirit is faithful to live and move in us, speak to us and direct our steps. Even when we are unaware of His guidance, He is still at work, faithfully directing us where we should go and what we should do and say. We need the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ said how much more shall the Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? He is there for the taking! One must simply be washed from all sin by confessing that sin to God and asking Christ to cleanse them from all wickedness. Then one must ask the Father in Jesus name for the Holy Spirit baptism. Then, by faith, one must lift up his or her voice and pray in an unknown tongue, as the Spirit gives you the utterance. It’s just that simple. God desires to live in you, to pray through you, to speak through you and minister through you to a lost and dying world. Great is the harvest but the laborers are few. Will you not be one of those chosen laborers in the great harvest of the Lord? One day soon Christ will return and gather all His saints to His side. Will you be found among His faithful in that day?

We have a wonderful promise from God the Father in these verses. He wants to live and dwell and walk in us. He desires to be our Father and for us to be His sons and daughters. All we must do is walk uprightly before Him, having been washed from all sin, regenerated by the Holy Spirit and made a new creature in Christ Jesus. Be filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and He will speak through you and use you in mighty ways that you know not. He will be with you, your constant companion, just as He was with Christ.

Just as the Father was in Christ, so Christ and the Father are in us by their Spirit. No longer do we have to trust in our own hearts, but we can lift up our hearts to God, who is faithful to direct us into the way that pleases Him: holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our lives. As we live morally blameless lives before God, we are His ambassadors and representatives in the earth. He has put the word of reconciliation in our hearts, whereby we cry out to the earth, “Know God in Spirit and in Truth! Be saved, all ye lands!”. To walk in this holy calling, we must keep ourselves unspotted from the world and its sin. We must not touch the unclean thing and God will receive us. If we touch the unclean thing, God will not receive us, unless we repent of our sin and be washed in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus.

Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to be Born Again. Today is the day to be water baptized. Today is the day to be Holy Spirit baptized. Christ has made all this available to you through His death and resurrection. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved! Then you will be sent out by God to minister the Truth of His Word to those who need to hear. God desires His Word would be in our hearts. How shall they hear without a preacher? That preacher is you and me, as we have been set apart as holiness unto the Lord and now we live to do His will, not our own. God bless you as you seek the Lord with all your heart, for He will be found when you search for Him with ALL your heart.

LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

Psalm 131:1-3

It takes a man or woman to know when he or she is spiritually mature. It takes experience in life before one is equipped to be spiritually mature. David’s heart was at peace, trusting in the Lord. He wasn’t trying to get his own way in life. His hope was in the Lord, which was the secret to his success. This is why he was spiritually mature: he had progressed from the milk of repentance from dead works to serve the living God in spirit and in truth. He no longer needed the milk. He had graduated to the meat of the Word. A sign of spiritual maturity is that you are at peace in all areas of your life, knowing that the Lord is working all things for good to those that love Him. Another sign of maturity is that you have gone deeper in the truth of God’s love. You no longer hold grudges. You no longer talk badly about people behind their backs. You no longer habitually sin. You have stopped complaining when things don’t go your way. You have graduated to the deeper things of God.

And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.

Genesis 21:8

As we mature off the milk to the sincere truth of God’s Word we should celebrate those milestones, the same way Abraham made a great feast when Isaac was naturally weaned off the natural milk of his mother. God rejoices over us with singing when He sees us maturing in the things of Christ, the deeper teachings of loving God and others as ourselves. It pleases God greatly when we rejoice over the things that please Him: love, kindness, meekness, compassion, healing, praise, adoration and so on. A sign of spiritual maturity is that we have the mind of Christ and no longer entangle ourselves in the things of the world. Backbiting, strife, envy, debate, grudges, retaliation, hatred and such like have passed from our vocabulary. We no longer live like the world lives. This is spiritual maturity in the eyes of God. We should rejoice with our brethren when we see them progress in the kingdom of God. Why not have a great feast with them and celebrate their maturity in Christ?

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

Isaiah 28:9

God is not content to let people be spiritually immature. There is a time and season to be a baby in Christ, but God expects great things from those who begin the journey of walking in the footsteps of Christ Jesus. No longer should he play the immature games that children play. He should graduate to the deeper things of Christ and put away childish things. Loving mercy is another sign of spiritual maturity. Loving what God loves and hating what God hates. Detesting utterly the sinful things in life. When one does this, he or she knows they are progressing rapidly in the deep things of God.

Milk is easy to digest. We need to mature and challenge our digestive system with the meat of God’s Word. The main course is love. Not just superficial love, but DEEP LOVE. Learning to love is a progression, but we are made in the image of God and can handle it. Our spiritual digestion might lag behind at first, but once we embrace the deep things of God with our whole heart, mind and strength we will become spiritually acclimated to the things of Christ.

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 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 5:12-14

By now we should be teachers of God’s Word, that is, instructors in righteousness, which is love. Love is what separates the spiritually immature from the spiritually mature. How greatly God rejoices over us when we progress to the deeper things of love in Christ. We must take this by faith. Someday soon we will graduate to heaven, if we overcome in this life. Love is how we graduate, love is how we grow, love is how we learn, love is how we please the Lord.

It is by exercising our senses that we grow deeper in righteousness. As we discern what pleases God and what does not please God, we are equipped to do great exploits for God and Christ. We are to progress. We are to take ground for the Lord. We are to win souls through the Word of love and mercy. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, for He has laid out the path of righteousness before our eyes. That path is found in Jesus and Him alone. Surrender your heart fully to Christ and watch what He will do. As we obey the Lord, He will grow us, He will watch over us, He will protect and guide us. Never will we lack a single good thing, for the Lord is gracious and abundant in His blessings to the obedient. Praise the Lord forever, amen. Here’s to your maturity in Christ!

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Psalm 119:2

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Psalm 119:10

Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

Psalm 119:34

I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

Psalm 119:58

The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

Psalm 119:69

I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.

Psalm 119:145

The first theme in Psalm 119 is to serve God with your whole heart. This is the only way to be wholly His and to be holy in heart. God loves it when you give Him your whole heart. Fill your life with God’s Word and God’s Spirit and watch how the favor of the Lord will rest upon your life. If God’s Word be true, then it is worth serving God with all that you are!

I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

Psalm 119:15

Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

Psalm 119:23

My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

Psalm 119:48

Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

Psalm 119:78

O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:97

I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

Psalm 119:99

Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.

Psalm 119:148

Meditation in God’s Word is the 2nd theme in Psalm 119. Without thinking and meditating on God’s Word, there will be no revelation by God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Word and the Holy Spirit are inseparable. Where you find one, you’ll find the other. As we meditate in the Word, the Holy Spirit teaches us all things and leads us into all truth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. Meditating in God’s Word is one sign of someone who is serving God with their whole heart.

I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Psalm 119:16

The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

Psalm 119:61

For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

Psalm 119:83

I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

Psalm 119:93

My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

Psalm 119:139

Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

Psalm 119:153

I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

Psalm 119:176

Remembering or not forgetting God’s Word is another theme in Psalm 119. Because we seek God with the whole heart and meditate in His Word, the end result is that we do not forget His commandments. If we remember His commandments, then we can do His commandments and keep them. It is the wicked that forget God’s Word and misquote it. It is the wicked that don’t read or meditate in God’s Word. Having a love for God’s truth is a sign that we are born again Christians.

My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.

Psalm 119:25

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

Psalm 119:37

Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

Psalm 119:40

This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

Psalm 119:50

Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

Psalm 119:88

I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

Psalm 119:107

Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.

Psalm 119:149

Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

Psalm 119:154

Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.

Psalm 119:156

Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy lovingkindness.

Psalm 119:159

Another theme in Psalm 119 is that God’s Word and His entire being quickens us, or makes us alive. In the New Testament it is said that God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit all play a part in quickening us. God is the living God and everything He touches becomes alive. Allow God to quicken you by serving Him with the whole heart, meditating in His Word and not forgetting His Word to do it.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Psalm 119:1

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psalm 119:9

I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

Psalm 119:14

I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.

Psalm 119:26

Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.

Psalm 119:29

I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

Psalm 119:30

Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

Psalm 119:33

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Psalm 119:35

I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

Psalm 119:101

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:104

Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

Psalm 119:128

I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

Psalm 119:168

Another theme of Psalm 119 is that the Word of God prepares a way for us to walk in. Just like the Israelites went through the Red sea with the water on the left and the right making straight a path, so the Word of God, rightly divided, is the pathway to righteousness. If we turn to the right or the left, the Word is there is keep the path, the Word is there to correct us and discipline us. When we walk in the way of truth, we naturally hate every false way. Jesus said His sheep hear His voice and follow Him in the true path of life. We know not the voice of strangers and refuse to walk in the path of wickedness.

Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

Psalm 119:67

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Psalm 119:71

I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

Psalm 119:75

Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

Psalm 119:92

I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word

Psalm 119:107

Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law.

Psalm 119:153

Another theme in Psalm 119 is affliction. The end result of affliction is that we are humbled before God. In God’s faithfulness He allows our affliction, for it works an eternal weight of glory in our lives. Don’t be ashamed to suffer for the gospel’s sake. Affliction is used by God to transform us from glory to glory into the image of Jesus Christ. Jesus suffered by affliction and learned obedience by the things He suffered. The servant is not greater than His master so we must walk the path of affliction so that we are humble before God and worthy of the kingdom of God for which we suffer.

Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

Psalm 119:49

My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

Psalm 119:81

Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Psalm 119:114

Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Psalm 119:116

I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.

Psalm 119:147

Hope in God’s Word is another theme of Psalm 119. Our hope is not only for this life, but the life to come. The great hope of the church is to live forever with Christ and to know Him in an intimate way. God’s Word reveals the character of God, for out of the abundance of His heart His mouth speaks. There are many wonderful promises in God’s Word and these all inspire hope as the Spirit quickens us and makes us alive to the realities of God’s holy Word. Without God’s Word, we have no hope. So then it is critical that we spend much time in the Word of God each day so that our hope does not diminish.

I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

Psalm 119:14

The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Psalm 119:72

Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.

Psalm 119:127

I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Psalm 119:162

The last theme in Psalm 119 is that God’s Word is greater than natural riches or money. God’s Word impacts eternity while natural riches only benefit in this life. So, God’s Word is greater and should be more important to us than money. God’s Word is the currency with which we can obtain the promises of God for our lives. We must give the Word the value it deserves in our lives. Truth is an accurate description of reality. The reality is that God’s Word is the greatest thing He has given us, so esteeming it to be the true riches shows that we are indeed walking in the truth. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.