Episode 113 Body, Soul, and Spirit
The scriptures tell us that we were made in the image of God for God. Paul also prayed that we may be sanctified completely that our spirit, soul, and body may be preserved blameless at his coming. How does this happen? Is this happening to us? The Psalmist says that man is fearfully and wonderfully made. Man is a complicated being and not easy to understand or explain. But there is teaching in the scriptures that can give us some understanding of how we are made and what God is doing to bring us back from the effects of sin that we may enter fully into fellowship with Him both now and into eternity. God is conforming us to the image of Christ and preparing us to be wedded to Him for all eternity. As we mature we can understand more of how this is taking place that we may cooperate fully with the Holy Spirit who is working in us both to will and do for His good pleasure.
A good reference for further study on the makeup of man
http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/what_is_man.html
The subject of end-times is often a point of strong disagreement among many sincere believers. Should we be expecting the Rapture or is this a false expectation. Is the church destined to go through the Great Tribulation? Why is there so much confusion surrounding this subject? I think that one the main reasons there is so much confusion on end-times events is that we do not go back far enough to get a good foundation of God’s purpose and plan. To just start reading the book of Revelation and try to understand the events without a foundation in other parts of the scripture leads to confusion. God has been moving with purpose from eternity past to eternity future. Our place is to understand His purpose as much as possible and then live in accordance with His purpose.
Additional teaching on End Times issues:
http://www.ntchurchsource.com/literature/read/the-end-times/
https://www.amazon.com/Revelation-Sealed-Book-An%C3%ADbal-V%C3%A9lez/dp/1490824170
How should Christians use the Law of Moses? This seems to be a major issue in our time. The law was given to Israel through Moses and takes a large place in the Old Testament. But most of us are not of Israel, so how should we use the Law? In our last program we introduced this subject but today we want to go farther. Most of us are very familiar with the teaching that the law came through Moses, but grace through Jesus Christ. But what does that mean to us in practical terms? Do we just completely discount the Law of Moses? What meaning does it have to us? How should we use the law in our personal lives, with our family, and in the church? How should we use it with those who are not in Christ? Many today are trying to go back and keep certain parts of the Law of Moses. Is this right?
Is the church Spiritual Israel? We know that God has used Israel in a very significant way in His working in the past. In our time the instrument of His choice is the church. Is the church an extension of Israel in a spiritual way, or is the church a completely new work of God? This question seems to be a very critical issue in our time. Perhaps because the nation of Israel is the focus of much attention in the Mid-East today, many are directing their attention to Israel. In so doing, many are also going back to the Old Testament and becoming convinced that we should be keeping the Law of Moses as much as possible. A key issue at the heart of this debate is whether the church is a completely new working of God begun at the day of Pentecost, or whether the church and the New Covenant are really just an extension of God’s working in Israel but in a spiritual way. Today we want to look at this subject, seeking to bring clarity that we may all walk in truth and love for God’s purpose and glory.
What does it mean to commune with God? What does it mean to hear God? What lifts us out of only an intellectual agreement with certain truths into a living relationship with the God of this universe? Is our heart hungry for that? So often we read scripture or hear certain truths proclaimed and agree with what we read or hear, but we lack the experience and spiritual reality that both we and God desires. Are we content where we are, or are our hearts hungry for God and everything that He has provided for us? If our heart is hungry for more, I believe we will find some help in this ministry by Gordon Gentry given in 1989. May the Lord give us ears to hear Him and eyes to see the pathway of faith into a deeper communion with God. Jesus opened the door for us. Let us go through that door for the purpose and glory of God.
Many of us have heard a lot about God and what He has done in the past for others. We know the scriptures, and we agree that God has made full provision for us. But often we find ourselves still lacking in our own experience of the supernatural God. What is the answer? It is one thing to follow, it is another thing to learn, but it is still another thing to launch out and experience God for ourselves. Elisha is an example of “crossing over Jordon” and experiencing God for Himself. Today we share with you some ministry by Gordon Gentry given in 1989. His strong encouragement to us is to “crossover” and experience the fullness of God, both individually and collectively with other believers. Our prayer is that God will shed light on our pathway that we may step out in faith into all that God is and has for us for His purpose and glory.
What is the basis of our gathering together as believers? I think most would agree that out gathering should be on the foundation of Christ and unto Him as Head of the body. But what does that mean in practical terms? The gathering together of Christians in unity seems to be one of the most difficult areas we face. There is so much division because of different doctrines and different types of ministry. We know this should not be but so often we don’t seem to able to achieve what God wants, namely that we may be one as the Father and Son are one as Jesus prayed in John 17. Today we share some ministry by Gordon Gentry on this subject. It was given in a home meeting in 1998. It is our prayer that the truth Gordon shared will be helpful in seeing our way into a greater unity and experience of God in our gathering together unto Christ as our Lord.
http://www.ntchurchsource.com/audio/
What will move us from a place of passivity into a place of passion for Christ and His purpose? Will more Bible study, meetings, ministry, and prayer do the work? These all have their place, but by themselves they will not produce what both we and God desire. What will? I think that there is only one thing that will move us and that is fervent love for Jesus. How do we get that? There are two things I see that are essential: 1) A fresh revelation of Christ’s love for us, and 2) that same love deposited in our hearts by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Both require us to deal with God for that which comes only from Him.
Today we share some encouragement from T. Austin-Sparks on the object of Christ’s travail at Calvary. In doing so, it is our prayer that God will use this to reveal afresh to all of us the passion that Christ had to secure us for God.
Link to Austin-Sparks ministry in this podcast:
http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/000899.html