“A Voice for the Gathering Saints”
Duane Stewart
www.avoiceforthegatheringsaints.org
“Following God’s Divine Plan”
We, the people of God do have a future. However, according to scripture, the mind-set established that puts all things from God into a far off future must be changed. That is, a mind-set knowing a change and coming into agreement with God concerning our future starts now. In this realization, God’s people can become the progressiveness of God in the now. That is, not only receiving, but also dwelling in that which God has purposed for them from the very beginning. This speaks of a people that are glorifying and manifesting the Father, a people who are now partaking of their inheritance because they dwell in the heavens with the Father, which is that part of heaven that God imparted as it dwells within each receiving vessel. 1 Peter 1:4 describes this inheritance, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven [also the heavens within] for you”. (Read 1 Peter 1:3-12). “Reserved in heaven for you” speaks of a people, separating from living according to earth’s carnal restrictions and ascending into an unlimited life lived according to the heaven of God who dwells within.
The little word “to” in the above quoted scripture is the Greek word “EIS” which “denotes two lines is meeting at a certain point, with the purpose of reaching or touching it.” Thus, our life is for the purpose of reaching and touching our inheritance. An inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled. Thus, an inheritance, when once touched and received, it will not fade away. Being “reserved in heaven” does not put it off into the future but it speaks of the place humanity must spiritually ascend unto that it might be activated from within. Also another little word “in” from the Greek denotes that of “being or remaining within, with the primary idea of rest and continuance.” This speaks of a people who become the instrument of union and fellowship with the Father of the heaven that they might manifest that which comes from Him, the heavens, on a continual basis.
Resurrection is a word used in the scriptures to mean, “Arising from the dead.” The dictionary speaks of resurrection as “a rising from the dead, or coming back to life, a coming back into notice, practice, and use.” The resurrection God speaks of is the act of God, which sent forth Jesus Christ to make available to God’s creation the act of returning to life, a life according to His original purpose. Scripture speaks of man as a fallen being who lives according to the flesh, which signifies a people who are living according to their fallen nature, the death realm. Rom. 8:8-10 speaks, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Notice that the phrase “in the Spirit” contained in verse nine denotes a new nature or way of life living through the child of God. This “new nature,” received into man’s dead spirit, was dead because of separation from union with God. However, receiving man, resurrected to know a new birth means that he is alive in his spirit again and brought back into union with God. In this, we should note that while our spirits are alive again unto God, the soul and the body at this stage of our spiritual maturity remains under the influence of death. This death speaks of the vessels independent nature being separation from the creator God. Thus, the soul, speaking of our mind, our will, our emotions, and our desires continue to be the fruit of man’s old fallen sin nature. While the Spirit of God has come to abide within our spirits, the soul yet remains carnal, an enemy of God’s in-dwelling Spirit. At this stage of life, the body of man remains corruptible and subject to sin, hurt, pain, sickness, death, etc. unless God, through the prayer of faith brings healing and deliverance to the vessel.
Containing in verse nine of the above quoted scripture the word, “dwell” speaks of this indwelling Spirit of God transferring this people from one family into another. This indwelling Spirit of God makes us a part of another family called the family of God. While now being a part of the family of God note that in verse ten the “body is dead.” Why is this so, could it be because of the sin nature? “Dead” the Greek word “NEKROI” as used here denotes “the persons who were once alive, but who are now alive no longer; dead persons as distinct from dead bodies.” This “dead” then is not speaking of corpses but is speaking of a life separated from God because of the sin nature. What then is the sin nature? It speaks of that which motivates a people to miss the mark, a falling short of the reason God created man. This is a sin, the acting out of its own will, mind, emotions, and desires. Meanwhile unto those who have received the Spirit of Christ within their spirits, they now have the life of Christ within their spirits to progressive work out the righteousness of God from within. This work of righteousness continues until the whole person is righteous (to include, first the soul and then the body). In following God’s divine order, man now enters upon a new pathway that ultimately leads to glorification, which again is speaking of the completed man. Rom. 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you”. The word “quicken” has the meaning of “makes alive,” designating that it is the “mortal bodies” that are to be made alive by the Spirit of God that now dwells within. “Mortal bodies” is that body which is subject to death, the fruit of sin, sickness, hurt, pain, etc. This was not God’s original design.
God’s divine order begins its transforming process within the repentant receiving spirit of man as human kind receives the Spirit of Christ into his own spirit. Herein, man’s fallen dead spirit becomes alive as the resurrection order of God begins its work. In this process, we have the promises of God that we can now stand firm upon until we see total salvation. Our surety stands, not upon our own ability, but upon the Christ who died, but rose again, to become the first fruit of this resurrection. 1 Cor. 15:20-22, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” With man’s spirit now having received the Spirit of Christ within, its purpose is the saving of the soul. The soul of man, formed and shaped from the environment of a fallen world, has from the mother’s womb, been birthed into a fallen condition. Fallen humankind shaped and formed in iniquity, with all avenues of growth being the product of this fallen nature. Psalms 51:5 declares, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” A fallen spirit, a fallen soul and a fallen body, separated from union with God and shaped after the environment and iniquity of this fallen world. However, now a new birth begins, a divine order established within the spirit of man until the salvation of the whole man is completed. Rom. 5:10-11, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life, and not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement”. “Atonement” means for us “restoration to favor, a change, or exchange for something else, reconciliation.”
While the spirit of the repentant man is now resurrected, that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead is now at work in this repentant man to bring new life to the fallen soul. This step in God’s divine order is not something man can accomplish from himself, his own strength, and ability. Nevertheless, God, because of love and His desire for an intimate relationship with man, this relationship is available, one that is to resurrect the soul of man so that man’s soul may now dwell in God’s holy presence, His nature. This speaks of the need to recognize the fallacy of man’s own soul, the seat of his character. This means a knowing that God and God alone can renovate the soul. That is the necessary need to see oneself as corrupt, having a need for God to bring change. Note a direct translation of John 5:39-40, “You search the scriptures, because you think by them to obtain eternal life; and they are those testifying of me; and yet you are not willing to come to me that you may obtain life.” While many people read and study the things of God, His desire expressed here is for His creation to come into a relationship that produces His life through the coming to Him vessel. That is, a nature change, a soul being renovated into one that responds and manifest God’s mind, His will, His emotions and His desires. This speaks of God’s desire for a many member first-fruit company of people who will make up the remnant of God in the earth. This will be an order of people who are to manifest and establish the kingdom of God in the earth. This kingdom of God in the earth is the results of having union with God and Christ body of people, a one-minded people who live only to glorify God.
Herein we see a coming forth of every willing man, but each coming forth in his own order. That is, fulfilling the calling and purpose of each vessel in their creation for God’s purpose. 1 Cor. 15:23 speaks of a first-fruits people coming forth in the order of God’s purpose first. “But each one in his own order; Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ at His appearing”. “Christ the first-fruits” speaks of the Christ in His completeness which includes a many member people made up of the Head, Jesus Christ, and the many members of His body. 1 Cor. 12:12, “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”. In the order of God, a season, now upon us, is calling forth a time for the appearing of Christ (head and body) and the manifestation of His appearing. For what reason and purpose is this appearing but to bring forth the judgments of God that He might purify the world of darkness and the gross darkness that consumes the minds of carnal man? A light from God is now coming forth to reveal the order of His working kingdom government that is to usher in the repentant nations as the Christ (head and body), are now appearing, and manifesting the Christ.
1 Cor. 15:24-26 expresses, “Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put down all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” All death shall fall; it has run its course while God, according to His divine order has been making up His dwelling place, His temple. All of God’s wrath shall destroy the fruit of the destroyer at the appearing of God’s Christ and His body of people. This order, running and completing its purpose shall eradicate all the governmental orders of this world to establish, in the end, the kingdom of God in the heavens and the earth. This is a coming together in union, as God shall manifest Himself from His throne. Rev. 21:3-7, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying; Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and He will dwell with them and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new. And He said unto me, write: for these words are true and faithful. And He said, unto me, it is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be His God, and he shall be My Son.”