“A Voice for the Gathering Saints”
Duane Stewart
God’s Created Man
“Part ten of ten”The Invitation to come unto Him is continuously being extended from God, during this age, for mankinds to not only receive Him, but to allow the Holy Spirit to mature us into a state of perfection. Perfection is a becoming like Christ, manifesting a visible expression of an invisible God. Therefore, in choosing a people to become this visible expression, He places within them a seed with all intentions of it producing after its own kind. Thus, like a plant, man is to grow, moving along with each stage of growth until the full corn in the ear is matured. This speaks of accepting the basic principles of Christ into our lives, fulfilling each, but continuing on into perfection. Heb. 6:1-2, “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment“. These mentioned principles are only building blocks and stepping stones to prepare children for that which we are to become in Christ, a place of perfection, a place of maturity.
In continuing on in Christ let us take note of a few key words in the above scripture. “Leaving”, meaning “have left”, speaks to us of something entertained for a season, but now being moved away from by the fulfillment thereof. “Resurrection” speaks of standing up again, restoration to life, rising from the dead. It also speaks of being enlightened by the recovery of spiritual truth. This is a coming out of the realm of death into that realm of God life, His Shekinah Glory life. “Judgment”, is a legal term describing the judicial process of deciding guilt or innocence, the verdict. A people, called of God, but now moving away from their birthing in the sin realm, until they walk beyond the realm of death, to experience the power of God, in Christ, to a heavenly existence, one that is the result of spiritual enlightenment and being declared completely innocent.
This is the time, the day of God in which we are living, when the principles given us, are to open up the way for that which is perfect. Perfection speaks of becoming a son. It speaks of maturity in understanding and fulfillment in Christ. I Cor. 13:9-12, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known“. Thus, the process of growth that reveals God’s time of release from childhood to manhood. It is a time of knowing the times of God and declaring it to be so. This is a time for coming forth as a mature, complete, perfected man, in Christ. The promise is ours; the truth of God’s purpose has been made known. The enlightenment of the Holy Spirit is the promise of man’s fulfillment. Luke 13:32, “And He (Jesus) said to them, Go, tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected“. Is this not the third day? The remnant of God’s created man are now to come forth in the full anointing of their calling as it begins to move them to obey God’s purpose and desires in all things. Their faithfulness to these principles of the doctrines of Christ has justified each to manifest the callings of God upon them.
These principles of Christ doctrine are fulfilled in each vessel through obedience. First, they have experienced repentance from dead works. Meaning, they have made an about-face from formulas and ritualism to know the inward straight and narrow path. Secondly, the laying on of hands, which is the impartation of God’s wisdom and knowledge as to the desires of God for each vessel. While the laying on of hands does not fulfill the intense desire to know God, it becomes the foundation which can be built upon. The building is erected as we come to the place of seeing His unveiled face. Thus by seeing Him, we experience the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. These become stepping stones that led to the promised perfection. (Read Rev. 20:1-15). Understand, that all who die, they shall be resurrected; they shall stand before God and be judged. But unto those who overcome, they can avoid this judgment of death. Rev. 3:21, “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father in His throne“. This is the truth that sets us free. The overcomer can bypass the time of death and eternal judgment as they move on into the promised perfection. It is unto those who die, who pass on, that shall be resurrected on that day to stand before God and be judged righteously. To those who overcome, they have already faced and overcame death and are being resurrected through the daily judgments of God. I Cor. 15:22-26, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death“.
By what law or word from God can we use to stand in the truth of overcoming death? Luke 10:25-28 declares, “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said to him, what is written in the law? What is your reading of it? So he answered and said, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And He said to Him, You have answered rightly; do this and you will live”. Here, Jesus presents devotion as a matter of the heart. He contrasts sincere, heartfelt devotion with the external, hypocritical, pretentious practices of piety among the Pharisees. He warns His disciples against allowing even genuine, good works to distract them from wholehearted devotion to Him. Devotion is a matter of developing an intimate relationship with the living God, learning the warmth of a life that draws near to His Fathers heart. It is love that will quicken the whole man. We, in our love for God, can come to perfection as we partake of and become living waters. John 4:13-14 states, “Jesus answered and said to her, whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life“. “Everlasting” speaks of a life that’s “Perpetual unchanging, of unlimited duration, eternal, age long, unending. It could also denote that which is without either beginning or end; without beginning; without end”.
This type of devotion unto perfection frees a man from all darkness; darkness is the absence of spiritual knowledge. He therein becomes one that can be born of the spirit. This birthing of the spirit speaks of receiving a new creation body which is without mortality and corruption. John 3:6-8, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again. The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit“. In this truth, let us remember, that Jesus had this experience while upon the Mount of Transfiguration. Matt. 17:1-2, “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; an He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light“. This is a birthing known as the law of translation, which will enable us to come and go as the wind. It is also a love that consumes the whole man. It changes the carnal flesh man to flesh divine without going through the law of death. A promise is given and left for those who would dare to believe, for those who dare to have faith in God’s will and purpose for the completion of that which He desires. This is a people coming forth in life everlasting, in its duration, that we might glorify God. Becoming God’s created man, the place He dwells in. Heb. 11:5, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God“.
Obedience to the commandments of God tests one’s knowledge of Him. Genuine love for God and a true relationship with Him is evidenced by loyalty. I John 2:3-5, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He, who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him“. This word “perfected” speaks of being complete, accomplish, carry through to the end, bring to a successful conclusion, reach a goal, fulfill. It signifies a bringing to maturity, to perfection. Thus, we see, we become and God finishes. The manifesting of God’s created man, which we are beginning to see as he appears in the earth today.