How Do We Get There?

If some of the Old Testament saints were here with us today in our generation, I think they might get after us. 

The reason I think this, is they were the ones who had to take the sacrifices to the temple each year to be atoned for their sins.  They had to keep up with this offering, that offering whether it be peace, sin, guilt, etc.  They would want us NOT to neglect such a GREAT SALVATION as Paul admonished us to do.

They did not have the Gift of the Holy Spirit living in them.  The Spirit came upon those who walked with God and were called like Elisha, Elijah, David, Samuel, Moses, etc.  Does not mean others were not led by the Spirit, but it was by the cloud and pillar of fire or priests with the Urim and Thummim.

The finished work of Christ is so great.  The fact that God’s HOLY Spirit dwells in us, is certainly the treasure we do not need to be neglecting.  Jesus Christ is the ONE sacrifice and we simply “confess,” to be cleansed continually – no animals.  We simply believe, live and walk in the Spirit of the Living God – we have fellowship with God in the Spirit and His Word.  Thank you, Lord!

We really do have better promises as described in Hebrews – AND, Jesus Christ has obtained a “more excellent ministry.”  These Old Testament saints are honored for their faith, because Peter says “they saw ahead by the Spirit,” and believed. 

Paul gave us some prayers to pray that would ignite us into action in apprehending this great salvation.  One of them is Ephesians 1 where he prays that we would be given the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of the Son of God, having the eyes of our heart enlightened so we may know the riches of our inheritance in Christ – that we may understand the power God has granted to us in the Spirit – the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.

Very simply put today, we need to ask God to “open our eyes,” and “open our ears.”  

We either reap from the Lord’s Spirit, or we reap from our flesh.  We get to decide if we walk naturally in this life, or in and by the Spirit of the Living Christ within us.

We also get to repent and turn around if we are not gaining ground – God calls us to move forward each day, just like the He called the children of Israel to move when He was moving.

Therefore, we get to be our own judges.  We do not have to have a prophet come along to speak a word to us, if we will simply get before the Lord and examine our own lives in all honesty.  And He does not condemn us, He only holds out His Hand to lead and take us where He wants us to go.
It’s like spreading out a map.  “Okay, we’re here and we need to be here,” pointing the finger in the exact destination.

Is there that kind of map for us in the New Testament epistles?  Yes.

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection; be filled with the knowledge of God in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, walk by the Spirit, communion and fellowship with the Father and His Son, and with the Holy Spirit, being crucified to the world, yielded to the One who lives in us…”
So the next question is, “How do we get there?”

Just like the map spread out before us.  “Well, we’re here and we want to get there so how are we going – by bus, car, plane, boat?”

God gave us those instructions too.   We ask Him to take us there by His Spirit, His Word and all the grace of God through faith.   Our faith will take us all the way if we let Him.  We may not have all the “natural stuff” to pull it off, but God does not use this anyway.   He called us to die first, (“reckon yourselves dead unto sin, but ALIVE unto God in Christ Jesus), then be raised up by Him.

So He uses our spirits, our hearts, our faith looking unto Jesus, and He is able to cause us to spiritually understand and walk in His Son – all because we want Him to.

So be challenged today to find out where we are in our walk and where we truly want to go in Him.  We can go ALL the way, if we want to, on this planet.  All the way to me means to be “filled with Him,” and “doing His will on a daily basis, “learning to lean solely on Jesus, and yielding to the Spirit of God” in all things at all times.

No flesh can pull that off.  This is why He came to dwell in us – to be our all.

It can happen.  We just “gotta wanna” and ask Him to do it.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”  I Thessalonians 5:23

Love in Christ,

Sue Gaither