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Equality with Christ

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Scripture reading: Ephesians 2:6

The Golden Lampstand in the Tabernacle of Moses has seven lamps that are on one level at the top which signifies equality with Christ. When man comes forth in Christ, he will sit in an equal place with Jesus Christ as part of the Christ Himself. Ephesians 2:6, “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” There is perfect equality between the head and the body. Jesus is the head and we are the body, WHEN THE BODY FUNCTIONS IN THE SPIRIT.

It is, therefore, not just a matter of being perfect at some future time, and then gaining equality with Christ, but obeying the Spirit now, operating perfectly now, because we have been given an equal status with Christ. This is not to bring Christ down, but to lift humanity. Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” John 12:32.

It is necessary for us to understand equality. This is a statutory equality which is different from the position one holds in the body, and the work appointed for each to do.

In other words, Jesus is the head and the different functions are apportioned out to us, the body. We are just as important and equal in the body operation as the head, but, of course, we are not the head. If one part usurps the function of another, then two jobs would be undone. I am afraid that this is the problem of the body today.

(Excerpt from The Pattern, pg. 117-118)

Thought for today: Let us not usurp the function of another member of the body of Christ. Otherwise, two jobs will be undone.

We Have the Power

This message entitled “We Have the Power” was given at a convention in Florida, December 2003 by Brother Cecil duCille.

For more video messages please visit Butter and Honey.

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Scripture reading: Leviticus 11:20-22

Let us look at Leviticus 11:20, “All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.”

The analogy here is bringing to our notice the unnaturalness of a flying creature which cannot fly. This is the type of the Christian which should be spiritual, but is not. He cannot defy the law of gravity and rise above the earth, because of some defect in his nature. God says such a Christian is an abomination. In the category, we find all the carnal Christians who have a doctrine for their carnality, so that they say they are good and fine without any spiritual life. This includes those who say God is a spirit, yet they refuse to admit the infilling of the Holy Spirit, and deny the supernatural in their lives and behavior.

In verse 21, there is a qualification, and it would be good for us to take a note of this.

“Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth.”

Verse 22 names the locust, the bald locust, the beetle, the grasshopper after his kind.

These creeping, flying things show that there are those who are not able to stay aloft in God or in things of the Spirit, but we should not reject them, because these will be able to survive spiritually when they are absorbed into the body of Christ. The reference to the body of Christ is not a reference to a group or a church organization, but a body of people which have entered into Christ through death to self and death to sin, whom the Spirit of God has baptized into the body of Christ. This is NOT WATER BAPTISM, NOT THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST, but the immersion of the man into the mystical body of Christ, by the Holy Spirit.

All creeping things are a type of fleshly, carnal, unsaved man. Christians should not marry an unsaved person. Even in the different levels of Christianity, it is not the perfect will of God for marriages. We find that a sheep is a clean animal, but it does not have union with a cow, nor does the dove with the chicken. To have the perfect will of God, we must obey His orders in all things. Disobedient people will never know the right people to fellowship with, neither will they know the right doctrine, because you have to obey the will of the Father before you know the truth (John 7:16-17).

This does not mean that we cannot talk to sinners, and even love them, but it does mean that we are not to become one with them, but lead them unto Christ.

(Excerpt from The Pattern, pg. 103-104)

Thought for today: We are to talk to sinners, and even love them, however, we are not to become one with them, but lead them unto Christ.

Spiritual Garbage Cans

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Scripture reading: Matthew 18:15-17

When a person brings evil tidings to you concerning another, and asks you to keep it a secret, he or she is binding you from your duty towards God. He or she lets loose a demon spirit upon you against your brother, and at the same time USES YOU AS A GARBAGE CAN to dump spiritual waste. Do not allow it. Either do not listen, or if they tricked you into listening, let it cease with you by applying Matthew 18:15-17.

  1. Tell him his fault privately.
  2. If no result, then tell him with witnesses.
  3. If no result, then tell it to the church. You will ask the question, “Which church?” The answer is a gathering or group of the called-out saints, real saints.
  4. If no result, then he does not regard God’s authority on earth, so pray for him as for a sinner, show him love, and commend him to judgment which will surely fall upon him to bring him back to God.

THIS IS THE METHOD OF DEALING WITH GARBAGE. Unless a person wants to be exposed in the future, he will not come to you with tales against God’s people.

We are our brother’s keeper. If you entertain evil thoughts against the people of God, and that which you have heard is true against them, then you immediately become responsible to help them repent. If the tales are not true, then the Christians who spread them should be brought to account.

(Excerpt from The Pattern, pg. 102)

Thought for today: Do not allow anyone to use you as a garbage can to dump spiritual waste.

The Analogy of the Fish

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Scripture reading: Leviticus 11:9

Leviticus 11:9 gives TWO qualities which distinguish the clean fish from the unclean: they must have scales and they must have fins.

The fish with scales is shielded from the water by the scales and is not a part of the water. This is a dry fish in a wet environment. Even the eyes of this fish are shielded with a kind of “contact” lens from the water. The scales also have a rough surface which causes a certain amount of friction when the fish darts along, supplying heat to its body. So the fish draws heat from the cold water. THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE of this is that the fish represents the Christian in the world. The water is a type of the world, and the fish is a type of the Christian. He is in the world, but not of the world. He is a paradox, drawing good from an evil environment. A warm-blooded animal in a cold environment, breathing air from the water. He beats the water with his fins to propel himself, unlike the unclean fish which goes with the flow of the water, coiling and uncoiling like a serpent, to propel himself onward.

Beating his way through the waters with his fins is a type of the Christian overcoming the world. Slithering along like a serpent is the type of a person who has to go along with the world in order to make headway. This is unclean. BE REMINDED, WE ARE not discussing NATURAL FOOD, but SPIRITUAL principle. For those who think of this in the natural, I will quote this scripture and leave it there.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:1-5).

(Excerpt from The Pattern, pg. 98-99)

Thought for today: That we be clean fish which is a type of the Christian overcoming the world.