I hope my posts bring a measure of  fresh insight in your long journey with the Lord.

And help create desire and anticipation for the deep work of grace in your life, the revelation of Christ in you.

A few thoughts before we get into the meat of this post.

If you approach the study of Scripture through the lens of centuries upon centuries of creeds and traditions, you’ll be led down a different path than the one the Lord would take you on.

Every generation needs fresh manna from heaven – the progressive revelation of the Word – made alive for what God is doing in that particular season.

The Lord has cleared the banquet table of meals left over from the Reformation and Pentecost.

This is not breakfast time, nor lunch, but the extravagance of evening dinner.

And today, with the banquet tables cleared of the recent past, why would one go back tens of centuries and “dine” on creeds and traditions having no bearing on what God is doing today?

This was the tremendous struggle in Christ’s day, the great weight of traditions placed on the shoulders of those seeking God.

Creeds and traditions are designed to give definition and identity in the absence of relationship and revelation.

Do you need a piece of paper to tell you who your loved ones are?

We are to know Christ, and he us, intimately.

I think that pretty much tells the story.

The Song of Songs is a picture of the intimacy Christ desires to have with you and me.

Christ our pattern, pioneer, came to know the Father by the revelation of the Word, the Spirit, and the closeness of deep intimacy, fellowship, and union.

As it says in Ephesians, “when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.” (NIV, Ephesians 4:21, bold and italicized are mine)

The Father imparted his nature and likeness into Christ and that’s his desire for you and me.

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I received an intensive prayer session over two evenings last week.

One of the Scriptures brought in the session spoke deeply to my heart what the Lord was doing in me, and what he desires for all his sons and daughters –

“The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” (NIV, Proverbs 10:22)

To me, this verse speaks of the abundance God brings, spiritually or otherwise, out of his abundant love for us – repudiating the belief sorrow must precede abundance.

In other words, the love of God, the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus Christ, does not need a reason to do the deep work of the Spirit in your life and mine, it’s what we were created for – deep intimacy and union with God.

This is the desire of his heart with each and every one of us.

This is not the time to fall asleep!

It’s the time to respond to the call of God to go deep in him.

My Approach in This Post

There are two ways of approaching the main theme of this post – the personal journey of the Lord Jesus Christ, separate from Calvary.

One, a paragraph by paragraph, sentence by sentence, explanation of key points showing the contrast between Christ’s personal journey and Calvary.

The other, a more general discussion, hoping to stimulate others to discover for themselves the deep truths of Scripture (1 Timothy 3:9) by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Teaching can only go so far, eventually, the work of Christ must take each one of us deeply in him, to know, and be known of him.

The deep things of Christ cannot be transferred one to another, or generation to generation, but must be sown and cultivated one by one, by the Lord, until we are his, and his alone.

The vast body of Scriptures in the New Testament describe and testify of Christ’s personal journey.

Through the centuries most of those have been ascribed to Calvary in one form or another, hiding the deep truths of Scripture: the knowledge of Christ – what the Father accomplished in Christ, and desires to accomplish in you and me.

Creeds and traditions have smothered Christ’s personal journey, elevating Calvary, in many respects, as the heart of the gospel, instead of Christ, what he pioneered and who he became.

We’re going to dig a little deeper in this post.

The Gospel of John, Romans 1 through 8, 1 Corinthians 15, 2 Corinthians 5, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Hebrews, and 1 Peter devote much material to the knowledge and understanding of Christ’s personal journey.

Some Perspectives Regarding “Death” in the New Testament

Death in most cases does not refer to physical death.

The context determines whether the word “death” is physical or spiritual, e.g., separation from God; which could refer to someone outside the kingdom, or, an area of a believer’s life given over to sin, needing redemption.

Another type of death are unhealed wounds, etc., “…evil desire…” waiting for the right set of circumstances to birth sin (NIV, James 1:13-15).

Finally, there’s another type of death, a “death” we bring to those things set on destroying you and me.

Putting to death the old man, that we may walk in newness of life.

Christ inherited (from his human ancestors) deep wounds, and all the attendant agreements and curses, that, if left unhealed, would eventually capture him in sin, sabotaging the plan of God.

(See Ephesians 2:14 in an interlinear “…THE HOSTILITY, IN THE FLESH OF HIM,” (A), source is at bottom of post. Also see superscript ^b below.  

Paul labors in Romans explaining Christ’s journey in overcoming the weaknesses of his flesh, putting to death sin, to walk in newness of life, not just outward temptations, but the temptations in his own flesh he needed to crucify and be made new in the inner man – just like you and me, Romans 6.

Being made new in the inner man “putting to death the desires of the flesh,” by the Spirit of grace (made alive by the Spirit), is being “resurrected” to walk in newness of life – i.e., raised from the dead.

Christ was the first in the new creation to experience this journey – that’s what he patterned and pioneered for you and me.

Too long these passages have been glossed over, as if Christ did not have a personal journey and fight to win over the hostility of the flesh handed to him from his human ancestors.

This is not damaging to the image of Christ, but brings out the glory of the Father and the wonder of his Son, in who he came to be, made perfect! (Hebrews 5:7-10))

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When the Scripture says Jesus was fully human in every way, he was fully human, he knows what it’s like for us to go through deep healing and restoration – because, he pioneered our faith, by grace through faith in his journey! (Hebrews 2:10, 6:20)

A lot was at stake, and Jesus knew it.

His pioneering journey “fathered by God,” putting to death the hostility in his members, having the law of God written on his heart and mind, is the heart of the Gospel, the great weight and body of Scripture (Romans, Hebrews).

Christ was the first in the new creative work of God – firstborn, first fruit, pioneer and finisher of our faith.

Christ was the first to pioneer the path of healing and restoration (by grace) the prophets of old desired to look into, (1 Peter 1:10), without sinning.

He pioneered what it was like to be fully loved, healed and restored, by grace through faith in obedience to his heavenly father (Hebrews 5:7 – 10).

If we miss the story of Christ, his journey, then we miss the “Jesus Story,” the treasure of Christ, the New Covenant “in him,” the fullness of who he became by the Father’s work of grace, and, his offer to sons and daughters in the latter times.

Brief Summary

The heart of the Scripture is the story of Christ, his relationship with the Father, the deep intimacy, union, and love they came to share, and their offer to share their love with us.

Out of Christ’s union with the Father “perfection,” was birthed the New Covenant in him, the source of our salvation (Hebrews 5:7-10).

God accepted the perfection of Christ (the deep work of grace making him complete, without sinning), as the living, breathing, New Covenant – the substitute for our sins.

One man’s sin, Adam’s, brought death; the last Adam’s perfection, brought life.

The New Covenant is both new and better!

As it says in Hebrews, doing the will of God is what pleases him, not the killing of animals, and certainly not humans.

The New Testament began at Christ’s perfection, Christ being the first recipient, by his perfection through the Father’s work of grace in his life. (Hebrews 5:7 – 10)

Jesus Christ is the New Covenant, purchasing salvation^a for you and me: the substitute for our sins, ransoming our souls by the sacrifice of the entirety of his “life” to the Father.

Note:

The belief God’s plan from the beginning was the killing of his Son at Calvary is contrary to the plain text of Scripture; parables; the plan of God to make men and women into his likeness, starting with his Son; and the better sacrifice being “doing the will of God.”

It is contrary to the teaching and types in the Old Covenant; to the heart of the Father for his creation, particularly his only Son who fulfilled everything the Father asked of him; desires and plans to kill him are severely rebuked (you don’t severely rebuke people if your “best” fits with their plans, see Acts 7:52), etc.

God invested 4000 plus years of history, from Adam forward, to prepare everything just right, at the fullness of time – the perfection of his Son to show forth what his grace can accomplish to a people who haven’t heard from their God for over 400 years, like the ancient Hebrews in Egypt.

Hoping, the contrast would be so great between Israel, spiritually thirsting and starving, and the love of Christ, they would respond to their bridegroom and open their hearts to be made a new creation in grace, like him.

God was heavily invested in Christ’s success, as well as Christ, and did everything possible to woo their hearts to his embrace.

With all that in mind, Calvary was the farthest thing from the heart of the Father, and the desires and hopes of Christ, compelling him to give all in his personal journey and ministry in the hope of his “acceptance,” and not rejection.

The New Covenant was standing in their midst, hoping beyond hope to be received.

Calvary was not first and foremost in the plan of God, but the last resort in a long line of rejections, after exhausting every possibility to win Israel to their bridegroom.

And the prophecies foretelling the sufferings of the coming Messiah?

Some of those foretold his personal journey, the sufferings in learning obedience, coming into perfection, and some point to Calvary – when, and if, Christ was rejected.

Just like in our lives, there’s a difference between God knowing the future, and letting us make choices, with warnings and consequences as guardrails.

The Bible is a book of choices, decisions, invitations, rejections, life lived and life lost, not a black and white forecast of the future.

God can change the future, no matter what form the past foretells the future, within the broad framework of God’s creative work of grace in men and women.

Winning souls and Christ likeness can win appeals to the Father, altering courses of actions previously set in – motion because of hardened and unrepentant hearts.   

For example, God changed his mind with Hezekiah and Ahab, extending their lives after they were told they would die. (Isaiah 38:1-6; 1 Kings 21:17-29)

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And it’s this sacrifice, the sacrifice of Christ’s life to the Father, that has caused so much confusion and misunderstanding in the body of Christ over the centuries.

Most believe the sacrifice occurred at Calvary, ushering in the New Covenant at that time.

And they point to the great body of Scripture’s in the New Testament about Christ’s death and sacrifice as pertaining to Calvary.

But the Scriptures make clear there’s a death and sacrifice Christ incurred having nothing to do with Calvary, and everything to do with his journey to becoming the pioneer, forerunner, and author of the faith.

Here’s a thought, what’s more valuable to God – “dying to sin,” or, being “martyred”?

This is the heart of Hebrews – the author showing that doing the will of God, “dying to sin, made perfect” is more valuable than animal sacrifices – a better and new covenant, he finds acceptable and pleasing.

The author concludes Christ’s walk through the priesthood by explaining how his perfect, sinless, offering of his life, doing the will of God, becoming perfected, is the substitute for our sins – it’s a “death” the Jews stumbled at, and many in Christendom continue to stumble at even 2000 years later.

“Beliefs” whatever they might be, in or out of agreement with Scripture, color and influence our responses to the moving of the Spirit, either helping us along, or hindering us and others.

When you receive the deep work of the spirit of grace, Tabernacles, it helps to know Christ pioneered and partook of what you’re experiencing, and by the way, far more deeply and completely.

The vast majority of Scripture’s in the New Testament describing (Romans) and testifying (Hebrews) as to Christ’s death and resurrection, using various descriptions, pertain to Christ’s personal journey, not to Calvary.

Jesus is making known his personal journey again in this hour of church history, because the body of Christ needs to understand the journey of their Savior.

He leads us into the journey he pioneered as the bridegroom for his bride.

He did not pioneer Calvary for you and me, but salvation by grace through faith. And yes, Christ operated out of faithⁱ, just like you and me.

The sacrifice of Christ’s life – a very complex journey of healing and restoration “fathered by God,” emptying of rights and privileges “being made perfect,” occurred before his presentation to John at the river Jordan.

Before Christ’s presentation to John, he was perfected^a, passed through the heavens^c, a new creation^f, resurrected from the dead^g to walk in new life – the life he presented to Israel for over 3 years!, the first fruit^h, firstborn of all creation^f, possessing all authority and power entrusted to him by the Father, given a name above every other name, seated in heavenly places.

His 40 – day commissioning in the wilderness was the testing of everything the Father had accomplished in Christ, the good news of the gospel in flesh and blood.

Something Israel could touch, see, and handle – the forerunner, the first of the making of the new creation by grace through faith.

This was the Christ presented to John at the river Jordan, the Son of God in fullness.

The living, breathing, New Covenant, new creation, resurrected to walk in newness of life (from the “death of wounds – the hostility in his flesh” passed to him from his earthly ancestry), King, Lord, High Priest, offering healing and salvation to Israel for over three years.

Christ was prepared deeply and endured much to be prepared as the bridegroom, a journey spanning much of his life until age 30.

We see the fruit in his ministry, and yes, tragically, eventually at Calvary.

None of that would have been possible without years of preparation by the Father – that’s the heart of the New Testament for Christ, and for you and me.

The sacrifice of his life came at great cost – everything!

His personal healing and restoration required the cleansing of deep ancestral wounds and brokenness in his journey to perfection.

Remember, in Hebrews it says he was made fully human like you and me.

Else, how could he be the pioneer, forerunner of grace through faith?

Else, how could he be the first fruit, firstborn, Word made flesh?

And else, how could he show compassion and care for you and me in our wounds and brokenness if he had not experienced the deep and gentle tenderness of his Father in healing and restoration?

The Scriptures could not be any clearer than they are on this subject.

There’s this sense and teaching in Christendom of this magical and mysterious appearance of Christ, making it more about us, than about him and who he became.

Wrong beliefs and interpretations of Scripture are open doors, “hiding” men and women’s need to receive deep care, “fathering,” healing and restoration, because the center of the gospel we’ve been taught revolves around Calvary, instead Christ, the living, breathing, New Covenant, pioneer and forerunner of our faith.

History has made the events of Christ’s life, and beliefs about him, greater than him.

Lacking intimacy with Christ leads to drift, and drift leads to a lack of revelation, insight, and inspiration from the Scriptures that bring life, and not death.

And the lack of revelation leads to creeds and traditions, something, anything, to measure and hold one’s attention on Christ – other than the living Christ.

God fully healed and restored Jesus; putting to death latent tendencies before they could conceive and birth sin, raising Christ from the “death” passed to him through the flesh – to an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16), perfected by the Father, the sinless substitute for you and me.

A life the bride will experience in a measure, in Christ.

Because it’s all about Jesus, his story, his journey, that’s makes everything else possible.

Some of us who’ve experienced deliverance, inner healing, listening prayer, etc., in our healing journey have just a glimpse of what Christ endured being made perfect.

That’s why his killing, or as Stephen says in the book of Acts (7:52), murder, is so tragic, and beyond words to describe.

Because, he had already endured the sacrifice of himself, being made perfect, having the New Testament “in him” (Matthew 26:28), securing eternal salvation, and yet, he was still willing to give Israel one last chance, one more sign, the sign of Jonah, to attest, one last time, to the glory he transfigured to Peter, James, and John, by which he wrought miracles.

His personal journey, his death and sacrifice, was the offering of his blood as a “living sacrifice” to the Father for you and me, and untold millions.

And the way Christ expressed the New Covenant in their midst – his nature, presence, union with the Father “resurrection life” in words they could grasp, is by saying the New Covenant is in his blood^e – the most intimate way possible to express the depth of who he became, and what he was offering them.

That’s why he could offer healing and salvation during his years of ministry.

The New Covenant is a better covenant, a living covenant, with a living Savior, unlike the Old Covenant, which God was not pleased^d.

Oh, how tragic Israel’s rejection of their Messiah, demanding to break the vessel and see for themselves, whether it held the treasures Christ claimed to possess.

He poured out the New Testament inside him – his life – as a second chance for Israel to see, through the testimony of the eyes of his intimates, the risen Christ.

His anguish at Gethsemane, beyond the violation he was about to receive, was the consuming thought, after all I’ve accomplished and done, it comes down to this: either be killed or kill.

And he could not bring himself to do the later, the prince of peace, sent to give life, not take it.

It would violate everything in him to destroy what God had accomplished in him, to save and heal.

Let’s not be like Israel of old and demand a “sign” from the Lord when the living, breathing, Christ comes knocking on the door of our hearts.

Let’s endeavor to rightly divide the word of truth, letting Jesus walk us through the Scriptures, as he learned to walk through them.

And let’s be especially discerning to the application of spiritual truths conveyed by natural terms, and not be like those who fled Christ when he talked about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, but have eyes to see and ears to hear what Jesus is truly trying to tell us.

And finally, if Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit, a newly begotten spirit at birth, required healing and restoration from wounds inherited from his human ancestral line, what does that say about us, and our need for healing?

No wonder inner healing, deliverance, intensive prayer ministry, counseling, etc., was birthed earnestly in the mid – 1900s, preparing Christians for the deep work of grace in this hour.

^a Hebrews 5:7 – 10

^b Ephesians 2:14 – 16, see an interlinear; Romans 6:10; 1 Peter 3:18 last sentence refers to Romans 6 and Hebrews 5, being perfected, and not Calvary, even commentators wrestle with 1 Peter 3:18 last sentence because it does not fit with Calvary; Hebrews 1:3 (providing for purification of sins by being made perfect – he became the substitute for our sins, the New Covenant walking in flesh and blood)

^c Hebrews 4:14; 9:11 – 14; 9:24

^d Hebrews 10:8

^e Matthew 26:28

^f Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 1:15 – Christ the “firstborn” of the new creation – the deep work of grace to make men and women into the likeness of God

^g John 11:25; Romans Chapters 5 – 6; Hebrews

^h 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

ⁱ See Romans 3:22 and Galatians 3:22 in the Greek and notice the preferred is the faith “of” Christ.

And by the way, “shedding” and “shed” are not in the Greek in Romans 3:25, Colossians 1:20, or Hebrews 12:4, but have been added in translation.

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Hello again and I hope this post finds you well.

If you’ve been following my writings, I hope you’ve seen a glimpse of my heart for the Scripture and the elevation of Christ above all things.

The Lord has given me a burden – a good burden – to proclaim the journey of Christ as revealed in the Scriptures.

The Lord is about to usher in a deep move of his Spirit, and, the more we receive now, the better prepared we’ll be, for ourselves, and, to assist others.

There will be many in the days ahead who will be ushered quickly into the deep things of God.

And they will need forerunners to help them along.

That is the foundation God is building now, a global network of forerunners.

A global “net” to catch large numbers of fish in the last days.

Jesus talked about this in the seventh parable of Matthew Chapter 13, a type of the last day move(s) of God.

It could be a series of revivals over many years, we just don’t know.

But we do know from many references in Scripture, parallel time keys, multiple accounts, and perspectives from different angles, we are in the last era of the gospel age.

But first, there are some basic truths needing to be reestablished in our lives to be properly equipped and productive in the advancement of the kingdom.

And the most basic truth of all, following the grace and love of God for you and me, and his desire for us to be made new, is the most fundamental story of all, the journey of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Out of Christ’s journey and perfection, everything else flows in this creation.

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We have been ingrained as Christians the door to our salvation swung open at Calvary.

That the shedding of Christ’s blood at Calvary ransomed our souls, purchasing our salvation.

But that’s not when his perfection occurred, when he secured salvation, when he died to sin to walk in new life, the first fruit, firstborn, pioneer and forerunner of our salvation – which he exhibited in authority and power for over 3 years.

Thankfully and graciously, Christ did not pioneer Calvary for us.

Christ clearly stated the New Covenant is in his blood, freely pouring it out for you and me, and millions, for the forgiveness of sins.

So, what’s the difference between the New Covenant already in his blood, and, being poured out, or shed, for the forgiveness of sins?

If you stick with me in this post and the one to come, you’ll see there’s more to the story of Jesus than Calvary, not to diminish Calvary, but to rightly exalt Christ first and foremost in accordance with the Scriptures.

This post is broken into three sections for easier reading over a number of sittings.

The one to follow will have much more on his “blood sacrifice,” “death,” and, an expanded narrative.

Blessings, Drake

*** SECTION I ***

Overview

There’s a story to be told, long lost and forgotten.

Creeds and traditions, supported by the great weight of writings and teachings over the centuries, confirming and reconfirming one another “by doctrines,” over and over again, has made discovery of Christ’s story all but impossible.

What once would have been easy to glean from Scripture, has now become so layered and riddled with this and that, that a fresh and complete re-examination of the Scriptures is required to separate the revelation of Christ from the traditions of men.

And this can be accomplished only by the revelation of the Lord.

Without the light of God, the Bible is simply another writing, another book, no different than anything else.

Subject to critical analysis, like other writings, but, invariable falling short in bringing life in the absence of God’s Spirit. 

But when the light of God, the revelation of Christ speaks to your heart and spirit, bringing the Word alive, it’s a living, breathing Word, holding your very life in its hands.

The pressure to conform to church ideals, statements of faith – the traditions handed down to us from our fathers – coupled with fear of rejection and ostracism, makes unbinding the cords of man’s wisdom even more costly for those in positions of influence and leadership.

The greater the influence, the greater the cost to veer from what is held as sacred and holy in public Christian discourse.

No wonder, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, John the Baptist, Christ, Paul, and others, spent so much time in the wilderness, being “fathered” by grace through faith, because of the hardness of hearts they’d face as they ventured forth to birth deeper and new moves of God’s grace and love.

Now, that being said, we owe much to those who’ve gone before us, giving their lives to the labor of the Word, writing and living in the light of their day.

Each generation carries the torch with what they’ve been taught and know to be true.

I am thankful for the exhaustive and comprehensive, commentaries, writings, and teachings found in the libraries of Christendom.

Nonetheless, Christ is not bound or held to the teachings and traditions of men and women in past ages nor of you and me today.

He’s bringing a fresh wind of his Spirit and with that comes fresh insight and revelation in the Word of God.

We’re blessed to be living in another breakthrough season where Christ is restoring truths about himself to the body of Christ.

He’s preparing his body for greater intimacy, ministry, and, advancement of his kingdom.

His personal journey is coming to the forefront once again like in days of old.

The knowledge of his journey is necessary for those called to pursue him into deeper waters.

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The answer to the title of this post may not be what you’ve been taught, or, what you believe.

It’s not something I thought about until the Lord began revealing the Scriptures about his personal journey.

As the Scriptures unfolded, a number of truths became clear.

One, when the New Testament started.

Another, greater understanding of his blood sacrifice, when it occurred and what it means, and the meaning of the many references to his “death.”

It is generally well-known what tradition teaches on these subjects, at least at a high level.

Though, there are a variety of divergent views among commentators, but, in the end, most circle back in one form or another to what has been held as truth for centuries.

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Every new move of God brings an end “a death,” to something from the old, and “life,” into something new.

New wine into new bottles is the hallmark of Christianity whether it be in an individual’s life or a move of God.

The Reformation (1500s forward) brought new wineskins and new wine, by providing “new teaching,” to hold the “new wine” of the born-again experience.

The same with the return of Pentecost in the early 1900s.

New teaching provided the vessels to bear the weight of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

And so, it is with the season we find ourselves in today.

But this season (Tabernacles), unlike the return of Passover and Pentecost, is much broader, deeper, and richer.

The heart of Tabernacles (Philadelphia church age) is the transformation of men and women into the likeness of Christ, through deep healing and restoration, for intimacy and union with their savior.

Like the Tabernacle in the wilderness, Passover and Pentecost are progressive moves, or steps “journeys,” toward the Holy of Holies (intimacy and union with Christ).

Passover being a type of the “outer court,” and Pentecost a type of the “inner court.”

But, it’s at the Holy of Holies where deep transformation and union occur.

Where the bride is developed and matured for her bridegroom.

This is what is being offered to the Church today, the Holy of Holies in Christ.

The Lord has been providing new wineskins over the last number of decades, i.e., “teachings,” for the present move of the Spirit, and the one to come.

Inner healing, fathering, counseling, deliverance, intensive prayer, prophetic, etc., are some of the ways the Lord has been providing new wineskins, and wine, to many who have been receiving deep grace, love, and care.

There’s an intensive work of the Spirit today.

The Lord is in the process of bringing to fulfillment the work he started in the body of Christ two millenniums ago.

To prepare a bride, sons and daughters, in the closing seasons of the gospel.

Those who will carry the weight of an unprecedented, deep work of grace, cleaving to their bridegroom, offering his goodness and love to a lost and dying world before unalterable events are set in motion.

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When the door is opened to “understanding” the revelation of Christ’s journey before ministry: made perfect, raised from the dead (yes! raised from the deadness of the body he inherited from his human ancestors), securing eternal salvation, “resurrection life,” seated in heaven (the kingdom of God has come unto us), King, Lord, High Priest and Savior, before his presentation to John, (a)

humbling himself to be water baptized by John, (b)

enduring 40 says in the wilderness, tested by the devil: testifying to his complete and full Sonship – the right to enter the kingdom of darkness, ushering its’ subjects into the kingdom of God,

demonstrating resurrection life for over three years – what it is to be full sons and daughters of God by grace through faith, an open book and invitation to Israel, teaching, healing, and saving the lost, and then, after all of that,

rejected, caught in a web of intrigues and murderous plots,

and yet, after exhausting every opportunity to capture Israel’s love, he still refuses their rejection of him, willingly offering to “pour out” his life, physically, before their eyes, since they demand a sign, one they can see and hear,

after having already done the will of God for himself, and on behalf of mankind, made perfect, securing salvation, he is willing to give them one last sign, the sign of Jonah,

one cannot but begin to see and experience the extravagant and lavish love of Christ: so deep, unimaginable, rich, he, after apprehending everything a man could apprehend in this creation “seated in the heavens,” “a name about every other name,” would willingly choose to give up the indestructibility of his life, immortality (c), that some, might have a second chance to find forgiveness.

• (a) (Hebrews 5:7-10, Romans 5:18-19, Romans 6, Ephesians 1:20 & 2:14-16, see an interlinear, Philippians 2:9, 1 Peter 3:18b, Hebrews 7:22-28, Hebrews 9 and 10)
• (b) (Romans 3:25, shedding is not in the Greek)
• (c) (Hebrews 7:16)

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Christ “rejected” Israel’s rejection of him, pouring out the New Covenant residing in him, in what he said was his blood, meaning: the entirety of his being, having already, in his personal journey, sacrificed everything once and for all to the Father, now again, literally, pouring it out before their feet in one last lavish attempt to convince and win some to the kingdom of God (Mathew 26:28).

****

Traditions have a way of making history mechanical, “a convenient story for the listener,” instead of the real – life battle of the heart to receive and give love, the long journey of choices.

They fail to reveal the glorious opportunity presented to Israel when Christ appeared, ultimately focusing the weight of the New Testament on Calvary, instead of Christ.

The heights of glory were at their fingertips, and it slipped away, to be offered at a later time for some – a grace period of 40 years for many before destruction at the hands of Rome, and two millenniums, for their descendants.

Let’s endeavor to seek the Lord today, and be found in him, and not be numbered among those who miss the time of his visitation, finding themselves in a battle they are ill prepared to face.  

Jesus

The more we know Jesus (the more he opens his heart to us in revelation, drawing us closer to him by the Holy Spirit), the more our hearts are captured by him.

He’s drawing many today into the deep waters of his Word and Spirit, Him!

As Isaiah said, “‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you…’” (NIV, Isaiah 43:2)

He’s cultivating desire and passion for intimacy in many so deep, rich, and compelling, “a hunger for him,” earthly treasures are found wanting.

The mystery of Christ is being formed in the body of Christ today!

The criers are calling the sleepy virgins to wake up, the bridegroom is coming.

A mystery is unfolding.

The last day bride is in the womb of the Church.

And the bride has to be birthed, come to maturity and fullness, if Christ is to have his Millennium.

A love Christendom has seldom seen, and the world does not know.

There’s coming a day when the love of Christ will come in such richness and depth, so profound, many deeply wounded, broken, outcast, and marginalized, will flee into his arms.

While many, grown accustomed to lukewarm Christendom, will stand on the sidelines watching the glory cloud pass, the day of their salvation slipping away.

He’s got great things in store for those who leave the shores of man’s traditions, and sail with him into the deep waters of his Spirit.

This is not the time to draw back into the safety of the world’s embrace, the comfort of contentment.

To those hungering and thirsting for Jesus, the revelation of Christ is captivating; drawing eyes away from the world to Christ like never before.

A bride has one focus – fulfilling the desires of her husband, being known and knowing, confident her heart will be handled in gentleness by her Savior.

God’s love for us is not patterned on what we’ve experienced at the hands of others, or what the world teaches!

The more we receive the experiential revelation of Christ’s grace, the greater the intimacy, and, compassion for ourselves and others. 

The truths I share in my writings have one ultimate purpose – inspiring you and me for greater intimacy with our Lord and Savior.

If my writings inspire some to seek the deeper things of God, to cry out to the Lord for intimacy, then I’ll have accomplished in part what I’ve been given.

The revelation of the Lord’s journey is a vast treasure chest of God’s truth, which rightly divided, inspires the “heart” for the deeper things of God.

He’s given us the knowledge of his Word and the wooing of his Spirit in expectation our hearts will respond positively to his call and leading.

Old Truths Revealed

It’s really amazing how fresh insight from the Lord can launch us into discovering him, freeing us from the weight of man’s traditions, Christian and otherwise.

He’s restoring the simplicity of the gospel, the truth about who he is, and the pathway for deep intimacy and connection.

He’s committed to taking us to a place where our eyes and ears are focused on him, and everything else through him.

Our call is to know him, and he us, deeply and intimately, and not be consumed by the events of this life, no matter how glamorous the world, Hollywood, traditions, or others, make them out to be (Matthew 25:12, Philippians 3:10).

He’s doing a deep work of grace in Christians today: redeeming many from the futile way of living passed down through the generations (1 Peter 1:18 – 19).

A fresh wind is blowing in the body of Christ, and it’s about to increase.

It will lift many from the weight of the “law,” into the deep embrace of his Spirit.

Have you ever noticed on windy days, some trees move with the wind, others, it skirts around, and, still others, seemingly resist?

Let’s endeavor to flow in humility – teachable, bendable – when the wind of God blows against our tree.

To be enriched by Christ, gaining more than what we had before, not having the little we have taken from us.

Together, let’s respond to the call of God to go deeper.

*** SECTION II ***

A Better Sacrifice and a Better Covenant

What’s better:

An animal’s shed blood under the Old Covenant “law,” or, under “grace,” a man, offering himself (in every sense of the word), to God, a “living sacrifice,” i.e., a “blood sacrifice,”⁽¹⁾ walking in the authority and power of an indestructible life? (Hebrews 7:16)

A living sacrifice, body, soul, and spirit, a new creation, doing the will of God from the heart (the laws of God written on the fleshly tables of the heart and mind), made perfect – having completed the journey of dying to sin, made alive in spirit (Romans 6).

Christ – a living, breathing, blood sacrifice, one God was pleased with, unlike the killing of animals.

⁽¹⁾ “For the life of the creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” (NIV, Leviticus 17:11, italicized mine)

Christ’s own blood was the atoning sacrifice at his perfection, symbolizing the end of his personal journey and the opening of salvation to all who would come to the Father through him.

Again, what’s life giving: an animal sacrifice, or, the living Christ; the New Covenant flowing in him, having overcome the hostility in his flesh, made perfect, offering healing and salvation to Israel for over 3 years?

This was the choice presented to Israel (Romans 3:25, note, shedding is not in the Greek).

And, it’s the choice presented to us in the 21^st century.

Will we choose healing and restoration by grace through faith, like our pioneering savior, or, stay content with the working of the “law” in our members?

Will we demand a sign from Christ, content with the Old ways of the “law,” the futile way of life passed to us, like ancient Israel, or, by “grace,” continue to buy oil for our lamps, ready when the Lord comes to cleanse, heal, and restore?

Will we choose to enter into the promises of the Philadelphia church age, Tabernacles, or, be content with the workings of the law in our members?

The perfected Son of God, resurrected to walk in new life, stood before John the Baptist at the river Jordan, prepared by the Father to display to Israel, one of their own as to his human ancestry, an example of what the Father could accomplish in Israel – the redemption of the old man – a new creation!

As the Apostle John describes, regarding Christ “…heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched…” (I John 1:1, bold and italicized are mine)

In short, this is the distinction between the Old and New; animal sacrifices resulting in the shedding of blood, versus, doing the will of God from the heart by grace through faith; a living, breathing, “blood” sacrifice – the entirety of the whole being given to the will and ministry of God.

A far better sacrifice!

(Hebrews 9:23; 10:5-10, doing the will of God from the heart is what make us holy, and Christ did it perfectly, being made into the likeness of the Father completely and perfectly, sinless, our substitute and High Priest.)

He fulfilled the heart of the law; offering himself to God, made perfect, a “living” blood sacrifice – having the New Testament in his blood, before Calvary (Matthew 26:28, Hebrews 5:7 – 10).

He became Israel’s savior, and ours, passing through the heavens, seated in authority and power at the right hand of the Father, perfected, exalted, glorified, overcoming the hostility of his flesh, made alive in spirit – what the Scripture calls being raised from the dead.

This was Christ’s personal journey, his journey to fullness and perfection before he ministered to Israel.

This is who God presented to Israel, the Most Holy One, the one the disciples came to know and touch over 3 years of ministry – the Word made flesh.

(John 1:14, Romans 3:25, 1 John 1:1, 1 Peter 1:20, Hebrews 8:8 – 13, etc.)

****

Note: A great body of Scriptures in the New Testament describe and testify of Christ’s personal journey.

Over the centuries most of the Scriptures speaking of Christ’s journey have been ascribed in one form or another to Calvary, a number of them being “forced,” which some commentators freely admit.

IMPORTANT

(HINT: It says in Hebrews for a “will” to come into force, the testator must die.

Christ’s death to sin (Romans 6) fulfilled the requirements of the heavenly Tabernacle, being made perfect, a better sacrifice (Hebrews 9:23) entering the Holy of Holies for himself, and for mankind who would take his name.

He sacrificed himself once for all, becoming the source of salvation for all who would call on his name, including those he ministered to for over 3 years.

Remember, the NT is a better covenant, the killing of animals is not required and the killing of humans has never been displayed as a “type” pleasing to God!

Rather, doing the will of God is pleasing, and Christ, perfected, apprehended the perfect will of God, becoming a living “blood sacrifice,” made perfect by the Father in preparation for his Messianic ministry to Israel.

His perfection, sacrifice, was sufficient to heal the sick, raise the dead, offer salvation, and, if they would come to him, usher Israel into the Millennium.

His death at Calvary breached the gap for those who were unwilling to enter the New Covenant freely by grace through faith, demanding, instead, a sign under the law.

Christ gave them the sign they demanded – Calvary – hoping some would eventually bend the knee to forgiveness and love.) 

Blood

The language in ancient Israel centered around blood, the sacrifice of blood for the forgiveness of sins, or, for righteous indignation against what they held as sin.

If one gave their life, in the fullest sense of the word, to someone, they are said to have made a blood sacrifice – they’ve given everything they can give, body, soul, and spirit, united by a covenant of blood.

In Christ’s case, the Father prepared a blood covenant with Christ, not on the basis of shedding his blood, but on the basis of Christ offering the entirety of his being to the Father; one the Father could perfect by grace through faith, and through whom, mankind could be redeemed.

Christ’s perfection ushered in the New Covenant.

Calvary was a second chance for Israel, a public display of mankind’s sin, and the veracity of Christ’s Messianic – New Covenant claims and proclamation.

Calvary concluded Christ’s earthly ministry in the flesh.

Christ’s perfection “opened the door” for his ministry.

Again, his perfection did not require the shedding of blood, but the sacrifice of his being, by grace through faith, in the journey of restoring man to the likeness of God.

He gave everything that can be given to the Father, desires, passions, hopes, dreams, rights, privileges, present, and future, and, the Father gave everything that can be given to man, union with him.

Christ apprehended what the Father apprehended him for, the first fully healed and restored man, the exact representation of the thoughts and heart of the Father, becoming the source of eternal salvation.

Hebrews captures the essence of Christ’s personal journey to perfection, and the salvation it brought to all of us, because, his perfection satisfied the Father’s heart, becoming the open door, mediator, of a new covenant:

“Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.” (NIV, Hebrews 5:8 – 10)

Important

This did not occur at Calvary, but sometime at the end of his personal journey of healing and restoration, before his presentation to John at the river Jordan.

We know this for a number reasons, the two most obvious, the authority and power he walked in during his ministry, and, the healing and salvation he offered to individuals, and, nationally to Israel.

His perfection, death to sin, made alive in spirit, ushered in the New Covenant before he stepped one foot into Israel.

Christ is the New Covenant, and out of him we are able to partake of eternal life.

****

Christ fulfilled the law from the heart, by grace through faith, healed and restored from the hostility in his flesh, the first fruit, firstborn, pioneer, and forerunner of the faith.

(Christ operated in faith, see Romans 3:22 and Galatians 3:22 in the Greek for the faith “of” Christ.

Ephesians 2:14 – 16, see an interlinear, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 2:10 and 6:20)

His “…one righteous act…” (Romans 5:18); “The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” (Romans 6:10, note, Christ did not live life after Calvary); “…since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,^f…” (Hebrews 4:14); and other references to the entirety of his sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27, 9:28, 10:10, 10:14), describe and connect to his perfection, not to Calvary. (NIV, bold and italicized are mine)

^f Greek has gone through the heavens

Again, these are all references to Christ’s personal journey to perfection and not Calvary.

Jesus meant what he said, when he said he was the resurrection.

This understanding changes the landscape of the New Testament.

It takes the focus away from Calvary and back where it belongs, Christ.

The Scriptures could not be clearer.

The law required death, actual killing, but healing grace and saving faith ushered in a New Covenant of healing and restoration, making it possible to be changed from the inside out, putting to death the old man, being made alive by the Spirit of God.

That’s what the better sacrifice in Hebrews is referring to!

Christ completed his healing and restoration journey without sin, entitling him to the scrolls of heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father, having all authority and power over this creation.

He paid the ransom for our sins with his own blood before Calvary by offering the perfect sacrifice to God, himself.

His death to sin brought the full force and weight of the New Covenant into effect.

If we miss this, then we miss the plan and purposes of God to make men and women into his likeness.

The book of Hebrews, much of Romans, and elsewhere in the Apostle’s letters, describe and testify of Christ’s personal journey to perfection, becoming the source of our salvation – the walking, living, New Testament in flesh and blood.

The New Testament did not begin at Calvary.

The New Testament was rejected by Israel before Calvary.

Rejection

Israel chose to stay in the Old Covenant.

The Lord refused their rejection, giving them one last chance to come to repentance by allowing their sins – stretching back to the murder of Abel – to be “marked” on his body, a visible sign of their sins (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24).

Israel’s leaders did not embrace the new move of God’s Spirit because it came in a way they did not expect, from a person they did not know, and in such extravagance and care they could not fathom.

It threatened everything they held dear and sacred.

This has been repeated time and again throughout history and will be repeated again in the last days.

Tragically, if we understand the Scriptures correctly, many Christians will reject the move of God’s Spirit for essentially the same reasons.

There is growing apostasy today even in the midst of a deep move of God’s Spirit.

That’s why it’s so vital to seek the Lord while he may be found.

And he won’t be found in the futile way of life handed down to us from our generations, spiritual or otherwise, but from fresh manna from heaven given by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is not one to give up easily.

He rejected their rejection of him, and, having already given himself to the Father, he chose again to display publicly his authority and power in the sign of Jonah they demanded.

He had done it privately on the Mount of Transfiguration, and publicly, through his ministry of healing the sick, raising the dead, etc.

Ultimately, and tragically, his blood was shed, but that was Israel’s first choice, not Christ’s, nor God’s.

Christ had already atoned for their sins as evident in the authority and power of his ministry.

Calvary was one last attempt to display the salvation he claimed to possess – a new creation walking in resurrection life – by rising from the dead one last time – one they can see, feel, and touch – making his transfiguration to the 3 now public.

Since Israel would not come to Christ by grace through faith, then he would reach out to them one last time under the only terms they understood, the law, by allowing them to kill him.

In order to expose the “sins written on their heart, and the violence of their sins” against the backdrop of the holiness of his body.

He may have had some thoughts along these lines:

“If that’s what it takes, the work of the “law” in your members to be written on my body – the New Covenant – to bring repentance, then I’m willing, that some, even a few, might be saved.

The alternative is so horrible for you, I’m willing to give you one last chance to find forgiveness for your sins.”

There was no need for the shedding of his blood, he held eternity in his hands for himself and mankind.

He did not ask to be killed, in fact, he avoided it as much as possible, but, the murderous plots against him where too much for one man to face.

Unless, heavenly authority was used to fight those who were bent on killing him.

But then he would have to kill those determined to kill him!

Tragically, they demanded a sign, the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12:38 – 42) and Christ, seeing no other alternative, agreed with his Father this was the only way to reach some.

Else, “…how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled…” if he took arms to fight? (NIV, Matthew 26:54)

Calvary was not the beginning of a New Covenant, but the worst possible way to repeat the Old Covenant, this time, not with the sacrifice of an animal, but with the sacrifice of a human being.

And what does it say of mankind’s view of God, where we see the killing of his Son as the height of glory, and not a permitted action of the last resort, one, his Son, was willing to endure.

See Acts 7:52 for how the early disciples viewed Calvary.

It was only after some time in his ministry the revelation of his impending death became irreversibly set in – motion; the prophetic word of the Messiah’s spiritual rejection and physical death from the writings and prophets of old, tragically, became a rhema word for him.

*** SECTION III ***

Wisdom

The teaching I’m sharing with you is critical because it separates Christ’s personal journey to perfection, becoming our King, Lord, High Priest, and Savior – the journey that consumed his life until the age of 30 – from Calvary.

The Lord continues to open Scriptures in this area for sharing his story with those who are hungry for the deeper things of God.

The enemy has worked overtime through the centuries to focus men and women’s hearts away from the story of Christ, his journey, to Calvary.

This has been strategic on his part to keep men and women from the fullness of the gospel, the damage it would do to his kingdom.

And one of the ways this has been accomplished is by pointing the many references of “death” in the New Testament to Calvary, instead of Christ’s personal journey (and ours), re: dying to sin, made new in spirit.

The deep personal story of the Lord Jesus, his pioneering work, has been largely lost. And with that, the pattern for our journey as well.

Frankly, the misapplication, where applicable, of “death” in the NT to Calvary, has failed the Scriptures, the Gospel, and those who would have gone deeper with the Lord had they been instructed to pursue the deeper things of God.

We’ve all been subject to this teaching in one form or another.

Jesus is birthing a new day in Christendom revealing more of himself, his journey, and the journey he’s called us into.

He desires us to be encouraged and comforted in the one who can do more than we can ask or think.

This is his plan, and his work, and the hour he has reserved for the deep things of God in our lives.

History – Today and Tomorrow

You may be wondering why is this important, the distinction between Christ’s personal journey and the events of Calvary.

Never before in church history has the body of Christ had so much revelation of the past, from creation forward, and of the future to come.

The closer we get to the end times, the deeper we get into the latter times, the greater the revelation of how far the Church is traveled and what is to come.

Presently, we have the fulfillment of two of the three feasts behind us, and are in the third feast.

During the long era of the Reformation, the 1500s and forward, following a millennium and a half of the “dark age” (Thyatira), those who embraced the new move of God, being born again – saved by grace through faith – found themselves stepping out of darkness into the glorious light of Christ.

They were born from above, the new birth, partakers of the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Covenant feast of Passover.

Out of the Reformation birthed the great tree of Christendom spreading its branches through generations, numerous stages and interpretations of Scripture, Global evangelism, and paving the way for the next major move of God, the return of Pentecost.

During the much shorter era of Pentecost, largely beginning with the Azusa Street revival in the early 1900s, those who embraced the new move of God found themselves coming into a yet deeper relationship with the Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit.

They were filled with the Holy Spirit – the baptism of the spirit – partakers of the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Covenant feast of Pentecost.

From this outpouring in the early 1900s numerous moves of God were birthed over the ensuing decades – global crusades and evangelism, healing ministers and worldwide ministries, operation of the gifts of the Spirit in local bodies of Christ, body ministry one to another, deliverance, and an overall deeper connection with Christ.

And also, from the rebirth of Pentecost, came renewed insight and revelation regarding the end times – prophecies fulfilled, being fulfilled, and on the horizon.

That leaves one feast yet to be fulfilled in the body of Christ, the feast of Tabernacles, which in the Old Covenant, had three parts, trumpets, atonement, and booths.

The ushering in of deliverance and the birth of a number of prominent new moves of God in the mid-and late 1900s – inner healing, prayer ministry, intensive prayer, listening prayer, fasting, “fathering,” and yet deeper moves of the Spirit in body ministry – worship, preaching, outreach, etc., crossed the threshold from Pentecost into Tabernacles.

It is hard to tell how deep we are in Tabernacles.

Whereas the Sardis Church age describes the Reformation and return of Pentecost, the Philadelphia church age clearly reveals the deep work of the Holy Spirit in Tabernacles.

The Philadelphia church age, Tabernacles, is the final and last opportunity of the body of Christ to come to the fullness and stature of Christ.

I believe we are farther along than we think in Philadelphia, but I also believe there’s yet some distance to go.

Revelation Chapter 12 is another picture of certain aspects of the Philadelphia church age and the deep work of Tabernacles pictured in Philadelphia.

From the insight we have today, which surpasses writings of a half-century earlier, Revelation Chapter 12 may very well span a century.

When you consider Revelation Chapter 12 encompasses the Philadelphia church age –

the deep work of grace bringing men and women into sonship, i.e., brides, fulfilling the Old Covenant type of Tabernacles, union with God –

and includes the crowning of the seventh world Antichrist kingdom, great apostasy, birth, growth, and maturity of the bride of Christ, and, the great end – time revival(s), and, an unknown number of years for those saved to mature before the die is cast, the time allotted could certainly span a century.

From all appearances, the heart of Revelation Chapter 12 most likely spans an average human lifespan.

(The only qualification would be, and it does not appear thus, that it is a “condensed or composite” picture of multiple generations spanning a long period of time.)

Nonetheless, the last church age is here.

And the call of the Holy Spirit in this hour is to seek Christ in fullness, gathering sufficient oil to make the journey to the bridegroom when he calls his sons and daughters unto himself.

****

Christ’s personal journey, his journey being made perfect (Romans 6:10), resurrection life, has been buried under mounds of creeds and traditions.

The most glorious part of the story of Christ has been hidden and buried under the rejection and tragedy of Calvary.

The early apostles thought Calvary was a horrible tragedy and not something to rejoice in like we do today.

You can read Stephen’s response to Calvary in Acts chapter 7.

And Peter, was not kind in his words regarding Calvary on the day of Pentecost, Acts chapter 2.

God labored for four millenniums to bring everything together in Christ, perfecting his Son, offering the New Testament in his blood for the healing and salvation of Israel, if only they would open their hearts and receive their Messiah.

Calvary was not “cemented” in the Scriptures.

Even though it was prophesied his Son would be rejected, God provided every opportunity for their free will to be exercised otherwise.

And I’ve talked about this before, Christ did not have bitterroot expectancies and forebodings – tempting others to reject him, he entered ministry with every thought of securing their hearts toward him and the kingdom.

His words were meant to pierce the hardness of their hearts in repentance, not to repel away.

It’s time the truth about Christ be resurrected out from underneath the weight of creeds and traditions.

That Christ might be truly glorified for who he became, and that our understanding about him would be in agreement with the Scriptures, the great body and weight of the teaching of Christ in the New Testament.

Because, it’s our story as well, and the more so, as Christ is revealed in our lives by grace.

The Brilliant Design of Scripture to Woo the Heart

The Bible is designed to draw us into deep intimacy, and ultimately, union with our heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

It’s a long journey.

How can one even begin to express the wisdom, truths, love, and the profound mysteries and discoveries in the treasury of God’s holy Word, Christ?

There is one thing we can be certain: the truth of God’s Word points us to Christ and no other.

The Bible is not designed to refute every manner of misunderstanding embedded in Christendom lore.

Jesus did not spend hours debating theology, but pointed his hearers to the movements of their heart, hoping they would grab hold of the wonderful grace and love of God presented and offered to them.

Paul warns of trying to convince others of the truths we understand and not to get embroiled in theological debates and arguments.

The Scripture is clear, it is by the revelation of the Holy Spirit God’s Word leads our hearts toward Jesus Christ.

Our best weapon against the warfare of this world is not how much Bible we know, or how witty we can be with the Word, or how deep Jesus has taken us, but, our testimony of the love and grace of God in our life and how he’s saved us from the chains of sin and darkness.

Knowledge of the Word, the deep mysteries of God, are birthed out of relationship with Christ as a gift, or, as the fruit of his work, to draw us even deeper toward him.

Jesus is the purpose of our journey and not the blessings of relationship with him, even though his kindness and goodness overwhelms.

The revelation of Christ today is greater than it’s been since biblical times.

God is doing a deep work of grace, revealing mysteries of Christ reserved for the latter days, especially, in the areas of healing and restoration, and, in the understanding of the end times.

Contrary to the natural way of thinking, the deeper one goes in the Lord, the more dependent, weak, one becomes in the glorious light of his presence.

The Lord is ushering many into new frontiers – the old man and ways of Christian living are dying, and a new man, a new way, of Christian living is coming.

It will be all consuming and captivating, unprecedented in our days.

We’re on the threshold of yet greater breakthroughs in Christ.

Be prepared to say yes when Jesus knocks on your door and invites you on an adventure in him.

More to come, blessings, Drake

(NIV) Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblical, Inc.™

(A) The New Greek – English Interlinear New Testament by Translators Robert K. Brown and Philip W. Comfort, Editor: J. D. Douglas. Copyright © 1990. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.