THE RECOVERING OF CHRIST

PART I

THE ONE FOUNDATION

We rejoice in what the Lord is doing in a people. I can see how the Lord works by His Spirit. He is working in a people to bring forth a people in whom He may bring forth the increase of His Son. It is the increase of Christ that counts. It is the increase of Christ in a people that makes the difference.

Our ministry is unto you - our labor and fellowship is with you that you may grow up in Him and that He may be formed in you and that as a result, there may be that true witness of Christ in this part of the world. I say in this part of the world because it can not be limited to just one place.

References:

Eph 4:15

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Gal 4:19

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Now I am going to begin a study with you and I am going to lay a foundation for you. I am not just going to preach a series of sermons, but I am going to begin a series with you that the Lord is dealing with my heart concerning. In fact I have not dealt with this before. It has been building in my heart and in the inner man and in the Spirit, and I trust that the Lord will just lead us, guide us and direct us together as He gives us a clearer view, a clearer revealing of Himself. He is to be fully revealed in a people, who are to bring forth a full manifestation of Him in the earth. We have said that time and time again but the Lord began to deal with me in the scriptures to bring that reality into a clearer view than ever before.

The Foundation is Christ Revealed

At the beginning of the year, the Lord began to deal with me about the one foundation - that foundation which is Christ. But it is CHRIST REVEALED because the foundation is laid in Mt. Zion, and whatever comes forth upon that foundation, that is in the revealing of the Son, constitutes the true house, the true temple, true expression of the Lord. I began to realize that all of us, everyone who is in Christ certainly are lively stones, but until lively stones are brought upon a foundation, they do not constitute a house. Many of you have gone by a piece of property and have seen building material there. No one would argue as to whether or not those bricks are indeed bricks. Each of those bricks has been formed and fashioned and made into a brick, but they do not constitute a house until they come together upon a foundation. They just constitute a brick. And there is no doubt that you are members of His body. There is no doubt that you are lively stones, but until there is a gathering upon the foundation, there is no true expression of the Lord in the earth. Bricks do not give a builder expression. But when a builder takes those bricks and puts them upon a foundation that the builder also lays, the house that results gives the builder expression. The bricks themselves do not. It is only when you and I and those throughout the earth are brought together in the knowledge of the Lord, upon that foundation which Jesus himself says is the revelation of Him. Paul states that it is the revealing of the Son. That is the foundation he says IS laid, and no other foundation can be laid other than that which is laid, WHICH IS CHRIST. The foundation came in the life of Paul only when God revealed His Son in Paul. So to say, "The foundation is Christ" is right, is true, but Christ in what way? CHRIST REVEALED - upon this foundation will I build my church. The church is what gives Him visible expression in the earth and nothing else will or can do that. Nothing else will or can do that. Now I am going to tell you that right off. There are many ministries of the church, but only the church itself gives Christ expression in the earth. A church can have Bible classes; a church can have outreaches; a church can have prison ministry; a church can have street ministry; a church can have worship services; a church can have a Bible school. None of those things takes the place of the church. You are not a Bible School. You are not a Bible class. You are the Church. Hallelujah!

References:

2Chr 3:1

Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where [the LORD] appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

2Chr 5:1-7

Thus all the work that Solomon made for the house of the LORD was finished: and Solomon brought in [all] the things that David his father had dedicated; and the silver, and the gold, and all the instruments, put he among the treasures of the house of God. Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which [is] Zion. Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which [was] in the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark. And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that [were] in the tabernacle, these did the priests [and] the Levites bring up. Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy [place, even] under the wings of the cherubims:

Is 28:16

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Rom 12:4-5

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1Cor 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.

1Cor 12:27

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Eph 5:29-30

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

1Ptr 2:4-7

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

Mtt 16:15-18 (emphasis added)

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock [on the basis of this revelation that the Father gives] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Gal 1:11-12

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1Cor 3:10-11

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Eph 1:22-23

And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

You are the Church if you are gathered upon the sure foundation. You say, "If we are not gathered upon the sure foundation what are we?" Well, you are just lively stones - Amen. You might be born again; you might be good building material; but until it comes upon a foundation there is no church. You see he looked at those disciples that he had, stayed with him for 3 1/2 years, but He did not have a church. He simply had twelve disciples. But He spoke to them of a foundation upon which He would build His church. It is through the revealing of the Son that the Father gathers us and binds us together. Then and then only do we truly constitute an expression of Christ in the earth rather than just an expression of ourselves. And you can not substitute anything for that foundation.

References:

Mtt 16:15-18 (emphasis added)

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock [on the basis of this revelation that the Father gives] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

1Cor 3:11

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Two Houses

The Lord Jesus talks about two houses, does he not? Somebody substituted sand for the rock. I am sure that the same amount of energy and the same kind of building material went into each house. The Bible does not indicate that one house was inferior to the other. The difference, and the only difference, was that one had a foundation, and the other did not. When the test came, when the trial came, the thing that looked like a church ceased to be one. The thing that looked like an expression fell through. I am going to tell you something friends. If it is a true expression of Christ, it does not fall through. If it is a true expression of Christ, it does not cease to exist. It is true; that is true. You may test it and try it and do everything you can to it, but you can not destroy it, because you can not destroy the true expression of Christ. A people who are bound together in the revelation of Jesus Christ can not be destroyed. They can be persecuted but they can not be destroyed. They can be cast down but they can not be destroyed. They can be tested but they can not be destroyed. They can be come against but they can not be conquered.

Reference:

Lk 6:47-49

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Christ Revealed In You

The only difference is not whether or not you are saved. It is not whether or not you are filled with the Holy Ghost. The difference is whether or not Christ is revealed in you. It is not whether or not you are a lively stone, not whether or not you are in Christ. It is whether or not CHRIST IS REVEALED IN YOU that makes the difference. That, in a nutshell, is the gospel that Paul preaches. He preaches to the church the revelation of Jesus Christ. Why? He preaches this so that they may be brought together in that knowledge, that they may be brought together in that view - that revelation of Christ - that they may continue. Paul says that you may grow up, that you may continue, that you may abound, that you may be edified. Why must we continue? Because God must have that expression of Himself in the earth until it fills all the earth with the knowledge of the glory of God.

References:

Acts 5:34-39

Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space; And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men. For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought. After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

2Cor 4:7-10

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Gal 1:11-12

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Eph 1:17

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Eph 4:12-16

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Num 14:21

But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.

Ps 72:19

And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.

Is 6:3

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Hab 2:14

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Now we have just about filled the earth with what we call churches. I have been almost all over the world, and every place I have been I have found churches. But I have not found true expressions of Christ everywhere that I have been. I found Christians but you see individual Christians do not constitute the house of God any more than this hand constitutes the body of J W Luman. This tangible building that we are in is more than a window. All of this is set upon a foundation. That is what makes it a building. There must be a foundation. There is a tremendous truth here, and I went for weeks and months throughout the fellowship declaring this. God bringing everything back upon a foundation, because only what is upon THE FOUNDATION OF THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST is going to stand in the day of test and in the day of trial. And that day comes to us individually, but I am telling you it comes to us collectively. It comes to us both individually and collectively. And it is going to come to us in a very general way throughout the whole earth. And what stands at that day will stand because it is GROUNDED IN THE REVELATION OF THE SON. It will stand as a City of Refuge to those who have not been so grounded. It will stand as a lighthouse to those who have not been so grounded. It will stand as the salvation of so many who have been in Christ but have not had Him revealed in them - lively stones but never really grounded upon the foundation. I am telling you the truth.

References:

Mtt 7:24-27

Lk 6:47-49

Ps 9:9

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

Ps 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Ps 57:1

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

Ps 94:22

But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.

2Cor 1:3-4

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Col 1:23

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Eph 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Mtt 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The Foundation is Tested

Without that foundation something is going to move because the foundation can not be moved. Man did not lay the foundation. It was laid by God. In the Old Testament, in the books of Psalms and in the Book of Isaiah, He says, "Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone - a tested stone." The foundation is tested. It is going to stand. The house that comes upon it will stand in the test because the foundation has already been tried. It is a tried - a tested - foundation. Hallelujah to God! Do you see that? You will stand the test if Christ is revealed in you because He stood the test. And the one being revealed in you has already been tested. When the test comes you will stand the test.

References:

Ps 118:22-23

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

Is 28:16

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Mrk 1:12-13

And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

In the years that I have preached Christ, I have seen a lot of people - some I have worked with as close as a brother. I have seen them not stand the test and I can only draw one conclusion - they embraced the message but were never grounded upon the foundation. I must tell you something and there is nothing of me to boast in. I am the frailest of you here tonight, but the foundation that is in me CAN NOT FALL, CAN NOT BE REMOVED. My faith is in the foundation. Since the day God revealed His Son in me, I have had no thought of turning from this Word. I am not referring to the day that I was born again. I was born again when I was 5 or 6 years old, spirit filled when I was that young, speaking in tongues as a little child, preaching since I was fourteen. But in 1963, as a young preacher, I was drawn away of the Lord through a series of circumstances, and God revealed His Son in me and changed my whole life. Since that day, or I should say that night, all night, I can tell you by the Spirit of God, I can stand before you without fear and tell you that I have never had so much as the slightest inkling or thought of turning from this Word - Never. I have not said that I have not been tested and tried and pulled through a knothole backwards. But I never considered turning. Now the only reason I can give for that is the FOUNDATION.

References:

Rom 14:4

Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Eph 6:13

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

2Tim 2:19

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Building Upon the Foundation

God did not give me a doctrine on Sonship or a doctrine on Christ or a doctrine on the Body or a doctrine on heaven. God revealed His Son in me and that is what makes the difference. Everything that I have preached since then has been built upon that. I did not have to work Him into any of it. All of it came out of a comprehending of Him. If I preach the church, I preach it from a comprehending of Him. I do not preach some doctrine about the church and then try to work Him into it. Oh Beloved - there is nothing like God revealing His Son in you. There is nothing like having the eyes of your understanding enlightened by the Spirit of wisdom and knowledge in the revelation of Jesus Christ. There is nothing like God revealing His indwelling Son in you and you coming forth in that divine revelation given of God - CHRIST IS MY LIFE! He and He alone lives in me. It is not I; it is Christ who liveth in me. There is nothing in existence like that because it does not stop. It just grows and becomes clearer and pretty soon, like what we are talking about, pretty soon everything of the scripture, everything of spiritual life is gathered into that understanding and secured in that knowledge. You do not add anything to it - but it is all gathered up in it and secured in it. You see you do not add anything to the foundation. You build upon it. If you start trying to add something to the foundation, the first thing you do is make the foundation weak. See once the foundation of this natural building is laid, then it remaineth. If you disturb it, try to add to it, you might as well just start all over again. You can build upon it, but you can only build upon this foundation according to the foundation.

References:

Gal 1:15-16 (emphasis added)

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Eph 1:17-18 (emphasis added)

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Gal 2:20 (emphasis added)

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Say this building is 40 feet wide. That means the foundation is 40 feet wide. Well you can not build a 50-foot building on a 40-foot foundation. The foundation determines the building. And when God reveals His Son in you, it determines everything from now on about your relationship with Him. It determines your walk. It determines everything. When I see some brethren or sisters or ministers that are vacillating around I know, without anybody having to tell me, that the foundation is not laid. They might love this Word; they might love this fellowship; they might love some of the principles that I preach or teach. They might be looking for Him, yes. But when the foundation is laid there is no more vacillation. There just is not. You do not vacillate; you can not vacillate. It is impossible. Why do I say that? BECAUSE - THE FOUNDATION IS TESTED. Now it is the Word of God, the whole Word of God, that would have to fall apart and fail, and God would have to be liar. This foundation is tested. Hallelujah to God! The problem is that it is just not in many people. It is not in that many believers. The reality is that there are not that many believers who have really had Christ revealed in them. That is why they are not bound together. That is why when the tests come they go in 15 different directions. That is why when the trials come it is so easy to revert back to their natural way of thinking. Even though last Sunday they just sang, "There’s neither Jew nor Greek, nor bond nor free, nor black nor white, nor this nor that, it's just Jesus." Yeah, but until the foundation is laid in you, you can not really comprehend that scripture. You can not really comprehend that reality, because that reality has got to come into the foundation. It has to come forth in the knowledge of the Lord or else it is just a scripture to you; it is just a doctrine to you. It is just something that you are trying to believe. When the test comes, we will come up short, and we will revert back to our natural understanding. I have seen too many women when the real test comes, act like a wife instead of a son of God. I have seen too many men when the real test comes, act like a husband instead of a son of God.

Reference:

Col 3:11

Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

You see I am a husband, but I happen to be a son of God who is a husband. And I am a son of God first. I am a father, and my children have a son of God for a father. They do not have a father who is trying to be a son of God. They have a son of God who may try to be a father. It works in that manner, and it will not work any other way, when the test comes. We can make all these declarations, and I have had too many brothers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me and make these declarations only to look around one day and they are nowhere to be found. So, we can make declarations and not understand the truth of this in experience. Well I understand the truth of this whether I had ever experienced it or not simply because the scripture declares this. But if you walk in it awhile, you will experience it. I am just telling you now, do not get defeated over it because the strength is not in who stands - the STRENGTH IS UPON WHAT WE STAND. The strength is not in, "Now you have to understand this". The strength is not in how many is Christ revealed. The strength is in CHRIST WHO IS REVEALED IN YOU. The strength is in HIM! Understand what I am saying. If someone ceases, falls away, turns away, etc., you see they are not really hurting the church. They are not really hurting the house of God because they never were part of it. They were never truly joined to the foundation in the beginning so you can not hurt what you never were. It only causes some hurt if you and I are unwise enough to depend upon those in whom Christ is not revealed. And sometimes you get caught unaware in that, but my point is just this: IT IS THE FOUNDATION THAT COUNTS. God began to deal with me about that so strongly that everywhere we went I began to reiterate the necessity of Christ being revealed in you. Everything else that we do is done in vain except it be built upon that revelation of Christ.

References:

Jn 1:12

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

Jn 6:67-69

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Ps 18:2

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Ps 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Ps 37:39

But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

Ps 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Eph 1:22-23

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

If you had come along, when that person who built that house on the sand was out there sweating and laboring and got a whole workforce for him, and had told him that everything he was doing is in vain, he would probably punch you in the nose. You know, "What do you mean telling me… I am working hard; I am putting money into this thing; I am this; I am that and the other thing. Get out of here." He would have probably run you off. But in fact when the test came, it all fell through and everything he did was in vain. And he had the best of intentions. You know he must have. The only difference was the other was upon the rock. It did not have any more effort connected to it, did not take any more to build it, did not take any more time. It is just that it was brought upon the foundation. Hallelujah to God!

References:

Lk 6:47-49

Mtt 7:24-27

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

That is why there is a lot of ministry today who, when they are confronted with the foundation, simply back up because they are not, in their hearts, willing to confess that everything they done up until this point has been in vain. You read Paul and he says to be careful with regard to the foundation, lest when the trial comes you be standing there naked; everything is burned up. You alone are saved but everything that you have brought into this is gone. It has all been in vain. Oh friends, it is so necessary that Christ be revealed in you. So the Lord's dealing reemphasized the necessity of The One Foundation.

Reference:

1Cor 3:11-15

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The Recovering of Christ

Now after that, the Lord began to deal with me concerning the recovering of Christ. And at first I did not comprehend what the Lord was trying to say when He was telling me about the recovering of Christ. And then I began to realize something. Everything that has been lost in Adam, the old man, IS FULLY FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST. But everything that is found in Christ IS CHRIST!!! Light is found in Christ, but that light is Christ! Creation, a New Creation is found in Christ, but that New Creation is Christ! Everything that was lost is fully recovered in Christ and in fact is Christ. Because the Bible says in I Corinthians 1:30, "Of God are ye in Christ Jesus, who is made unto you". He is made unto you wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, your very redemption. There is nothing recovered in Christ except that of which He is the very fullness.

And this was quoted to you a while ago - "CHRIST ALL AND IN ALL". "The fulness of Him who is all and in all." And the Lord began to deal with me about a realization that I began to minister again - a realization with regard to what God is bringing forth in His body is nothing less than the very fullness of Christ Himself!

Reference:

Eph 1:22-23

And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

The Expression of the Son

Now you understand everything that the Lord is going to bring forth in spiritual life, He is going to bring forth upon a foundation. The foundation is the SON IN YOU BEING REVEALED. As a result of God revealing His Son in you, the expression of the Son - the fullness of the Son will come forth. Not just a better Christian and not just a person trying to do better - No – it is the very nature and character of the Lord Jesus, the very fullness of the Son Himself, coming forth in a people. The Bible calls it being transformed in the inner man into the very image of Him. Time and time again we read, "That He might conform them into the image of the firstborn." (Romans 8:29) That is being transformed into the very image of that glory.

Reference:

Rom 8:29

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rom 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Col 3:10

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Christ Fully Recovered In New Creation

Where does He recover that which is Christ? He recovers it in a people! He recovers it In a New Creation. Beloved to get a hold of this very thing that you and I are brought forth in Christ as a New Creation for one purpose - that God in that New Creation may fully recover everything that was lost in the first one. What was lost in the first one was Christ. Christ was lost in the first one. The first one never came to His fulness. Adam never ate from the Tree of Life. Everything that God expected was lost, and God expected CHRIST! So he has brought forth a New Creation in Christ Jesus - for what purpose? It is so that in that creation He may bring forth the fullness of His Son. How does he do that? HE LAYS A FOUNDATION IN ZION! He lays a foundation in that New Creation. He lays a foundation in that new earth - to build what on it? To bring forth His Son in nature, in character, in life, in fullness of Spirit - to bring forth that one man which is Christ. Christ is the New Man. We are the New Creation in Christ.

Reference:

Jn 6:53-57

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Gen 3:5-6

For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat

2Cor 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Three Things Lost in Adam:

Vision Lost in Adam

Now, three things, this is all in the way of introduction, three things you will find in searching the scriptures, three things were lost in Adam. Those three things belonged to God. You will find it in the scriptures and I will point it out to you. The VISION of God was lost in Adam. Adam ceased to be the expression of the handiwork of God. The first Adam lost the view of God, then ceased to be the view of God and he became, in view, a fallen nature - so much so that Jesus looked in his day and said, "Ye are of your Father the devil…" (Jn 8:44). Paul in Ephesians 2:1-4 says we are all by nature the children of wrath. God lost his vision in Adam. He could no longer look at man he had made and see himself there. Do you see the result of that? Look all over the world. The result of that - man lost their view of God. Did they not?

References:

Jn 8:44

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Eph 2:1-4

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Gen 6:5-6

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

So man began to worship the creation rather than the creator. Have you ever seen any idols? I have seen a bunch of them. And they are all fashioned after some creature. They are either fashioned after man himself or something that man sees himself in. An elephant god because man sees his own greatness there. A snake god because man sees his deception there. All over the world it is that way. The various temples and so forth all constitute idols because not only did God lose his vision in man, man lost vision of God. So man became BLIND! Jesus came along and said, "You are blind." The first thing that was lost was the vision of God. The vision of God was lost.

References:

Rom 1:21-25

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Mtt 15:14

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Acts 17:22-25

Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Jn 9:39-41

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Voice Lost in Adam

The second thing that was lost was the VOICE of God. God's voice was lost so much so that he had to start speaking through animals, a burning bush, thunder, lightning, wind - all of these things. The Hebrew writer says that, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets…" (Heb 1:1). But he used every kind of a way that was conceivable - a lot of people are still trying to hear God that way. It is true. I know a lot of Christians still trying to hear God that way. But the writer to the Hebrews says, "...hath at the end of those times, spoken unto us IN SON." He lost his voice. Man ceased to hear God for God had to deal with him first in this way and finally he had to deal with him in a law - written on a stone. He said I will not always do that. Jesus comes along and talks about his sheep and says, "They know my words". No, He did not say they know my words. He said, "They know my voice". If you think about it even in the natural we know one another by the voice, not by words. Two people can say the same words, but you distinguish the voice. You might not even really understand the words, but you know the voice. You identify the voice of the person. God's voice identifies with His person. There are a lot of people who come along and say, "God said; God said; God said." Unless it is God's voice, God did not say it.

References:

Num 22:28-31

And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

Ex 3:2-6

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

Deut 4:36

Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire.

2Sam 22:14

The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

Ps 18:13

The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.

Ps 77:18

The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.

Jn 12:27-30

Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

Ex 19:16-20

And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the LORD came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the LORD called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

Deut 4:12

And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.

Deut 5:22

These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.

Deut 9:10

And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.

Jn 10:2-5

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Jn 10:16

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Jn 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Heb 1:1-2

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Heb 8:8-10

For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

I have had people say, "So-and-so said that you said such-and-such". I want to look at them and ask, "Did you hear my voice?" "Well no, no, I did not hear your voice, but they said that you said..." "Did you hear my voice?" "Well, I did not hear your voice..." "God said; God said; God said." "Did you hear His voice?" "Well, it thundered." No. He no longer speaks in thunder. NOW HE SPEAKS IN HIS SON. That is just scripture. That is just the Bible. I can not make it different than what is written. He speaks in His Son now. We try to hear him in thunder. We try to hear him in the words. We try to hear him in this happening or that happening. Frequently, people tell me, "Oh, Brother Luman, this happened and that happened. What do you think God is trying to say?" And I always tell them, "Honey, God is not trying to say anything." But we are always trying to hear God in everything except His Son. That shows you how lost that voice has become. A lot of Christians have not heard it yet. Now I mean it. They have heard the gospel of repentance. They might have received the Lord and come by way of redemption, but to hear the voice of God, is another matter altogether.

Reference:

Heb 12:18-19

For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

God had to make man before man could hear his voice. God has to bring you into Christ before you can hear his voice. There are a lot of people in Christ who have not yet heard his voice. They are still running around in every form of doctrine. They are still running around trying to find God in everything that comes along. Paul preached to the Christians. He said what am I telling you - that you would have Christ revealed in you, that you would come to the knowledge of God, that you may grow up. Why? It is so that you would not be blown about by every wind of doctrine. He is talking to Christians. I have dealt with Christians virtually all my life, and I am amazed. I am amazed at their concept of God and of their concept of how God speaks. There is nobody on the face of the earth more confused than Christians. There is nobody on earth more divided than Christians. That is the truth and it should not be that way. But something has been lost and has not been found again in them yet - BUT IT IS FOUND IN CHRIST. It is found IN THE FOUNDATION. And when God reveals that Son in you, He restores His VISION; He restores His VOICE. And He restores His GLORY.

References:

Eph 4:13-15

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 1:17-18

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Glory Lost in Adam

The third thing that was lost was God's GLORY. You see all three of these things belonged to God: His view, His voice, and His glory. He lost His glory in man. Man fell short. What does your Bible say? Romans 3:23 - "All have sinned and ‘did murder’?" No, no. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." God's glory was lost. You see God did not lose the glory of his person. He did not lose the intention, or his ability to speak, but in MAN he lost it. In that first creation he lost it. He lost it. Matthew 18:11 "The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost."

Recovery In a New Creation

So what we are dealing with is that New Creation in Christ Jesus, but we are going to look at it in a way that we have not looked at it before. We are going to look at it in person, and we are going to look at it in purpose. In that New Creation, God will fully recover the view of Himself. He will have a man representing His view - not just His viewpoint - but the expression of Himself - His view of Himself. He will have a man - not an Adam man, but a man representing His voice - not just His words – HIS VOICE - the intent of His heart - His voice. He will have a man as the expression of His voice. The glory of God can be defined as "the divine nature of God in expression. A man who is the expression of the nature and true person of the Most High."

Reference:

Vine’s Expository Dictionary: "Glorify"

"As the glory of God is the revelation and manifestation of all that He has and is..., it is said of a Self-revelation in which God manifests all the goodness that is His, <John 12:28>. So far as it is Christ through whom this is made manifest, He is said to glorify the Father, <John 17:1, 4>; or the Father is glorified in Him, <13:31; 14:13>; and Christ's meaning is analogous when He says to His disciples, `Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be My disciples,' <John 15:8>. When doxazo is predicated of Christ..., it means simply that His innate glory is brought to light, is made manifest; cf. <11:4>. So <7:39; 12:16,23; 13:31; 17:1,5>. It is an act of God the Father in Him.... As the revelation of the Holy Spirit is connected with the glorification of Christ, Christ says regarding Him, `He shall glorify Me,' <16:14>" (Cremer).

(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

The View is Christ

All of these things He will recover in a NEW CREATION. How will he do that? He has already recovered IN CHRIST the view of Himself. He has recovered the view of Himself in the Word. In Colossians, the first chapter, "Who is the express image" - the outshining of who? The Father. The Lord Jesus said, "When you have seen me, you have seen my Father". So you see, He has recovered His view in the man Jesus. Then what is He doing? HE IS RECOVERING THAT VIEW WHICH IS CHRIST – IN A CREATION. How is He doing that? Back to our foundation - He is revealing the Son. And the word "revealing" has to do with light and sight and seeing. He is bringing sight to a creation so that in that creation He may see HIMSELF. Hallelujah to God! It is along this line that we are going to be dealing. I just wanted to lay a foundation. We are going to be using the first creation as a pattern of the New Creation, because the first creation is a pattern of the second in that everything that was lost there is found in the second - the New Creation in Christ Jesus, but the pattern is intact. The pattern - God laid down the pattern, the types, and the symbols. Those things were written for our admonition. These things were established as a forerunner of that which is to come. The Bible says that, and I will show you those things.

References:

Heb 1:3

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Col 1:15

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Jn 14:9

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Jn 16:7, 9

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you…Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Easton’s Revised Bible Dictionary: "Revelation"

"An uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen. …"

Rom 5:14

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Hearing His Voice

He has recovered his voice in the Son. Jesus says, "The Words that I speak even, they are not mine. I say nothing but what I hear, what I see him that sent me." If you look at that in its original context it means much more than what we would suppose. When they heard Isaiah they heard the words of God, did they not? But when they heard Jesus, they heard more than the words, they heard "HIM THAT SENT ME. I AM HIS VOICE", the Lord says (and He brings that right in), "I am, the good shepherd, I am the one. My sheep hear my voice." Darling, I just want to tell you again. We are at a time of great trial and testing. I do not mean bad persecutions and bad things happening to you. I mean a time of severe testing and trial to move us away from the foundation. And you see it is the design of the enemy that nothing would stand. But that which is upon the foundation will stand. That, which is not, will not and will be deceived. Sweetheart, listen to me. If you do not hear His voice, you will be deceived. There is no doubt about that. The book of Revelation tells you that. One comes with a deceiving voice, look at it. He looks like a lamb, but he is not the lamb. The lamb of Revelation is The Shepherd and His sheep know His voice.

References:

Jn 5:19

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Jn 8:38

I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

Jn 14:10

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Jn 14:24

He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

Jn 10:11

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Jn 10:27

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Rev 13:4-8

And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Rev 13:11

And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Rev 19:20

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

We are hearing the same words but it is not the same voice. I have people tell me all of the time, "Oh, Brother Luman, you are saying the same things so-and-so is saying. I am not suggesting that I am the only one preaching the gospel. There are others in whom God is revealing His Son, so I am not telling you that I am the only one. But in many cases I know the people of whom they refer, and I know for a fact that we are not saying the same thing. I know, because I know the person involved. But what have they heard? They have heard words. They have heard the same words. They have heard the same scripture quoted. They have heard some of the same terms used. But it is not the words. It is not my words. But the VOICE I am declaring must be heard. That voice speaks from within me. God will speak to you in Son, and then by that voice, you will judge every man's words. By that voice you will judge every man. It is not in saying the same words but it is speaking as the voice of ONE!

References:

Heb 1:1-2 (1884 Darby Version)

God having spoken in many parts and in many ways formerly to the fathers in the prophets, at the end of these days has spoken to us in [the person of the] Son, whom he has established heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Heb 1:1-2 (Online Bible Interlinear Greek New Testament) (emphasis added)

1 polumerwv {IN MANY PARTS} kai {AND} polutropwv {IN MANY WAYS} palai o {OF OLD} yeov {GOD} lalhsav {HAVING SPOKEN} toiv {TO THE} patrasin {FATHERS} en {IN} toiv {THE} profhtaiv {PROPHETS}

2 ep {IN} escatwn twn {LAST} hmerwn {DAYS} toutwn {THESE} elalhsen {SPOKE} hmin {TO US} en uiw(1-2) {IN SON,} on {WHOM} eyhken {HE APPOINTED} klhronomon {HEIR} pantwn {OF ALL THINGS} di {BY} ou {WHOM} kai {ALSO} touv {THE} aiwnav {WORLDS} epoihsen {HE MADE:}

Glory

THE GLORY OF GOD is the same way. Glory is not the greatness of man or the aspirations of man. The glory is the nature and character of the Most High formed in you. But it is not just formed. Glory is the nature of God in expression! So, as we behold the glory of God, we are changed. There is a transformation of nature and character. It is not the refining of my character – transformed. Transformation is a real work of the Spirit going on. It is the nature of Him - His nature being formed - transforming, transforming the inner man. It is not just teaching him a lesson - transforming, changing. It is the metamorphosis from a caterpillar to a butterfly; that same word. That is how real the change is. It is not you and I running around with a smile and acting nice. Everybody ought to do that anyway. No, it is the nature of Him. A butterfly is not a worm with wings, and the Glory of God is not a Christian just acting like Jesus.

Reference:

2Cor 3:15-18

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

So these three things that were totally lost in the one (Adam) are fully regained in Christ to be made manifest in the New Creation. I want this to get into your spirit. If it does, then the Lord will build upon it. I tell you friends. He is revealing Himself in a most marvelous way - in a creation whose heart is turned to see Him - turned to Behold the Lord.

A Man

The centerpiece of both creations (the first and the second, the old and the new) and the thing that each of those creations find their fulfillment and summation in is a MAN. The last thing God did in this old creation was to bring forth a man. The last thing God does in the New Creation is bring forth a man - even the fulness of HIMSELF! YOU ARE A CREATION PURPOSED FOR THAT! The Spirit broods upon the face of the deep for that purpose. Honey, the work of the Spirit was not just to make you a New Creation - it just starts there. The work of the Spirit is in that creation to bring forth God's man. In that man, we are all joined and are one. My Lord, My Lord, I am more excited now than I was 30 years ago - much more because I tell you we are much closer to the full expression of that man now than I was then. THE FULL EXPRESSION OF THAT MAN - THAT MAN IN HIS GLORIOUS COMING; HE COMES IN VISION, VOICE AND GLORY. Well, the Lord just deal with our hearts.

References:

Gen 1:26-28

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Gen 1:31 - 2:2

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

2Cor 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Eph 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph 4:13-15 (emphasis added)

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

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