02.14. CHAPTER 14: ACTUALIZING SPIRITUAL GROWTH

CHAPTER 14: ACTUALIZING SPIRITUAL GROWTH Our heart is designed to function in GOD in an inward Blood Covenant operating system that is designed to function in a “Shabbat Shalom”. The heart unveils its true functional mode in some measure of the “Shabbat Shalom” witnessed, based on a system of corrective feedbacks to/from soul and spirit.

These feedback loops are similar in concept to how electronic control systems operate in for example a manufacturing environment in order to achieve an operating steady state, whenever there have been upsets in the operating process system.

It is the HOLY SPIRIT WHO engineer’s corrections to upset conditions. However, every correction involves our willing response in hope, faith, righteousness, love and holiness. Every correction is the exclusive handiwork and response of GOD to our every response to HIM (see Exodus 32:15-16; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 3:6, NKJV). Such a system of feedbacks is illustrated in Figure 12 and explained in the paragraphs that follow.

FIGURE 12: Feedbacks Designed To Achieve The “Shabbat Shalom” Of YHWH

What is manifested in our heart - from our spirit and from our soul - in turn feeds back into our soul and, into our spirit. Through this feedback, the soul receives from the heart enablement – through the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT - according to the souls willing response to what has been fed back from our heart. The HOLY SPIRIT works an enablement from extracts of the Nature and Character of JESUS CHRIST into our soul. This enablement is extracted from the enabling functions of HIS life-giving Spirit so that our soul is enabled to respond to its prior inadequacies willingly in a framework of the mind operating in truth.

Although there are times when such feedback is virtually instantaneous at the speed of though and intent; at most times however, such a positive feedback actually involves radical changes in the character and nature of our soul which take time to perfect and complete. The HOLY SPIRIT governs the process of change (see Hebrews 12:2 a; John 16:14; Hebrews 10:15-16).

What about feedbacks to our spirit man? Realities of agreement and acceptance from our soul, alive in our heart, in turn manifest a feedback to our spirit, which in turn is then able to press on to actualize the deeper realities of CHRIST JESUS, through the HOLY SPIRIT’s leading and inspiration. Again we are to be led by the HOLY SPIRIT.

Sometimes such a response is instantaneous at the speed of thought and intent; but usually the ability to press on requires further feedback to heart and soul to achieve the willingness to pursue these deeper realities. And, this is because deeper spiritual pursuits always involve changes in our thought processes and our lifestyles. And, this willingness to change requires time depending on the constituent ingredients of our individual nature and character. In principle, we can explore the depths of GOD and actualize “things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that GOD has prepared for those who love HIM”. See 1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 2:11-12. In pursuing the depths of GOD, a battle of choices has to be fought in our inward parts. But, through CHRIST WHO strengthens us, we can do all things (see Php 4:13; Php 4:19; Php 4:23). CHRIST strengthens us as HIS life-giving Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 15:45) is formed in us – in spirit, heart and soul (see Galatians 4:19). That’s what this book is communicating.

All of this expresses the true realm of the dynamics of our spirituality. All this takes place at the speed of thought, intent, attitude, desire, imagination etc. in our inward parts, in line with our willingness to pursue change in our nature, character and lifestyle. We actualize an enabling according to the spirit we are cultivating through the choices we make from our soul. If we cultivate the life-giving Spirit of JESUS CHRIST, all things become possible through CHRIST WHO strengthens us.

[If we pander to our flesh then we will develop a spirituality that is fleshly and carnal – and patently false. Romans 8:5-7, declares that the flesh manifests death, as well as actual hostility towards GOD.]

If all we do is pursued in the Testimony of JESUS then we will actualize greater measures of the Spirit of CHRIST which will facilitate and enable the progression of fulfillment in our inward parts. This is why the Testimony of JESUS is the Spirit of Prophecy! It is the Spirit of CHRIST that gives expression to the prophetic – which unveils the Covenant reality of actual fulfillment - in truth, to our inward parts.

Biblical Spirituality is exciting because of the potentials of Blood Covenant fulfillment engineered by GOD HIMSELF in our inward parts. The Word of GOD resident in our spirit, heart and soul, enables us to judge and discern our own intentions and desires and make choices either for or against GOD – depending on whether our spirit ó heart interface or soul ó heart interface dominate our spiritual pursuits! GOD always engineers change through our spirit ó heart interface! Our soul ó heart interface manifests man-centered realities that are when influenced by the flesh actually contrary to GOD.

Given this interactive capability, we see that our heart co-mingles information from both our spirit and soul, and, the Word of GOD made alive in us enables us to make a choice or decision as to what we are going to do! This is what Hebrews 4:12 says the Word does: judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart . Hence we see that we have the potential to develop the capacity (and sensitivity) to know whether we are doing something by GOD or whether we are operating in the flesh (see Hebrews 5:13-14; Romans 9:1). Our heart provides feedbacks to our spirit and our soul. These feedbacks into our spirit and soul depend on what was originally crystallized and discerned – by the heart – from flows from our spirit and soul. Spiritual feedback enables us to choose to correct what our heart carries. And, this in turn gives the opportunity for a corrective feedback (from soul and spirit) to the discrepancies in our heart. Always free choice is involved. And, in everything, we do things according to the dynamics of our spirituality perfected and completed in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT.

Always free choice involves judgment or discernment – which can be true or false depending on the intents of our heart (see Jeremiah 17:9-10)! All falsehood arises from the flesh controlled or flesh inspired functions of our mind, will and emotions that have the self denominated potential of governing our heart in carnality.

[All truth on the other hand is governed in the life-giving Spirit of JESUS CHRIST (1 Corinthians 15:45) and all that is energized and brought to life from it into our inward parts. Truth operates in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT, in the FATHER’s will. The life-giving Spirit of JESUS CHRIST defines and enables this operation in Blood Covenant.] This is why GOD declares (in Jeremiah 17:9-10) the following: The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds. In fallen man, the heart is deceitful – period! Ezekiel 36:26 tells us that the heart of fallen man is a heart of stone. The “stone” is in the image of the “god” that the heart has chosen to idolize. The idol crystallized in the heart of stone has come about from the co-mingled crystallizations of man’s flesh controlled or flesh inspired mind, will and emotions.

Ultimately what we believe in our heart comes out in what we do in word and deed. This is why in Jeremiah 17:10, GOD talks about the results of our deeds. The results of our deeds flow out of the intentions of our heart. Similarly, our words flow out of the intentions of our heart.

Fallen man’s belief is an actual expression of the god of stone that reigns in his heart. Given the fact that man has no capacity for absolute thought, fallen man’s heart reflects the god who governs his heart and, the god whom he serves.

John 8:42-47 puts this across with astonishing clarity, in recording LORD JESUS’ exchange of words with members of the Jewish religious leadership: JESUS said to them, “If GOD were your FATHER, you would love ME; for I proceeded forth and have come from GOD, for I have not even come on MY own initiative, but HE sent ME.

Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear MY Word.

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe ME. Which one of you convicts ME of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe ME?

He who is of GOD hears the words of GOD; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of GOD.” In born again man, the heart of man is in two functional states – a (potentially) diminishing heart of stone and a (potentially) growing heart of (MASHIAH’s) flesh. In born again man, the heart has the potential of both falsehood and truth depending on how the heart chooses to respond to GOD!

True choices are made in a co-mingled reality of soul and spirit – by the HOLY SPIRIT – at some level of a perfected state in conformance to CHRIST JESUS, which the HOLY SPIRIT has established in our inward parts, even as we have chosen to respond to HIM. YESHUA MASHIAH bears witness to this reality of making true choices by declaring the following:

• From John 5:19, the LORD declares: ... Truly, truly, I say to you, the SON can do nothing of HIMSELF, unless it is something HE sees the FATHER doing; for whatever the FATHER does, these things the SON also does in like manner.

• From John 5:30, the LORD declares: I can do nothing on MY own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and MY judgment is just, because I do not seek MY own will, but the will of HIM WHO sent ME.

YESHUA MASHIAH gives the spiritual, prophetic key to true choice making (that manifests the circumcision of CHRIST) in the following words: because I do not seek MY own will . It also follows that such a reality is entirely foreign to all of us. That is, it must be received from JESUS CHRIST through the actual communication of HIS Testimony – in substance and witness - into our inward parts of spirit ó heart ó soul. The prophetic key to this communication is the Spirit of MASHIAH YESHUA. And, this prophetic key is only unveiled and energized into actual function by the HOLY SPIRIT.

It follows also that for us to possess such a reality of because I do not seek MY own will , this reality has to be revealed and perfected into us by being completed into the dynamics of our “spirit ó heart ó soul” functions and interfaces. This reality is entirely dependent on the form and magnitude of the Spirit of MASHIAH YESHUA actualized through the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT! From this we can say that false choices arise from our desire to do what we want to do. That is, when our soul dominates our choosing, the heart functions in some level of deceit. When the soul configures the parameters, contents and, realities that manifest our choice, then our heart functions in some level of deceit.

However, when our heart hears and understands what the HOLY SPIRIT is saying through our spirit, in and by the activation of the Spirit and Life of YESHUA alive in our spirit, we have the basis for making right choices and putting into place corrective actions as the soul submits to what the SPIRIT is saying. Our heart ó soul interface has to accept what our spirit ó heart interface is crystallizing – by the HOLY SPIRIT, in CHRIST JESUS - before the right choice (at some level of true spirituality in CHRIST JESUS) is made. Remember that the New Covenant Law of Life is defined in CHRIST JESUS and is made fully operational by the HOLY SPIRIT - setting us free from the Law of Sin and Death (see Romans 8:2).

Obviously our choice making depends on the maturity (and strength) of our spirit man and the ability of our spirit to be alive to the HOLY SPIRIT. In the final analysis however, the ability or capacity of our spirit in the HOLY SPIRIT is ultimately governed by our souls willingness to yield to the HOLY SPIRIT’s Witness and work arising from our spirit man!

It is also possible to shut out the HOLY SPIRIT by merely functioning through our spirit. The ability to do so – if developed on a persistent basis – opens the door to the occult and will lead to lawlessness and ultimately blasphemy (see John 10:1-2; John 10:9; Hebrews 6:4-8; Hebrews 10:26-31). To function purely out of our spirit is to objectively do something without GOD.

We must understand that our spirit’s fundamental design is to enable us to do all things in, and by, and through GOD! Our spirit is not designed to work independent of GOD. It must not work independent of GOD.

What is it that guards us from opening the door to the occult?

JESUS CHRIST must always be the Door through WHOM we go in and out and find spiritual pasture (see John 10:9; John 10:1-2; John 10:27-29) by the HOLY SPIRIT (see Romans 8:2). YESHUA MASHIAH must become the true and faithful Witness in our inward parts (see Revelation 3:14 b; 1 John 5:10 a, 7-8, NKJV; Hebrews 11:5, NASB). Our heart must give expression to this true and faithful Witness (see Deuteronomy 30:14-15; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16; 2 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV) by the HOLY SPIRIT, in CHRIST JESUS.

Such a Witness coming alive and being developed in our heart is wholly the work of GOD. Such a Witness arises from a heart of flesh (see Ezekiel 36:26). Such a heart of flesh is a pure heart that will see GOD (see Matthew 5:8) and be enabled functionally to do all things - by CHRIST WHO strengthens us (see Php 4:13, KJV, 19, 23). Such a heart is the exclusive workmanship of GOD (see Psalms 51:10; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16; 2 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV).

Such a heart will operate in the Mount of the LORD (see Psalms 24:3-4; Psalms 15:1-2; Genesis 22:14).

Such a heart will operate from a soul actually anchored behind the veil (see Hebrews 6:19). Such a heart of flesh (see Ezekiel 36:26) is of the flesh of the LAMB (see John 6:51; 2 Corinthians 3:3, NKJV) and will carry – through substance (Greek: hupostasis) actualized - the contents of the circumcised heart of the LAMB of GOD. The substantive contents of the circumcised heart of MASHIAH are perfected and completed into us as we actually function in CHRIST JESUS, by the HOLY SPIRIT! A soul anchored behind the veil is crucial to a clean heart. Our soul being anchored behind the veil is crucial to our ability to function/operate by the HOLY SPIRIT, in CHRIST JESUS! Hope in JESUS CHRIST anchors our soul behind the veil (see Hebrews 6:19). 1 John 3:3 declares: And everyone who has this hope fixed on HIM (JESUS CHRIST) purifies himself, just as HE (JESUS CHRIST) is pure.

Persistent hope on JESUS CHRIST (see Romans 5:1-10) – in the specific situations of our life and ministry - is the activator of the circumcision done without hands that removes the body of our flesh! Persistent hope is expressed in persevering prayer to actualize MASHIAH YESHUA’s Fullness. Persistent hope is also exercised through our willingness to do the right thing in word and deed.

Persistent hope in the LORD JESUS CHRIST manifests in the substance of true faith (see Hebrews 11:1, KJV) that brings with it the evidence of actual change in our state of being. The actual change is engineered in the substance perfected and completed into us through the ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT! The substance perfected and completed is the flesh of the LAMB of GOD! The circumcision of CHRIST that removes the body of our flesh manifests in our new heart becoming a heart of MASHIAH YESHUA’s flesh – in actual functions actualized through the enabling of the Spirit of CHRIST. As we are functionally perfected and completed our heart is circumcised! This heart of HIS flesh is circumcised by the HOLY SPIRIT to enable our heart to actually function in the Name of the LORD JESUS in a growing understanding (Proverbs 9:10 b) and conviction of HIS pre-eminence! The circumcision of our heart of HIS Flesh opens the veil of HIS Flesh to us functionally (see Hebrews 10:19-20). We can then operate freely in the Kingdom of GOD! We will talk this over in later chapters of this book and develop the dynamics of this Covenant Spirituality in future books.