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Cultivating the Finished Work of Christ

Notes By Dr. Andre Pelser
Not DO, but DONE – Living from the completed work of Christ (Alan Platt)
It is Finished – (David Wilkerson)

The inception of our spiritual lives began the moment He said it is finished. – Mike Wood
We cannot attain righteousness without God’s inward help.
Eccl 7:20
Isa 64:6
Mat 5:20
Our righteousness is an abomination for God.
Luk 16:15
Mat 23:28
Luk 18:9
Rom 3:10
Rom 3:20
Phil 3:6
Seek and find His righteousness – Mat 6:33
It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. –Hebrews 10:14, The Message
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. –Romans 10:1–4
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” –Romans 1:17 Herein lies the secret of the power of the gospel; there is no good news in it until the righteousness of God is revealed! –Romans 1:17, The Mirror
Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. –Romans 5:18 The J.B. Phillips translation of Romans 5:18 reads as follows: We see, then, that as one act of sin exposed the whole race of men to God’s judgment and condemnation, so one act of perfect righteousness presents all men freely acquitted in the sight of God.
In Eden the only work Adam had to do was to cultivate the finished product of a perfect Garden and name all the animals (work from a position of rest). The names that Adam called them became theirs forever. His words had so much creative power.
When Adam sinned God drove him and Eve out of the Garden of Eden and commanded him to till the ground and earn his bread by the sweat of his brow (self effort). He had to continually make sacrifices for sins. (Genesis 2:5; 3:23)
Flesh tills the ground; spirit cultivates the finished work of Christ Jesus.
Flesh represents the works that self effort produces (not the physical body as we presume). When you try to finish what God has already finished it is called the works of the flesh. In other places in the Scriptures it is called ‘dead works’ that we have to repent of.
We are not trying to get; we have already received.
We are not trying to get there; we have already arrived.
We are not trying to get healed; we were healed 2 000 years ago already.
We are not trying to become; we are.
The very act of trying spells unbelief.
Mercy destroys sin in people’s lives.
When God planted the Garden of Eden everything was good and perfect in His sight. The fruit were pleasant in man’s sight and pleasant to eat.
The Messiah finished the transgression. He made an end of sin. Sin is no longer a problem. Daniel understood the revelation of the Messiah through reading Jeremiah’s prophecy and then Daniel prophesied: Daniel 9:23: Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
The righteousness Jesus brought into the world is everlasting righteousness – not righteousness until your next sin.
Preachers of condemnation tell you to try to get forgiven. It is too late, God already forgave us all at the cross 2 000 years ago. It is the same with healing. You were already healed.
What a glorious Gospel we have! We can only appreciate and enjoy the glory of the Gospel when we are no longer under condemnation and guilt. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who learn to walk according to the prompting of the Spirit and not the flesh. Romans 8:1-8
The spirit realm is the third dimension where things are already established and permanent. When we walk in the spirit we enjoy eternal blessings, not temporal ones. We engage in eternal things because we enjoy eternal life – now in this life, and not just in the life to come.
We don’t take communion to get healed; we are already healed. We take communion to claim Christ’s death where healing was already accomplished. When we worship God in spirit and truth we have fellowship with God and with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanse us from all sin – continually! Jesus’ blood flows through his body (the Church) just as our blood flows through our entire body.
We cultivate the finished work of Christ.
We are complete in Him. When Jesus died on the cross he announced: it is finished! He fulfilled all the requirements of the law that was against us, and wiped out the handwriting that is against us, nailing it to the cross! Colossians 2:13-15
We don’t fight for victory; we fight from a standpoint of victory. God always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus. II Corinthians 2:14, 15
Adam named all the animals and birds in the Garden of Eden. What he said remained true forever. His words had such power. When we are in Christ Jesus our words of faith also have creative ability. The Father of our faith had to learn to speak according to what he believed. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. God told Abraham, ‘you are a father of many nations!’ Abraham believed it and started confessing it continually.
Abraham called things that did not exist as though they were – in spite of sense evidence that proved contrary. He called himself ‘father of nations’ when he and Sarah had no son. He called her, ‘mother of nations’ long before she bore Isaac (meaning laughter). Romans 4:17-24
How you hear determines how it will be given to you. When you hear the anointed Word of God it enters your spirit before it enters your mind. Your spirit illuminates your understanding. That is why we receive the engrafted Word by faith and not by reason. By faith you receive what God says, long before you understand it, and the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ enlightens the eyes of your understanding to see the hope of your calling, the riches of God invested in the saints and the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead that works mightily in us who believe! (Ephesians 1:17-21)
The entrance of God’s Word brings light. When God’s Word enters your spirit you see a lot of good things inside yourself. When you acknowledge the good things Christ has already done in you it stimulates your faith. You communicate your faith much better when you focus on the good things Christ has already accomplished in your life. (Philemon 6: Let the communication of your faith become more effectual by acknowledging the good things of Christ in you – Phillips Translation of the New Testament) If you focus on all the things that still have to change in your life, it makes you discouraged.
The anointing on the Word switches on the light of the Word.
When someone preaches with anointing, it switches on the light. You see the answers you were looking for. You know what to do. David said, ‘in Your light we see the light!’
In order to cultivate the finished work of Christ, we have to stay tuned to the wavelength of Grace. The moment you switch wavelengths, you lose your peace and joy and fall back into the works of the flesh. You try to obey the Law again in your own strength, instead of waiting patiently for the Lord to change things inside of you. It is a work of His grace. Every time you try to change yourself you fail, become discouraged and lose hope. The creature cannot change itself. The Creator alone can change his creatures.
You can yield yourself to God to speed up the process, though. When we worship in spirit and truth, God does so much inside of us that we do not even notice. When we have fellowship with God and with one another, God affects the changes and brings the cure we so desperately need. Then no man can get the glory except God. He does the work we cannot do. He does it by the power of His Spirit. It is not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. It is a Spirit of grace and supplication. He graciously makes supplication for us. He intercedes for us, because we don’t really know how to pray. Therefore everything works together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:26-28)
So if God closes a door it is because He is about to open a more effectual door. When God ends one relationship, He is already preparing a better relationship. God only has good things in store for us. He is our loving heavenly Father. Jesus paid the price to reconcile us with Him. The more we love Jesus the less we sin. To whom much has been forgiven, loves much. We love Him because He first loves us.
Love is a grace frequency.
Our faith works through love (Galatians 5:6). When we distort the grace of God and frustrate it in our lives, we feel unloved and deserted by God. Then we feel sorry for ourselves and throw a pity party. The grace is still there, but we have moved positions. We have changed frequency.
God’s grace is sufficient for us – He supplies all our needs. He has already provided everything we need to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. He gave it together with His own son that He sacrificed for our sins. It is already done. We need to cultivate the habit of glorifying God for what Christ has already accomplished for us.
 

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Made for His Presence

100_2331 (Small)
WORD WEALTH
60:1 glory, chabod (kah-vohd); Strong’s #3519: Weightiness; that which is substantial or heavy; glory, honor, splendor, power, wealth, authority, magnificence, fame, dignity, riches, and excellency. The root of chabod is chabad, “to be heavy, glorious, notable,” or “to be renowned.” In the OT, “heaviness” represented honor and substance, while “lightness” was equated with vanity, instability, temporariness, and emptiness (see Judg. 9:4; Zeph. 3:4). Chabod is God’s glory, not only His honor, renown, and majesty, but also His visible splendor, which filled Solomon’s temple and will someday fill the Earth (1 Kin. 8:11; Num. 14:21). From chabod are derived the names “Jochebed” (“Yahweh Is Glory”) and Ichabod (“Where Is the Glory?”). Hayford, J. W. (Ed.). (1997). Spirit filled life study Bible (electronic ed., Is 59:21). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
We have all been in a meeting where you suddenly feel a presence, a heaviness as God manifest His presence to our senses. This experience is God’s manifested presence, where He allow us to feel Him through our senses. On the other hand, God is omnipresent. Everything has been created through Him, and for Him. Colossians 1:17 But God cannot be contained in Creation Deuteronomy 4:39 Nor can He be contained in our Cathedrals and Church Buildings. 1 Kgs 8:27; 2 Chr 2:6; Ps 139; Isa 66:1. He Holds everything created together by His Word. Ps. 33:6; John 1:3; 2 Pet. 3:5.
GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT
This truth is a sobering realization. God is always present, and He is always there. The fact that you do not feel him or sense Him, does not mean He is not there. Jacob also did not initially recognize God’s Presence. Genesis 28:16 When Adam & Eve sinned, God knew yet He continued to come and meet them in the evening as usual. The fact is, they moved. This is the reason why God asked: “Adam where are you?” God has not moved, sin moved man away. Asking the question: “Where is God?” is like asking where is the Earth? Or “Where is the Sun?”? The fact that you haven’t seen the earth from a satellite or spaceship perspective does not mean it is not there. God is the suffering God, that although not bound or contained by Creation, allow Himself to feel the groanings of Creation. Rom 8:21
THE BIBLE IS A COMPILATION OF ENCOUNTER STORIES BETWEEN GOD & MAN
The Bible is man’s narrative with a God that is present, and the different ways He makes Himself known to man.  We were made for His presence, Gen 1:24; 28. His presence is the homecoming all mankind is seeking.  In His presence we find ourselves, we get healed and restored, and we find real peace.  In His presence, we find rest for our souls.  Man’s strange attraction to psychedelic drugs is a clear sign of our inward desire to be raptured to a place of peace and rest. The word Shekinah Glory has this meaning to be raptured into a state of ecstasy.
Gen 3:21 God slaughtered the first kind of sacrifice by killing an innocent animal to make clothes covering their sin/shamed/nakedness. Even right here at the opening of the Story, God shows his heart and intent of one day slaughtering His own Son for our sins.
FAITH IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT
Why was Cain’s gift not excepted? What’s wrong with you? Why do you look so angry? If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling. But you did the wrong thing, and now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin wants to destroy you, but don’t let it!”
Genesis 4:6-7 CEV What did he do wrong? By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain Heb 11:4 By Faith Abel saw or understood that God wanted the Firstfruits of his herd, slaughtered. God is not impressed with what we can do for Him, He wants to do great things through us, if we are willing to listen and obey. Cain trusted in his own ability and wanted to show-off! Abel obeyed what he heard in His heart.
From hear on the Bible story continues and we see individual appearances and encounters.
Ex. 3:5 – God appearing to Moses – Holy Ground
Exo 33:15-16  Moses see God face to face.
Exo 40:34-40 – The fire column at night and the cloud in the day. The moved after the presence
Moses – Exodus 40:34–35 – cloud filled the Temple – Salomon – 2 Chron. 5:13–14
As the Story unfold God’s intend is becoming clearer.
Lev. 26:12 God wants to walk among His people.
Ex. 25:8–9 – God’s presence located in the temple.
1 Chron 13 – Uzza dies trying to save the Ark from falling. In Verse 1 David’s mistakes is made evident. He consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader… After the tragedy he too had to first consult God, on the procedure. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”  In 1 Chron 15:2 David consulted God’s Word on instructions how to move the Ark.  Man’s effort to try to contain or control God’s presence become withcraft! No one method works every time. We need to get to know God, find out what He wants, and then by faith obey. This is why Jesus never did any miracle in the same way. There is no methods. There is no “Glory” recipe. God will not allow us to demand and control Him. Sometimes people begin to worship the method. Worship the temple. Worship the worship! God is a relational God. Our sacrifices and worship become unbearable for Him to listen to because there is no faith and no heart in it.
1 Sam. 4:21 – Ichabod – Eventually the glory departed
The Prophets prophesied what is to come – Ezek. 47:9; Ezek. 37:26–28
1Ki 8:27 pp 2Ch 6:18 See also 2Ch 2:6; Isa 66:2-3 God never wanted our buildings, He wanted to live in a man and a woman, whose heart is upright and contrite.
JESUS became the full manifestation of His presence – Kingdom is near.
John 1:1–4, 14 – Jesus became God’s presence in the flesh (Matt. 1:22–23; cf. Isa. 7:14) “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world” (John 17:24).
Jesus bought us the right to passage by a new and living way.  To enter with boldness. Heb 4:14-26 & Heb 10:19-21.
Acts 2:1-2 Poured out on all flesh
It is to your advantage that I go John 16:6-10
The Baptism of the HS is the final part of the process where God finally finds his Earthly habitation in His people!
The presence lives in us:
–1 Corinthians 3:16; 1Corinthians 6:19 (we are God’s habitation)
David longed for this reality – Ps 27:4
God’s glory revealed through the church
2Co 3:18 See also Eph 1:12; 3:21; 1Pe 4:14;
Especially when we operate in the gifts of the Spirit – 1Co 14:25
Indwelling habitation
Jn 14:18; Eph 2:22; 1Jn 3:24
By the Spirit we see Him, like John – the revelation of Jesus
–Revelation 1:16–18 (awesomeness of the one who was John’s close personal friend)
In Death we will be unshackled totally from sin to be eternally in His presence.
–Psalm 23:4 (God with us is reason not to fear)
–Revelation 21:3–4 (dwelling in the presence)
Matt 18:20 – when two or three are gathered in His name (corporate Presence)
Encounters are the introduction to His person, like Paul on the road to Damascus Acts 9. We should all have some kind of encounter with God, where He becomes a reality to you. This is the basis of Apostolic Ministry: we have seen Him with our own eyes 1 Joh 1:1-2.  But this encounter or visitation is for the intend to dwell, find a home in us. “If you search for His visitation you miss His Habitation” JHK
“To have found God and still to pursue Him is the souls paradox of Love.” Todd Atkins
The greatest gift we can give someone is your presence. Be there for them. This is why we do not want to give Christmas Gifts to the Children at Riverview at the end of the year anymore. They need your presence. We give them meals every day, but they need a caring teacher who knows them.
In the Church, this presence does not have to be physical only. “For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit” 1 Cor 5:3 We have a presence in one another together as a body. This UNITY is a great mystery and wonderful revelation. Col 1:27 Christ in / Among you the hope of Glory.