#236.1198

When I saw that, I knew that there was a possibility. The problem was that I was living under the delusion that I would reach this perfection by reading the Scriptures and doing what I understood it to say¼.that I would read the Bible and then I would begin to live out as I understood what the Bible was telling me to do. I was living under the delusion that it was up to me to determine what was right and what was wrong by using the "Book" and there was a series of events, which I don’t want to get into now, that God put me through to show me the folly of what I was. It was sheer folly to think that I could live up to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ myself. I learned the lesson the hard way - here’s the lesson I learned: That man does not live by bread alone. You have life - abundant life, eternal life - by means of every word that comes out of His mouth. That is how you have life, and in April 1995, the Lord impressed me to give the abiding message. April 2, 1995 was the first day of my ministry and I was to give the abiding message to those who would have ears to hear, and that’s what I’ve done. I think those who have sat in on my studies over the last several years, would admit to that - that everything is based on abiding in Christ¼.That is the hub, and everything else stems from that - hearing the voice of God through His only begotten Son. So, coming to that realization, it caused me to fine tune something that God had already started showing this church years before that. He had already begun to show us that we were to think what we’d been calling "from the heavens", that we were to begin looking at things in a spiritual way. When I began to abide in Christ, the Lord helped me to understand, out of Isaiah 55 - let me turn over there and read this: 

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

 Now listen - Words simply express thought and if His thoughts are not my thoughts, then His words are not my words. But, when He expresses something, as He states in verse 9:

 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

I realized that abiding in Christ, I was hearing the voice of God through my conscience - that this was the "new covenant"¼.that this was how He designed man to live from the beginning. It was then that it began to dawn on all of us how Abraham had kept all of God’s statutes, laws, commandments - and he didn’t own a Bible. How God had destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for not obeying Him¼they didn’t have a Bible. There was something else that He was expecting these people to do. There was another way of serving Him that He expected of us and, if I was going to listen to Him through my conscience, He was going to help me fine tune the understanding of how He speaks, how He thinks. This led me to understand that I have got to be in a certain attitude to hear Him. He is going to speak in a still, small voice and His words are going to be higher than yours - and His thoughts are higher than yours. Just the fact that we have already read that you can be the measure of the stature (now, get this¼) of the fulness of Christ. Now, who in this room can see himself walking in that place? Don’t think He doesn’t think higher than you. He knows what you are capable of because He designed that thing between your ears and it is infinite and it is powerful. It can be anything it desires - that is what He told them at the Tower of Babel¼they’ll do whatever is on their heart. If you can understand it and grasp it and believe it and trust God for it - He will move you into that place. That is the message for this morning, and I knew, probably from the day after I determined to come here, that this is what God would have me to talk about. I knew that what I’m getting ready to share with you is what He wants you to understand. Now, how to present it was another thing, but I know (just like I knew last night) - I knew, I knew that I knew, that this is what God would have me to say tonight and I’ll guarantee you that there are still people this morning who are reeling from what was said to them and having to deal with it. So, I know again, that this is what God would have me to say this morning.

 Starting in Matthew 5, I want to share the Beatitudes because I began to realize that, if we are going to hear God, if we are going to understand what God is saying to us, we have got to be in this place. Now, just follow this reasoning with me - if you are not listening to God and receiving His understanding of a thing, you are in Babylon. You are in that city, that mindset, of confusion. Bottom line, point blank - that’s just the way it is¼that’s where you are. If He has not been telling you which is right and which is wrong - and you’ve been deciding it for yourself, you’re in Babylon. Sometime, go and read in Isaiah 13 about the "burden of Babylon" because He makes this statement: "I’m going to shake the heavens and the earth will be moved out of it’s place". That’s what you can expect - all of us have to deal with that. This isn’t something for one or two of you¼it’s for every one of us! He’s going to "shake" the heavenly understanding and, when He does, you’re going to be moved, one way or the other. You’re either going to give up and say "I can’t handle it" or you’re going to grow closer to Him - You will be moved. He has designed it so. You cannot hear the truth and stay on the fence. You will not hear it and stay in the same place¼it doesn’t work like that. Either you go forward or you fall back¼you will not stay on the same ground. "I’ll shake the heavens and the earth will be moved out of it’s place"¼this is the burden of Babylon, and Praise God, it’s a blessing. It is a blessing to be moved. So, I began to realize, in Matthew chapter 5, when I read the Beatitudes, He is telling me how I need to be in order to receive His understanding. This is what it’s all about. So, if I can get through this study, then, by God’s grace, this is going to set us up for the rest of the day because in anything that we’re going to talk about, we’re going to know that "if I’m going to think like God, these things have got to be a reality in my spirit¼I’ve got to be like this."

 Matthew 5, starting at verse 1:

 1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, (and, just like He said in Matthew 15 - "out of the mouth comes the abundance of the heart" - He opened His mouth and this is what came out of His heart¼) and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Now, before we understand this, I want to talk about the "kingdom of heaven". I want you to hold your place because I’m going to be coming back to Matthew 5, but right now, if you’ll look at Luke 6, here is the same verse, using different words:

 Luke 6:20 

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed by ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

 Now, in Matthew 5, it’s written as "yours is the kingdom of heaven". I used to wonder if there was a difference between the "kingdom of God" and the "kingdom of heaven"¼there isn’t if you define it this way. In Luke 17, starting at verse 20:

 20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: (the kingdom of God doesn’t come with outward observation) 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

 Well, if you can begin to see that God’s kingdom is here, in the brain/mind¼God’s kingdom dwells within you. In Colossians 1, He says, beginning at verse 12:

 12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet (able) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered (past tense - He already has delivered us¼) us from the authority of darkness, and He’s already translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 

Now, follow me: You’re already in His kingdom if you’re abiding in Christ because, just as that kingdom is within you, His kingdom is within Him. If I put myself into the mind of Christ, that brings Him into me, and I am in His kingdom. Listen, I’m already in it¼you’ve got to grasp that! I know the day is going to come when He will literally translate us into His literal kingdom - but if you’re not in it now, you’re not going to be in it then either. Everything outward is an expression of the inward so, if I’m going to be in His kingdom, I’ve got to be in His kingdom. According to the Apostle Paul, you’re already in it!! In fact, get this¼He has delivered you already¼from Satan’s authority. You shouldn’t be waiting on it to happen, it should already be. That’s why I know that the remnant church (the remnant¼roll up the carpet¼unroll the carpet - the last piece off is the first piece to go on..), the remnant piece is just like the first century church. Paul was teaching there¼.he wasn’t telling people "now, try hard enough and maybe, maybe you can make it - try hard enough and maybe you can overcome these things". He told these people "you’re already in the kingdom, you’ve already been translated into the kingdom - the authority of darkness has no more power over you because He’s already delivered you from that¼". Live that way! The remnant church, I recognize, that we’re going to be just like the first century - the difference is that this is a one generation movement. It isn’t going to go into apostasy - He’s going to complete the work¼.that work of reforming the brain/mind, bringing you out of the darkness, reforming the way you think¼that is "salvation". He is saving you inwardly, not outwardly yet, inwardly. He is saving you on the inside¼the kingdom of God is within you. Matthew 5, beginning with verse 3:

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Now, when I’m talking about the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, I’m talking about the way God understands a thing¼I’m talking about the fact that He is ruling over me and I am going to understand it the same way that He understands it. Because He doesn’t think like me (His thoughts are as different from mine as the heavens are high above the earth¼), blessed are you who are "poor" in spirit - yours is the kingdom of heaven. What is "poor in spirit"? I asked the church the other day to give me a verse that defines "poor in spirit"¼all I could come up with are ones that say the opposite so, I thought, you know, if you can see the opposite, you’ll understand what it is. So, in order to show you what it means to be "poor in spirit", the first verse I want to turn to is Proverbs 18:11¼reading "from the heavens": 

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 

"The rich man’s wealth is his strong city"¼.now, listen, we talked last night about Proverbs 25 (I think verse 28) equating a "city" with a "spirit", a "way of thinking". The rich man’s wealth, his understanding, is his strong city¼he is basing his faith and living his life based on his own wealth. He isn’t "poor" in spirit - he hasn’t come to the place where he recognizes that maybe he really doesn’t know anything - that maybe he should really get it from God Himself, letting God explain it to him. Let me read another one¼turn to Ezekiel 28, beginning with verse 11 - I think most of us have read this quite a bit and are familiar with it, understanding that the Lord is addressing the king of Tyrus - which is a picture of the adversary, so I’d like to begin with verse 13 (talking to the adversary):

 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, ("stones" are a symbol of "concepts"¼then He goes on to describe them¼) the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub (what was he anointed with? Thoughts, understanding¼) that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Here is what caused him to fall¼I’ve read before: "well, we don’t know what caused him to fall - that’s a mystery, the mystery of iniquity"¼..Well, here’s what made him fall - verse 16:

 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise (if you put this inwardly, it’s "by what you understood, by what you thought") they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom (or, the wisdom given you¼) by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

What you’re reading here is a "rich man". Again, in verse 16, "by the multitude of your merchandise", by what you "knew", by what you "thought" you understood¼now, don’t take that literally and think it means that he owned a lot of stuff and fell because he didn’t want to give up what he owned. This was inward, it was what he understood, what he thought. He was a "rich" man. Go and read about the Savior - though He was in the form of God, He thought it not something to be grasped to be equal with God, but He humbled Himself - He emptied Himself and became a servant, He became a man, remaining obedient unto God, even unto death - the death of Calvary. He was not rich in His own understanding¼in fact, He said: "the words that I speak are not mine - they’re of the Father. The works that I do are not mine - they’re of my Father. In fact, you haven’t seen me¼no man has seen the Son, no man knows the Son but the Father". He wasn’t revealing Himself, He was revealing His Father. Luke 18, starting at verse 17:

17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. 18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why are you calling me good? I recognize that good only comes from my Father¼there is none good, but my Father. 20 You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 

Was he rich? Or was he poor? He was rich, wasn’t he? Now, I want you to notice what Jesus tells him to do:

 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing, sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

 Now, we had a thing in our church quite a while back when we read this that some of us said that this was spiritual - He wasn’t telling him to literally go and sell everything he owned before he could follow Him¼He was telling him to get rid of those riches. And we even had some people leave our church - not really based on that, but that was a major thing¼they struggled with that because the church was telling them that this was inward, not outward. I want to share Luke 12:33 with you. First of all, let’s include verse 31:

 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God (the way God thinks, the way God understands - get inside of Him); and all these things shall be added unto you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Right here, He’s telling every one of us to do that¼every one of us have been given the commandment to go and sell what you have - do you still think that is literal? Do you think it was any different when He told the rich young ruler to go and sell what he had? Take then, what you receive from that and go give it unto the poor - those others who are poor in spirit. I think that is more of what He meant. It’s true that the rich young ruler might have learned something by selling everything he had, but God is interested in what’s on the inside of you. He wants to deal with your heart and that, I believe, is what He was saying. Let’s read one more, about another "rich" man¼Philippians 3, beginning at verse 4:

 4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

 There’s a "rich" man¼that’s no different than what you just read in Luke 18 regarding the rich young ruler. "What must I do to be saved?" "Keep the commandments." "I have - now, what else do you want me to do? I’ve already kept them." Just by what he was saying, it showed that he wasn’t keeping them at all. Let’s go back to Matthew 5 and read verse 3 one more time:

 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Listen, again, if you haven’t been listening to God, if you haven’t been abiding and you’ve been coming to your own conclusions about what God expects of us, you are in Babylon¼bottom line, you’re in Babylon - you’re in confusion. And, it’s going to take something to come out of that. You can’t live with the attitude that you already know it¼you cannot do that. You’ve got to expect the shaking because it’s coming and, like I’ve said, you’re not going to stay in the same place. You’re not going to hear the truth and remain in the same place. Matthew 5, beginning with verse 4: 

4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

Now, there is an understanding that God gave me about a month or two ago¼.I don’t know how long it’s been - but it’s important enough that I want to share it again. I recorded this not long ago. I want you to see this - starting in Luke 7. In Luke 7, there is a story of Christ and I want to start reading at verse 36: 

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 

What he is saying is: If He understood it the way that I do, He would recognize this woman is a sinner. Verse 40:

 40 And Jesus answering (the man’s heart) said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon (the Pharisee) answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he tuned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 

Now, get verse 47 because this is key:

 47 Wherefore (Because of that¼) I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much (now, he isn’t saying "because she loved me so much, I am forgiving her". He said "the fact that I have forgiven her is causing her to love me much¼look at the next part of the verse): but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

 Now, this is key. Do you think that this woman was a greater sinner than the Pharisee? Was she actually a greater sinner than he was? Do you think that there’s any of us who owes Him less than anyone else? Don’t you think that all of us are in the same place of owing Him five hundred pence? No one in here owes Him fifty - and we owe Him five hundred¼we’re all in the same boat. What is the difference? The Pharisee didn’t see himself like that - he didn’t see himself a sinner to the same degree that he saw her as a sinner. So Jesus asked whether one who’s forgiven most, which one will love Him the most¼.the one who’s forgiven the most - that’s who loves Him the most. When you see yourself a sinner, you will recognize yourself walking in the love of God. But, let’s define "love". Let me tell you something about what it means to love God. According to the Scripture, 1John 5:3 makes a statement - when you get this, it changes this parable totally:

 1John 5:3

3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

That is how you express love to God - by keeping His commandments. Look at the Gospel of John, chapter 14. We’re going to get this definition from the Bible and then fit it right in that parable. John 14, starting at verse 15:

 Jesus said: 

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments,

 Look at verse 21: 

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

 Look at verse 23: 

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 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.

 Look at verse 31:

 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. 

Question: How do you express love to God? By doing what He says. There is an "O" word¼it’s called "obedience". How do you express love to God? By walking in obedience, so let me just re-phrase what He stated to the Pharisee in Luke¼here is the bottom line of what He is saying: 

"You are going to obey God according to the degree that you are forgiven; and you are forgiven according to the degree you see yourself a sinner." He says that you’ll love God according to how you are forgiven but "love" is defined as "obedience". Those times that you find yourself not abiding or not walking in His obedience - the reason for that is because you don’t feel the need of it. It’s that simple. You will obey according to the degree you are forgiven, and you’re forgiven according to the degree you see yourself a sinner. You look at a man who has one leg and uses a crutch and see if he ever leaves the house without that crutch¼he knows he needs it. You’ll never find him without it. If you don’t see yourself in need of the Savior, you’re going to find yourself living without Him. You only obey to the degree you are forgiven, and you only are forgiven to the degree that you see yourself a sinner. Now, this is something that the Lord opened my eyes to about Scott Stanley. Scott Stanley didn’t just "sin", he was "sin". I defined it. I recognized that I am sin itself. Matthew 5, verse 4:

 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

 Now, let’s look at Matthew 5:5 

5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

These are the people who will inherit the "new" earth. You see, that earth that you will inherit isn’t the "old" earth, it’s the "new" earth. I want to tie in "Blessed are the meek" with 1Corinthians 13 and I want you to see this. In 1Corinthians 13, talking about walking in love¼Paul, after describing the effect of obedience to God¼now, how can I say that? God is love if He is telling me how to live my life, if He is telling me how to speak, what to speak, when to speak, where to go, how to go¼.If He is love and I’m listening, abiding moment by moment - I recognize that I need a Savior¼If it’s me, it’s dusty because I need Him. If I’m listening moment by moment, I’m going to be manifesting 1Corinthians 13. Love is the effect of obedience to God. At the bottom of this chapter, I want to start reading at verse 8:

8 Charity (that attitude of love) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues (languages), they shall cease; whether there be knowledge (that isn’t of God), it shall vanish away. 9 For (right now) we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come (and "that which is perfect" is the understanding of God through Christ¼), then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought (reasoned) as a child: but when I became a man (or, when I brought forth the man-child..), I put away childish things. 12 For (right) now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

In verse 12, that word is not "darkly" - it is "in a riddle"¼ Right now, you are seeing in a riddle - that which is perfect is coming bit by bit; you’re grasping it bit by bit¼He’s giving you His understanding bit by bit. Where you are not getting His understanding, you’re seeing "in a riddle". Why a riddle? We’re going to tie this in with "meekness". Turn with me to Numbers chapter 12 and let me show you. Numbers 12, beginning at verse 3¼we all know this story:

3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 

This word "meek" is the Hebrew equivalent to the word "meek" we just read in Matthew 5. Let me read the definition of this to you¼Here is what it means to be meek and, if you’re not, you won’t inherit the new earth - I love this definition: "A lowly, pious and modest mind which prefers to bear injuries rather than to return them." A person who prefers to bear an injury rather than to cause one¼.Moses was the meekest man of all the earth. Back to Numbers 12, beginning at verse 4:

 4 And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. 5 And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. (Now, get this¼) 6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD, will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

 In verse 8, the words "dark speeches" is actually "riddles". King James has used "dark speeches" but this is the Hebrew equivalent to what we just read in 1Corinthians 13, where Paul says "right now, you’re seeing in a riddle". God did not speak to Moses in riddles¼think about it. He did not speak to Moses that way because Moses was the meekest man of all the earth. Do you think God changed His vocabulary with Moses? Yet, he changed His method: with these guys, it’ll be in a dream or a vision but I’m going to speak face to face with Moses. This man is meek enough that, when I speak, it isn’t in a riddle - he gets it! Did God change His vocabulary? Absolutely not¼Moses was meek enough. I’ll guarantee you that this man Moses understood from the heavens¼You go and read the first five books of the Bible and then tell me that he was absolutely "literal". You’d have to be out of your mind to think that. He was meek enough to recognize that there was nothing good about him and he understood when God spoke because he listened to the voice of God. Read Job sometime and take that literally¼read any of it and take it literally - you start stumbling, saying "wait a minute - how could this be?" It is the meek who inherit the new earth. What is the "new earth"? It’s the mind of Christ, perfected. We covered this last night and I don’t want to spend a lot of time on it¼I will if you want, but that new earth, in a nutshell, Zechariah 12:1 tells you that when He lays out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, He is forming the spirit of man. He perfected the mind of His Son through humanity (Hebrews 5). In His Son, He created a "new heaven" and a "new earth". If you are meek, you will inherit the new earth. If you don’t inherit that new earth right now you will not inherit the literal new earth. Thoughts produce feelings, feelings actions¼my thoughts lead to actions and my actions will be the stature of the fulness of Christ. How, then, must my thoughts be? Do you think that you’re going to pick up a book written by a Holy God who’s majesty you can’t even comprehend - and you’re going to pick this up and figure it out?? That’s crazy! And we’ve got to realize that¼.the "meek" will inherit the new earth. I’m going to speed this up - Matthew 5, beginning with verse 6: 

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 

What is "righteousness"? When I say "righteousness" do you think verb? Or do you think noun? When I say "sin", what is "sin"? Speeding right along¼Jesus said in Matthew 15 that sin begins in your heart. It starts in your heart. It isn’t what goes into the mouth that defiles, it’s what comes out. Do we need to go and read that? I think most of you have read this and you understand. If sin begins in your heart, so does righteousness. Sin, ultimately, is your "self". When the rich young ruler came to Christ and said "Good Master", Christ asked him why he was calling Him good. There’s only one who is good and it’s His Father. He said that all the words He was speaking were from His Father¼..if you see anything good, it’s from His Father because only One is good and it’s Him. So, if you’re hungering and thirsting after righteousness, what you’re hungering and thirsting for is the righteousness that comes from God - the thoughts that come from God, which will produce like doing, as He defines it - not as we define it. There’s one other thing I want to read before I go on to the next one. It’s in Revelation, chapter 15, and this is the song we sing. In Revelation 15, beginning with verse 2:

 2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had (already) gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

 "The song of Moses" and "the song of the Lamb"¼.stop! Are they singing a song about Moses? No. Is it about the Lamb? No. This is the song Moses sang and this is the song that the Lamb sang. This isn’t about the Lamb - this is what came out of His mouth! Notice what he says¼.In other words, they’re in harmony with Christ. They sing the song OF Moses and the song OF the Lamb, and this is what they say: "Great and marvelous are your works, Father¼just and true are your ways - YOU are the King of saints." Verse 4:

 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy:

 Let me tell you, if Jesus Christ had any other attitude, He would not have saved anybody. His attitude was: "Only YOU are holy¼Why call Me good? There’s only One who is good." I always thought that this verse sure knocks the foundation out of the trinity, if you grasp that. Matthew 5¼I want to just go through this, beginning with verse 6:

 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

"Righteousness" is equivalent to the way that God thinks. I want to tie some verses together: Isaiah 53:11 states (about the Savior): 

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

 To "justify" is to "make righteous". That Strong’s number is 6663 and it is "righteousness". He makes you righteous by His knowledge¼.now get that - He makes you righteous by His knowledge. Now, take this thought to Galatians 2, verse 16:

 16 Knowing that a man is not justified (made righteous) by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified (made righteous) by the faith of Christ,¼by the faith of Christ, 

If you are reading a Book, a Translation, that uses "in" instead of "of", it’s wrong¼.it is not accurate. You are made righteous by the faith OF Christ, not faith IN Him. You have faith IN Him so that you can receive the faith OF Him and, when we say "the faith of Him", do you think noun or verb? Is this faith a noun or a verb? Is that an action¼I’ve got to have faith as strong as His? No¼.that’s equivalent to saying "the knowledge of Christ". It is the way He understood. What if I asked you: "What faith are you of?" Oh¼I’m a Baptist¼I’m a Presbyterian¼or¼.I’m of the faith of Christ. By God’s grace, I’m understanding the way He understands. I believe in Him so that now, I can get His understanding into me because it is His knowledge that is going to make me righteous. In Philippians, chapter 3, Paul sums it up, beginning at verse 8 (let’s include verse 7):

 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord (Jesus’ knowledge): for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

He doesn’t mean knowledge about Him - he means what is in His head. You can know everything about Him but it isn’t going to help you if His thoughts are not your thoughts. Thoughts manifest into action - you’re going to be the measure of the fulness of the stature of Christ¼I’ve got to have His thoughts! All things are "dung"¼I want His thoughts - The knowledge OF Christ is what will save you. That will reform you - that’s what we’re doing¼we’re coming out of Catholicism or "literalism". "The words that I speak, they are spirit(ual) and they’re life¼Eat my flesh, drink my blood¼.The words I speak are spirit. You’ve got to think like I think¼I’m as different from you as the heavens are high above the earth - don’t you get it? My words aren’t your words, my thoughts aren’t your thoughts." In verse 7 above, Paul says: I count all things loss for the excellency of Jesus’ knowledge: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and I count them but dung, so that I can win Christ and be found in Him¼in His mind, in His kingdom - not having my own thoughts which come from the law, but that which is through Christ’s faith. It’s those thoughts which come out of God based on faith." That’s how this verse is translated¼look it up sometime. That righteousness comes out of God¼righteousness is the way He thinks. "Sin" - that’s the way we think. Are you hungering and thirsting after righteousness? Or, have you turned to this block of wood, covered with gold and silver - and are you saying "teach me"? Because if you are, that’s Baal¼.that’s a self-made god, a modern day idol¼it’s made out of wood, it’s covered with gold and people worship it. "We’re a Bible church." Ask somebody sometime: "Is there a higher revelation of God on this earth than the Bible?" They’ll usually say "no". Then ask them: "What about the Holy Spirit? Isn’t He a higher revelation?" I had a guy answer this with: "Well, yeah, but that’s a given." But it told me where he thought¼it told me the vein he thought in. When he wanted to know right from wrong, he came to the wood, not to the Man who wrote it. Think it through¼the covers are black and they’ve made His words red. It’s a Book of death if He is not guiding you and telling you¼it is a Book of death. "Blessed are you people hungering and thirsting after the way God thinks¼you’re the ones that are going to be filled." I can’t help but want to include Amos 8 in this, beginning with verse 11: 

11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD (Yahweh), that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: 12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

 That’s pretty plain, isn’t it? He isn’t going to take the literal "food" out of their mouths - it is the spiritual "food". Now, let me tell you something¼if He takes spiritual food out of your mouth and doesn’t give it to you, you will die spiritually. When you die spiritually, the result of that is a thousand times greater than the literal death. He will kill you¼.Matthew 5¼.There are things that I could speak about concerning each one of these, but I’m going to bypass this because I want to get to the end of this thing and I don’t trust myself to finish on the tape without running out of time¼but I want to make this point: If you look at these Beatitudes, He lists 7 characteristics from verse 3 down to verse 9. Seven characteristics of how you need to be in order to receive His thoughts from Him. That is what He’s saying. Now, remember, Jesus has set these people up - Jesus has listed these 7 characteristics now¼now look at the next thing in verse 10 (once you enter into the kingdom, get verse 10):

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 He’s listed the 7 characteristics and then says: "now, blessed are you folks who are persecuted because you’ve now received it and you’re thinking like this." 

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile (disgrace) you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely (lying), for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in [the] heaven(s): for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

So, He’s stated the 7 characteristics, then He tells you that you’re blessed if you’re persecuted now for believing this and carrying this and sharing this. This is the way they did the prophets - you’re blessed, happy are you. When you receive persecution, He takes the next step in verse 13 (blessed are the ones who endure it¼):

 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 Now, listen¼you’re not the salt of the earth if you’re not expressing God’s thoughts. Let that sink in¼remember what He’s talking about - He’s talking about kingdom people, not people who go to church every Saturday or Sunday¼He’s talking about kingdom people - you are the salt of the earth. If you fall away because of the persecution and you’re not salty anymore, how’s it going to be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing - it’s good to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Verse 14: 

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city (or, a mindset) that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 

In Luke 11:33, he says that your "eye" is the candle of the body or, your understanding is the candle. You don’t light or ignite that understanding and then put it under a bushel - you take that understanding and put it on a candlestick so that it can give light to all that are in the house.

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

Now, let’s stop before I finish¼We’ve got to stop one more time before I close this. He has set these people up for what He is getting ready to teach them. He has said "if you want to receive the way that we think (Me and My Father), there’s 7 characteristics here¼if you really want to think heavenly, if you want to think higher than the earth, there’s 7 characteristics here. Now, when you do, you’ll be persecuted. Hang in there¼you see, you’re the salt; you’re the light¼hang in there. Don’t think, when you hear Me teach the rest of this now - that I’ve come to change the law. Don’t think I’ve come to destroy this¼I’ve come to explain it to you." Do you want to think higher? Here are your 7 ways to be - and get ready:

 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Not one jot or tittle of this law is going to change. Not one jot or tittle is going to pass away¼Now, listen, don’t try to tell me that the ceremonial law was nailed to the cross¼not one jot or tittle of it is going to change until all is fulfilled. Don’t take that law and section it all out for me¼"well, this is done away, but I got to do this part too"¼no, none of it has passed away. Do you want to think high? Be poor in spirit, mourn, be meek, hunger and thirst after the way that God thinks, be merciful, pure in heart, be a peacemaker - and you’re going to get it. You’ll get what He is talking about and, believe you me, Jesus Christ will set you free! You will walk in the measure of the stature of the fulness of the Son of God¼.the only begotten Son of God, born in eternity past and born a second time in Bethlehem, died at Calvary (the place of the skull), has now been resurrected and sent back to bless you all. He’s bringing you a perfected mind, but you’ve got to be merciful¼you’ve got to be poor in spirit¼you’ve got to be, because you’ll never hear Him if you’re not. And does He ever have a message for you¼I’m telling you¼.He has a message that will change your life, that will shake the heavens. There isn’t a person in this room that did not go through a shaking when we began to look at things the way that God looks at them. We’ve all been shaken to the core of our souls, but it needed to be. Sometime, go back and re-read the Beatitudes, look at how He sets them up and then look at what He sets them up for. He goes right into His explanation on what the law actually stood for and what it actually meant.

 Now, I’m going to close reading Matthew 5:17-18: 

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (till everything comes to pass). 

I heard a Jewish Rabbi in Paw Paw Michigan say that the way they understood this was "Think not that I’ve come to misinterpret the law. I’ve not come to misinterpret, but to explain it." He said these are Hebrew idioms. Whether or not they are, this guy was a Messianic Jew, with the little hat on and all of that stuff - He was Jewish. He said that this is the way that this is understood.

 Closing at Hebrews chapter 7, beginning at verse 11:

 11 If therefore perfection (is that not what we’re after?) were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 

Why?

 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. (Moses said the Levites were the priesthood). 

If Jesus Christ is your High Priest, then you cannot turn to the law and read it literally. If you do, you don’t have a Priest. How much more plain can it be? Either you read this law¼now what did Jesus mean? Not one jot or tittle is going to change¼that means He has always intended for it to be this way. What changes is YOUR HEART..! You look at it differently¼I’ve still got a Priest, I’ve still got a Sacrifice, I still keep the Feasts - but I do it IN Jesus Christ. My High Priest is in the heavens¼He’s speaking in the heavens and His thoughts aren’t like my thoughts; His words aren’t like my words¼why, He’s as different from me as the heavens are high above the earth. And you know what? I’m already in His kingdom and I only do what He leads me to do¼He’s moving me through my conscience and I am in the new covenant. I am a spiritual Jew; I live in a spiritual kingdom and Romans 7:14 says: "The law is spiritual". What changes? I do. God never changes. You have some confusion about what He meant then, when He wrote the Old Testament - when He wrote the law? Is there some confusion there? Then, let’s come to grips with it. "I’ve been understanding this a long time on my own and I haven’t been seeking Him - and I’m in Babylon"¼.It’s time to come out; the call is to come out¼Fear God, give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come right now. And worship Him who made¼Fear the Father, worship the Son. Babylon is fallen, is fallen¼. Third message? Don’t take that mark, 666. What does it mean? Man portraying God. You do that every time you pick up the Book and read it without Him¼every time. Let’s have prayer:

Most Gracious Heavenly Father, You are Yah, the only true and living God. We worship you. I pray that we be in the heavens with You, that You, Father, would smile upon us - that we would be a blessing to You. Father, I pray that You be in this place with us as we are with Thee¼that we walk with Thee, that we follow that Lamb whithersoever He goes; that we be found on Mt. Zion with Him, sealed with Your name in our foreheads. It is Your character that is holy. We thank You for sending Your only begotten Son to die for us. We pray it not be in vain. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.