Believers Still Live Like They Are In The Old Testament

I love studying the Old Testament. It was a shadow or picture of things to come. As I look at the church I see more and more people living as if they are still there, like the Spirit of God does not dwell in them. Or better yet like they still need a judge, prophet, or teacher to hold their hand because they will not listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

It's clear to me now, more than ever just as it was evident in Paul's life.

I often hear well I dwell in the Spirit but I live on earth and have to deal with earth stuff or someone will act like they can live in the Spirit but not walk in the Spirit or live in the Spirit and be by themselves not part of other believers.

I began to examine the children of Israel and how they saw one dimensional.

The Spirit dwelt with them but was not in them so God used Moses and even through all the blessings and miracles they complained, cried, and wined for 40 years, what could have been an 11-day journey. Nothing they did changed the sovereignty of God.

He did everything He said He was going to do BUT instead of going in to possess the land everyone 13 and older died in the wilderness only to see it from afar off. Even Moses died in the wilderness because he hit the rock in anger.

Then God rose up Joshua and then judges and prophets. He gave the law and instruction and all they had to do was listen to what He told them but they didn't.

They worshiped strange gods, married foreigners, and made deals with them only to find themselves in bondage all over again.

Jesus laid down His life freely not just so we can have fire insurance but rather to give life and that life more abundantly.

Abundant living comes when we are totally surrendered to the Lord when we are WILLING to live and walk by faith.

And we can't do that apart from walking in the Spirit and seeing through the eyes of the Lord.

How can you turn the other cheek if Christ does not dwell in you?

In Matthew 5 in the Beatitudes, Jesus said “You have heard in times of old but I say unto you”.

The law is holy and not one jot was removed from it but it is the schoolmaster to bring us to Jesus Christ.

The law is holy but can not save you,

the law is Spiritual but does not live in you unless by the same Spirit,

and the law will condemn you but not raise you from the dead.

Jesus said in John 14 (NIV)

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you knew me, you would also know my Father. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or at least believe in the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, 31 but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. “Come now; let us leave.

It's time for the church to live and walk in the newness of life. Our faith should always abound and we should get bolder, see clearer, and have this mind that is in Christ.

1Cr 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions among you, but [that] you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Phl 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

Phl 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,