We may just be jumping into the deep end of the pool today, so put your water wings on! Let me share some things the Holy Spirit was speaking to me as I was praying and preparing this message for today…. Eternity is not just a time frame, it is eternal in the sense that it is a measure of supernatural exceptionalism and Divine intention, not just a quantity of time…. The original Hebrew word for Eternity is `Olam’… which states that Eternity is a state of timelessness….so it’s not about time since time is done away with…. It is a state of being, that is timeless…. Eternal is another way of saying without limits.
We are not going to be eternal…. We are eternal beings, who have an eternal gift that transcends the corruption which is part of this dimension of time and space. We have been given an eternal language which is the word of God, we pray it, declare it and think it…. We have been given eternal faith, for as Paul said, “We live by the faith of the Son of God”….We have been given eternal fruit which is demonstrated by a new nature…. And We have received eternal gifts which operate by the Holy Spirit…. Think about this…. When Jesus showed himself to the disciples in His eternal resurrection body, He told them, “Handle me and see”…. He was giving them a mandate to handle eternal things. Jesus was and is the eternal word made flesh which we are called to handle on a daily basis. He was declaring that He was bringing that which was timeless and limitless, into the dimension of time….(Did I lose anyone)
He had put on flesh, but being eternal, corruption, was subject to Him. Therefore, the corruption of leprosy, blindness, deafness, epilepsy, even death, were subject to His eternal, timeless, limitless presence.
We are no longer just a physical body, but being eternal beings means that we through faith may transcend corruption,(are you with me) Paul says, “This corruption shall put on incorruption” …. That will happen in the event of death or the rapture, but in a very real way it has already happened….as we get the revelation of the eternal in the now!
Paul goes on to say, “We have passed from death unto life”…. When we understand that we are now eternal beings, we can understand how we can serve notice that corruption has lost its power over us, when we get this revelation.
In the Welsh revival of 1904, which touched the nations, a young man named Evan Roberts, had an experience with the Lord, that was so transformative that all who knew him, said he became a different person. where before he was so limited to his past, and all the things that convinced him he could never do much. But after his transformative epiphany, the limits were taken off of his belief system, and he could see all of Wales turning to Christ and the world beyond being shaken by the Holy Spirit! And oh, the wonderous work which the Holy Spirit did!
As we enter the realms of the eternal in God’s presence, He brings us to places where the veil between this dimension and the eternal, timeless, limitless one, is so thin, that all which is there begins to pour fourth into this dimension where the corruption of sin, sickness, and all the layers of depravity piled on one another have separated us from God’s eternal truth.
Everywhere Jesus went, the eternal state of His presence, overwhelmed the effects of man’s fallen condition as they opened to His eternal reality
Jesus said to us, “I have overcome the world, and you shall overcome also in my name.”
John 17:16 “Father, They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. v17 Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth. v18 As You have sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. v19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. v20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for those also which shall believe on Me through their word;
v21 That they all may be one; as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that You have sent Me. v22 And the glory which You gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are One: v23 I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me”.
The eternal part of you, which is who you really are, is greater than the corruption in the world. Again, scripture puts it this way…
1 John 4:4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
You are a new (eternal) creature in Christ, old things have passed away, behold all things are become new.
When a fugitive is running from the law, he may move to a different area, take a new identity, and even have plastic surgery, but what catches him is that there is always some baggage from the past, habits that he brings with him, that will always do him in!!!
In 1782, a monument was erected which was part of a sepulcher in a church graveyard, located in the city of Hanover England.The individual buried there put an arrogant inscription on the plaque. It said, “This sepulcher, was purchased with the specific condition that it shall not be permitted to be opened for all eternity.” Well God certainly has a sense of humor, because the seed of a Beech tree, fell at the edge of the grave, and grew into a huge tree, with the monument and open sepulcher lodged in it’s branches for all the world to see and to read!!
Mankind with all his pomp and power cannot stop or even resist that which is eternal!!! God says it, that establishes it, believe it or not!
How great it is that the word “Eternal” means forever new, free of corruption, free from the limitations of the past…. The actual work of grace that makes it possible, is a God thing. Lazarus didn’t need to have faith to come out of the grave, but the eternal clashed with corruption and the eternal won. The dead have no faith that they can operate in, but once he was brought to life, it was up to Lazarus, what he did with that life. The Apostle Paul wrote – “Therefore, be imitators (copy the behavior and actions)of God as dearly loved children.” ( Ephesians 5:1)
This goes far beyond an individual changing… it is far more than that, it is the great exchange. It is not just new and improved….You have received the capacity for something that never existed before in the earth. It is a change that comes forth from your new nature!
God took a picture of the new you, from the inside out, and He’s showing it to you through the inspired, God breathed word, which has transforming power. These days people are flooding the internet with selfies… but our selfies fall short of the true picture of us that God sees. I am showing you a picture your heavenly Father took of you today… You are a lot, lot, lot more than you see yourself to be. The eternal you, has been brought into miraculous existence, through a supernatural act of God. You didn’t just get a little body work and a paint job, you got a systemic make over. “Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new”….
Your eternal being has been created as a new life form, in the earth (scripture says you are a new creation)…. This new creation has come, to break the limits off, and launch you into a transformed mind, (let this mind be in you which was also in Christ).. a transformed message (He whom the Son sets free is free indeed) and a transformed mission (He overcame so I shall overcome also In His name)
Our lives here on earth, are a battle of the will. The nature we feed and strengthen constantly will win. And the winner determines to what extent, God is able to work through us to accomplish His plan and intentions in this brief span of time we are given to leave a Divine imprint and impact before we move on to our eternal reward.
This battle of the wills has already been won and we are joint heirs, which means that we now have access to the benefits and rewards. It is now up to us to simply receive what He has already provided and live it out and apply it in our daily choices and decisions.
An important theological term here, is imputation. It means that someone has made themselves responsible for my debt and that if I cannot pay my eternal indebtedness, sufficient funds will be taken from their spiritual account and transferred into mine. (SO WHY NOT TAKE IT ALL!)…TAKE, TAKE, TAKE IT ALL….. My spiritual debt is transferred into their account, and their spiritual assets are transferred into mine. God has cosigned for us, to guarantee that what I need to maintain my New creation status is made available to me from His account. When I can’t, He can. My limitations draw out from His eternal unlimitedness. My shortcomings and failings have access to His bountiful, endlesssupply.
How many are familiar with the “foot dipped in oil” prophecy which was spoken by Moses over one of the tribes of Israel? Deuteronomy 33:24 “And of Asher the Lord said, “Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil”.
Feet dipped in oil, is about receiving the promise and not only realizing it yourself and making an eternal influence at the present time in your circle of influence, but leaving an impact on future generations so that they might walk in it as well. Eternal things don’t end with you, they last well beyond yourself. They continue to leave an impact or imprint and have an influence long after you have left the scene. In other words you leave a footprint through the eternal covenant anointing which you choose to walk in…. Look at Colossians…. (it’s a little lengthy, but)
Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are eternal, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your affections and desires on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you have died (to these corruptible things), and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death those corruptible things, which are of the earth: fornication, uncleanness, sinful passions, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 10 and put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created you, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the path to perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. All of that began with the words “Seek those things which are eternal”, which simply means, that which is like Christ, and imitates Christ, which comes into us by the workings of the Holy Spirit.
The word superlative or it’s derivative… SUPERNAL comes to my mind. It means coming forth from heaven, being of exceptional quality, having excellence, that which is supernatural….
I want to identify some Supernal and eternal qualities, which make it very apparent that a person has moved over into and is operating from the eternal state of New creation living….
So, How about joy…. You would think that a lemon sucking face, a down in the mouth, woe is me countenance, is one of the fruit of the spirit to a lot of Christians. Let’s leave the lemon sucking out of the fruit of the spirit, it doesn’t belong!!!
Any old sinner can be joyful when everything is coming up thornless roses, you just won the lottery, you just got a promotion, your horse just won the Preakness and paid 100 to one…. But eternal joy is not limited to those things are any of the superficial stimulus…. It comes from a higher place and it’simpact goes much deeper. That’s when you find out if your feet are dipped in eternal oil!
Joy is a key indicator that God’s Spirit is ruling and reigning in us. Peter calls Joy the companion of faith. Joy is a statement that you have decided to not be a victim and you have chosen to be an overcomer. Joy is not stolen from you, it is starved out, strangled and stagnated. Joy is like anything spiritual in our lives, the more we walk it out, the more it grows and becomes who we are, not just what we do. John 15:11 “I have spoken these things to you so that My (eternal) joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” The Greek word here means to fill to the individual capacity, or to cram full with joy…. If your joy is absent, it means that you’re not sure who you are in Christ. A lack of joy, is a lack of spiritual confidence and understanding. Luke 10:20 “Don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written (eternally) in heaven.” That’s a constant and that is our confidence, and that is our greatest source of JOY!
The next quality which shows that we are walking in the eternal, new creation state of being, is peace! Eternal peace is knowing that our heavenly father is doing His best work in every area of our life, and that is something we will never be able to get our heads around! Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. v7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.
An older Jewish man was on the operating table, waiting to havesome very serious surgery. He had insisted that his son-in-law, who was a renown surgeon, perform the operation. As he was about to get the anesthesia he asked to speak to his son-in-law…The surgeon asked him what he wanted and he said “Don’t be nervous my boy, do your best and just remember, if it doesn’t go well, if something happens to me, your mother-in-law is going to live with you and your wife for the rest of her life.” (This guy had peace that his son-in-law was going to do his very best!)Well, he had temporary peace, but that wasn’t eternal peace!
Eternal peace thrives and reigns in the eye of the storm. It will be the Divine umpire and guardian of your heart and mind. It is not the absence of trouble, adversity, toxic people, or the storms of life, but it is the presence of our Lord that steadies us and establishes our eternal sense of well being.
Luke 2:14 The angels declared on the advent of Christ’s birth,“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
God is telling us that one of the evidences of His eternal peace is Good will towards all men… Isn’t it odd that the peacemaker who came from heaven to bring good tidings of great joy to all people, was constantly attacked, harassed and opposed. Peace makers have always had to endure this kind of behavior. But we must always see the evil one who is behind this, and not those who are His victims. Peace makers must learn the constant power of forgiveness. And it makes it much easier when you see those who oppose you as victims instead of villains!
The great peace maker Himself, hung on the cross, as He was battered and bruised and bleeding at the hands of the very onesHe came to bring good will to…. But listen to what He is saying…. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Forgiveness is the peacemaker’s most powerful tool. Peace makers can continue in their mission of “Good will toward men” As long as they don’t let themselves become the victims and they stay close to the one who purchased our eternal victory… and won for us “Peace that surpasses all understanding”….
I want to consider one more indicator that God’s eternal Spirit is ruling and reigning in us….
That is Compassion…. Matthew 9:36 Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and scatteredlike sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 14:14 When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
Matthew 20:34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.
The verse in Colossians 3:15 which told us to let the peace of God rule in our hearts, also translates the word “peace” in the original Greek which it was spoken in, as “compassion”….
Just a word of caution here. Those with the ministry of compassion, need to be accountable to others, because they feel so deeply and they operate so intensely from the heart. Because of this, they can easily be used, taken advantage of, and played by the players. So they need someone with discernment and insight to protect them from the users and the takers and the insincere. This is a word to the wise….
Compassion is a powerful force, which threatens the enemy’s kingdom. It sees beyond what others see, and sees what is possible, what can be, for it sees what God sees is possible. It sees people who feel invisible, because of their fears, their insecurities, and lack of skills or abilities. It sees beyond the failure, and flaws. The mistakes and bad choices. And it releases the power of faith, hope and restorative love.
Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”.
We see in Jesus’ ministry that eternal compassion was released as a healing, restoring, transformative force. Physical and spiritual change came as bodies were freed of affliction, disease, and infirmity. And lives were changed as Satan was defeated and commanded to flee! You see, compassion, puts itself in another persons shoes, it puts itself in their place. It does not stand far off and judge the situation, but it comes close enough to actually feel what they might feel. Jesus touched the untouchable lepers, He got close to sinners, and He got angry at what made the sick unwell, unhealthy, limited and imprisoned!
Compassion can be a tool which God uses to release revival and transformation….When compassion is in the prayer room, count on it, heaven and earth are being shaken!
So guard your eternal joy, your eternal peace and eternal compassion…..We’ve looked at a few things, but there is so much more to the scriptural picture God is showing you of yourself. There’s a whole album of amazing things God has put together about your new creation life. After all, it is your picture He is showing you in His eternal word…. Ephesians 4:21 “When you heard about Christ and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 and be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new creation, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”. Prayer……Lord, I thank you for each new day, that you allow me to live. Days filled with fresh mercy, grace and power for every need I will ever experience. Thank you that I have been made a new creation and a joint heir with unlimited possibilities ahead in the future. Thank You for Your cleansing, purifying spirit that makes all things new and sets me free from the limitations of the past. Your truth has now become my new reality.
Lord, Fill me with Your joy, Your peace and Your compassion, so that I may impact my world for Your glory. Lord Jesus, I declare new beginnings in my home, my family, my life and circle of influence. Thank you for a new start, and a new path for my life. Help me to show others the picture you have of them, so they can become the new creation you have already made possible for them. Let my words and my actions help them and encourage them to believe and receive. Lord, I ask You for wisdom, discernment, and revelation as I move forward and come into closer relationship with You. Remind me that You are in control, not me. Let me be filled with praise and thanksgiving, as I walk in love, mercy and forgiveness. I praise You in the storms and I praise You in the joys, for I believe that all things will truly work together for good as I love you, and stay in Your word, and seek Your face. In Jesus’ name, amen!
So receive it, enter into it, release it, pass through the veil, the thin place, there is an unlimited supply of the eternal oil available, so that your feet may be dipped in oil that will leave an imprint on generations to come. Pass into the unlimited supply, the timeless dimension, that is available for you this moment…. In Jesus Nam
