INTRO:   Each one of us has the same spirit essence of God and Christ abiding in us. The apostle Paul writes:

((((For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).

BENEFIT STATEMENT: In fact we are members one of another because all begotten sons and daughters have the same essence of God and Christ, the Holy Spirit, abiding in them (Romans 12:5). It is quite sobering to consider that we are members one of another. And just as it is with the human body, when we injure any body part the whole body suffers. A stubbed toe affects the whole body. A suffering brother or sister affects the whole spiritual body.

Thus, we are admonished to love one another fervently. Note the words of the apostle Peter:

((((“Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22).

AND we, assemble around HIM, and HE rules over us. This is all by HIS essence and Calling. HOW does that Spirit of God, given to begin His New Covenant Church WORK in humans? What does it LOOK like? How does God make Himself known to humanity through His People?

SPS: Each ONE of the Church was purchased by the blood of Christ, and is anchored here by His Spirit. The Church does not belong to us but to God and we are members one of another in God’s Spiritual Body. Today we discuss what IS Your Life Anchor.

BODY:

1. Our Orientation to God is that we assemble around Him and HE rules over us.

Psalm 7:7 (NIV) 7  Let the assembled peoples gather around you. Rule over them from on high;

(((((Acts 1:4-5 (NIV) 4  On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) 1  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

God does not place us on earth alone as His People …leave us to follow Him and represent Him. He has not left us orphans as Christ told us. [He will never leave us - Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) 5  Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Deut 31.6,8; Joshua 1.5]

John 14:15-18 (NKJV) 15  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17  the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

WE are the Product of that initial giving of the Essence of God to His People under this New Agreement between His Holy Nation and Himself. WE are now given His Mind and His Heart to respond personally to each day.

1 Peter 1:18-21 (NKJV) 18  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21  who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

All this is made POSSIBLE by Christ’s Sacrifice to ALLOW vindicated, pure humans to have the Spirit of God IN them.

1 Corinthians 6:20 (NKJV) 20  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

OUR response is required in this personal relationship with our Great Father Creator Saving God.

((((((Isaiah 66:1-2 (NKJV) 1  Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2  For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.

2. Truth at the Core of Human Thought is God’s WORD by His Spirit.

Christ was concerned that we would understand the relationship necessary to make NEW Family Members in God’s Family. So rather than concern Himself primarily with His impending torture …He discussed OUR ongoing relationship with God and HOW that works.

            John 17:17 (NKJV) 17  Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

John 14:6 (NKJV) 6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

So, the relationship with The Family of God is because of and through Jesus Christ with the Father FOR the whole Body.

This Holy relationship is sanctified, (set apart) from the corrupt world by the Truth through Christ …Who IS the WORD. And God’s WORDS are Life.

John 6:63 (NKJV) 63  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

Christ equates God’s Word with Life. And this is done as the Spirit of God leads us to His Words.           

There are two convicting agents in this personal relationship of God’s owning us and our consistent humble response to His Life Guidance.

• The Spirit
• The Word of God

[This understanding is a miracle for YOU personally and in God’s time]

John 16:7-8 (NKJV) 7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Romans 10:16-17 (NKJV) 16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" 17  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The way we are surrounded with in this corrupted world is …False religion is about deceit and about playing on the lust of the flesh, pride of life. Philosophy claims to answer, and so does science, but both lead us to the empirical of the five senses and can lead us into darkness. We cannot control and bring into existence anything. THAT is measurable Truth.

Revelation is how we also receive knowledge. No man knows the things of God except through revelation.

3. Build God’s personal 2-Way Spiritual Relationship –

THAT is YOUR Life’s Purpose – & ANCHOR

What IS the great Truth hidden through the ages? The Plan and purpose of the Great God even before the foundation of the world.

2 Timothy 1:8-10 (NKJV) 8  Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9  who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10  but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Hebrews 2:5-10 (NKJV) 5  For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6  But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7  You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. 8  You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. 10  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

The shear awesomeness and genius of this Plan is beyond our grasp, but Family can help explain the Truth of God.

At some point in eternity God and the Logos decided to bring sons and daughters into the glory of the Family of God and therefore be born into it.

Adam and Eve sinned and brought the death penalty on themselves and then onto all of us. So the only begotten Son of God would die to redeem every person who ever lived or would live.

((((Revelation 13:8 (NKJV) 8  All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

The only One Who could do that would be a God being.

Philippians 2:5-11 (NKJV) 5  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6  who, being [existing or to be] in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7  but made Himself of no reputation [ to empty], taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9  Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

It was absolutely essential for the Members of the Family would fulfill their structure. The outpouring of Love is beyond our grasp. But we experience it.

James 1:17-18 (NKJV) 17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.    

((((1 John 4:8 (NKJV) 8  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:16 (NKJV) 16  And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Christ kept the big picture of the Family burning in His Mind in order to complete this. God and Christ are co-eternal and have existed that way and co-essential and of the same essence.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) 1  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

WHAT was that “Joy”?

That joy was to see you and me as His brethren in the family of God. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:16-17 (NKJV) 16  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17  and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Christ is not ashamed to call us brethren because the same Spirit that is in God is in Christ—and is also in each one that has been sanctified.

Hebrews 2:11-13 (NKJV) 11  For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12  saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." 13  And again: "I will put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me."

(((((Hebrews 7:1-3 (NKJV) 1  For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2  to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," 3  without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

Upon begettal and then birth we are of the very essence of God. Born Spirit Beings, not considered created Beings.

John 1:12-14 (NKJV) 12  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

(((((2 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV) 15  and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

To become God, the flesh must be blameless and then transformed and born into the Family of God.

Romans 5:6-11 (NKJV) 6  For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Romans 8:29 (NKJV) 29  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Firstborn from the dead among many brethren …

Revelation 1:5 (NKJV) 5  and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

This process of begettal and birth is the same as Christ endured.

Romans 8:11 (NKJV) 11  But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Hebrews 12:22-24 (NKJV) 22  But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23  to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24  to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

CONCLUSION:

WHAT is the anchor of LIFE that Christ kept in front of Him, and WE are given to ANCHOR us too?

To become fully Glorious, Radiant Spirit Beings in God’s Eternal Family as IS Christ!

Psalm 17:15 (NKJV) 15  As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

1 John 3:1-3 (NKJV) 1  Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2  Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

CLOSE:

[Don Ward letter]

The most precious gift of the Spirit is life. Our biological parents gave us physical life. We know how short this physical life is. The psalmist writes that our life is as dust, as the grass and flower of the field that flourishes for a short time and is gone with the wind (Psalm 103:14-16).

But God and Christ have made it possible for us to receive everlasting life—to be born of the Spirit and live forever.

(((((Jn 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

At the resurrection of the just we will be born of God as glorious, radiant spirit beings in the family of God and Christ.

So, as we observe this coming day of Pentecost, let us be glad and rejoice evermore in the precious gift of the Holy Spirit that imparts life and hope for a glorious future as kings and priests in the Kingdom of God.

• Orientation to God - we assemble around Him and HE rules over us - Anchors us with His Word & Spirit. (We are not anchored in life by our approach.)
• Truth at the Core of Human Thought - God’s WORD / SPIRIT anchoring us in Family
• Build God’s personal 2-Way Spiritual Relationship - THAT is YOUR Life’s Purpose – & ANCHOR

ALL of this comes to YOU through God’s Spirit which anchors the Church being built by Christ.

The Spiritual Church of God began on the Day of Pentecost 31AD; and was made possible by Christ’s Sacrifice and the Holy Spirit …in repentant, submissive, humble humans who will share in God’s Family with Christ “as He is”.

The Church Family of God is all symbolically pictured by the Holy City on Mount Zion.

Psalm 87:5-6 (NKJV) 5  And of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one were born in her; And the Most High Himself shall establish her." 6  The LORD will record, When He registers the peoples: "This one was born there." Selah

Is THIS where you are anchored?