Life in Christ Jesus Podcast

Jehovah My Shepherd

Jehovah-Raah, The Lord is My Shepherd
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep”
 In John 10, Jesus declares Himself to be the Shepherd of the sheep. One of the most quoted scriptures in our Bibles is Psalms 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Verse 1 of this Psalm actually declares a Jehovah name, Jehovah-Raah or Jehovah my Shepherd. As a Shepherd of the sheep of Israel, God shepherded the children of Israel from the bondages of Egypt into the land of Canaan. They were led by God through Moses, with the presence of God in their midst as a cloud by day and a fire by night, from Egyptian slavery into a land of milk and honey, God’s provision. Israel was given the land that God provided for them.
In John 10 Jesus makes many profound statements in regards to being the Shepherd of the sheep. In verse 10 He declares that He is the door, and if an many enter the door they shall go in and out and find pasture. The question I want pose, is if I go into the door who is Christ, why would I ever come out? In the past I had ideas that we would go in and gain understanding, revelation, or knowledge and come out into the earth and share or minister what we gained.
However, I believe I have seen by the Spirit of the Lord a much deeper and clearer understanding to what Jesus is saying. In Egypt when the Israelites celebrated the first Passover, they killed the lamb and put the blood around the door frame, and entered the door. They did not come out of the door until the breaking of the new day. This is a picture of what Jesus is saying. He is the door that we enter into. We enter into the door of Jesus Christ through His Blood, and eat the lamb until the breaking of the new day. When we come out of the door we come out in a new origin. We come out as a new creation created of God in Christ Jesus.
In other words, I believe Jesus to be saying we would go into his death and burial, and originate out of His life. We go into Him, and our old man is put away as we eat His flesh and drink His Blood. We now come out of Him as a new creation man. Our life is no longer found in the earth, but in Christ. The pasture we find as His sheep is His abundant life. He leads us into rest as the Shepherd of our souls. He restores our souls from the man of earth and into the man of Spirit through the renewing of our minds.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Jehovah my Shepherd. He is the good shepherd that takes us out of the Egyptian slavery of our flesh, and leads us into the life of the Spirit of God. Blessings to All!

Jehovah-Jireh - Hearing God's Provision

Jehovah-Jireh – Hearing God’s Provision
Hearing God’s voice has been part of the focus within our local fellowship the last few weeks.  In the story of Abraham and Isaac, God’s purpose for mankind is set forth.  Isaac is a promised Son. Israel becomes God’s holy nation coming out of the promised Son.  In type and shadow this nation was brought forth through Isaac’s resurrection from the dead, which is declared in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:17-19  “By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.”
We who are in Christ are not in figure, but in reality.  Our new birth is in and through His resurrection.  Through Christ Jesus we are raised out from the dead (dead in Adam) and brought forth to be a people unto God.  Peter calls us a chosen generation, a royal priesthood.  The priesthood that we are is of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We minister Him, His death, burial and resurrection.  Our living in the earth is to be unto God in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have life.   Our new life is Christ Himself.  This is the glorious relationship we have come to. 
Now when I look back at Genesis and the story of Abraham and Isaac, I want us to consider that Abraham heard God.  Now he did not just hear God within the confines of Abrahams wants and wishes, but Abraham heard God according to His purpose, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”  I believe many believers struggle to hear God because they are simply trying to hear Him only as it relates to themselves. For example, generally when we pray “thy will be done,” we are still praying about something concerning us.  We are not necessarily asking God what His will is, His will period.  What we are usually asking is God’s will for our situations, circumstances, etc.   Once we turn our hearts to hear God’s will and purpose, I believe it opens the door to a continuous hearing and seeing of the Spirit of God. 
What is God’s will and purpose is where we must turn our hearts, minds, and focus to.  Notice I did not say what is His will and purpose for our lives.  I mean what is His will and purpose period!  This is exciting folks, because it is here that I believe God wants to speak within the core of or being.  Ephesians 1 declares that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. Here, I believe is where we find His will and purpose, in His Only Son Jesus Christ.  Here is where we must be found, just as Paul wrote to the Philippians, “that I may be found in Him.”   I believe when God made the earth, and ultimately mankind He was looking into Christ and what He was going to do in and through Him.
All of God’s movement and declarations upon the earth were according to Christ, from the time He said, “Let there be light,” to the birth of Jesus Christ in the manger.  God was moving and speaking toward His purpose.  Jesus profoundly declared that the scripture speaks of Him.   Now God is revealing the very light he was speaking of, in our hearts as He reveals Christ in us.  Christ who is the light.  Even the natural light that gave light to mankind upon the earth was speaking and declaring the coming light of the Lord Jesus Christ.  We who are in Him, can now walk in God’s glorious light.  We can walk and see by Him, and no longer be in the shadows, but declare the Eternal Light to the earth.  We can make known God’s purposes as we see Jesus in the Light of understanding given of God!  Blessing to all!

Jehovah-jireh - Thine Only Son

Jehovhah-jireh – Thine Only Son
John 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice.”  Many of us may spend a lot of time seeking to hear the voice of God.  Jesus said clearly that His sheep would hear His voice.  Many may deduce His statement to only the written word of God, but that would not be the case.  We who are in union with Him should hear His voice.  I believe the challenge we may have is what is His voice is saying?  Much of our time may be spent in asking God to tell us what to do regarding things, or situations.   As a young Minister I did just that.  I spent many hours in prayer seeking God’s voice, primarily about where to Minister and seeking the Ministry of the Lord.  I do not want to tell you there was no benefit to this because it was of much benefit.  I also, do not want to tell you that God does not speak in regard to natural things or our requests because He absolutely does.   He will direct you and speak to you in specific things in your life.
 
However, what we do not consider much of the time is what God wants to speak about.  We are often too busy trying to get Him to speak with us about our situations.  The story of Mary and Martha in the Bible is great illustration to this.  Martha is busy about in preparation that Jesus has come to their house.  Mary sits at His feet to HEAR HIM, and what He has to say.  This I believe is the key to hearing God.  Turn to hear what He has to say.  When we turn to Him, He is going to speak within us and reveal His Word.  He is going to reveal the living Christ in us.  This speaking will transform our being, our mind, our heart, and our soul.  God wants to tell us His desires, His thoughts, and His vision towards creation.  He is interested in His plan, and wants to move us from our own to His.
 
In the study we have been in of Genesis 22, The LORD says to Abraham to take his son, “Thine Only Son and offer Him.  This is a powerful statement, rich and full of the mind and plan of the Lord.  This statement was clearly speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The entirety of the story of Isaac is speaking of Christ.  The chosen SEED of Abraham being Isaac, is speaking of Jesus our Lord, who is the chosen Seed of God.  Just as Isaac was promised, Jesus was promised, Isaiah 9:6 “Unto us a child is born and a Son is given.”  Jesus is the fulfillment of all things promised and spoken.
 
Isaac was the son of promise.  God promised Abraham a son.  Abraham and Sara could not have children.  Sara was barren.  So they could not produce the seed promised.   The LORD had to move upon Sara to bring Isaac forth.  Can we hear this?  This is speaking of Mary and the babe Jesus.  Isaac was brought forth of God.  Sure, he was Abrahams son, fathered by Abraham, but he was a clear type or representation of Jesus Christ.  However, unlike the type, Jesus’ had no earthly Father.  He was not only brought forth of God, but was the very SEED of God, the Word made flesh.  Just as all of Israel would be of Isaac, the promise seed of Abraham.  All of God’s children, the Church would be of Christ God’s very own Seed.  He is our salvation.  All who are in Christ, are born of ONE SEED.
 
This is what is hidden in the story of Isaac, the picture of the Lord Jesus himself.  However, not only Him, but we who belong to Him.  All of Israel came through the promised Seed of Abraham.  In fact, if we study the scriptures, we will see Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, and all of Israel was from Him. Now, we, the true Israel of God come through the TRUE promised Seed.  Jesus fulfills all God spoke of when He said, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”  Paul writes in the Book of Galatians Chapter 3 that the Seed of Abraham was Christ.    Jesus was the fulfillment of everything said through Abraham and Isaac.  In fact, all of Israel was speaking of Him.  Finally consider, that Paul wrote later in the book of Galatians 3 that they who are of faith are Abraham’s seed.  All of Christ belong to this ONE SEED, which is CHRIST.
 
We are born of none other but Him.  The Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  Read this carefully.  We are born again through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  The surge of life that comes in us at the new birth is His resurrection out from the dead (dead in Adam, dead in Sin).  We are made dead to the old creation of sin and death through His death, and whisked up into new life through His Resurrection.  We that are His are all born of this one glorious SEED of God, who lives and abides forever!  We are now the SEED of God through our Lord Jesus Christ and are destined to grow up into Him in all things.  These ALL THINGS are all that is of Him.  This is a totally new life full of purpose of God!  Blessings to all!

Jehovah-Jireh - God's Provision in Jesus

Jehovah-Jireh
In the last lesson, we looked at Jehovah and this name of God in relationship to Israel’s salvation, and how it spoke of God’s fulfillment of salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord.  As God appeared to Moses, He declared His name Jehovah to him and God declared that He had appeared to Abraham as God Almighty but by the name of Jehovah was not made known unto him.  This I believe, the Lord to have shown me, was speaking that God would come and appear to Abraham and leave.  When He came as Jehovah to Moses and the children of Israel He did not leave, but became a God in their midst, leading them out of Egypt as a Cloud by day and Fire by night.  After that filling the tabernacle of Moses with Himself, and later the Temple.  He became a God to them, and they became a people unto Him.
However, by studying the scripture we can clearly see that Abraham called him Jehovah.  Here in this less we begin to dig a little deeper in the name of Jehovah as declared by Abraham, which was specifically tied to God’s provision, Jehovah-Jireh.
Genesis 22:9 -14 “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built the altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of Jehovah called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided.” 
 Here we come to Mount Moriah, which means seen of Jah, Jah is the short form of Jehovah.  This was God’s seeing.   God spoke to Abraham to bring Isaac to Mount Moriah and offer Him.  Later this became the Temple Mount, and was speaking of the Mount where God would lay the sacrifice, and the chief cornerstone.  “Behold I lay in Zion a stone a tried stone.”  It is no coincidence that the House of God is founded upon a sacrifice.  All this was speaking of Christ Jesus our Lord.  He is God’s true provision. 
 In Mount Moriah a sacrifice provided of God was revealed, a Ram caught in a thicket.  Here the great provision for all mankind begins to be unfolded, “Jehovah shall provide Himself a sacrifice.”  “God so loved the world that He gave His Son.”  This is the provision seen of Jah.  This is God’s provision.  This provision not only saves me from my sin but delivers me completely out of the man of sin and takes me into my promised land, the land of rest in Christ Jesus.  We are a new creation created of God in Christ Jesus. 
 Here with Abraham the thought of the Only Son comes into view.  “Take thine son, thine only son.”  Abraham also had Ishmael who had been cast out.  Ishmael was speaking of the man of the flesh, or the Adamic man.  Jesus himself is also called the Only Begotten.  In Jesus we begin to see the fulfillment of what God is saying through Abraham and Isaac.  The Only Begotten is God’s seed, kind, and man.   The Old Man is Gone.  Our salvation is not in Adam, but in the Only Begotten of God. This is a New Man coming out of God. 
We in, through, and by Him, come out of God.  Our origin is no more in Adam.  The Old Man is dead, buried and gone.  The New Man has NOW become my life.  This is my promised land – “that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.”  In us is a land flowing with milk and honey.  Out of our inner being flows the River of Life Himself.    Glory to God!!!

The Spirit of the Lord - Salvation

The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me II
Isaiah 61:1-3  “The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.”
In the American Standard Version Isaiah 61 is translated Lord Jehovah.  The King James translates this Lord God.  The American Standard is the proper translation as it is dealing with God’s name Jehovah.  The word Lord here is Adonay, used only for God, and meaning Lord or my Lord.   As we consider the names of the God, each name serves a purpose, showing and declaring our Lord’s nature, attributes, and character, and ultimately speaking of Christ Jesus.
As noted last time the Spirit of Jehovah in the book of Judges came upon the Judges to deliver Israel out from under bondage.  This is seen through Othniel, Gideon, and Samson to name a few.  The Spirit of the Jehovah was the empowerment for deliverance.  God’s name Jehovah is used emphatically for that very purpose.  I believe through the Jehovah name is where the Almighty God reveals himself to a people.  I actually believe the Jehovah names are in direct relationship to God declaring himself as I am that I am.  Jehovah is the revelation or the knowing of the I AM, or the I AM made known to a people
Exodus 6:1-8 “And Jehovah said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land. 2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am Jehovah: 3 and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Jehovah I was not known to them. 4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojournings, wherein they sojourned. 5 And moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. :6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am Jehovah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments: 7 and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God, who bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you in unto the land which I sware to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am Jehovah.” 
Here the Lord says that by his name Jehovah he was not made known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Theologians have tried to explain this, as Abraham clearly called him Jehovah, Jehovah-Jireh (in the mount of the Lord it shall be seen).  So, what is God saying here?  I believe if we search our Bibles we will see that it is in the name of Jehovah where God comes to dwell among Israel.  When He had come to Abraham, God would come and leave.  So, Abraham did not know him as the abiding God, or Jehovah.  Here in this name Jehovah, God would be made known among a people, His people.  He would be their God.  Here God Himself would come down to Moses to deliver His People Israel out of bondage and INTO the Land of Canaan, flowing with milk and honey.  As I have said in other teachings this land represents God Himself.  He was the reason for the milk and honey.
Jesus clearly fulfills Jehovah as the savior, deliver, and redeemer who is seen throughout Exodus.  Matthew 1 starts off with a picture of Jesus as the ONE who would SAVE (deliver, rescue, heal, restore) His people from their sins.  Notice that in Matthew 1:21, “He shall save His people.”  We that have been saved ARE His people.  As stated long ago of Jehovah, they shall be my people because Jehovah saved them and brought them to Himself.  This is speaking of JESUS.  Through the cross – death, burial, and resurrection, we are brought from sin, its sickness and decay to the very self of Jesus.John 14:20, “At that day you shall know I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you.” 
Through His glorious work, Jesus has brought us out, and it is not just that He has brought us out, but He has brought us into His very own self.  Glory to God!  This is salvation.  Not just coming out of sin or Adam, but coming out and coming into Christ Jesus.  As I prepared for this teaching the Lord profoundly showed me in several of Jesus miracles that Jesus not only healed and delivered, but He brought those who He healed and delivered into a whole different state of being.
When the disciples were in the ship with storm Jesus rebuked the wind and brought the disciples from the tempest of the storm to His calm., the rest of Jesus. When the woman came to Him with the issue of blood, He healed here issue and made Her whole.  It is said of the demon filled man of the Gerasenes after He encountered Jesus that He was in His right mind.  What I want us to see is the end state.  The Word used for save is used in all of these accounts.  It is translated, save, I shall be made whole, and had been made well. 
In fact, when John and Peter encounter the man at the gate of beautiful and the man is healed this word is used, dealing with the man being made whole.  What a change of being, a crippled man to leaping and praising God. 
Our salvation is coming from one man (a man of sin) to the new man in Christ.  Salvation is so much bigger than we consider.  It is God’s provision.  God’s provision at the cross is Jesus for my sins.  God’s provision in His resurrection is Jesus as my life.  We are saved by His life.  Christ is our resurrection out from Adam and into Christ Himself.  Glory to God!!!

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me

The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me
What a powerful and common scripture that is found in Isaiah 61 and Luke 4.  The Spirit of the Lord
Isaiah 61:1-7  The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is on Me, because Jehovah has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the meek. He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and complete opening to the bound ones; 2 to proclaim the acceptable year of Jehovah, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of the spirit of infirmity, so that one calls them trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, in order to beautify Himself. 4 And they shall build old ruins; they shall raise up former desolations; and they shall restore the waste cities, ruins of generations and generations. 5 And foreigners shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of strangers shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6 But you shall be called, Priests of Jehovah; it will be said of you, Ministers of our God. You shall eat the wealth of the nations, and you shall revel in their glory. 7 Instead of your shame and disgrace, double. They rejoice in their portion; for they shall possess a second time in their land; everlasting joy shall be theirs. 
When I began to think on this the thought came to me, where is the first place this is found?  My thoughts shifted to Genesis 1 "and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."  While this is similar.  It is not the same context.  In Genesis the Bible is dealing with the Spirit of Elohim, the word for God in this place and many places throughout your Bible.  Elohim actually is dealing with plurality of God.  Here He is seen as the creator, and His Spirit moves upon the waters of creation, and His voice speaks and things begin to appear and be formed.  "Let there be light."  From this voice and word light came into being.  Both natural and spiritual light has its existence through Him.  Jesus would later say, I am the light!
Now as I considered this, I began to search for the first place the actual place in your Bible the phrase, "the Spirit of the Lord was used. The word Lord is the word Jehovah.  It means the self existing one.  He is exists through and by himself.   He is unique and there is known like Him.  He is only made known to us through and by Himself.  Glory to God.  The first place I found this phrase, the Spirit of JEHOVAH, was in Judges 3.
Judges 3:7-11 “And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and forgat Jehovah their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth. 8 Therefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 And when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Jehovah delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand: and his hand prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim. 11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.”
Notice verse 9, "Jehovah raised up a Savior."  In connection with the phrase the Spirit of the Lord comes into view a Savior.  Now we should clearly see this is speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is our Savior.  Matthew 1 declares, "He shall SAVE His people from their sins."  In Luke 4, where again we are met with the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Jesus closes the book and tells those present that at that day the word is fulfilled in their ears.  Jesus is the Savior that the Spirit of the Lord comes to rest upon in fullness.  He is sent to deliver God's people from the bondages of sin.  The internal bondage that none of the Judges from Othniel to Gideon to Samson could deliver from.   
In John 8, Jesus declares if the Son makes you free you shall be free indeed. 
John 8:31-35  Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered unto him, We are Abraham's seed, and have never yet been in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. 35 And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever. 36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.  
What does the Jewish people say to Jesus here.  We are Abraham's offspring.  We have never been in bondage.  Consider for a moment that they were under Roman rule.  Their very natural existence was in bondage to Rome when Jesus shows up in their midst.  Now He tells them if they were Abraham's see they would do Abraham's work.  What work was that?  Abraham believed God! 
Here is where the Son makes us free.  We believe God by believing in Jesus Christ, and God counts it to us as righteousness.  God lays all sin on Him (Jesus) taking away the bondage of sin from us, and places His righteousness upon us.  This work is not done through us, but through Him.  We have faith in Him, and His faith is applied to us.  The Son has made us free from sin.  Its penalties.  Its hardships.  He has done that.  We are free indeed!  Glory to God.  
Not only does God want us to realize this, but He has made a way for us to come from out under its bondage.  We no longer have to live in sins nature or domain.  We are not yoked with sin or the law to bear the fruit of sin.  We have been yoked to Jesus and his domain to bear the fruit of Christ. His divine nature is our reward and is to be made known to us!  This is really good news.  His work has healed us!  Glory to God!!!

His Words Abide Forever - Spirit and Life - Abundant Life Chapel

His Words Abide Forever 2 – Spirit and Life
Isaiah 66:1  “Thus saith Jehovah, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what manner of house will ye build unto me? and what place shall be my rest?” 
For a long period of time the Lord dealt with my heart in Isaiah 66:1. These words rolled over and over within my heart and mind, “Heaven is my throne and the earth is my footstool.”  In the Old Covenant God was enthroned between the cherubim above the Mercy Seat, according to the scriptures of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Psalms.  God’s throne, rule, or government was through the law of Moses.  He executed that law within the natural Israel.  Israel was ruled by the law of Moses, and the Blood of animals. 
For a moment let’s consider this throne, rule, and dominion as God’s Heaven.  God’s throne, rule, and dominion was in Israel.  To advance this further let’s consider that God dwelled in the Tabernacle of Moses, and later in the Temple that Solomon built.  The scripture also teaches us that Heaven is God’s dwelling place.  In the Old Covenant God dwelled in Old Israel in the Temple.  If the Temple was God’s dwelling place would it not make sense that it was Heaven or a Heaven, as God was there.  With that thought in mind. The Temple was in Jerusalem.  So,, we could also consider that Jerusalem could represent the earth.  Heaven is my throne – the temple.  The earth is my footstool – Jerusalem.
Now as recorded in Matthew 24:35, Jesus declared Heaven and earth would pass away. Most of us apply that to the natural earth.  Let’s consider that he was speaking of the Old Testament Covenant and Temple, and all that it pertained to.  When he died at the cross the Old was over.  Jesus was its fulfillment, completion, and end.  Now with that said, the second part of Matthew 24 is, “but my words shall not pass away.”   This is a powerful statement. 
Consider that the words Jesus spoke went into force.  What do I mean by this?  Over and over Jesus said “He that believes on Him would be saved.”  He declared that those that believe would be one in John 17.  Much of Paul’s epistles is given to the oneness of the believers in and with Christ.  These are the words that are in force.  No longer do we come to God through an Old Covenant or even the words of the Old Covenant, but we come through Christ, Him and His Words. 
John 17:23 “I in them, thou, in me, that they may be made perfect in One!”  What a thought.  The Old Covenant could never bring this forth.  It was hidden in there.  It was written as testimony to Christ, but the reality was only brought forth in Him.  The law, the prophets, the scriptures all testified of Him.  He was the prophet Moses declared that would speak God’s word.  He was the Redeemer Isaiah declared that would come to Zion.  All testified of Him – the Law and the prophets were His testimony.
In the Book of Revelation Chapter John saw a lamb that had been slain, standing in the midst of the throne.  Remember Heaven is my throne.  This throne that John saw had a slain lamb.  The rule of this Government is the slain lamb that is risen from the dead.  John saw Him, JESUS, standing, having the seven spirits of God (God’s fullness).  All execution of Government had come to Him, and is administered through Him.
Revelation 5:6  “And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.”
 This is the throne, or Heaven we approach.  We are ruled and governed through the slain Lamb and His resurrection. This is the New Government.  This is the New Covenant.  This is a New Heaven and a New Earth, where there is righteousness!  We are made the righteousness of Him.  We are now the place of His feet, not real estate in the middle east but a people in whom He dwells!  Glory to God in the Highest!!!!

The Kingdom of God XI - No Condemnation II

He is our righteousness!  How many believers have awakened to righteousness?  When we come to our Father in prayer do we thank Him for the righteousness that we have in Christ Jesus?  I am afraid the answer to this question for many is no.  I am afraid that we struggle with sin consciousness.  We are aware so often of our inabilities, but NOT AWARE of HIS ABILITIES!
Just as our sin was laid on Jesus Christ, He was also made our righteousness.   I believe many of struggle to live righteously and try to measure this though the law of Moses.  I want us to fully hear what the law of Moses does.  It shows us our sin.  Look at the following two scriptures closely.  
Romans 3:20 "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." niv
Romans 7:7 "What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "You shall not covet.""
Through the law is the awareness of sin.  Not only is it an awareness of sin, but an awareness that sin is at work in me.  I am concerned that every time I look to myself to overcome sin or unrighteousness I find failure and disappointment.  That is because my salvation is not in myself.  It is in Christ Jesus.  He became my sin offering.  He took my iniquities.  My inabilities were laid on him.  Jesus died for the ungodly.  Glory to God!
Now not only is He the answer to my sin.  He is also the answer to my righteousness.  We are made righteous through Him, and we live righteously as we know HIM.  He is the solution to all!  Not I but Christ!  Glory to God!
Romans 3:21-27  "But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; 24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 26 for the showing, I say, of his righteousness at this present season: that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him that hath faith in Jesus. 27  Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? of works? Nay: but by a law of faith." 
1Corinthians 1:30-31 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.:
Jesus has been made our righteousness.  Now as I say this I am sure it rises up in many that are we saying you can live anyway you want and be saved?  I would say no!  As Paul said, "Shall we sin that Grace may abound?" The answer then was no.  It is still no.  Read Romans 6 and notice what else Paul says.  He brings US into union with HIM, Jesus Christ - His death, His burial, His resurrection.  Ultimately that we live unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord!  In this living, we live there through Him.  
WE come to union with HIM.  In the seeing of this union this is where we begin to love our brother as ourselves.  We see our Brother in this same Christ that we see our self in.  We begin to see the Church as HIS BODY.  This is where the empowerment of righteous living comes from.  It comes from Him, and the seeing and knowing of Him by the Holy Spirit He has given us.  This does not abound from ourselves but through the relationship we have with Christ.  Through the knowing of Him we will want to bring no harm to our brother or sister or anyone else for that matter.  Rather we will want to build up and edify in Christ Jesus our Lord!
The beauty of seeing our relationship with Christ is that if we do fall or make mistakes He is faithful and just to forgive us!  We are in a relationship of Love, not condemnation.  This LOVE of God is shed abroad in our hearts and ministers one to another through the Holy Spirit of the Lord.  God does not leave us in the shape we were in.  He has made us a New Creation in Christ Jesus.  This is where we need to find ourselves, IN HIM, and not only ourselves but the entire Body of Christ!  Blessings!