restoring the weightier matters of torah 2015 jan 12
restoring the weightier matters of torah, part two 2015 jan 13
restoring the weightier matters of torah, part three 2015 jan 15
restoring the weightier matters of torah, part four 2015 jan 16
restoring the weightier matters of torah, part five 2015 jan 20
restoring the weightier matters of torah, part six 2015 jan 21
Now when we begin to look at the New Testament occurrences of the Holy Spirit, we find something interesting:
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Gal 5:16-23
(Christine’s note: to be “under the law” means to be under the indictment of the law for justification, Paul’s entire subject in the book of Galatians. God’s Law is directed to the flesh, for the very things it commands men not to do are the very things the flesh desires to do: adultery, idolatry and the like. The Spirit is contrary to the flesh, as is the Law. If a man were to walk in the Spirit, follow the leading of the Spirit, exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit, he would find himself in concordance with the Law, for the law is not contrary to or against the Spirit (Gal 5:23). The fruit of the Spirit is the very thing the Law commands.)
“And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:32
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. Eph 5:25-27
The New Testament in many places links the Spirit with the Word. The same action of the Spirit in Titus 3:5, that of washing of regeneration, is attributed to the Word in Eph 5:26.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Eph 6:17
Eph 6:17 does not hint at the relationship between the Spirit and the Word, but equates the Spirit with the Word.
There are two words in Greek normally translated “word:” logos and rhema. Logos is used of “word” in the passive voice, but rhema is used of “word” in the active voice. In other words, when the Spirit of God is working upon the Word of God to bring it to life, it moves from merely words on the page, the passive word, logos, to the word in the heart, the active voice, rhema. We see this borne out in the Old Testament as well, in the Septuagint, the translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek:
“And these words (rhema) which I command you today shall be in your heart.” Deu 6:6
By the word (logos) of the Lord the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath (pneuma, ruach, Spirit) of His mouth. Psa 33:6You send forth Your Spirit (pneuma), they are created; and You renew the face of the earth. Psa 104:30
Of course there would be an equivalence between the Spirit of God and the Word of God, for the Spirit is the author of the Word — He breathed out, or voiced, His Word from the heart of God, which is Himself.
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luk 6:45
And God spoke all these words, saying: … [ the ten commandments ] … Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.'” Exo 20:1-22
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” Joh 6:63
The Spirit cannot be separated from the Word, nor the Word from the Spirit, for the Spirit is the Word of God in action. In order to restore the weightier matters of Torah, there must be a restoration of the Spirit from the New Testament to the body of believers.
Thank you for this wonderful message, Brad. Brad Scott of Wildbranch Ministries and David Jones of Ruach Ministries International are currently co-writing a book on this very subject, and when it is available I will be sure to alert everyone to it, for this is what the Spirit is saying to the Church in this hour. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Update: The book is now complete: The Restoration and the Gifts of the Spirit by Dr. David E. Jones. Read it today!
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