A conclusion of the Spiritual Law:
Exodus 20:17 “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's.”
1 Corinthians 10:23-31 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's [wealth]. Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, [that] eat, asking no question for conscience sake: For the earth [is] the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. If any of them that believe not bid you [to a feast], and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth [is] the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another [man's] conscience? For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Matthew 18:3 “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
It says all things are lawful in God’s eyes, but not everything is good for us in the end. “Father” knows what is truly good for us.
The words above in Exodus, 1 Corinthians, and Matthew are allegorical.
Little children are dependent on their “fathers” for everything. Becoming as “little children” has deep spiritual connotation with God. Little children have to listen to their parents or they get into trouble. For example they would likely “eat” what they “desire” for dinner, namely candy or something that is not so “good” for them or that which would not “edify” or help them.
However, in 1 Corinthians 10 it says to eat what is sold (easily bought) and eat what is set before you, asking no questions, unless it is “sacrificed to idols” which means it is gained by means not suitable to God which is by your own uncontrolled desire, will, needs, power etc. rather than surrendering to what God has already provided. This also implies not to steal what is not yours to have but to “buy” into what is set before you to have (i.e. shambles). We are also to consider the conscious (needs) of others above our own when we gather to ourselves for consumption. And this consumption of “food” is allegorically everything we have or hold or gain for our lives here in this world. We are supposed to ask ourselves, does it hurt others or go against what is already someone else’s? Even though all things are lawful to God we have to consider the consequences to ourselves and others and whether it builds us up or destroys. So we listen to our father for direction and we go with the flow rather than fight the waves of life to gain what we will another way. In other words we “eat what is set before us” and buy into “what is sold in the shambles” rather than go after something else that is “sacrificed to idols”, which are things we covet after because of our own ego mind and the “desires of our belly”. So why would we want to covet or desire something that is not ours to have when God says follow me? It is our natural man that is controlled by the powers of the physical world that does this, but these scriptures are trying to tell us that there is another way that can make us truly alive in the end if we can hear the Spirit. This has meaning in many areas of our lives.
Galatians 5:14, 16-18, 24 “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ... [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law… And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
When we love others as much or more than ourselves (see previous post on Spiritual Law Number 7) we look out for them above ourselves. And when we understand there is a higher more powerful spirit at work, we are more able to “crucify” the lusts (desire) and passions (affections) of the heart with patience. Now this is not to say that we should not have what our physical body needs, or that we should not want things. It is how we want things and how we gain things that we need to be careful of. We all have a variety of needs that God is willing to fulfil if we trust rather than obsess over them because it also says:
Luke 12:29-31 “And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Theses scriptures are telling us to stop obsessing and thinking “I need, I want, I have to have it…”. He asks us to first seek his Kingdom and he will give us all that we need. [There is something for our neighbors and ourselves both in time, and we get what we give...] But is this just a paradox or a trick to gain what we want in a different way? The Kingdom is a place of surrender to the Power of God rather than to our own ego needs and strong emotional obsessive desires. The physical world tricks us into thinking it tells us what we need. But these scriptures are saying there is another way that aligns with the powers of the universe (i.e. “God the Father”) rather than the power of our natural animal man (ego mind god – see previous post “Ye are Gods”). I do not know if this meant to be so counterintuitive or an oxymoron, but this is what the Bible teaches. A basic example is if you are starving and all you do is focus on how hungry you are, you just get hungrier and hungrier. However, if you focus on seeking the controlled mindset (thoughts of trusting God, peace, love, faith, patience, hope, thankfulness, etc.) that represents the Kingdom of God (see previous Spiritual Law posts), you may still be hungry but you are not obsessing about it and somehow the “food” appears sooner in ways you would not expect.
Could this work with people or children who are truly starving to death? I do not know, but I suppose it would if these concepts in the Bible are true. We are simply interpreting the meanings of the words here.
If these concepts are true, the difficult question in this world to that respect is how do the thoughts of a child who is starving change to thoughts of hope? Could their thoughts truly save them physically? Is this world that cruel, but yet that simple?
This physical world is temporary right? “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:17). Our desires (i.e. lusts) may pass away but we are still here right now and we ALL suffer in different ways. Every “child of God” suffers. Some are starving from lack of food, some are starving from illness, trauma, love loss, death of friends/family, murder, rape, abuse, persecutions, lack of hope, ego mindset…, etc. We all suffer, but in different ways here in this world that fades and changes yet stays the same through the cycles of time. However, are some people so far into their sufferings that they cannot possibly change their thoughts? Even if the starving child is not concerned with the pain of their own hunger, they may not understand these deep concepts of hope and faith that could potentially help them [but maybe they could]. So what is the purpose of this short painful life? Even so, what is the purpose of anyone’s life who also lives in pain but in a different ways? Is anyone’s pain and sufferings worse than another’s? Possibly, but possibly not depending on the individual perspective of the pain endured and how each person’s body/mind feels pain. There are varying levels of human life in this world, each with varying levels of suffering and/or learning, and each has meaning and purpose in God’s eyes regardless of how long or painful it is. So even though the starving child may physically die of hunger, there must be is a purpose for that life even though we may not understand it or even though is different than another’s pain or suffering.
Luke 6:38-39 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?”
If we continually focus on our own suffering, regardless of what it is, we will never overcome it and it will possibly be our demise in the physical. If we are continually standing with our hands out in need, that is what we will get more of… need, want, lack. But it is not the suffering or need that truly kills us. The truth of the universe is we all simply reap what we sow. But remember not to judge the suffering or what we are reaping as evil, it is just a result of sowing, figuratively speaking of course.
The suffering is there to show us a different way if we have the ability to learn it. Is this the purpose of all suffering? Maybe, if we can view it that way. And we learn from each other too.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
We continually get back from God (i.e. the power of the universe) what we give out from ourselves. We reap what we sow. If we reap sparingly with our thoughts that is what we will continually get. If we sow need we continually need more. This may be why many people who are born into a situation continue in the same situation. Change is not easy, escape is not always easy and in some cases it is impossible without outside help and schooling from others. And we give to others to in turn reap to ourselves.
We are here to help one another; be also an example to others. Everyone is an example for others to see. So to help others [and in turn ourselves as well] we gives out our own thanks rather than projecting thoughts of need and lack. If we give out thanks we will also obtain more to be thankful for. Simply being this example is all that is needed to help ourselves and others. If we project out need we will always be in need, and this also serves as an example to others. Remember, having thanksgiving in all things is God’s will for us regardless of our circumstance (see previous post).
However, remember again as well;
Galatians 6:7-8 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
But don’t be fooled; it is not about gaining things here in the flesh, although that may be given as a side effect. It is not “matter” that truly matters, but it is the Spirit that matters.
But also;
1 Corinthians 6:12-13 “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.”
Keep in mind the word “fornication” here in 1 Corinthians 6:13 represents things we seek outside the realm of the Kingdom of God. It represents being obsessed with physically gaining what we want here in this world of “flesh” and matter, rather than following the Father of Spirit. It is as if the Bible is saying this physical world is an illusion [that will pass], but the Spirit is truth.
1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
Again, the scriptures are trying to tell us something here. There is more to life than what it appears. Our pride, our possessions, even our bodily needs and desires are not what they seem. It is telling us there is something more important that we need to think about and focus on that will save our minds from this world of pride, needs, and wants [that is not of our “Father”]. There is something above this that is also for our body. Now if we go back to the commandments in Exodus 20 it says we are not to covet anything that is not to be ours (vs 18). We bring ourselves away from our Father’s will when we start focusing on things that we want that we don’t currently have, can’t have, or shouldn’t have. It is telling us that we need to change our thinking if we are to draw closer to our true life. This world is a distraction and it seems to be like a test, trial, or mechanism to wake us up to truth if we can see through the falsities of the ego mind and the repeating cycles in this world of matter. If we can overcome this world via Christ within which is an anointing of spiritual truths to our mind that we utilize to see through the veil of this physical world, if we can let go of our pride (give others the credit), let go of our immediate desires (let others keep what you want), stop worrying about what else you think your body needs (use what you already have in front of you and be thankful for it even it seems bad) then a new way of life is glimpsed, a life where our minds are altered, and we see the world in a new light. This world is not made for us to consciously control via our desires of the external world, but rather God controls the world for us via the subconscious when we let loose the grip we have on our specific wants and allow the river of life to take us where it will and give us what we truly need through the Christ within.
1 Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
When there are things on the outside that do not look important, mighty, strong, honorable, smart, favored, cool, highly esteemed, prideful, or acceptable to the world; look closer by looking at the heart of the matter. The world sees the outward appearance, however, there is always more to see. And what the world esteems as good and charming may not be so. The world gets it backwards many times. God sees your heart; the outward appearance is for the natural man to see. And from what it says in 1 Samuel 16, the LORD asks us not to focus on the outward appearance of ourselves or others. The physical world is deceiving at first glance, but the heart of the spirit will tell the truth and shine through. The physical outward appearance may shows us things, but the Spirit will show us more. A person may be highly esteemed, favored, strong, or handsome on the outside, but the heart is what counts in God’s eyes. So don’t focus on the pride or beauty of the outward appearance, but rather look at the depths of the heart. Because what may be weak in the eyes of the world today, may be the strength of it tomorrow.
2 Corinthians 5:16 “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more.”
1 Peter 3:4 “But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”
We can’t really know someone by the outward appearance of the flesh, so the hidden man in the heart is important to find out. However, the body is still the “temple” of the LORD so this is not saying that one should not take care of their body because the outward appearance doesn’t matter. The outward appearance can and will display a reflection of what is on the inside, but it is what is inside the heart that truly matters not the reflection [which can be deceiving]. There is a fine line between these two things and we should be careful to distinguish between them. Our body is a “temple” and it needs to be also taken care of as such, but in any case of outward appearances of a temple, the Spirit sees the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 “For this is the will of God, [even] your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:”
Sanctification and honor means that you should keep the body pure and value it. This means we take care of ourselves and value even our physical bodies. Treat them with kindness and love.
1 Thessalonians 4 above not only says to value yourself but that the will of God is to possess your vessel (your body and mind) correctly by not passionately desiring (with strong emotion) things you cannot, should not, or will not have; which is the meaning “lust of concupiscence”. Which is also the meaning of “fornication” here. So not only should we treat our fleshly body with respect we should also look at how we are ruling our internal thoughts and emotions. The body and mind hold great power so the desires of the heart should be handled carefully. This huge power of strong desires coupled with emotion must be focused according to God’s direction if we are to satisfy his will which is good for us. Taking care of ourselves inside and out helps our bodies and our minds to be more clear which in turn can get us closer to the helpful powers of God.
Hebrews 10:36 “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
And again, what is the will of God?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
The will of God is clearly stated here in 1 Thessalonians 5. Pray always, rejoice in what you already have, and be thankful for EVERYTHING. Stop moaning and groaning over what you don’t have or over things that are happening to you. But rather put your emotional power and thoughts into being thankful.
Psalm 37:3-6 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; [so] shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring [it] to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”
Psalm 37 directly tells us to trust God, delight (“rejoice evermore”) in what God is already doing for you. If we direct and focus our thoughts and emotions to being thankful and happy in what we have, all of our truest and purest hopes and dreams will be, and we will also understand why (i.e. “judgment as the noonday”). And these are the things that will make us truly happy. In others words; “…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself…” (Matthew 6:33-34). Trust God he knows what he is doing. Do away with coveting (strongly desiring) things you don’t have, it just leads to more pain. Because;
1 John 4:4 “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Christ [in you, not the one in the world] has the power to overcome this world for you because he is in you.
Galatians 1:4 “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”
Christ gives himself for you [and your “sins”] when he comes to be within you. He gives himself to you by being in you. This is how he truly feels your every infirmity, and this is how he overcomes your every infirmity. He is in you, not external because “…after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more...”. By being in you he gives you the power of connection to God which is the powers of the universe (i.e. “Christ”) which is your hope of true “glory”. (Colossians 1:27). This is your hope for the ability to overcome this present world. When one overcomes the world, they do not necessarily leave this world, they just view it differently. It is the overcoming of this world that “passes away” (i.e. world of illusion) that truly saves us. This is how Christ saves us; this is the “coming” of Christ, the son [of man] within us.
Matthew 24:27 “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”
Psalm 37:6 “And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”
His lightning shines figuratively from east to west [within you] and shines a new light on your world like “noon” time in the darkest of nights. You then see the illusional material world in a new light.
[I do not claim to understand exactly who or what Christ is, but simply interpret the various words of these ancient texts.]
Isaiah 28:10 “For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little:…”.