Entering the Spiritual Word Dr. Mike Fogerson May 9, 2012
Introduction
A The ancients believed earth was the very center of God’s creation & everything revolved around us.
1 We know different now.
a The sun is a main sequence Gz star that contains 99.86% of all the mass in our solar system.
aa The sun & planets in our solar system make up a small part of a galaxy, The Milky Way. (1 off 100 billion galaxies)
bb The combined mass of Jupiter & Saturn make up 90% of all the remaining mass.
cc From the sun to the edge of our solar system is between 90 - 120 astronomical units; at least 8,370,000,000 miles to the edge.
b Our little planet is the first & only in our solar system that is able to sustain life because of our...
aa Distance from the sun, rotational rate, axial tilt, geological history, atmospheric composition, & protective magnetic field.
bb The surface of the earth is 196,935,000 square miles & were traveling through space right now at 67,000 miles an hour!
cc The closest star is 4.2 light years away...
c David was ahead of his time when he asked. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalms 8:3-4 (NIV)
2 This means our planet is an insignificant, speck of dust in the universe unless there is a creator God!
a Believing there is a God, we believe He exists without the limitations of our 3 dimensional world.
b He lives in what scientists call a universe parallel to our universe: This is only our best guess.
B Everything we know about the universe, cosmos is only the edges of God’s world!
1 Quantum physics speaks of eleven dimensions, yet God is not limited by times & spaces.
2 God lives in this universe parallel to ours: we’ll call it the Spiritual world.
a For this spiritual world to be understood we must consider it in three terms:
aa Spiritual realm
bb Spirit world
cc Spiritual world
b Immediately we think of angels playing harps, floating from cloud to cloud, souls of the departed glowing ethereal echos of their physical counterparts, wispy clouds.
3 To begin understanding the spiritual world we must understand something: the spiritual realm is not just “real” but “more real” than this one.
a Earth, solar system, planets, sun, the entire universe is subject to God’s judgement.
b 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.2 Peter 3:10 (NIV)
aa The Earth we all know as “real” can be wiped away, but the spiritual world is eternal / everlasting.
C In the N.T. the spiritual world was more than the eternal home of those who die.
1 The N.T. teaches the spiritual world is a present reality, that can be embraced / made available to all believers who embrace the work of the Holy Spirit.
2 The N.T. teaches us that humanity originates in the spiritual realm & also has a destin beyong this world.
D Paul speaks of wisdom / truth flowing out of the spiritual realm & into ones in 1 Cor. 2:6-16.
1 6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" --10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Cor 2:6-11 (NIV), The only way these wonderful revelations can be made alive is by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
a 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 1 Cor 2:13 (NIV) We are taught by the Spirit.
b 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 1 Cor 2:12 (NIV) We are given special gifts by the Holy Spirit.
aa “freely given” Greek - Charizomai: means to do a favor for someone, to be kind to, to give or bestow a thing willingly as a gift.
bb 14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.1 Cor 2:14 (NIV) We can’t understand / be taught these things in our normal life for they are “things of the Spirit of God”
c The way we receive / understand / learn these things is to have our “normal” mind taken over by the Holy Spirit. 16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16 (NIV) The mind of Christ is a new way of thinking / learning / seeing / processing the things of the Spiritual Realm.
2 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Eph 2:5-6 (NASB) The Spiritual Realm is referred to as “the heavenly places.”
a Those of us who are alive now, in our normal ilfe, have been given access to the Spiritual Realm.
aa That realm is where Jesus is right now. 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, Eph 1:19-20 (NASB)
bb He & the Holy Spirit are interceding for us right now. 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; Romans 8:26 (NASB) 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised , who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Romans 8:34 (NASB)
b 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:12 (NASB) It’s this realm where true worship occurs & where Spiritual Warfare is waged.
c It’s in this realm where the impossible become possible!
3 Every good daddy wants the best for his kids and our daddy is no different in this respect. 20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Eph 3:20-21 (NASB)
a Its when we enter this realm that we are told God desires to “do more than we think or ask”
b What unlocks that realm? Opens the doors? What gets us access? Makes the power of heaven available to us on earth? The unfettered work of the Holy Spirit.
E Where do we start?
1 A Jewish leader had asked Jesus that question early in His ministry; Jesus replied in John 3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 (NASB)
a “Born again” in the Greek means “another” & can mean “above”
b Jesus told Nicodemus that nothing less than a new beginning, a new life, birthed from above could grant access to the Spiritual Kingdom.
2 Later Jesus would teach Nicodemus that the new birth would come when he embraced the promises of the gospel.
a Salvation was obtained at Calvary, we receive this truth by a miracle of the Holy Spirit.
b The Holy Spirit is God on the earth right now: He comes to reside / indwell every true believer.
3 If the Holy Spirit indwells every true believer then the potential of operating in all the gifts / graces of the Spirit is available to every believer.
a 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:14 (NASB) 37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'John 7:37-38 (NASB), Jesus described this potential as a rushing artesian spring that is potentially a river of life for spiritual resources.
b Ask yourself, “Am I truly born from above?”
aa 31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Acts 16:31 (NASB), A Philippian jailed asked what the conditions were for salvation... what do I gotta do?
bb It’s simple acceptance of Christ’s gift / believing He did all the work necessary for your salvation.
cc If you have not recognized / received His gift, pray with me:
“Lord Jesus, I confess my own failures & faults. I believe you were given to die for my sins on the cross. I believe you rose form the dead and are alive right now and hearing my prayer. Please come into my life and save me. Give me the birth from above and a brand - new life. You are Lord! Amen.”
c If you prayed, meant it with your whole heart, the Kingdom of the Spirit & access to that more real Spiritual World is now available to you.
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
