Holy Spirit Empowerment Is Vital In Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: Acts 19:1-7, 'Jesus' Holy Spirit baptism and John's water baptism'

Key Verse:  Paul said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? (Acts 19:2a) 


The sacraments of  Baptism involves cleansing of the human mind (Romans 8:1-8). In today's Epistle, the baptism of John, which Apollos taught and practiced involved inner mental cleansing and moral and ethical reformation. John's Baptism introduces mankind into a great and important reformed movement. The baptism of Jesus involves water baptism and stresses empowerment by the Holy Spirit for deliverance from the spiritual death of the mind of the flesh, and resurrection into the life, and the spiritual empowerment to live in the mind of the spirit (Luke 4:18-19).

Apollos' twelve disciples lived their religious lives in the mind of the flesh. They received the baptism according to John the Baptist. They had not heard about Jesus' baptism and empowerment in the Holy Spirit. These sincere believers missed the very essence of the Gospel of Christ, Holy Spirit-based deliverance from slavery to sin, and resurrection from spiritual death, as revealed in Jesus Christ. Apollos' ministry was not quickened nor empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-2).


Apollo and his followers had limited, intellectual concepts and knowledge of truth in the Gospel of Christ. In the mind of the flesh, they focused on water baptism, moral and ethical reformation. Because they practiced their religion in the mind of the flesh, their worship, sacraments, prayers and services were neither pleasing nor acceptable to God (Acts 19:3).


In the mind of the spirit, confession of sin, and the water baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin are important but only initial steps in salvation. As revealed in Jesus Christ as Messiah, resurrection from spiritual death comes through proper mental alignment, faith in Christ's incarnation, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit to follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery. Within witnessing paschal faith communities, the Holy Spirit unites believers in Christ. In the mind of the spirit, the Holy Spirit guides and empowers spiritually awake believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, to discern, proclaim and manifest the fruit and gifts of the spirit, in their daily lives and ministries (Acts 19:4-5).

Through Paul's ministry of affirmation, proclamation and reconciliation, twelves followers of Apollos received and were empowered by the Holy Spirit. They manifested the spiritual gifts of prophesy and tongues. They experienced what Jesus meant by being born of water and of the spirit. They knew the experiences of spiritual awakening and being born from above (Acts 19:6-7).


Have you been baptized, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit since you believed? Are you in the mind of the spirit, following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery? Are you, within witnessing paschal faith community, passing over from spiritual death into the new and eternal life in Christ?
 

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Reconciliation And Adoption In Living The Paschal Mystery

Key Scripture: Galatians 4:4-7, 'Reconciliation and adoption through Christ's Incarnation'.


Key Verse: 'And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying "ABBA"!, Father ! (Galatians 4:6). 


The mystery of the Feast of Christmas is the birth and manifestation of the incarnate Christ (ADONAI, JEHOVAH), God's image and likeness, in human flesh (Genesis 1:26-31). By following Jesus Christ as Messiah in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, all mankind can be delivered from slavery to sin in the mind of the flesh. In faith, humility and obedience, we can all pass over into the freedom and abundant life in Christ, in the mind of the spirit (John 6:36).


In the fullness of time God sent Christ, the Son Begotten Only of the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit to be incarnate in Jesus Christ, as mankind's Messiah and Divine messenger. In Jesus Christ God has revealed mankind's full humanity and mankind's full divinity in and through Christ, in the mind of the spirit (Genesis 1:31). It is through the incarnation of Christ, God's image and likeness in the spiritual body of every person, that men are no longer strangers to salvation. By faith we have become members of the universal and mystical body of Christ, in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-11, Galatians 4:4).

As children and heirs of God in Christ, in the mind of the spirit, spiritually awake believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups experience the Godhead's Spirit-based redemption and spirit-based second birth in Christ. In the mind of the spirit, believers are lifted beyond themselves and their cultures, into the universal, Christ-centered, born again experience. In spiritual adoption by faith, in the mind of the spirit, these believers are born from above (Romans 8:9-13, Galatians 4:5).


By the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ as Messiah, was made perfect man in human flesh, in the Virgin Mary his mother. Through the mystery of Christ's incarnation in Jesus Christ, and in all who follow him in living the Paschal Mystery, believers are delivered from the bondage and slavery to sin. In the mind of the spirit believers receive power to become children of God. In this spiritual adoption, God has sent Christ, the Spirit of His Son, into believers hearts crying "ABBA!" Father! (Galatians 4:6).


Christ-centered spiritually awake believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups are no longer strangers to salvation, nor slaves to sin in the mind of the flesh. By faith, humility and obedience and following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery in the mind of the spirit, they are now children and heirs to God, through Christ (Galatians 4:7).


Do you now have a clearer understanding of the mystery of the Feast of Christmas, the birth and manifestation of the incarnate Christ (ADONAI, JEHOVAH), God's image and likeness, in human flesh (Genesis 1:26-31)? Are you following Jesus Christ as Messiah, in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit, so you can be delivered from slavery to sin, in the mind of the flesh? Are you in faith, humility and obedience, within witnessing paschal faith community, passing over into the freedom, love, grace, truth and abundant life in Christ, in the mind of the spirit (John 6:36)?

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Embracing Christ's Scepter Of Righteousness In Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: Hebrews 1:5-9, 'Righteousness is the scepter of Christ's kingdom'.

Key verse: But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom" (Hebrews 1:8).


A scepter is a rod or staff borne in the hands of a bishop. It is a symbol of authority and power as the shepherd of the flock. Scepters may be tipped with a cross, an eagle, a dove or precious jewels. In today's Epistle, the scepter of God's kingdom in Christ (ADONAI, JEHOVAH), here on earth, as revealed in Jesus Christ, is the scepter of God's righteousness, the mind of the spirit  (Romans 8:1-4, Hebrews 1:7-8).


Now within witnessing paschal faith communities in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, the scepter of righteousness is a state of harmony and proper mental alignment, established in the consciousness of believers. Righteousness is the right use of our minds and our God-given attributes, in kingdom living here on earth. Being clothe in Christ's scepter of righteous as describe by Paul, within witnessing paschal faith communities, is believers casting out the mind of the flesh and clothing themselves in the mind and life of the spirit (Romans 1:12-17). 


Christ-centered righteousness, working in harmony with the Holy Spirit, brings forth forgiveness of sins and casting out the mind of the flesh. By clothing themselves in the mind of the spirit, believers experience the Christ-centered salvation, power and authority of the whole man - soul, mind, emotions, body and relationships - to practice kingdom living here on earth. In the mind of the spirit, the eternal and abundant life in Christ, can be realized, while here on earth.    


Christ as the Son of God, is the very likeness and image of the Godhead. This Only Begotten Son of God is the eternal Word in action, wisdom constitutive and comprehensive of all, and creative force in all persons and all things. In Christ, God governs righteously and enforces the righteous thought life and righteous behavior in mankind. Christ is true Son of the true Father, invisible of invisible, incorruptible of incorruptible, immortal of immortal, and eternal of eternal (Hebrews 1:5). 


Jesus Christ is the first born of the eternal Sons of God, in human flesh. In Jesus Christ as Messiah dwells the full incarnation and manifestation of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). The scepter of Jesus Christ here on earth, is the scepter of God's righteousness. In the mind of the spirit, God's scepter of righteousness is revealed in the Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based  preaching, healing and teaching of Jesus Christ. Christ's scepter of righteousness is revealed here on earth, in the incarnate priesthood of Christ as (ADONAI, JEHOVAH) in Jesus Christ and in the earthy shepherding of Jesus Christ, as Messiah (Hebrews 1:6). 


In the mind of the spirit, spiritually awake believers discern that wind and fire and other elements in nature are ministers of God. They are subject to the control of the Godhead in Christ-centered believers, who in the mind of the spirit, follow Jesus Christ in living the  Paschal Mystery. In the same way angels, as ministering spirits are also servant of God, here on earth (Hebrews 1:7). 

Down through the ages and generations, Christ-centered spiritually awake believers recognize the dominion and eternal reign of Christ, as the invisible and incarnate Logos in the New Testament and ADONAI and JEHOVAH in the Old Testament. Believers know that Christ's reign in Jesus Christ and in all believers in established, sustained and maintained in the mind of the spirit (Philippians 2:5). No human being is truly himself or human institution truly successful, without honoring Christ as Owner, Master and Lord. All rebellion against the incarnate Christ as Lord and Savior, and attempts to live outside of Christ's reign are sins against the Godhead. These sins are all centered in the inappropriate and erroneous dominion of the mind of the flesh (Romans 8:5-11, Hebrews 1:8).     

When following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, believers are admonished in today's Epistle to cast out the mind of the flesh and clothe themselves in the mind of the spirit (Mark 8:34, Romans 8:5-6, Philippians 2:5). Believers are reminded that Christ establishes God's kingdom on earth, through believers who discern, think, feel, speak and act in the mind of the spirit. The revelation, establishing and manifestation of the kingdom of God remain hidden, delayed and not manifested, when believers within witnessing paschal faith communities, refuse to clothe themselves in Christ's scepter of righteousness and choose to live their lives in the inappropriate dominion, condemnation, darkness and rebellion of mind of the flesh (Romans 1:1-11, Hebrews 1:9).    


Today's epistle Hebrews 1:1-12 was written to remove all false teaching, and misconception about the eternal Christ, as God's invisible image and likeness, in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all persons (Genesis 1:26-27). Christ as the eternal king of glory, came down from heaven, as the eternal, invisible Son of God. In the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ became fully incarnate in Jesus Christ as Messiah, in the virgin Mary's womb, to save mankind from bondage and slavery to sin, in the mind of the flesh. By repentance, faith, humility and obedience, all mankind can re-establish kingdom living here on earth, by following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit  (Genesis 1:28-31, Matthew 6:7-13, Romans 8:12-17).    

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Paradise Regained In Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: Romans 16:25-27, ‘Paul declares the Paschal Mystery’.

Key Verse: “Now to God, who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages” (Romans 16:25)

In Colossians 1:27, the apostle Paul proclaims the truth of the Paschal Mystery, "Christ in you, the hope of glory". Paul boldly declares the hidden truth of Christ's presence and paschal work in individual persons and within witnessing paschal faith communities, which have been hidden, down through the ages and generations. Paul assures us that in Jesus Christ as Messiah, these hidden truths of mankind actually dwelling in Paradise, the highest state of Christ consciousness here on earth, are now revealed and experienced as realities, in spiritually awake Jews and Gentiles (Romans 16:25-27). 


The hidden truth revealed in Paul's benediction is that Christ, as ADONAI /JEHOVAH, eternally dwells in the spiritual body of Jesus Christ and all persons. Repentance, seeking, serving and obeying Christ in all persons, remain the Godhead's established foundation and basis for mankind's past, present and future hope of forgiveness of sin, freedom from the bondage of sin, redemption, salvation and glory, while dwelling here on earth (Genesis 1:26-27, Romans 16:25a). The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together, in the mind of the spirit (Isaiah 40.5).   

During the Advent season, Christ-centered, spiritually awake believers, in the mind of the spirit remember and celebrate the conception, birth and revelation of the initial aspects of the Paschal Mystery, in Jesus Christ, as Messiah. They seek and celebrate the fuller incarnation of the presence, redemptive work and manifestation of Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, in their lives, by remembering Mary, Jesus' mother and following Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery (Luke 1:46-55, 4:16-21, 9:23-24). According to Paul's Gospel, as revealed in Jesus Christ, the initial human mental alignment, incarnation and birth of Christ in human flesh occurred by the faith, surrender and obedience of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, in the Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 16:25a).   

In today epistle, the apostle Paul goes to great lengths to make all mankind aware that this mystery of Christ's indwelling, incarnation and birth in human flesh, through the spiritual body of every person, has been kept secret for ages and generations. These aspects of the Paschal Mystery were fully revealed in the incarnation and birth of Jesus Christ as Messiah, two thousand years ago. Because the religious leaders and authorities in Jesus' Jewish religion at that time, practiced their religion in the spiritual blindness of the mind of the flesh, they could not discern, and could not truly know who Jesus Christ was, even though he was born, grew up and lived as Messiah, in their midst and among them (John 1:26; Romans 8:1-11, 16:25b). In the mind of the flesh, these believers experienced Paradise Lost, even though Jesus Christ lived, worshipped, taught, and performed miracles, within their witnessing paschal faith community.  

In the mind of the spirit, the apostle Paul affirms that all mankind will discern that the Godhead mysteriously dwells in the spiritual body of not only ofJesus Christ but all persons as Christ, God's image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27, Colossians 1:24-29). Because of this fact, the Gospel of Christ, as revealed in Jesus Christ is universally applicable and can be effectively applied in very practical ways in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups. God requires Christ centered, repentance, faith, humility and obedience, in the mind of the spirit, when any human being chooses to follow Jesus Christ as Messiah in discerning and seeking the realization of this initial incarnation aspect of the Paschal Mystery, in one's own life (Romans 1:8-11, 16:26).

The bible declares that in Jesus Christ as Messiah, the Godhead's incarnate presence was initially revealed and fully manifested in human flesh. Under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, God's infinite wisdom, power and eternal glory in human flesh were fully manifested in Jesus Christ ( Luke 4:16-21, Colossians 2:9). In his faith, humility and obedience Jesus Christ revealed and fully manifested the Godhead's eternal reign in human flesh, while he dwelt among us and in our midst, in his physical body (John 5:19, 30; Romans 16:27). Christ-centered spiritually awake believers rejoice without shame, as they are now  beholding Christ appearing, mysteriously, in and through their spiritual bodies.

In today's epistle, the apostle Paul discusses God's universal plan of spiritual awakening, spiritual formation and spiritual regeneration in the hearts, minds and lives of repentant, humble and obedient believers, who choose to follow Jesus Christ, in living the Paschal Mystery, in the mind of the spirit. The miracle of being born form above always take place according to God's Metanoia Method, as revealed in Jesus Christ (Mark 1:14-15). The gospel of Christ, as revealed, taught and manifested in Jesus Christ, is God's universal Metanoia Method by which all mankind are delivered from bondage and slavery to sin and pass over into the paradise of the Godhead's freedom, love, glory, grace, truth and love in Christ. Paradise on earth is now being revealed, regained and fully manifested in mankind, in the mind of the spirit, when we steadfastly follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery ( Luke 9:21-27), Romans 8:1-11).
    

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God's Will For Believers In Living The Paschal Mystery

Reference Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, ‘The Apostle Paul’s final exhortation, benediction and prayer’.

Key Verse: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17).

Christ-centered spiritually awake believers seek is to live in the newness and fullness of this present life in Christ, in the mind of the spirit (Romans 8:1-11). These believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups patiently await the coming, revelation, incarnation and manifestation of Christ (ADONAI, Jehovah) in power and glory in their souls, hearts, minds, emotions and bodies, through their spiritual bodies. They seek the manifestation of the completion of God's purpose for the world as revealed in Jesus Christ, as Messiah.  

   

In today's Epistle 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, the apostle Paul exhorts believers who seek and follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery, to rejoice always, as they anticipate Christ's coming, not in weakness but in power, to make all things new. Paul urge them to pray without ceasing and steadfastly trust that in God's presence, all who have chosen to serve God, will grow in Christ's love, grace and truth, until they see Christ as he is (1 Thessalonians 5:16).

Paul assure these believers that Jesus Christ as Messiah, is faithful in revealing and fulfilling God's eternal plan of salvation for all mankind. God's promises of forgiveness of sins, redemption and abundant life are manifested and fulfilled in Jesus Christ. With Joy these spiritually awake believers await the coming and full revelation of Christ, the eternal judge both the living and the dead, as revealed in Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:17).      

Paul reminds believers that it is the will of God that they give thanks in all things and in all circumstances. Frequent practices of thanksgiving are encouraged, within witnessing paschal faith communities. Paul suggests that persistent attitudes of thankfulness are vital in Christ-centered spiritual awakening, spiritual formation and spiritual maturity, after resurrection from spiritual death, in Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:18).   

When living within Christ-centered, Holy Spirit-based witnessing faith communities, Paul cautions believers about the seriousness of committing sins against the Holy Spirit. In Mark 3:28-30 Jesus declared to religious leaders in his own religion, "Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven of their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven, but is guilty of eternal sin - for they said the he (Jesus Christ) has an unclean spirit". Paul cautioned believers not to quench the Holy Spirit. He also advised them not to despise prophesies, spoken forth by believers within their witnessing paschal faith communities (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20).  

   

Paul reminded these believers that in the mind of the spirit, they should prove all things. It is the will of God that all believers should, cast out the mind of the flesh and hold fast to that which is good. Believers should, with God's help, shun and abstain from that with is evil (Romans 8:1-11, Philippians 4:8-9, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).

   

In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 the apostle Paul prayed this prayer. "May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our our Lord, Jesus Christ". He reminds believers that God, who has called all mankind to repentance and faith in Christ, will bring peace, sanctification, soundness and blamelessness at the coming and revelation of Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:24) 

Are you seeking is to live in the newness and fullness of this present life, in Christ, within your witnessing paschal faith community? Are you by faith and with God's help, patiently awaiting the coming, revelation, incarnation and manifestation of Christ in power and glory in your life, and within your witnessing paschal faith community? Are you seeking the manifestation of the completion of God's purposes for the world, as revealed in Jesus Christ? 

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