(Gary Carpenter)
"...In the old covenant, the people were not born again. They did not have the life of God in their spirit. For the common man to hear God, he normally had to go to the Prophet, the Priest, or hear the Law read by the Scribes. Being dead in spirit, He could not hear God directly for himself on a daily basis."
"Under the old covenant, the people prospered by keeping the "formulas" of the Law. If they disobeyed the "formulas" (commandments), they were cursed. If they obeyed the "formulas," they were blessed. Such was the case with the rich, young ruler as told in Matthew’s gospel:"
"Jesus is now introducing the Kingdom of God, a new dispensation. He is informing this wealthy, young ruler that the formulas of the Law are now going to be replaced with a "living" relationship with God on an individual, person by person basis."
"In the Kingdom of God, man is no longer to function by formula. Now man is to function by relationship. The Lord speaks. You hear Him for yourself. As with the rich, young ruler, you can speak to the Lord and ask questions to make sure you understand the instructions. Once you understand, however, the only question remaining is ... will you or will you not obey Him? This is a radical change of covenant indeed!"
"Jesus is instructing the young man that no longer is the formula to be, "ninety percent belongs to man and ten percent belongs to the Lord." No, in the Kingdom, "you are bought with a price and you are not your own." Your LIFE belongs to the Lord, including ALL of your material possessions if He asks for it."
"As my understanding of these things increases over time both by precept and practical experience, I am beginning to comprehend why He said, "most people will never graduate" from the old "Sowing & Reaping" formulas. There are two primary reasons. Most people will never pay the price to:"
"Develop their ability to hear the voice of the Lord by the Holy Spirit.
Mortify greed and self-serving to the point they become a "first class" steward of Kingdom Finances."
"...In the old covenant, the people were not born again. They did not have the life of God in their spirit. For the common man to hear God, he normally had to go to the Prophet, the Priest, or hear the Law read by the Scribes. Being dead in spirit, He could not hear God directly for himself on a daily basis."
"Under the old covenant, the people prospered by keeping the "formulas" of the Law. If they disobeyed the "formulas" (commandments), they were cursed. If they obeyed the "formulas," they were blessed. Such was the case with the rich, young ruler as told in Matthew’s gospel:"
"Jesus is now introducing the Kingdom of God, a new dispensation. He is informing this wealthy, young ruler that the formulas of the Law are now going to be replaced with a "living" relationship with God on an individual, person by person basis."
"In the Kingdom of God, man is no longer to function by formula. Now man is to function by relationship. The Lord speaks. You hear Him for yourself. As with the rich, young ruler, you can speak to the Lord and ask questions to make sure you understand the instructions. Once you understand, however, the only question remaining is ... will you or will you not obey Him? This is a radical change of covenant indeed!"
"Jesus is instructing the young man that no longer is the formula to be, "ninety percent belongs to man and ten percent belongs to the Lord." No, in the Kingdom, "you are bought with a price and you are not your own." Your LIFE belongs to the Lord, including ALL of your material possessions if He asks for it."
"As my understanding of these things increases over time both by precept and practical experience, I am beginning to comprehend why He said, "most people will never graduate" from the old "Sowing & Reaping" formulas. There are two primary reasons. Most people will never pay the price to:"
"Develop their ability to hear the voice of the Lord by the Holy Spirit.
Mortify greed and self-serving to the point they become a "first class" steward of Kingdom Finances."