Sowing and Reaping

Topic: Sowing and Reaping

We must come to understand the concept of sowing and reaping.  This is a very crucial concept in the spirit. 

1 Corinthians 15:42-44:  So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in power:  It is sown a natural body; it Is raised a spiritual body.  There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body. 

So when you sow the soul you will reap the spirit.  This is mortification.   Let me give you a couple of seeds that you sow and what you can reap.

1.   Prayer reaps Intimacy with God

2.   Praise reaps Power

3.   Repentance reaps Revelation

4.   Obedience reaps Rest

5.   Unity reaps Credibility

6.   Integrity reaps Deliverance

7.   Gathering of the Body reaps Safety

8.   Honor reaps Grace

9.   Nothing reaps Deterioration

Yes, when you sow nothing you reap deterioration due to laziness.  Let me now bring in this Scripture that many of us have read and then expound on it:

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 reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit reap life (zoe) everlasting. 

Many have read this and stopped at verse 7 and we whip people with this but verse 8 brings us the purpose of why we should sow.  When you sow to your flesh you will reap corruption.  How do we sow to the flesh?  When we chase after the world, the people of the world (famous celebrities and carnal people) and the things of the world.  Let me take it a step further, when you reap deception and evil you will reap deception and evil and it may not come immediately but you can rest assure it will come.   Let me show you:

Ecclesiastes 8:11: Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

But Paul admonishes us to sow to the Spirit and when we do that we will reap, Zoe life!  Now I do not know about you but I want to know how to sow to the Spirit!  This is how you sow to the Spirit:

1.   Restoration of a Overtaken Man

Galatians 6:1: Brethern if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  

When we restore a fallen brother or sister in Christ we reap Zoe life.  But notice it says to do it in spirit of meekness, humility with strength.  This should be the standard ministry of the sons of God and let me show you:

2 Corinthians 5:18,19:  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation

In this passage of Scripture, the Lord is telling us that we are giving the ministry (service) of reconciliation and the word (testimony) on reconciliation.  So those who are spiritual should be able to restore one back who has been overtaken in a fault.  Those who do so, reap eternal life. 

2.   Bear One Another’s Burdens

Galatians 6:2: Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ

When the strong bears the infirmities of the weak one reaps zoe life.  We cannot walk this life alone and if you think you can the devil has deceived you.  You need Christ and with Christ is His Body.  He has given us each other to help one another out.  When we do that we express zoe life. 

3.   Think of Yourself as Nothing

Galatians 6:3:  For if a man think of himself to be something, when he is nothing he deceiveth himself. 

You can quote so many scriptures for this but let me simply sum it up in these few phrases.  Jesus tells us to deny ourselves and then Paul tells us this about Jesus!

Philippians 2:7: But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man.  

Jesus laid down his very life and divinity so that we may live but in doing so the Son manifests the zoe life as a example for us to follow.  We can do nothing of ourselves, let us live this way and when we do, we then live by the grace of the Lord to meet our every need.

4.   Examine Your Work

Galatians 6:4:  But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone and not in another

When your purpose and motive for work and what you do is for Christ then you can rejoice because when we do the work of the One who sends us, we manifest His glory and Zoe life. 

5.   Bear Your Own Burden

Galatians 6:5:  For every man shall bear his own burden

Listen this is not a contradiction of verse 2.  What it does say is that everyone has a burden to carry.  Jesus said, any man that comes after me must first deny himself then pick up his cross and follow me.  All of us have a burden to carry.  You can’t throw all your burdens on someone else and you walk with nothing.  It does not work that way, the burden should draw you closer to the Lord but also manifest the desire to work and live for the Lord. 

6.   Care for Those Who Teach the Word

Galatians 6:6:  Let him that is taught in the word, communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 

This is a doozy for many of us.  But if we desire to reap Zoe life we must follow the Word and the principles that unlock this life for us.  The Scripture says that those who are taught the word of God should “communicate” unto the teacher.  This can be but not limited to financial.  This principle repeats itself in Scripture where it says those that labor in the Word are worthy of double honor.  In as much as the teacher labors in the Word of God for you, you should show some support back.  We need to learn how to give but let me say this here. 

The Scripture here says give to the teacher, not the institution!

No one should have to preach about curses and tithes all the time.   If you have been fed by someone who labors in the word, if you sow into them, you will reap Zoe life.  

This is why in the end Paul tells us “Do not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

Peace, Love and Grace,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Purpose and Goals of the Spiritual father and Pastor

Purpose and Goals of a Pastor and Spiritual father: Colossians 1:9: "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding". If this is not a goal of your leader for you, you are in the wrong household and most likely not being fed real spiritual food by which you are to mature. Wisdom is the principle thing! Stop being filled with candy that is sweet but temporary and seek the bread of life which is eternal. #BreakingChains #OpenYourEarstotheSpirit

Soul vs. Spirit Part 2 @Bible-Based Church Tallahassee, FL

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Soul vs. Spirit Part 1 @Bible-Based Church, Tallahassee, FL

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Life at the Table

Topic: Life at the Table

We are going to look at the Lord’s supper to understand how we build our spirit through life at the table.   We know that at the table one of the pillars of the culture of the Kingdom and that is fellowship.  Let’s take a look at the Lord’s supper from 1 Corinthians and get a understanding of  how life at the table important to building your spirit. 

1 Corinthians 11:23-26:  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  And when he had given thanks, he brake it and said, Take eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come. 

In order to experience this life at the table you must first live under this proclamation: “He died”.  Look at the last verse of the above Scripture.   As often as we eat the bread and drink the cup we shew THE LORD’S DEATH until he comes.   There are benefits to living under the death of Jesus:

1.   Victory over Satan, sin, disease, flesh and the world

2.   Worship is installed in the house

3.   Reconciliation in Him and the Body

4.   Anger of God is kindled

5.   Access to the Wisdom of God and the Throne of Grace

May I say we should do this daily and this is why:

2 Corinthians 4:10: Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 

Notice the Scripture does not say some of the time, it says always bearing about in the body.  We need to remember this daily and when we remember this the Scripture says the zoe (Life) will be made manifest in our body.  Now the problem that has grown within the Body of Christ that the Lord is correcting as it pertains to the Lord’s supper is who can partake of this table.  Religion has made this a ritual of who can and who can’t partake but the Lord Jesus openly welcomed children to sit in his lap so why not at his table.  Now I want to show this to you in Scripture so you do not think this is just some rebel doctrine but the Word of God, not the word of man.  We will take these two Scripture to discuss this:

1 Corinthians 12:27,28:  Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.

Here is a thought, why would the Lord seek to exclude people from His table, should we not be drawn to His table and remember the work that He did for us on the cross?  Hmm!  Verse 27 here is the warning but verse 28 is the meat of the matter.  Verse 28 says “let a man examine himself, and so, let him eat of that bread and rink of that cup”.  So in other words if you are reading this you see that someone needs to take a self examination and after that self examination let them partake of the bread and wine.  Now let’s deal with the word that is clearly the elephant-in-the-Scripture and that is the word unworthily.  What does this mean?  Well based on religious interpretation anyone who has sinned or not living right should not partake of the table.  This is wrong because if that is the case 95 percent of the people taking bread and wine would be excluded automatically.   Let’s get understanding!  

First, Jesus makes us worthy by the work of the cross and His resurrection.   But what would make us unworthy is when the symbol and the reality do not match.  You declare one thing by your mouth but living another way.   Let me show you this in Scripture in the same vicinity in Scripture.

1 Corinthians 10:21:  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devil: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table and of the table of devils.  

This is what makes us unworthy!  When we actively fellowship with darkness and then try to come fellowship at the table of the Lord knowing that we are simply going to go back to that table.  Now understand when you do this unworthily from that definition this validates this truth:

1 Corinthians 11:29,30: For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eatheth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 

When we eat and drink unworthily many become spiritually weak and sick and even to the point of spiritual death (sleep).  Let us fellowship at his tablet and remember His death because of His death we have all of those benefits listed above.  Let us repent, eat and drink worthily in remembrance of our Lord’s death.

Peace and Grace:

Calvin Calhoun Jr.  

Life in the Gathering

Topic: Life in the Gathering

Greetings Sons:

The second aspect of building our spirit to lay hold of Zoe life is we must learn how to associate in a gathering. The gathering has benefits.  Some of the benefits is the manifestation of the glory of the anointing, safety, strength and encouragement to name a few.  But one of the major ways the spirit is built up in the gathering is by prophecy.  Let me show you:

1 Corinthians 14:3:  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.  

Prophecy is crucial in the gathering to build up the spirit to lay hold of eternal life.  It is also in the gathering that the five-fold elders bring growth to the spirit. 

1 Timothy 4:14:  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 

So in the gathering the five-fold elders can lay hands on a son to commission them to be released to the work that they have been called to do.  In addition, spiritual gifts can be imparted to sons in the gathering to help build them up.

Finally,  gathering brings sons in connection with the grace of a father.  Not I do not understand the fight against the reality of spiritual fathers.  So many in the church see spiritual fathers as being a Catholic issue and the reality is the Catholics stole the concept from the first century church.  Let me share three Scriptures that point to this very critical concept:

Church at Pergamos (Revelation 2:13):  I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is:  and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.  

The name Antipas means “Like the father”.  Antipas was the spiritual father at Pergamos who was slain and when you remove the grace of father from the church you remove the defense system that keeps the enemy from setting up his throne in your city.   This is why when the grace of a father is resident in the gathering there is protection. 

Romans 1:10,11:  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unot you.  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.

Spiritual fathers impart spiritual gifts unto sons that they maybe established

1 Corinthians 4:14,15: I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 

When we read this there is no mistake, Paul is the spiritual father of the church at Corinth.  He calls them his beloved sons and when he was there covenant relationships were made.  It is in the gathering that sons come in contact with the grace of a father and learn their placement within the Body of Christ.  Let me say, isolation is an enemy to building up your spirit.  If you think for one moment that you can do it yourself all you need is your ministry, you are deceived.  Now let me say, a gathering can be two or more but the view the Lord is shifting the Body to is a corporate view of the Body within the city, the one church within each of the cities.  It is time for us to leave our ceiled houses (local church) and focus on the Temple within the city.  Notice in Scripture, Israel was commanded to come together as a nation and before the nation the Lord would speak, impart and display his power.  To celebrate the feast, the children of Israel were to come together, or gather, and celebrate the feast at the temple.  It is time for us to focus on the corporate body within the city.  When the corporate body within the city can rise and gather there we will see a manifestation of Christ, like never before.   The Scripture says this: 

Haggai 2:7:  And I will shake all nations and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. 

God is not going to fill the synagogue (local church), he is going to fill the Temple, the Corporate Body.  It is time to shift our vision from our paneled houses to the Temple within the city.  Let us gather and edify the Body of Christ.

Peace and Grace,

Calvin Calhoun Jr.

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Training the Spirit Man

Topic: Training the Spirit Man

Today I would like to discuss with you about this topic and allow the Scriptures to show you the importance of training your spirit man. Here are some realities about the spirit man that we need to be aware of:

1.   Needs to be Strengthened

Ephesians 3:14-16:  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.

Our spirit man need to be strengthened by the Lord.  If this is the case then we can say that our spirit man can become weak.  How can our spirit man become weak when we fail to eat and take in food.  Of course this food is not natural but the only food and healthy food I might add for the spirit and that is the Word of God.  John 1:14 says the Word is full of grace and truth and we know grace is power and authority.  It is by the power within the Word that our spirit man is strengthened

2.   Needs to be Transformed

2 Corinthians 3:18:  But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

In this current season so many sons are being changed glory to glory and as they mature they change from walking in the partial to walking in the fullness of Christ. 

3.   Needs to be Renewed

2 Corinthians 4:16: For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

One of the wonderful things about the spirit man is that as the Lord reveals more and more of Himself and we come more into being who He sees and knows us as from glory to glory our spirit is renewed.  When a fresh word comes from the mouth of God our spirit is renewed and notice it says day to day.  Our desire for God should press us to seek him daily and even in the Lord’s prayer  we ask Him, Give us this day our daily bread.  We know that bread is not physical but it is the grace contained within the Word that we are renewed day to day.

4.    Needs to Grow

Ephesians 4:15:  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

So when we speak the truth in love we grow up we mature and grow to the mature stature of the fullness of Christ. 

So how does all of this happen?  Let me give show you this in Scripture:

1 John 2:27:  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:  but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. 

It is done by the Holy Spirit teaching you.  Through our fellowship with the Spirit we are strengthened, transformed, renewed and mature so Christ will be all in all.  We live Zoe life.  This life needs to be completely natural to us because it is who we are, Sons of God.  

Peace and Grace,

Calvin Calhoun Jr.