Principles of Being the Firstborn

Topic: Principles of Being the Firstborn

Exodus 13:1,2: And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Exodus 13:12,13: That thou shalt set apart unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the Lord’s. And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. 

The first principle in being a firstborn is it owned by God.  Now as simple as this sounds, many fail to grasp it.  The firstborn of not only man but beast belong to God.   Let me say this here and make it very clear:  You cannot dedicate what is not yours.  God says the firstling belongs or is owned by him.  Now let’s take this to the next level:

We as sons of God when we come into the House of God as newborn babes, no one can take ownership of us but the Lord.  The word Lord means owner.  He purchased us with His blood.  If we are owned by God then we are not free to do as we please because we do not belong to ourselves. 

1 Corinthians 6:20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Now this may sound weird, but to the one that is truly submitted and given their life to the Lord, this is the eternal lifestyle and when Jesus says, the Son can do nothing of himself, only what he see the Father do, that Scripture now is in its proper context because in the earthly ministry of Jesus, He belonged to the Father and he ceased from doing his will to do the will of the Father.  

Numbers 3:13: Because all the firstborn are mine, for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord. 

1 Peter 1:15,16: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 

Hebrews 2:11: For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed  to call  them brethren. 

The second principle is the firstborn is holy.  Yes, you are holy as a son of God but notice it is not anything that you have done.  Per the three scriptures above, the Lord makes you holy.  You cannot make yourself holy, you have no ability to do that.  Now the problem that many have is that they use the phrase “only God is holy”.  But according to the Scripture as firstborns we are holy because He made us holy.  The problem is walking in the reality of this, not by our definition of holiness but by His revelation and wisdom of our identity and character that He has given us in Him.   Holiness can be defined by being the exact representative in image and character of the Father.  Now that centers our attention to maturing as sons and not doing works to be holy.   The firstborn is holy because He is holy. 

The third principle we will address is the principle of redemption.  The word redemption comes from the word redeemed and it means to buy back.  When we look at Exodus 13:12,13 it says if the animal is a ass you shall redeem it with a lamb but if you cannot you must break its neck.   Now I know we are talking about animals but remember this is a picture trying to show us the eternal.  Many of us when we hear the word redeemed we think about being redeemed from hell to go to heaven and this mindset really minimizes the principle of redemption.   The ass is an unclean animal and can only be redeemed by a lamb.  Sounds familiar: 

Psalm 51:5: Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me. 

Do we remember as Jesus rode into Jerusalem He rode on a ass and its colt into Jerusalem with is a picture of Jesus being carrying into the city upon the principle of father and son.  But notice he is riding a unclean animal and He is the Lamb of God.  We are the picture of the ass and if we are not redeemed  by the lamb then we are dead.  Now I want to take a couple of minutes to show you the human side to redemption and bring it home for you.  

As it pertained to Jesus Himself when He was born to Mary and Joseph, per Jewish law:  Mary had to stay home with the baby for 7 days and on the 8^th day Jesus was circumcised.  For 33 days the was confined to the house and on the 40^th day Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to the temple to give Him to the Lord.  He was given to the priest and the priest would look at the parents and there was a option to either leave the child to serve the Lord like Hannah did with Samuel or they can buy back or redeem the child back into their custody by paying the redemption price which is 5 sheckles. Of course Mary and Joseph paid the five sheckles and gave the sin and burnt offering and baby Jesus was given back into the custody of Mary and Joseph.  Now why am I telling you all of this?  Because:

When we talk about being redeemed by the blood of Jesus it means so much more.  Mary and Joseph redeemed baby Jesus with the five sheckles to buy back or redeem their firstborn.  Jesus used his very blood to buy back the firstborn sons of God to their original state of being which is Son.  Do we see the power in understanding redemption.   As you read the next set of Scriptures keep in mind this meaning of redemption and see how this was all about redeeming the firstborns.  Let me share some Scriptures to further back this up:

Luke 1:68-69: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people.

Galatians 3:13:  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. 

1 Peter 1:18.19:  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Revelation 5:9: And they sung a new song, saying Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation;

Revelation 14:4:  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.  These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.  These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

 Finally the third and final principle is birthright.  We know in the natural the first to come out of the womb was the firstborn and was give the birthright.  Genesis 49:3,4 tells us about the birthright of being a firstborn son.  It was said of Reuben that he is his fathers might, beginning of his strength, excellency of dignity and excellency of power.  This is our birthright as firstborn sons of God.  As firstborn sons of God the Father’s power is manifested through the firstborn.  The firstborn starts a new linage.  The House of God is built trans-generationally under the principle of father and son.  For example:  I am the spiritual son to Leon Elijah.  Leon Elijah is the spiritual son to Sam Soleyn.  Here are three generations of building the House of God.  This is why Paul could say to the church at Corinth that I begat (gave birth or conceived) you through the gospel.  The firstborn son is superior (excellency) in strength (ability), dignity (rank) and power (ability to prevail). 

This all available to us as firstborn sons when we embrace our identity as firstborn sons but it begins with knowing that you are not your own and you belong to God. 

In the next message we will start to examine the concept of the firstborn throughout the Scriptures. 

Peace and Grace,

Calvin Calhoun

Understanding Firstborn - Introduction

Teaching Series:  Understanding Firstborn

Topic: Introduction

             

Greetings Sons of God:

In this teaching series we will dig deeper into sonship and understanding who we are.  So many of the benefits of our sonship are locked up because we have not come to the reality of those things and let me say, these benefits are for those who are seeking Him.  God is not just going to bring it to you and pop it open like a present, you must seek Him and desire to mature and then He opens and reveals these things to you.  So lets get a definition and then go into our study of this principle of the firstborn.

 So what is a firstborn:  The definition of the firstborn is one who opens the womb first.  Let me start with some reality and then we will go and look at the schoolmaster (Law) that brings us to the reality who is Christ. 

Hebrews 12:23: To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Now I do not know how many of us have seen this but look at that statement, the church of the firstborn.  Now we know that Christ is the Firstborn of all Creation (Colossians 1:15).   So because we are in Christ we are the Firstborn Sons of God in Christ.  What a powerful statement but living the reality of that identity is what we are seeking understanding.  To see this reality we cannot view this from a carnal perspective.  The Sons of God are eternal beings and hence require spiritual-vision or a eternal mindset to see this unfolding reality in the Earth.  One of the major spirits that is destroyed when we come to this reality is racism.  In Christ there is only one race: Spirit.   The beauty of our diversity shows the wonder of our Father in that He created us to be so different on the outside but the exact representation of Him on the inside and it is the Oneness in the Spirit that makes us a family and a royal priesthood.  Now to understand this firstborn concept let’s lay some crucial foundation.

The first thought that God had before He created anything is that you must have a Son before creating anything.  Speaking of Christ:

Colossians 1:15:  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.  

John 1:1-3: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.   The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

So first there was Christ!  Second comes the environment in which the Son is set to function in.  Now this is important:  The environment must suit the son not the son suit the environment.  The environment is not set to rule over the Son, but the Son is set to rule in the environment and his rulership and righteous and brings about peace. Now what is unique about the Son is that he function in two dimensions.  Time and the Eternal.  It is in the Body of Christ that Heaven comes to Earth.  Heaven and Earth meet in the Body of Christ.   Now let me go back and show this foundational reality.   Where is Christ Jesus seated?  

Colossians 3:1:  If ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

If Christ is seated on the right hand of God, where are we?

Ephesians 2:6: And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 

Now we are in Christ seated with Him at the right hand of the Father.  We are firstborn sons of God and so everything that belongs to Christ, belongs to us as sons.  Is this true?

Romans 8:17:  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 

So we must really come to understand this concept of being a firstborn son.  There is so much I desire to teach about this topic but it must be done strategically because I do not want this to be some theological discourse but the Word of God expounding on itself that you may see the reality of who we are and the direction and instruction we need for this time that this becomes a reality and not just some words in a book to make you feel good.  

In the next message we will look at the concept of the firstborn from the Old Testament.  We know the Old Testament has many types and shadows and the Hebrew language is a language of pictures.  Let’s get the schoolmaster first and then come to the reality who is Christ in whom we live, move and have our being.   

Peace, Love and Grace,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.

Blind Spots in Pastors

Topic:  Blind Spots in Pastors

Greetings Firstborn Sons:

First let me say this is not a message to single out nor bash pastors but to make leaders aware that we must be cognoscente of our blind spots that we are leading the people of God in the ways of the Lord.  So what are some common blind spots in Pastors:

1.   Building the local church without building the City Church

Simply put there is a focus on building the local church and no attention paid to building the Corporate church or Body of Christ in the city.  Haggai 1:3-5 speaks of how the nation focused on their local houses while the Temple, the Lord’s house at that time, laid in waste. 

2.   Title-Driven

When we are driven by titles, it is a indication of insecurities.  We must be called or desire to be called Apostle, Bishop, Dr. Revereend…etc. 

3.   Talking Down to People

When we exalt ourselves over the people and in turn lord over them which is a manifestation of pride.  And in this pride there is a belief that one cannot make a mistake. As a result we make people feel lower than us.  

4.   Missing Fellowship and Gatherings

This is evident when there is a failure to gather the household and/or the Body of Christ in the City.  You absent yourself for no reason.  There must be a commitment and understanding to the importance of the gathering to the manifestation of the Corporate Son in the city. 

5.   Building the Church Based on Felt Need

Common blind spot that people build the church based on their perceived ideas of what they think the people want.   It is a church that caters to the marketplace and what they believe the marketplace desires, not how the Lord orders, builds and sustains.  (Story of the Reign of Jeroboam)

6.   Move too Slow

When God tells us to move we must learn to move with haste and urgency.  One of the beautiful Scriptures to illustrate this is Psalm 18:33: He maketh my feet like the hinds’ feet and setteth me upon my high places. 

7.   Over Symbolism and Mysticism

This one is very common in denominational churches where they take things that the Lord made as a type and shadow and over-mystify and give extra meaning to the symbol and not the reality.  This also is caused by the inability to read types and shadows accurately

8.   Inaccurate Relationships

This one is a big one.  Pastors should be careful of who they make covenant relationships with.  All relationships should be ordained by the Lord.  If not, the people they make covenant with could be the very ones that fight the current move of God in this season and you would be in “covenant” with them working against God.

9.   Self-Centeredness

When the praise of men come up and you heap those praises to yourself and exalt yourself because of them, pride is built and then instead of serving the people with humility you become selfish and ask the people to serve you. 

10.                 Fighting Present-Day Apostles

Very common, especially if you do not believe in there being apostles today.  Simply put Apostles are the “Sent Ones” and are wise master builders of the House of God.  To reject today’s apostles is to reject the instruction of the Lord as it pertains to advancing His Kingdom and building His House. 

11.                 Inaccurate Vision and Purpose

Know what you are called to do and stay in your lane.  Do not desire to be more and do more than what God has graced you to do.  Beware of being overly ambitious that your will begins to override God’s will and you move out of the grace of God given to you. 

12.                 Absence of a Personal Devotional Life

Many believe they could just study on Friday and Saturday and do a “sermon” on Saturday or Sermon.  Or you can just go to “Bible College or School” and be taught all you need to know to become a pastor.  You need a personal devoted life to the Lord that He can instruct you and give you wisdom on what He desires for you to do.  You will be surprised what the Lord will show you that a teaching institution cannot.  I am not bashing seminaries but keep in mind you are being taught from someone else’s perspective and if their perspective is in error, so will you.  You must learn from the Father and know that the House of God is built on personal relationship not theology. 

We, even leaders, need to remain in the teachable and correctable position as the Lord shows us these inaccuracies within us that we may grow according to His grace and not man’s will.  Blind Spots are real because we can look at the current state of the church and its divisiveness and see these blind spots and how the enemy has used them to ravage the church.  Those who desire to have the veil removed to see these blind spots, I pray that whatever the Lord shows you, you accept it, repent and move with haste in the opposite direction in your life.  There is no room for being sentimental and emotional when it comes to your spiritual well-being.   I pray that you have been blessed by this teaching and may His grace and peace abound unto you.

Love,

Calvin Calhoun, Jr. 

   

Characteristics of Blind Spots

Topic: Characteristics of Blind Spots

Blessings Sons of God:

Today I want to share with you some characteristics of blind spots so that we can realize how they linger for so long as a blind spot.  The major characteristic of all blind spots are that they are considered low standard.  They not as obvious as you would think.  This is why they are blind spots in our lives:

1.   They have been there a long time – Grown accustomed to living in it not knowing it is hindering your growth

2.   Unrenewed mindset - prevents development and maturity

3.   Opens the door to sin! Ignorance (Darkness) to truth eventually breeds sin

4.   Never seen by the individual

5.   Makes one Delusional meaning living with a fixed false belief. 

Let me deal slightly with delusions because I know people see that word and scratch their head or say, “I  am not delusional”.  Most know delusions as a medical term and it is. People who have delusions have fixed images but they are not true in reality.  In the spirit, you can be delusional.  You can live with fixed, mostly are taught and passed down, false beliefs. Let’s look at a couple of delusions.

1.    Doctrinal – Rapture, Mansions in Heaven, Streets of Gold

2.    Pride – Delusions of Grandeur and feeling of extraordinary greatness

3.    Laodicean Delusion – Lukewarmness and Belief in material wealth and prosperity as a sign of the presence of God but in actuality he is on the outside knocking.

4.    Suspicion – Saul was suspicious of David which lead to him trying to kill him. 

5.    Idolatry – Simon the Sorcerer believed because he had power that he was an anointed man of God until he had an encounter with a Son of God carrying the true God and His power.

6.    Sight – Saul and his army saw Goliath as huge and unbeatable but David saw him as an uncircumcised Philistine.

You would be amazed at how many people, especially leaders suffer from spiritual delusions, especially when you set it across just those few items.  There is also False sense of Security, Negativity and even Unity to add to that list. 

This is why it is so important for us to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father and submit, obey and repent to what He is revealing as blind spots that hinder our growth.  So many are trapped in these blind spots and when the Lord sends someone to reveal it to them , because they have been there so long, they reject the Word of God and the enemy is allowed to continue to hold that believer hostage in that area of their life.  Once you repent and overcome that blind spot, the enemy cannot hide there because no longer is it blind to you but you can see it through discernment. 

In the last message of this series I want to talk about blind spots in Pastors.  

Peace, Love and Grace

Calvin Calhoun, Jr.