Welcome to the Advanced section.

[Dr Jl Williams]

Welcome to the advanced section of basic studies.

The first section was about the real basics that all should understand. It was about learning to be loved and cared for and learning about what each person has been called to do in the body and the importance and authority each person has but also by working as one body and what it can accomplish. The beginners section is really about receiving and learning to hear from God and getting a good root for the next step which is working out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

How that is actually done is by beginning to take baby steps in the intermediate are with mentorship as the disciples once did with Jesus.

There are five parts to learning:
1) Don't have a clue (beginners)
2) Data: which is simply the ability to remember information (beginners)
3) Knowledge: Which is having the data and knowing what it means. For example many can quote scripture backwards and forwards but they do not really understand what it all means. (beginners)
4) Application: One step up from knowledge and this is where we begin to have some practical experience not only on what scripture says, but begin to learn how to apply it. One ingredient still missing which is experience and how it all works and comes together. (intermediate)
5) Wisdom: which is having the information, knowing how to use it, being able to apply it in our own lives which will bring wisdom so we can help others. (advanced)

Wisdom comes from two places. First it comes from God but also from experience. That experience is what builds us and our testimony. If we have not experienced anything all we can do is thump the Bible at people and talk about things we have never experienced. Bottom line what we really have to offer people is our testimony which comes from our experiences.

It is at the wisdom level one really begins to walk and no longer be tossed to and fro by ever wind of doctrine because they have lived it and know the truth. It is not at that point just a bunch of beliefs but has become a part of us and our testimony. At that point because we not only have been given Godly wisdom, but have gained wisdom as we have walked the path so we can help others down the right path.

That is when the real Spiritual warfare begins to happen. This is a place where once we join hands with others of like mind and spirit, we find in agreement that all things can be accomplished and the enemy knows it.

What is Our Daily Bread? To start with it is Jesus no doubt as He is and was the living Word, but taking that one step forward once we have come that that wisdom level of understanding and walking in it we become living epistles (the living word). Each of us has the opportunity to get to the place. At this point we have come to the understanding that it is not about being over others but in a position to serve even the very least of these.

It is about not only knowing what God plan is globally for the body of Christ, but walking in that plan as individuals and teaching others to do the same as Jesus did. All of the disciples except one, were empowered with the fire of Jesus on the day of Pentecost (50 days) and each began to disciple others as they walked with Jesus. The Intermediate and Beginners level is about walking with Jesus, if we even have the heart to do so and that is determined by self examination. Do we bring the body together? Do we reach out in God's plan to bring people into the body and teach them or feed them? Jesus asked Peter if he loved Jesus. Peter said yes of course. Jesus reply is feed my sheep.

We all are to be be teachers and disciplers of others as Jesus was, so the body can grow and so there will be no schisms or division in the body. To get to this point it takes laying down our own life and will for the will of the Father who sent us. It is about desiring to do the will of the Father, having no agenda except the will of the Father, no matter what that takes. Why? Because of two reasons. First, hopefully because our relationship is close enough with the Father that we love Him and understand He did it all for us and secondly, we have come to the wisdom level of understanding and KNOW THAT IT IS THE ONLY WAY THINGS ARE GOING TO WORK ANYWAY. Not because God is over us, but because He knows better.

This section is about what is working and what is not working and what it is all about. This section is about the big picture and the bearing of Good fruit, which comes from examining the fruit we each bear.

This is about communication as it is the will of the Father for us to be in unity, which the beginning of unity starts with communicating with God and each other and building relationship with each person that God puts in our life and setting aside our agenda or will for the will of the Father.

It is a wonderful picture of love. We are perfected as we learn to walk in love not only for God but each in the body and even for those we may not even like and our enemies.

[aaa Member Services]

Advanced:

Why did Jesus die?

What was the purpose?

[Dr Jl Williams]

Advanced:

Why did Jesus die?

What was the purpose?

Why did Jesus die for us or perhaps lets put this a different way, "why did Jesus give His life for us?" As we all know because of sin Adam could no longer walk with God. As we know Adam was created in God's image. What this means is that Adam's spirit was a carbon copy of God's spirit. We know, because of scripture that God is a spirit and if we are to worship Him, we must do so in spirit and truth.

We also know that because of sin Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden. Some things we also know, in that Adam was not deceived by the serpent, but Eve was, so for the first question did Eve have the opportunity to walk with God as Adam did? Was that God that kept Eve from walking with them or was it Adam that did not invite Eve. Obviously if Eve was deceived it was because she did not have the same understanding as Adam. If we look at the scripture carefully and understanding what it says that God created Adam as an equal and treated him as such because Adam could walk with God. So if we understand that one, was Adam to treat Eve as an equal and teach her what Adam had learned from God?

These are big questions, because much of Christianity teaches that Adam was not created as an or was treated as an equal. In fact if you try and bring it up you might be suggested your some sort of heretic? But getting back to the concept of equality, because that is important for without equality there cannot be accountability or can there be real love, which is very important. We all know we have a free will and it is a condition of the heart to seek after God or not. But if we are free and have been given a free will then it is because we are treated as equals. One is either a slave or they are equals. Can't have it both ways if you think about it?

So what did Jesus really do for us? One big thing is that He died so that we could live if we gave up our lives, which means we are and become God's children and Jesus is then a brother and of course, brothers are equal. It is a miracle the new birth. It is a gift and no one deserves it, but it also restores us back to what Adam had with God and that is for us to be able to approach the throne of Grace and walk with God.

The other thing it does for us, because scripture tells us that Jesus was given all power and authority in heaven and earth and as Christ, Jesus is the head and we are the body of Christ and He has put everything under His footstool and if anyone noticed if we are attached to the head then we are also above the footstool. Much of religion teaches that we have no power to do anything, but that is simply not true. I also have to mention that in equality, we with the power of God also become responsible for what is happening on earth. Why? Because we have all power and authority in heaven and earth in Jesus absence as we are Ambassadors for Christ, having the authority and ability to bind and loose. We even have the power to command the very angels. Now whether we believe it or not just means we do not believe.

So why are things happening on earth? Is this someones idea of a sick game? If it is I don't appreciate it. Are we placed here to be good victims? I think not. So why is this stuff happening. Why do some 12,000 per day starve to death? The answer is simple, yet complicated. First to end the starvation we have to understand also that we do have the power to fix it otherwise, how can we be held responsible for what is happening and the bad things happening is because we have not walked in the authority we have been given> What we do is call upon God and Jesus to fix it which means we are not accepting responsibility for it.

How that happens and will get worse is because the church for the most part has not accepted the five fold gift ministry, because simply what they are about is to help God's people come to maturity and so people will no longer be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. Now you might wonder why a church in their right minds would not accept the five fold gift ministry? This is where it somewhat does get complicated.

First because of dispensation teachings that the apostles were a part of a special dispensation only at the time of Jesus and was limited to those that knew Jesus. I agree and disagree. I know Jesus. Well? That of course does not come into account of Paul who also was an apostle and never met Jesus except on the road to Damascus, which was far after Jesus had ascended to heaven.

I want to also mention the the false is there to bring division and we know that division is not of God. It should also be known that there is the true and the false five fold gift ministry and the basic difference between the two is one lords over the people and the other is a servant even to the least of these. As we know God is a servant even to the servant and the apostle and prophet is very close to God and as such are servants. Never will they tell a person what to do, but will speak for God, but always encourage each one to seek God for the truth, which is one of the basics of how one can tell the true from the false. The other thing is that the true apostle and prophet will not seek to glorify their names for purposes of recognition. They will not see themselves as great, but will always see the greatness of God, Jesus and God's heart or His very Spirit.

Love will always be the guide with the true and although they will teach and preach about the law and commandments, they will judge no one and encourage all to follow the commandments as it pleases God for they were given to us His people for our benefit and not God's. The true apostle and prophet are not about building buildings, but about building each member of the body of Christ so each can walk together in love and unity.

Lets go back to the question of why the five fold gift ministry is not often wanted in the church? We God's people are responsible to reach all in the community with Gods will and love so people will know the truth about God and Jesus and what Jesus actually did for us. It is not about being dominate or dominance. It is about love and being a servant to even the least.

It is all about a condition of the heart to treat God and Jesus as He treats us, as personal family and if we are like Him then we will do the same. It really is all about the family of God and to be in that family, how we show our love for God is how we love others. It is not about preaching or teaching or even about having buildings or property or even the power of God, but it is all about having the love of God and not just for Jesus or God or His Spirit, but all on earth and we either have that type of love or we don't.

Here is some good news. God does not require us to fix ourselves. What He requires is that we examine ourselves and ask God to do the fixing in us. To be open to the working of God's heart and Spirit to do the work and the reason is that is so that God gets the glory for what is done.

Back to Jesus who is the groom and as such refuses nothing to the bride and what we ask we receive, the question is whether we are asking for the right things or are we asking for stuff?

Jesus gave His life that a person like me could not only live, but have a brother, family and of course God's Heart and have a Father, something that means more to me than anything. God has never pushed or insisted on anything. He has never demanded, He has simply given and as such I most assuredly desire to be like Him.

Why is this all in the advanced section? Because it is beyond the milk and the milk toast. It gets into the meat of Jesus and who He is and who we are because of Him.

[esthervasa]

Long ago, sin separated man from God but through Jesus we now are united as one body of Christ with God the Father and His Spirit.

Jesus died on the cross to pay the price once for all so that we can gain access to the Father and hence the Kingdom of God.