I want to begin this posting with a teaching done by Pastor Robert Hoekstra, on mans redemption of justification and salvation in mans sanctification processes, taken from Ephesians 1:18-20 which is the following;
Resurrection and Sanctification
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know . . . what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 1:18-20)
Just as the resurrection had an essential role in our starting out with God (in justification through redemption's finished works), it also plays an irreplaceable part in our going on with God (in sanctification, wherein HE picks us up in righteousness to begin our salvation processes). In the new covenant of grace, the resurrection is involved from start to finish in the Christ (of His anointing that is to say the baptism of His Spirit, the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ) like life.
This scripture meditation is from one of the great prayers in all of the Bible. This portion begins by asking God to give us spiritual insight: "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened." What the LORD through Paul addresses in this prayer determines whether a believer will live by godly power or by human weaknesses. For GOD desires to give us heavenly insight on this vital matter. Then, He intends for this spiritual enlightenment to lead us into a personal walk concerning this reality: "that you may know." The issue of this prayer is to become a part of our daily experience until we are called home to join Him in the air or heavens above.
God wants us to experience the proper power source for living the Christ like life: "that you may know . . . what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe." We who have been justified (declared righteous by identification in His death and resurrection) through faith in Christ are not supposed to face each day by our meager, inadequate resources. We who have been born again (a new from above) by the Spirit of GOD are to live this new life by the power of GOD!
The aspect of GOD's power in view here is resurrection power: "according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead." Think of the mighty power of GOD that was at work to bring Jesus from a crucified Savior to a victorious risen LORD. This is the power that our GOD wants to unleash within us day by day.
As great as this display of power was then, even more is available to us: "and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places." This mighty divine power that brought Jesus from the dead, also raised Him to the right hand of the Father in the heaven realm. Surely, this power is sufficient to lift us out of any deadening situation of our minds or our surroundings."
It here that I will pick up the flow if you will, with some general references to Spiritual Quickening.
Spiritual Quickening,
Psalm 80:18 of 14-19 "Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that Your right hand planted, and for the son whom You made strong for Yourself. They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of Your face! But let Your hand be on the man of Your right hand, the son of man Whom You have made strong for Yourself! Then we shall not turn back from You; give us life, and we will call upon Your name! Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved!"
Daleth.
Psalm 119:25 of 25-32 "My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to Your word! When I told of my ways, You answered me; teach me Your statutes! Make me understand the way of Your precepts, and I will meditate on Your wondrous works. Though my soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word! Put false ways far away from me and graciously teach me Your law (H8451, the true direction one is to take in life)! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set Your rules before me. I cling to Your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame! I will run in the way of Your commandments when You enlarge my heart!"
He.
Psalm 119:40 of 33-40 "Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law (H8451) and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways. Confirm to your servant Your promise, that You may be feared. Turn away the reproach that I dread, for Your rules are good. Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness revive my life!
Zayin.
Psalm 119:50 of 49-56 "Remember Your word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life. The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from Your law (H4480 and H8451, from the idea of continual blood flowing from it's origin of life). When I think of Your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD. Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. I remember Your name in the night, O LORD, and keep Your law. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept Your precepts."
Kaph.
Psalm 119:88 of 81-88 "My soul longs for Your salvation (H8668, the destroyer watches, the Shepperd watches over His victory); I hope in Your word. My eyes long for Your promise; I ask, "When will You comfort me?" For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten Your statutes. How long must Your servant endure? When will You judge those who persecute me? The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to Your law. All Your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts. In Your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of Your mouth."
Qoph.
Psalm 119:149 of 145-152 "With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep Your statutes. I call to You; save me, that I may observe Your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in Your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on Your promise. Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love; O LORD, according to Your justice give me life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from Your law. But You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are true. Long have I known from Your testimonies that You have founded them forever."
Psalm 143:11 of 10-12 "Teach me to do Your will, for You are my GOD! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For Your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! And in Your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and You will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am Your servant."
Habakkuk 3:2 "O LORD, I have heard the report of You, and Your work, O LORD, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy."
John 5:21 of 19-23 "So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all that HE Himself is doing. And greater works than these will HE show Him, so that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him."
John 6:63 of 60-65 "When many of His disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, 'Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? It is the Spirit Who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.' (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray Him.) And He said, 'This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him by the Father.'"
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