WHAT IS LIFE?

Y'shua said, "I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly" John 10:10 What is this life which Y'shua came to give us? How do we increase the measure of it?

John 5:24 EVERLASTING life implies life that lasts forever, unceasing, forever. John 10:28 ETERNAL life is life of an eternal quality, beyond the realm of time, and the laws of natural existence, that is, completely out of the natural sphere.

We have a promise of everlasting life, life that will extend beyond this life, but the nature of this life is also eternal, of a different quality and nature than our earthly life in this physical body.

How can we have life and have a more abundant measure of it? (Ephesians 2:5-8; John 5:39)

"But whoever takes a drink of the water (life) that I will give him shall never, no never be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing bubbling) continually within him unto (into, or for) eternal life." John 4:14 (Amplified version) Inner resources of life, an inner spring of refreshment. What is it's source?

"This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Y'shua the Messiah, whom You have sent." John 17:3 Knowing the Father and the Son - revelation knowledge Matt.16:17,18; 2 Corinthians 3:18

This life is through KNOWING Him! i.e. Relationship

There are degrees of relationship

The degree of relationship determines the degree of life. Desire closer relationship? - there is a need to draw closer, unveil and surrender self. It depends on closeness and intimacy.

Greatest depth of relationship in this life is in marriage. Becoming one flesh!!! In this there is complete identification - complete exposure - Complete giving of self

A surrender of personal identity is needed to contract a marriage, to take on another name, to become one, having everything yielded and surrendered to the other.

"And you shalt love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all thy soul, and with all your mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, You shalt love your neighbour as yourself." Mark 12:30,31

Heart, soul, mind and strength - Emotions, personality, thoughts and all one's energies.

Primarily Yahweh God, secondly others!

The religion of 'good works' has others first Relationship with God is of primary importance - not doing good to, and loving others. Placing Yahweh and His principles first in every area of our life renders firstly allegiance to Him, all others are in second place - neighbours and self. He will be our first love and commitment in life. No conflict of loyalties Luke 14:26; Colossians 3:17

1. NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SON.

"I have espoused you to one husband ..." (2 Corinthians 11:2) betrothed, set you aside for Him 'betrothed'(R.S.V) - lit. 'fitted together' an 'engagement' period, a time period of preparedness for marriage A development of relationship - "I will betroth you to me in faithfulness: and you shall know Yahweh." Hosea 2:19,20

A Bride-to-be makes herself attractive and desires to be beautiful in the eyes of her lover, learns to adapt to and please Him in all things. It is separation from others, to Him

It takes preparation to be a Bride! Rev.19:7,8 - the process Ephesians 3:18, 19

We need to be filled with the knowledge of His love, consumed with passion for Him - we love Him because He first loved us (1 John.4:19) There is a transforming power in love.

Cultivating relationship requires time, attentiveness, desire, contemplation, patience and understanding, and mostly self-sacrifice.

He purposes to have a Bride without spot or wrinkle or any such thing Ephesians 5:27 - holy, without blemish. Nothing that mars her image in His sight - flawless and pure

The wooing and initiation of the preparation is done by Him, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you." Jeremiah 31:3

"And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgement, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. Hosea 2:18 & Song of Sol.1:2-4

RENEWAL COMPLETE - She is "prepared as a bride adorned for her husband;" Rev.21:2

"Come, I will show you the Bride, the Lamb's wife. ..... the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, " (Rev.21:9, 10) verse 11-15 is a description of the spiritual beauty of the 'city', the Lamb's wife.

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robes of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments (headdress) and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels " Isaiah 61:10

"and as the Bridegroom rejoices over the Bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee." (Isaiah 62:5) "the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, " Jeremiah 33:11 - Fulfilment and Fellowship

He has desired us with a 'passionate' love which motivated Him to lay down His life for us, to obtain us as His bride Ephesians 5:25-27; Heb.12:2;

Revelation 22:17 "the Spirit and the Bride say 'Come'" - here is evidence the union is complete.

Head is joined to the Body, the Bridegroom joined to the Bride - her life is now His. Complete unity of thought and purpose, identification with the Son in the image of the Father is complete.

FAITHFULNESS is required in our devotion to the Lord. I.E. Moral purity

"I am jealous for you with the deep concern of God Himself - jealous that your love should be for Messiah alone, just as a pure maiden gives her love to one man only, the one who will be her husband." 2 Corinthians 11:2 (Living letters by Kenneth Taylor)

Unfaithfulness is adultery!

"Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number." Jeremiah 2:32 Spiritual coldness, unfaithfulness? Other preoccupations, cares of this life, things/people that rule our heart and claim our attention. Distractions from a single-minded fervent love toward Him. Colossians 3:2

2. NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER

A Son is submitted to and dependant upon the Father for life, provision, instruction and correction. Y'shua was the example of the perfect Son, He always perceived the Father through a life of complete yieldedness. He was a perfect representation of the Father's Person - "He that sees me, sees Him that sent me" John 12:45 'see' is THEOREO - 'to view' "He that hath seen me, hath seen the Father" John 14:7-9 'see' here is 'discerned ORAO

Use of two words for 'see' in Greek 1. THEOREO to view, physically sight 2. ORAO to discern, or take heed, spiritual or mental comprehension

It is the result of relationship - "what he hath seen (discerned) and heard, that he testifies" John 3:32

Unbroken looking, listening attitude, waiting upon Him "I speak that which I have seen (discerned) with my Father" John 8:38

In relationship with the Father, He discerned His intentions "Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape; and ye have not his word abiding in you:" John 5:37,38

His Word found no place in their heart - no relationship

The Word needs to ABIDE in us. John 15:4-8

If ye abide in me, and my words abide (are living) in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7 The Word has to be living in us, not just head knowledge. Has to be that which He has communicated to receptive hearts, a spiritual impartation. 2 Corinthians 3:3; John 6:63

REVELATION KNOWLEDGE - necessary for spiritual relationship

"Not that any man hath seen (discerned) the Father save He which is of God. He hath seen the Father." " He that believes on me hath everlasting life" John 6:46,47

Having His life is dependant upon DISCERNING Him spiritually. The Church is built upon the REVELATION of the Son of God. It is the foundation stone, the essential element of spiritual birthing. Matt.16:16-18; John 3:3 i.e. relationship

THE PRESENCE OF GOD

"I do nothing of myself; but as the Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me." John 8:28b,29 Acting on the instruction of the Father - result was the constant presence of God

".. a little while and ye shall not see (view) me" John 16:16,17,19 .. again a little while, and ye shall see (discern) me" ( i.e. spiritually) John 16:16,17

"Ye shall see (discern) Me, because I live (in resurrection life - eternal life) ye shall live also" (in the same quality of life)

"At that day, ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." John 16:20 The presence of the Lord is within through the Holy Spirit John 14:17

OBEDIENCE AS A SON IS THE KEY - "He that hath my commandments and keeps them; he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love Him, and will manifest myself to Him." John 14:21 Manifestation of the presence of Y'shua in return for obedience

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love." John 15:10 Maintenance of love relationship through obedience

"If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23b

FATHER & SON will dwell with those who obey - they receive an impartation of their life

FUNCTION OF THE SPIRIT

He, who is the manifestation of His presence, will

"teach you all things" Be a Guide and Instructor

"Bring to you remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you" Quicken the Word

The Holy Spirit as the indwelling presence of God is the means of communication with the Father and the Son. He is the 'other Comforter/Counsellor' who will abide with us forever. John 14:16

He takes that which is of the Father and the Son and reveals it unto us. John 16:13-15

He communicates and applies to our life the will of the Father by either illumination of the Word, or direct revelation. If we yield and obey, we will have the same experience that Y'shua had of listening to and receiving that which is from the Father.

"Whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak:" John 16:13

"He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you." John 16:14

"For the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God." "We have received the Spirit of God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God." 1 Corinthians 2:10,12

His abundant grace has freely given to us all things (2 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:18,19) and the knowledge of the things of Yahweh is interpreted to us through the Holy Spirit.

"Do you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me." John 14;10,11a

The result of His walk – was complete identification as a mature Son of the Father