JOINT
HEIRS
by George
Kirkpatrick
Vital Words to the Body of Christ
Freely We Have Received, Freely We Give
E-mail:
vitalwords@aol.com
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"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according
to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you." *** I Peter 1:3-4
Our inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled and will never fade away. It will never diminish in value. God says He has reserved it for us in heaven (the Spiritual Realm). Our inheritance is in God's hands where no man can touch it or defile it.
If there is an inheritance, there must be inheritors who will inherit. The Word tells us that the meek, the obedient, the righteous and those who are watching and praying are the inheritors. We must be all of these if we are to inherit. But first we must be His children.
"The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
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." *** Romans 8:16-17
We are not "Joint-heirs" with Jesus. We are "Joint-heirs" with Christ. The original says that we are joint-heirs of Christ (the Holy Spirit). We become heirs, by and through, the Holy Spirit. Paul said that we, also, become "Joint-heirs" through suffering. If we suffer with Him, we will be glorified together.
Are we to be glorified together with Jesus? No. Paul wrote of Jesus,
"...God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into Glory." *** I Timothy 3:16
Jesus received His glory over 1,950 years ago.
Who, then, are the "Joint-heirs" to be glorified with? "Christ"! Those who suffer for the cause of Christ. What does suffering bring? Maturity. And when we mature, we are no longer children.
"Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all." *** Galatians 4:1
Jesus said "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you." *** John 15:15
We come to maturity through suffering and those who suffer with Him will be "Joint-heirs" through Christ.
"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." *** Romans 8:18
Peter reveals that those who are suffering in this present time are those who will have the Glory of Christ revealed in them.
"But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." *** I Peter 4:13
This is not the glory that was revealed in Jesus, but a greater glory.
When the Glory of Christ is revealed in us, we will then be glad with exceeding joy. We must be willing to go through sufferings of this present time and the time ahead to have that glory revealed in us.
As children, we are heirs, but we will not inherit as children. We will inherit when we come to maturity. What is our inheritance?
"And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." *** Matthew 19:29
"For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited." *** Is. 54:3
"When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain." *** Isaiah 57:13
"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." *** I Peter 3:9
Is this the full list of our inheritance? No! In order for us to understand the fullness of our inheritance, we must begin in *** Genesis 12:1-3,
"Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from
thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew
thee:
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy
name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless
thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of
the earth be blessed."
The Lord told Abraham to leave his country and his relatives. God directed him saying, "I have a great inheritance for you, and I also have a blessing." God promised Abraham an inheritance and a blessing if he was obedient to His voice. He, also, would make Abraham a blessing to others.
God promised Abraham that anyone who blessed him, God would bless. Anyone who cursed him, God would curse. All families of the earth would be blessed in Abraham. How was this blessing to come about?
"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." *** Galatians 3:16
Is Abraham's seed Jesus? No, it is Christ, the anointing. Christ was the Holy Spirit anointing on Jesus' life and Christ is the anointing on our lives. Because of this anointing, we are the blessing of God on the earth. This is further revealed in Sarah.
"And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her." *** Gen. 17:16
Who are the kings of the earth? Jesus revealed to John on the Isle of Patmos:
"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." *** Rev. 1:6
Sarah's name was changed from Sarai to Sarah. Sarai means "my princess". Sarah means "princess". Sarai was Abraham's princess. She, then, became a princess in her own right. She was made the daughter of a king. She was to be the Mother of Nations. The daughter of the King would become a Mother of Nations.
The daughter is always female as is the Church always female. Sarah shall become the mother of nations; and kings of people shall come out of her; a many membered corporate Body of Christ. The promise was not only made to Abraham but made to Sarah, also. Through Sarah, comes the promise of the Church. Through Abraham, comes the promise of Christ, the Holy Spirit; the head of the Church. Just as Abraham was Sarah's head, so is Christ the head of the church.
"That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy
seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore;
and thy seed shall posses the gate of his enemies.
And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou
hast obeyed My voice." *** Genesis 22:17-18
Jesus said the gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church. *** Matthew 16:18
Abraham means "a multitude". Because Abraham was obedient to His voice, God made him a father of a multitude.
Abraham begat a son by the name of Isaac. If Isaac was the promised seed, then all would have been fulfilled in Isaac. But, Isaac was made the same promise that God made to Abraham.
(Speaking to Isaac) "And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of
heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed
shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments,
My statutes, and My laws." *** Genesis 26:4-5
God made Isaac the same promise of inheritance and blessing that He made to Abraham.
The blessing and inheritance passed from Father to son. Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the oldest. When these twins were born, Jacob took hold of Esau's heel. Jacob was called "heel grabber". Jacob's name means "surplanter" which means "to take the place of; through force or scheming". The birthright belonged to the eldest son; but Jacob bought Esau's birthright, or inheritance, for a bowl of pottage.
Later, Jacob stole Esau's blessing through lying and scheming. But Esau could not have received the blessing because he had no birthright. Those, today, who have no birthright in the Father, will receive no blessings.
Let's review the blessing that Jacob received.
"Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee." *** Genesis 27:28-29
This was the same promise that God made to Abraham.
Jacob received a further blessing from Isaac.
"And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee,
that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee;
that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God
gave unto Abraham." *** Genesis 28:3-4
The blessing that God gave to Abraham was passed on to Isaac and on to Jacob. This blessing was passed through to the seed. That seed is Christ.
Jacob received yet another blessing. At the time Jacob wrestled with a man, and the man said unto Jacob "Let me go!" Jacob said, "I will not let thee go except thou bless me." *** Genesis 32:24-26
"And He said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a
prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said,
Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after My name? And He blessed him there."
*** Gen. 32:27-29
Jacob wrestled with the man all night. Jacob demanded a blessing. This man said, "What is your name?". Jacob said, "Surplanter". "I am a deceiver, I am a cheat, I have taken that which I have, by being crooked."
He confessed his sin before this man with his name. "I am the one who comes after. I am the heel grabber." The man said to Jacob, "You are no longer going to be called Jacob, but your name is going to be called Israel because you are a prince of God." A prince is a King's son.
What was the blessing Jacob received? The man revealed Jacob's position in God,
You are a prince, or a son of God from this day on." The man also revealed unto Jacob, "As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." *** Genesis 32:28
The Holy Spirit anointing came upon Jacob that day and it was the Holy Spirit anointing that changed Jacob. He became Abraham's seed. Not by lineage, but by anointing.
"But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God." *** I Corinthians 1:24
The Holy Spirit was bestowed on Jacob that day. What a blessing he received! The Holy Spirit changed Jacob from a surplanter to a prince; or son of the King. It is only through the Holy Spirit that we can become the Sons of God.
"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Sons of God." *** John 1:12
That power is the Holy Ghost cleansing in our lives. We, as Jacob, can come into sonship in God.
"And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." *** Genesis 32:30
Did Jacob wrestle with an angel? He wrestled with the man, Jesus.
He proclaimed, "I have seen God face to face."
Jacob saw Jesus face to face. God filled him with the Holy Spirit and the blessing was passed on to him.
Jacob had twelve sons. They became the twelve tribes of Israel. Of these, ten sons were born to Leah and the two concubines named Bilhah and Zilpah. Rachel brought forth two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel's name means "ewe lamb". The ewe lamb represents the church.
Rachel's son, Joseph, was sold into Egypt by his brothers. While in Egypt, Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. When Jacob was old and about to die, Joseph brought his two sons to see their Grandfather. Jacob, at this meeting, passed on the blessing.
"And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left
hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought
them near unto him.
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head,
who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his
hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and
Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name
be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them
grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." *** Genesis 48:13-16
Jacob blessed Joseph first (verse 15), before he blessed Ephraim and Manasseh. The blessing had to go from father to son. It did not go from father to grandson.
In verse 16 it says, "The Angel..." The word angel means "messenger of God". Jacob says, Let the Messenger of God bless Ephraim and Manasseh." The Messenger of God was the one Jacob had wrestled with.
The 49th chapter of Genesis contains the prophesy each tribe; what they would become in the last days. Of the sons of Jacob (Israel), only Joseph received a blessing from his father.
"And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that
I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days." *** Genesis
49:1
"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches
run over the wall:
The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong
by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the
stone of Israel:)
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty,
who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep
that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors
unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head
of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separated from his
brethren." *** Genesis 49:22-26
This blessing was to befall Joseph in the last days. As we study, we begin to understand the blessing that came to Joseph had already been passed on to Ephraim by Jacob.
Let's take a closer look at the last part of *** Genesis 49:24:
"(From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)"
Did Jesus come from the tribe of Joseph? No. Jesus was born of the tribe of Judah. Jacob said that from the tribe of Joseph is the "Shepherd, the Stone of Israel".
Who is the shepherd of the flock, and who is the stone? To shed light on this, let's look at the prophecy given to Judah.
"Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in
the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before
thee.
Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped
down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
The sceptre (rulership, authority) shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver
from between his feet, (that means be born) until Shiloh come: (Shiloh means
Messiah) and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." *** Genesis
49:8-10
The lineage of Jesus is given in Matthew 1,
"Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren."
Jesus' lineage went from Jacob to Judah. But Jacob prophesied
"From Joseph will come the shepherd and the stone of Israel."
Joseph means "another son". Joseph, was born to Rachel, the Ewe Lamb, or the Church.
Jesus was the Son of God. He was the only begotten Son. Jesus revealed his mission in *** Matthew 15:24,
"I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Was Jesus sent to the Gentiles?
John wrote, "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." *** John 1:11
Jesus was sent to natural Israel. But he spoke of another son.
"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God." *** John 1:12
He told His disciples they would receive this power if they tarried in Jerusalem. *** Luke 24:49
That power came upon them in the upper room on the day of pentecost and it is through this power (Holy Ghost) that we will become the Sons of God; the manifested Sons of God through the Spirit.
Jesus was the Great Shepherd. He was the rock. When Jesus finished the work His Father sent Him to do, He regained His rightful place and that was on the right hand of the Father. Jesus is still on the right hand of the Father. Stephen witnessed this in *** Acts 7:55:
"But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God."
The question arises, Who, then, was to continue the work of the kingdom on earth?
Jesus promised that He would send us another comforter and that comforter was the Holy Ghost. *** John 16:7-8
It is the voice of the Holy Spirit that we hear today. It is the Holy Spirit that directs our lives. The Holy Spirit is the Shepherd of the Flock (Spiritual Israel).
Jesus, speaking of Himself, revealed,
"...For the things concerning Me have an end." *** Luke 22:37
"I have finished the work which Thou (the Father) gavest me to do." *** John 17:4
He declared on the cross,
"It is finished." *** John 19:30
Jacob prophesied, "Out of Joseph will come the "Shepherd of the lock", the "Stone of Israel".
Isn't Jesus that Rock? If so, then how can the Stone of Israel come through Joseph?
*** Ephesians 2:20 states that Jesus is the corner stone. But the corner stone is not the whole building. Jesus is also called the Word. But, who reveals the Word? "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." *** I John 2:27
It is the Anointing that reveals to us and teaches us all things.
Jesus spoke that when the Spirit of Truth comes, He will testify of Him. *** John 15:26
Paul revealed Wisdom and Revelation come by the Spirit. *** Ephesians 1:17
Jesus revealed the Stone of Israel in *** Matthew 21:42,
"Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?"
Jesus was not speaking of Himself as the Corner Stone, but, rather of the Holy Spirit, the Head Stone. We begin to get the picture that the Corner Stone, Jesus, came by Judah. The Head Stone, Holy Spirit, came by Joseph. It is by the anointing that we understand the Word (Jesus). Our relationship with Jesus is through the Holy Spirit.
When the truths of God begin to reveal themselves through His Word, and the mysteries become realities and, as we hunger and thirst after more, then will God reveal His very personage to us.
Jesus stated, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." *** Rev. 22:13
Jesus was our beginning in God. Without the initial meeting with Jesus, there could be no further relationship with God. Our inheritance in God comes through Jesus.
Jesus said that He is the last, the omega, and the end.
He also is the "Author and Finisher of our faith." *** Hebrews 12:2
Ephesians reveals Jesus as the cornerstone. As we have stated, the corner stone is not the whole house, but is only the beginning of the house. God's house is being built through the Holy Spirit. The inheritance of the blessing promised to Abraham comes through Abraham's seed, which is Christ, the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the chief corner stone, through Judah, by the flesh. Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Headstone, is the head of the corner and comes by Joseph through the Spirit.
All things come together in the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was the designer, but it all comes together in Christ Jesus.
"Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner." *** I Peter 2:7
This stone the builders disallowed is the headstone. When the building is complete, God will set His headstone in place as the head of the church.
Peter, speaking of the Holy Spirit, speaks of two people. To those who are obedient, the Holy Spirit is precious. To those who are disobedient before God, the Holy Spirit is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence.
*** Romans 8:17 states that we are joint-heirs with Christ. In Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we have the promise that we are going to inherit a blessing. This blessing began with Abraham. It was passed on to Isaac, Jacob and to Joseph.
Through Joseph came the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Head Stone, the Finisher of our faith.
Joseph's name was a prophesy. It meant "another son". The stone of Israel, the Holy Spirit, will produce this other son, "the manifested sons of God". The Holy Spirit will produce this son in us. The Holy Spirit is the Shepherd of God's flock in the earth today.
Joseph was given a further blessing.
"The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren." *** Genesis 49:26
Joseph received the blessings from heaven above, the Spiritual blessings from the right hand of God.
Along with the blessings from heaven, he received the blessings of the deep. God promised Joseph the blessings above the earth and blessings under the earth and all places in between.
Joseph was promised the blessings of the breasts and of the womb. His children were also to be blessed.
In Genesis 49:26, the blessing put upon Joseph was above the blessings that were placed upon Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Joseph received a greater blessing to pass on to his son.
The blessing that came through Joseph is not diminished but increased. This was to come upon the head of Joseph. This blessing was to be a crown on Joseph's head, who was separated from his brother.
Joseph had only one full brother; that was Benjamin. Benjamin means "the son of my right hand". But the blessing did not pass from brother to brother. It was passed from father to son. The blessing did not go from Joseph to Benjamin; it went to Joseph's son, Ephraim.
The blessing Joseph received was a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit than Abraham, Isaac and Jacob received. This outpouring will bring forth the prophecy of another son, the son of His right hand.
It is very important we understand that it was through Jacob laying his hands upon Manasseh and Ephraim, that we may inherit the blessing. Joseph brought Manasseh and Ephraim to Jacob to receive their blessing.
"And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left
hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought
them near unto him.
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head,
who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his
hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn." *** Genesis 48:13-14
Because Jacob was almost blind, Joseph positioned his sons, so the eldest, Manasseh would receive the blessing. Instead, Jacob crossed his hands. His right hand rested upon Ephraim and his left hand rested upon Manasseh.
"And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of
Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it
from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn;
put thy right hand upon his head.
And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall
become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother
shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying,
God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before
Manasseh.
And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and
bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took
out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my Bow." *** Genesis
48:17-22
Joseph tried to get Jacob to change hands. Jacob would not. He said that he knew what he was doing. He prophesied that Manasseh would become a great people, but his younger brother would become the greater, and his seed would become a multitude of nations.
This was the same blessing that God gave to Abraham and it was passed on to Ephraim by Jacob. Ephraim now has the blessing.
THE BLESSING OF ALL AGES
At the time of Solomon's death, there were 10 tribes taken away from David's Kingdom and given to Jeroboam.
Jeroboam set up his capital in Ephraim and made Samaria the capital. The golden calves Jeroboam made were set in Ephraim and in Dan. The ten northern tribes were referred to in 3 ways: Israel, Ephraim or Samaria.
Because of the sin of the ten northern tribes, God allowed the Assyrians to capture them in 721 B.C., and Israel was scattered throughout the whole earth because of the golden calves.
God cursed Ephraim and Dan. Ephraim and Dan were eliminated as a tribes. Isaiah records:
"For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people." *** Isaiah 7:8
God destroyed all of the Ephraimites. They were no longer a people. Ephraim, as a tribe, was eliminated.
Further proof of this is found in Revelation 7.
"Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben
were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve
thousand.
Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim
were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve
thousand.
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi
were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve
thousand.
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph
were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve
thousand." *** Revelation 7:5-8
The tribes of Ephraim and Dan do not appear. This is the keeping of God's Word that anybody who brings idol worship into Israel, He will destroy. But Jacob, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said that Ephraim would become a multitude of nations. Ephraim inherited the promise that was given to Abraham.
As we have learned, the Shepherd of the flock and the Stone of Israel were to come through Joseph. As God reveals the mysteries of His Word, it becomes clear that He was not speaking of Ephraim in the natural. He was speaking of Spiritual Ephraim. Joseph's name means "another son". God is producing that son through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph is a type of Christ, the Holy Spirit that will bring forth another son.
"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever." *** John 14:16
Our first comforter gave us our inheritance in God. That Comforter was Jesus.
From the second comforter we receive the blessing that will bring us into the fullness of our inheritance. The second comforter came through Joseph and passed on to Ephraim.
When Jacob said that Ephraim would become a multitude of nations, this was not a contradiction, nor is it a mistake in the Word. Paul wrote,
"Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." *** I Corinthians 15:46
The natural always comes first, then that which is Spiritual. This is one of the keys that opens the Word of God. The Old Testament spoke in the natural. The New Testament speaks in the Spiritual. The Old Testament was the Spirit speaking to the flesh. The New Testament was the flesh (Jesus) speaking to the Spirit.
Jesus said, "...The words that I speak unto you, are Spirit, and they are life." *** John 6:63
The first Adam was a living soul. The second Adam was a quickening Spirit (living Spirit). *** I Corinthians 15:45
Ephraim came first in the flesh. Because of sin, Ephraim was eliminated. Now, God is going to produce Ephraim through the Spirit. The promises Jacob spoke to Ephraim are for the Spiritual Ephramites in the earth today.
Ephraim was the center, the capital, or the focal point of Israel in the flesh. Ephraim inherited the blessing. This inheritance cannot come forth in the flesh. It must come forth in the Spirit after we have died to the flesh. This is not speaking of a physical death, but of the flesh dying to self.
Ephraim had to die in the flesh to be reproduced in the Spirit, just as Jesus had to die in the flesh to come as the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.
We must die to the flesh before the Spirit can take control of the flesh.
Jesus said, "...Take up the cross." *** Mark 10:21
Paul said,"I die daily." *** I Corinthians 15:31
We must die to the flesh and fleshly desires.
Ephraim means "I shall be double fruitful". It is the Spiritual Ephraimites that will receive the double portion out-pouring of the Holy Spirit; the early and latter rain.
When the blessing was given by Jacob to Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob said to let the angel bless the boys. This blessing had to come through the Spirit. It could not come through the flesh.
As we study Ephraim through the Word, this spiritual truth continues to be revealed.
Jeremiah spoke of Ephraim.
"They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn." *** Jeremiah 31:9
God called Ephraim His firstborn. In the natural, Ephraim was the second son, the youngest son. But God proclaims that Ephraim is His firstborn.
Ephraim was the second born in the flesh. He becomes the firstborn in the Spirit. Ephraim received the promise that he would become a multitude of nations.
When Jacob blessed Ephraim, he purposely crossed his hands to bless Ephraim instead of Manasseh. When Joseph tried to correct this apparent mistake, Jacob spake to Joseph, "Manasseh shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater." *** Genesis 48:19
The word for "great" is GABAL. It does not mean greater in stature. It means more in number. Manasseh will be a great number, but Ephraim is going to be much greater in number than Manasseh.
This promise that God made to Abraham, is being accomplished through the Spirit. Jacob gave Joseph a special promise at this time.
"Moreover I have given to thee (Joseph) one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow." *** Genesis 48:22
Jacob promised Joseph a double portion of the ruling and reigning saints that will possess the Kingdom.
Jacob stated that he was going to give Joseph a portion above all of his brothers. He gave Joseph the right of the eldest son. The fulfillment of this is in Revelation 7.
"Of the tribe of Asher were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand." *** Revelation 7:6
The tribe of Manasseh was made a full tribe; no longer a half tribe as in the Old Testament.
"...Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand." *** Rev. 7:8
Joseph was not a tribe in the Old Testament. So, twenty-four thousand of the ruling and reigning saints are to come through Joseph. This is his double portion, as promised by Jacob. But Jeremiah said, "Ephraim is my firstborn." There are no limits on the number of the tribe of Ephraim. Spiritual Ephraim are the saints that will receive the double portion outpouring of the Spirit, the Early and Latter Rain.
The double portion saints will receive the double portion in the earth and will inherit the blessing, and will become a multitude of nations. These are the Christ (anointed ones) in the earth.
"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are of become the kingdoms of our Lord, and His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever." *** Revelation 11:15
Christ will reign over His kingdoms upon the earth.
The 144,000 are taken off the earth, *** Revelation 14, but the double portion saints are the rulers and reigners which remain on earth. These are the meek who inherit the earth.
Peter revealed that we are going to inherit a blessing in *** I Peter 3:9:
"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to
the promise." *** Galatians 3:29
Abraham was not promised the Holy land only, but wherever he trod or whatever his eye saw, was his. This promise comes to us, today, through Christ; Abraham's seed and heirs, according to the promise.
Do we become Abraham's seed when we receive salvation? No, the Jews cried out "We are seeds of Abraham: John the Baptist said,
"God is able of these stones to raise up children (seed) to Abraham." *** Matthew 3:9
If we are to be heirs of Abraham's promise, it can only come through the Holy Spirit.
In Revelation 7:10, those who are standing before the throne, crying, "Salvation", have come out of the Great Tribulation and their blood has been shed. All they knew was their salvation.
"To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." *** I Peter 1:4
This inheritance is "incorruptible". That means it will not rot. We live in a corruptible body. It will rot.
Our inheritance is incorruptible. It is undefiled. It is pure, made sure by God because it is in the presence of God. It is a promise that will never fade away. It will never lose its value. It is reserved in heaven and protected by God for us. No man has received it, as yet, and no man can touch it. If he touches it, he will defile it.
Does this mean, then, since this inheritance is reserved for us in heaven, we will receive it in heaven? Of course not.
Jesus said that He was going to bring His reward with Him.
"And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man
according as his work shall be." *** Revelation 22:12
"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full
assurance of hope unto the end:
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience
inherit the promises." *** Hebrews 6:11-12
What promises are being talked about? ALL the promises. We are going to receive ALL the promises.
We must show diligence and have full assurance of hope unto the end. These promises will be received at the end.
Verse 12 says "be not slothful." Don't fall down. Don't follow them that are not going to inherit the promise. If you are going to follow somebody, follow someone who is going to inherit that promise. All the promises of God throughout history are yea and amen.
The first promise that was made to Abraham was that God would bless everyone that blessed him, and He would curse everyone that cursed him. *** Genesis 12:3
"And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee." *** Exodus 23:25
God promises no more sickness if you will follow His word. God says,
"If those wilt diligently hearken to the voice of thy God, and wilt do that which is right in His sight, and wilt give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians." *** Exodus 15:26
All the promises made to Abraham are ours. The promises were fulfilled partially in the flesh in Israel, but He will fulfill them in the fullness through Christ, the Holy Spirit, in our lives.
"And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means
of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first
testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance.
For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the
testator.
For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength
at all while the testator liveth." *** Hebrews 9:15-17
A "testament" is a will made by those who have died, to those of the living.
In Hebrews 9:15, the first testament is speaking of the Old Testament. But the first testament could not come into effect until the death of the testator, or the death of the one who had made the first testament with man.
Who was this? God!
When did the death of the testator take place?
It was when Jesus died on the cross.
Therefore, the covenant God made with Abraham was to be fulfilled in the New Testament. The covenant that God made with Abraham in the flesh will be fulfilled in the Spirit.
Under the Old Testament, there was no eternal inheritance, only the covering of sin by the blood of bulls and goats so that they might receive the redemption and inheritance by the new covenant.
*** Hebrews 9:16-17 states that the testator must die before the testament can be enforced, because it has no strength while the testator lives.
So the covenants were simply promises until the death of Jesus. The promises came through Abraham's seed, which is Christ, the Holy Spirit. God's promises are always fulfilled through the Spirit because God is Spirit.
Abraham's promise was that his seed would be as the sands of the sea and as the stars of heaven. This has yet to be fulfilled upon the earth.
Hebrews 11 is called the "Faith" chapter. It talks about those who followed God all through their lives in the Old Testament, but they did not receive the promise.
"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise." *** Hebrews 11:39
All those spoken of in the 11th chapter of Hebrews were pleasing to God, but never received the promise. They followed God and were without sin. They had a good report with God, but they did not receive the promises.
"God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." *** Hebrews 11:40
The Old Testament saints could not come into completeness, maturity or perfection without us.
The "Us" is Ephraim, God's firstborn; and when His firstborn, Ephraim, receives the double portion, then all those who have received a good report in God, will receive the inheritance of the promise with us. This is also foretold in *** I Thessalonians 4:13-14,
"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which
sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."
Jesus spoke plainly of this: that the old saints would come together with those saints who are on the earth at the time of His coming.
"When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily
I say into you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall
sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there
shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth." *** Matt. 8:10-12
At this time, God is going to gather His Saints from the four winds and they will join Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And those that will not be gathered, will be cast into outer darkness, or the wrath of God. Jesus also spoke of this day in Luke.
"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek
to enter in, and shall not be able.
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door,
and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord,
open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence
ye are:
Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and
Thou hast taught in our streets.
But He shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me,
all ye workers of iniquity.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham,
and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you
yourselves thrust out.
And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north,
and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which
shall be last." *** Luke 13:24-30
Many will strive to enter in at the strait gate, but they will not be able to. Why? Because the door will be shut. When they are called to enter in, they will not. Now is the day of entering in, and those that enter in will receive their inheritance. Those who have not entered in when the door is shut will weep and wail and gnash their teeth. This same day is spoken of in *** Matthew 25. This speaks of the ten virgins that, while the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And those who did not have the extra vessel of preparedness, had lamps that went out and they were told to go buy oil.
"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready
went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us." ***
Matthew 25:10-11
Those who were crying "Lord, Lord", could not enter in because the door was shut.
*** Luke 13:28 reveals that there will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, when they see the old prophets sitting down in the kingdom of God. Those coming from the east, west, north and south will sit down with the prophets, but the disobedient will be thrust out into outer darkness.
"And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." *** Matthew 24:31
God will gather His saints together from one end of heaven to the other and they will sit together with the overcomers who have come through the fire.
"And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord, when He will return
from the wedding; that when He cometh and knocketh, they may open unto Him
immediately.
Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching:
verily I say unto you, that He shall gird Himself, and make them to sit down
to meat, and will come forth and serve them." *** Luke 12:36-37
God is standing at the door and knocking on our lives right now, desiring to come into us.
When God brings the old saints with Him, He will inhabit His kingdom with them. Those He brings through the fire will produce His godly kingdom in the earth.
The old Saints and prophets will fulfill the promises and covenants that God gave Abraham that "his seed shall be as the sand of the seas, and as the stars of Heaven."
The total of God's people that have ever lived and have come by faith, are going to inherit the blessing, the promise, that God made to Abraham.
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." *** Ephesians 1:18
When our eyes are enlightened to the truth, we begin to understand God's plan for man from the Garden.
The Bible was given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit anointing upon man. This same anointing reveals the Word. The Holy Spirit, the stone the builders rejected, has become the Head of the Corner. Jesus saith:
"Did ye never read in the scripture, The stone which the builders rejected,
the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and
it is marvellous in our eyes?
Therefore say I unto you, The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and
given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof,
And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever
it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." *** Matthew 21:42-44
Anyone upon whom that stone falls, shall be broken. It is that stone, the Holy Spirit, who is the convicting power in our lives.
Is it Jesus that convicts us?
No. Jesus is sitting on the right hand of the Father. It is the Holy Spirit that is the convicting power in our lives.
Jesus said, "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall
be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not
be forgiven unto men.
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven
him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven
him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come" *** Matthew 12:31-32
This reveals that there is a greater power than Jesus in the flesh (Jesus, the Christ). That greater power came on the day of Pentecost when Jesus came as the anointing Spirit. He became the anointing instead of being the anointed one. This is when He was revealed as Christ.
Peter wrote, "...That same Jesus, whom ye have crucified has become both Lord and Christ." *** Acts 2:36
He became the anointing that came upon Him on the banks of the Jordan river; and that anointing is the Father.
"As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." *** Romans 9:33
Is Paul speaking of Jesus? Is Jesus an offense to the world? Is Jesus an offense to the Church?
No. He is not an offense to the world. They use His name as a curse word. They are not convicted by Jesus. He is not an offense to the Church. They use His name, also. Then who is the Stumbling Stone and the Rock of Offense?
What is offensive to both the world and the Church?
It is the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts man when he does wrong. He is the Rock of Offense.
Why can't churches get along? What is the biggest division in the Church today?
It is man-made doctrine-versus-Christ (Holy Spirit). The dead churches, or those that deny the work of the Holy Spirit, are those who are against ones who profess the move of the Holy Spirit. You can talk about Jesus all day to the dead church, but, mention the Holy Spirit and the conversation is over.
Many of those who profess the move of the Spirit in their life, believe there must be some physical manifestation or you are not baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The Word reveals that it is by the Fruit of the Spirit that we know the Spirit. We can confess the Holy Spirit with our mouth, have all kinds of physical manifestations, but, if the Spirit is not producing fruit in our lives, then we do not have the Spirit.
Those who have the Holy Spirit will not be ashamed of Jesus or the Father.
"Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto them which be
disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the
head of the corner.
And a Stone of Stumbling, and a Rock of Offense," *** I Peter 2:7-8
Is He talking about unbelievers?
No. He is talking about the disobedient believers. The unbelieving cannot be disobedient.
And who are they disobedient to? Jesus?
No. Jesus is the cornerstone. He is speaking of being disobedient to Christ, the Holy Spirit anointing in our lives. It speaks about the stone that the builders disallowed.
Who are the builders? The people who are building their own kingdoms in the earth, in the name of Jesus, without the Power, without the advise, and without the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
These are the people who disallowed the stone. Disallowed means "to reject, as a result of disapproval". They have disapproved of the anointing, they have disapproved of the teaching of the Holy Spirit and they go forward with their worldly methods and still building a kingdom unto themselves in the name of Jesus. Paul tells us that their works will be tried in the fire and they will not stand.
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall
be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction.
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of
you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation
slumbereth not." *** II Peter 2:1 and 3
Their "damnable heresies" make merchandise out of God's people. They do this to build their own works.
The Word says this stone, the stone that the builders rejected, is made the head of the corner.
The symbol of the Body of Christ is the pyramid. The design of the pyramid allows all the corners of the pyramid to come together in the Head Stone; and the Head Stone is the exact image of the finished pyramid.
Everything in God's house comes together in the Holy Spirit; growing up into the head which is Christ, the Holy Spirit. Jesus is our Cornerstone. He is our chief Cornerstone. Without Him, the whole building will fall.
We are not taking one thing away from Jesus, but we need to go on to Christ Jesus, that we may understand what it means to grow up into the head. We are to grow up into the Holy Spirit. We are to grow up into that which will complete His building, His Body.
His building can only be complete by and through the Holy Spirit. Nothing will be accomplished in the flesh; a stone of stumbling. More Christians today are stumbling over the Holy Spirit than any teaching of Jesus.
We need to ask ourselves: Do we need a physical manifestation to be baptized in the Holy Spirit?
No! We do not! Jesus said, "I only do what I see the Father doing and I only say what I hear the Father saying." When we come to this place, all doctrines of men go out the window.
If the Holy Spirit quickens you, then do it. This should be our direction and motive for all our actions.
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." *** Ephesians 2:19-22
Our foundation is the apostles and the prophets. It lines the Old and New Testaments up with the chief corner stone, Jesus Christ. All of us working together and building together the habitation of God through the Spirit. Most never get passed building the foundation.
Many say they want a good foundation. Why, if you are never going to complete the house? Do we stay a foundation? If we stay a foundation, what do we have?
"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on
unto perfection: not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead
works, and of faith toward God,
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection
of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
And this will we do, if God permit." *** Hebrews 6:1-3
We have just a foundation. We need to build upon the foundation. You must have a good solid foundation. That good solid foundation is Jesus Christ, the prophets and the apostles.
But, it is only the foundation not the whole house. God is building the building that He is going to inhabit. He is going to inhabit a completed temple, built from the Living Stones. He is not going to inhabit a foundation.
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." *** I Corinthians 6:20
Our body and our spirit belong to God. We are His temple that He is going to inhabit. He is building this habitation through the Spirit; through the anointing. When it is complete, He will set the Head Stone in place on His whole Body. We need to grow up into the head, into the head stone, the Holy Spirit, which is Christ.
"Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." *** I Corinthians 15:46
It is first with the natural, then the Spiritual. Jesus was born of the lineage of Judah. The Spiritual stone came from Joseph. From Judah, we receive our birthright. From Joseph, we receive the blessing. When Esau sold his birthright, there was no way he could receive the blessing.
Many today have sold their Birthright in God by rejecting the Spirit. Joseph was the promise of another son. Jesus was the first begotten of the Father, but Jesus promised another son and that son is His Body. He is building His Body through the Holy Spirit.
The blessing of God is always passed from father to son.
Jesus spoke "And, behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." *** Luke 24:49
The Father had not made us any promises in this verse. But Jesus said, "I will send the promise of My Father."
As we study this, we find that the Father was the promise and it is the Father that endues us with power from on high. That power is the Holy Spirit anointing in our lives.
As Spiritual Ephraimites, we will receive the blessing that was promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and passed on to Ephraim. This is the "Double Portion Outpouring" of the Holy Spirit; the "Blessing of all Ages".
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