The
Spirit of the Word
"The words that
I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life." Jesus
"The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life." Paul
Return to "Letters of Truth (2)"
Quick Return Home Page
by Ray and Doris
Prinzing
No. 29
THE OLD PASSES, THE NEW BECOMES
"Assuming that anyone is in Christ, he is a creature new in quality. The
antiquated, out-of-date things (which do not belong to the new life in Christ
Jesus) have passed away. Behold, all things have become new in quality. But
the aforementioned ALL THINGS are from God as a Source." (2 Cor. 5:17-18, Wuest
Expanded).
A NEW CREATION SPECIES IS NOW IN FORMATION! The new
life is HIS, for He is the Source of all the new! Phillips translation
reads, "All this is God's doing, for He has reconciled us to Himself through
Jesus Christ." Nothing of self will add anything to the new─
the purpose and inworking are HIS. We find this truth of the sovereignty of
God's handiwork to be in direct opposition to Christendom's emphasis on what man
is TO DO─ with useless carnal efforts of trying to work into a state of
spirituality. But God is not producing a religious people, He is bringing forth
a new creation.
"It is, remember, by GRACE and not by achievement that you are saved─ HE has
lifted us right out of the old life to take our place with Him in Christ Jesus
in the Heavens. Thus He shows for all time the tremendous generosity of the
grace and kindness He has expressed toward us in Christ Jesus. It was nothing
you could or did achieve─ it was GOD'S GIFT OF GRACE which saved you. No one
can pride himself upon earning the love of God. THE FACT IS THAT WHAT WE ARE WE
OWE TO THE HAND OF GOD UPON US. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do those good deeds which God planned for us to do." (Eph. 2:5-10,
Phillips).
How precious! "He lifts us right out of the old life," that He might place us
into the new, thus old things pass away. This is not a recycling, or a
redesigning of the old. In the natural world there is a strong emphasis being
placed upon recycling─ it's the environmental thing to do. And it does seem
that a lot of people in their religious activities have taken up with the
concept of trying to recycle mankind─ keeping the same form, the same
expression, but giving it a religious flavor. But God IS NOT revealed in the
Word as One who just "patches up" something gone bad. Nor is He just trying to
dress up the world with a "Jesus garment cover" to give a better appearance.
Before He is finished with His creation He will have totally transformed it─ to
bring forth "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness." (2
Peter 3:13). Thus we are challenged to yield to His handiwork as He dissolves,
strips away the old, "burns up the chaff with unquenchable fire," (Matt. 3:12),
that He might make all things new. "Draw me, we will run after You," (Song of
Solomon 1:4), is a far better response, than having to be pressured into
relinquishing the old realm.
Jesus told it well, in His parable illustrations─ "No man also sews a piece of
new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up takes away
from the old, and the rent is made worse. And no man puts new wine into old
bottles: else the new wine bursts the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the
bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles." (Mark
2:21-22).
A piece of new cloth─ the word "piece" is the Greek "epiblema," from the word "epiballo"
meaning: to throw upon, thus, a patch, imposed upon a cloth to mend it. But the
piece that is applied is new, "agnaphos," literally, unfinished, unshrunken,
just raw material. So if it be securely fastened to the garment, as it gets wet
and then shrinks while drying, it will pull away from the cloth whereon it was
sewn, and the rent is made even worse. The OLD does not blend with the new. A
worn out garment with a new piece sewn on, makes for quite a contrast.
Likewise, Jesus says, you cannot put new wine which is still in its fermentation
stage, into an old wineskin (bottle) that has become stiff and unbending─ the
build up of the inner pressure will burst the wineskin─ resulting in the wine
being lost, and the bottle ruined.
There are occasions in the Scripture when something is of MAJOR IMPORTANCE God
would give it a double application, like Pharaoh's dream of the corn, and the
cows. A strong message is being declared, and such is true here.
We might also insert a word of caution given by Wuest in his notes─ quote, "Be
careful not to drive every detail of a parable to the wall. No parable walks on
all fours, but will LIMP SOMEWHERE if the expositor seeks to explain every
detail." unquote.
Example─ we have a little blue book of 200 pages before us─ there are two blank
pages before a printed page appears. Now we must have a special meaning as to
why it is a blue cover, and we note the numerical value for 200, and we attach
special significance to the two blank pages, until by the time we get to the
contents of the book we have already been limping off in several directions and
forming opinions and ideas, so that we could easily be predisposed to think in
ways that detract from the real message of the book itself. There are times
when GOD IS MOST SPECIFIC IN DETAIL as He speaks into our heart─ and every dot
and comma are there for a purpose, but in the matter of examining the
"parables," we do well to be careful in spiritualizing every minute detail. A
parable is a pictorial word thrown alongside the invisible spirit realm to give
you a specific message, while at the same time almost concealing it. The
earthly cannot fully explain the heavenly, they are TWO DIFFERENT REALMS, but
one draws a point, the parable serves as a window to give a glimpse, not a total
revelation.
The specific point that Jesus was making, emphasized by double application, is
that you cannot co-mingle the old with the new, it renders them both useless.
Christ's ministry of grace cannot be placed as a PATCH on the Mosaic law and
ministration─ it just will not work. "If the inheritance be of the law, it is
no more of promise." (Gal. 3:18). Phillips reads, "If the receiving of the
promised blessing were now to depend on the Law, that would amount to a
cancellation of the original "contract" which God made with Abraham as a
promise." It is either the old ministration of condemnation and death, or the
new ministration of His life, but you cannot have a measure of both and try to
sew them together. That makes for CONFUSION!
Yet how often do men try and take the "little bit of Jesus they know" and sew it
into all the traditions, old forms and programs. It never ceases to amaze me
how people like to live under the old law dispensation. It seems the
regimentation of works self-righteously satisfies their flesh, even if there be
no life in it. Yet finding it a heavy yoke to bear, they also keep trying to
breathe new life into the old order, try to sew just enough of the new Christ
life into their rituals to fill up what is lacking. (Sounds like some Messianic
groups [ed.]). But it doesn't work─
Christ cannot be held in with unyielding restraints, and like the new wine in a
bottle, He will move and break out, disrupting the program, and challenging the
people to let go the old, and embrace the walk into His more abundant life.
Strangely enough, human nature is such that "No man also having drunk old wine
straightway desires new: for he says, The old is better." (Luke 5:39) It is
familiar, we can repeat the pattern, the comfortable routines, and maintain a
sense of identity. How we pray the Lord to loose us from carnal form and
ceremony, loose us from ritual which pleases the flesh, and help us to go with
the flow of the Spirit as He would lead onward step by step, that we might "come
up higher," as He calls us onward in ascension.
Continuous change is difficult because it requires flexibility, and we must be
adjustable─ receptive, elastic, open, ready to MOVE ON! But I assure you that
HIS INDWELLING IS NOT STAGNANT. There is A PROGRESSIVE WORK WITHIN as He
changes us from glory to glory.
The very first mention of the holy Spirit in the Scripture (Gen. 1:2), is
connected with movement. "The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters
..." (Genesis 1:2). Moved─ the Hebrew word is "rachaph" meaning: to brood, to
flutter, to shake. The BROODING PRESENCE OF GOD was a continuous moving of life
and tender care. His overshadowing is not a stagnant thing, it is vibrant with
life, creating, restoring, leading on─ stripping away the old, and clothing us
with the new.
How beautifully Paul expressed this two-fold working of God within. "Always
bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus," (THE CROSS CANCELS OUT
THE OLD REALM), "THAT the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our
body." (2 Cor. 4:10). And so, same chapter, 16th verse, "Though the outward man
perish, yet the inward is renewed day by day." No wonder Jesus taught us to
pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." It is an on-going relationship with
Him─ both in the fellowship of His suffering, being made conformable unto His
death, and yet also sharing His resurrection life. In a day by day walk with
Him there is a fresh inflow, praise God!
Which brings us to a very important point, Isaiah 43:18-19. "Remember not the
former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new
thing; now it shall spring forth: shall you not know it?"
"Remember not..." The Hebrew word is "zakar" meaning: to imprint, make a
memorial. And interestingly enough, it comes from a root word "to be a male,"
as one through whom the memorial of parents is continued. That is why many
cultures so highly prized a male child born into the family─ he was/is part of
their memorial, the parent being remembered through the son. The flesh births
after its own kind because it wants to be remembered. But it is in the
relinquishing of this identity and memorial, that we take on a new identity, TO
BE FOUND IN CHRIST, to bear His name, be of His lineage.
Also, in the Hebrew connotation of the word, to remember meant more than just to
recall to mind, but it has the thought of re-living, participation in it. Do we
not, in certain memories, feel almost like we are reliving the experience
again? You feel the rush of emotion, the joy, the sorrow, or whatever. In the
natural this may have its place, but in spiritual advancing HE says "Remember
not the former things..." Don't recite and relive it over and over again, it is
TIME TO GO ON. Constant reciting of the past builds a structure against the
future─ it becomes an obstruction. We remember various workings and revivals
and long to repeat them, but this very remembering has drawn our attention away
from what HE IS doing today.
So there is a cutting off of the things of yesterday─ and we can either view it
as experiencing death-throes, and the ending of something that might have once
been a real blessing to us, or, we can view the pain and travail as the
BIRTHPANGS of that which is now to be brought forth. God is a wise economist,
and He does not waste our pain and grief─ thus He can use it both for death and
life─ the old passes, and the new becomes! Thus cycle after cycle we are
stripped of the former things, that we might be prepared to embrace whatever God
has for us today. It is an on-going work that is not accomplished in one grand
leap, but line upon line, and precept upon precept He transforms His people into
His image and likeness.
We hear Job cry out, "What is man, that You should magnify him? and that You
should set Your heart upon him? And that You should visit him every morning,
and try him every moment?" (Job 7:17-18).
Visited, inspected every morning─ as He examines His work within us, marks out
the next happening appointed for us, and then uses the new day to work it all
out. HE CONSTANTLY COMES TO US─ redemption draws nigh, and He is ready to
invade your world (life) and further His handiwork within. EXPECT MORE OF HIS
HANDIWORK, He has not finished in us yet, not until we stand complete in Him,
fully clothed with the new, will He be satisfied with us, and we shall be
satisfied in Him.
Certainly trouble comes for a reason, and it only lasts for a season! We could
say, trouble is opposition setting the stage on the way to a miracle. Trouble
signifies that it is transition time into the new! So the prophet declared,
"Remember not ... neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new
thing; now it shall spring forth: shall you not know it?"
How precious it is when the Spirit of God sovereignly speaks this into your
heart, as a personal word for you to believe and stand upon, because God would
work SOMETHING NEW INTO YOU. Confess it publicly and someone might say, "I've
heard that before," and because they are still remembering the former things
they are not ready to share your vision of the NEW that God has for you. But do
not allow others to distract you from God's personal quickenings in your own
heart, to your own Master you "stand or fall. And you shall be held up: for God
is able to make you stand." (Rom. 14:4). "Stand fast therefore in the liberty
wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of
bondage." (Gal. 5:1). Do not let the unbelief of some deter you from God's
promise and working within.
Truly, it is time that we "put off concerning the former conversation (or,
manner of behavior) THE OLD MAN, which is corrupt according to the deceitful
lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; that you PUT ON THE NEW MAN,
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." (Eph. 4:22-24).
Do note, the RENEWAL takes place in "the spirit of your mind," not just in your
mind only─ for this is not some mental exercise that we do ourselves. This is
far more than just the power of positive thinking. IN THE SPIRIT of your mind,
your spirit is quickened by His Spirit, and then HE enables you to "gird up the
loins of your mind, to be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be
brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13). It is HIS
SPIRIT moving, brooding over our spirit, that then gathers up the thoughts of
our mind and fastens them securely upon Christ─ prepared for more revelation of
Him, as He changes us from glory to glory, "ACCORDING AS THIS CHANGE OF
EXPRESSION PROCEEDS FROM THE LORD, THE SPIRIT." (2 Cor. 3:18, Wuest).
All of the working to PUT OFF THE OLD, and then PUT ON THE NEW is wrought by His
Spirit. HE is the Positive Thinker! And we would become one with His mind. So
Paul writes on, "Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old
man with his deeds; and have put on the new, which is renewed in knowledge after
the image of Him that created him." (Col. 3:9-10).
This is far more than a "do-it-yourself" program. It is much more than mapping
out our course for the day, mentally exercising ourselves to think just right,
keep the right attitude, etc. All of these things WILL BE DONE BY THE SPIRIT
WITHIN US, as we are yielded to Him. This world would copy His working, but
they will never achieve with self-works what He alone can do by His Spirit. How
beautifully the Psalmist expressed it, "HE brought me up also out of an horrible
pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my
goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God." (Ps.
40:2-3). HE does it! We might try ever so hard─ determined to have a good day,
keep a good attitude, smile at every one, and truly be an overcomer─ and yet we
are scarcely into the duties of the day and find that "in me (that is, in my
flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform
that which is good I find not." (Rom. 7:18). So said Paul─ so we have
experienced.
Thank God, the very essence of the new covenant is that God makes promise both
for Himself, and for us, saying, "I will be their God, and they shall be My
people." (2 Cor. 6:16). I WILL─ we have no trouble believing that God will do
whatever He promises to do. But this "they shall" is another matter, IF it was
dependent upon us to accomplish it. So HE comes to dwell within us by His
Spirit, and HE lives out the Christ-life through us. Thus our redemption, from
beginning to the end, is all IN HIS HANDS. When God dwells within and fulfills
all the requirements, our salvation is secure.
The old covenant order was based upon an IF and THEN─ "If My people, which are
called by My name, will ... then shall I ..." with God's "promised doing" linked
to man's do-it-ism. But man could not do all that was needed, and so "the law
could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh." Truly, only One could
provide the remedy! Therefore God sent His own Son, and HE fulfills in us all
righteousness─ "who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom.
8:3-4).
How glorious is the new covenant, based upon a "BECAUSE, THEREFORE." Jesus said
it plainly, "BECAUSE I live, you shall live also." (John 14:19). ALL THAT WE
HAVE IS BECAUSE HE LIVES! Without His life there is no living. If He does not
go before us, there is no going. It is when we begin to understand that it is
GOD ALL THE WAY, that we also cease from our own works, and rest in His! The
BECAUSE of God, makes our redemption a reality.
"NOT FASHIONING YOURSELVES according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but
as He which has called you is holy, so be holy in all manner of conversation
(Greek, behavior)." (1 Peter 1:14-15).
Ah, in our ignorance of the handiwork of God in the new covenant, and being
filled with our own lusts─ desires─ we have tried to "FASHION OURSELVES"' to
make ourselves into a satisfactory spiritual stature. The Greek word is "suschematizo,"─
to conform one's self (mind and character) to another's pattern. The only other
time this word is used in the New Testament, is in Romans 12:2, "Be not
CONFORMED to this world." Men try to FASHION themselves to fit into the world's
standard, or some religious pattern, but it does not bring them into LIFE, joy,
peace, contentment in Christ. It is just an on-going, discouraging struggle to
be what self cannot be. ONLY IN CHRIST CAN OLD THINGS PASS AWAY, and all things
become new. Thus, personal worthiness is not a contributing factor─ that we are
nothing in ourselves is a fact, what we are becoming IN CHRIST is His decision
and inworking.
Truly we would BE CLOTHED WITH CHRIST, to walk in a new anointing, enriched with
His grace and mercy. And so Paul writes, "Purge out the old leaven, that you
may BE A NEW lump." (1 Cor. 7:7). And Jesus warned them, "Beware of the leaven
of bread─- of the doctrine of the Pharisees, and of the Sadducees." (Matt.
16:12). The traditions, teachings, etc. of the carnal religious orders of that
day, or now, would fashion out a garment of selfrighteousness. And the only
way to END the working of this leaven, is THE FIRE. God knows the best way, and
the perfect heat, needed to bring to an end all the fashioning of man,
conforming to this or that standard, and through the processing He CONFORMS US
TO HIS IMAGE, through the renewing of our mind into Christ.
"Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ." (Phil. 2:5). Herein is a
MAJOR INWORKING. Having thought processes which emulated the pattern of the
world, now HE would OPERATE HIS MIND IN US, and we are finding an inner turmoil,
conflict─ "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see
another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind." (Rom. 7:22-23).
But the more we are RENEWED INTO HIS MIND, the more the inner conflict ends, and
we rejoice in His blessed will and way, while His life is also "made manifest in
our mortal flesh." (2 Cor. 4:11).
Now, "In that He says, A new covenant, He has made the first old. Now that
which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away." (Heb. 8:13).
Two different Greek words used here for "old," the first is "palaios" and means:
antiquated, become an antique, The first covenant, the law with its ministration
of condemnation and death, has become old─ an antique. It is waxing old─ here
the word is "gerasko," from the root for "geriatric," old and feeble, going into
senility, and ready to vanish away. Whatever light it once had is fading,
disappearing─ while the NEW comes on the horizon.
Many can write of the age that is ending, but few are directed towards the
glory, the light increasing. One writer has stated, "It is time to cancel our
plans to be miserable." There is a new manifestation of His glory to be
revealed, and we need to fix our gaze on the light that is increasing.
"Arise (from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept
you; rise to a new life)! Shine─ be radiant with the glory of the Lord."
(Isaiah 60:1, Amplified). Through the Christ-life we shall overcome, and obey
the voice of our destiny. The promise looms before us, "The glory of the latter
house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts: and IN THIS
PLACE WILL I GIVE PEACE." (Haggai 2:9). IN A PEOPLE, HIS NEW CREATION TEMPLE,
the Prince of Peace shall dwell, and truly, He is our peace. Thank God, the old
is passing away, and we shall hear Him say, "Behold, I make all things new."
(Rev. 21:5). IN HIM we are becoming. Amen.
Not of the old, shall be the new, recycling men
of earth,
A new creation is His plan, brought forth by a
new birth.
It is by grace, and grace alone, that He leads
the way,
For all our works of flesh come short─ they
cannot make His day.
One cannot masquerade the old and hope to thus
appear
As if they hold the vision, too, of things now
drawing near.
The fire is unquenchable as He would burn the
chaff,
But we would learn to trust Him more, and lean
upon His staff.
To sew the old into the new brings problems by
the score,
The futile efforts that we weave will only rent
it more.
The life of Christ cannot be held in bottles that
are old,
He breaks traditions of the flesh, as He advances
bold.
He takes the things of yesteryear that we have
cherished so,
And strips them all away that we might see His
way to go.
Our looking back can only cast a shadow on the
trail,
And hinder us from going on to things He shall
unveil.
So draw us, Lord, and we will run─ be swift to
follow Thee,
And in Thy light shall we see light, shall share
Thy victory.
_________________________________________________
(
1)
Prinzing, Ray and Doris "Letters of Truth"
Boise, Idaho 83705, P.O. Box 5822
Back
to Top of Page 
Exit
to Introduction Menu Back
to Prinzing's Library List
Back to Letters of Truth Listing (2)