Dear all

I have only recently begun to listen to audio bible studies on our website, I would encourage you to listen to them if you haven't already.  I have been blessed by starting to listen to Andre's study on Joseph and his trials 1 & 2 (6 Jan 21 - on our website, Audio page 2) on how the Lord prepares Joseph/us for our destiny a very good study.  Yesterday, I listened to Joseph's third test where Andre speaks of stewardship (2 April 21 - Audio page 2 on website) and how the Lord prospers His people through good stewardship and obedience. A study well worth listening to. Though I enjoyed and agreed with it I was somewhat concerned as I know my own clay feet and always get concerned when I hear the words 'obedience' and 'surrender'.  Hearing Ken's lovely song a few weeks ago 'I surrender to thee', I couldn't sing it as I couldn't trust myself to do it, but today the Lord reminded me of something He showed me years ago and I hope the following encourages anyone else like me who desires to be what the Lord wants us to be but doesn't trust their clay feet.

I, like most of us, want to be what the Lord wants me to be but lots of times it's not in me to do Romans 7.
in particular v 18 
(Romans 7:18 KJV) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but (how) to perform that which is good I find not.

The Lord reminded me of a revelation that He gave me years ago, and I thought it might help others.
I was a young Christian and either read or heard of the war in heaven and asked the Lord what happens if when all is finished and we are in heaven if there is another war in heaven.
The Lord showed me that, that which was in the seed was what came forth:

A daffodil bulb will ALWAYS produce a daffodil and not a tulip or Iris or any other plant. So with all plants an Iris tuber will always produce an Iris, an acorn an Oak tree, and so on. What is in the seed is what determines the plant, the Lord made it so from the beginning.

Iniquity was found in the centre of certain beings in the old creation.

(Ezekiel 28:15 KJV) Thou (wast) perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

BUT The Lord begins His new creation in us in our CENTRE with the perfect seed.

WHEN the Lord started with His new creation in us, He started with the centre and worked out. A perfect incorruptible, undefileable seed that fades not away. You can't spoil, mar, defile or kill the seed of God.

The BEAUTIFUL truth that concerns us:

1 Peter 1 v 23 - 25 Being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever. And v 25 But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

The incorruptible seed is just that, within the seed is the mature plant, it cannot be otherwise, it is of God
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

A new heaven and a new earth
(Isaiah 65:17 KJV) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
(Isaiah 66:22 KJV) For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
(2 Peter 3:13 KJV) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The 'OLD' had a problem, the first Adam was fallable, He could and did go against the Word of God. We are born again (or from above) BY the Word of God His nature is in the New creation He has created in Christ. At the centre of our new creature is the perfect seed. How wonderful!

The old nature will finally go.

The old man/nature dealt with by the cross won't be able to be found when our salvation is concluded, it was just the vehicle used to bring us through this life and to teach us the lessons we needed to learn. Old Arthur Burt used to say something like that manure may not be pleasant but it makes a great fertiliser. 

1 Cor 15 v 42-58 - I've copied 2 of the verses below
(1 Corinthians 15:54 KJV) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory

We bore the image of the first Adam we will bear the image of the New Adam. In Christ we are made new, we are built up in Him.

(1 Corinthians 15:49 KJV) And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Eph 2

(Ephesians 2:21 KJV) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

All we need to do is FEED and nurture that new seed.

Years ago we were told of a 'conversation' held between two people which went something like this:

A man said that it was like he had two dogs within him fighting, one to do good the other fought against what he thought to be right. The other man asked him, which one wins? The answer came back "The one I feed the most".

We know that we need Water, Air and Food to grow, just as in the Spirit our new creature needs
Water - Word (anointed)
Air - To be filled with The Spirit
Food - Meat - Deeper Word (anointed)

When I spent more time with the Lord I could 'hear' Him better, but when I got caught up with what I wanted I got dull of hearing, thankfully it's coming back. But more than that, as many have found, the sense of His presence is lovely, the more time you spend time with Him, the more you want to.

A verse we are all familiar with, we need to wait on Him and be filled with His Spirit.

The key to spiritual strength
(Isaiah 40:31 KJV) But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew (their) strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 
Interestingly, I'm not a bible scholar, but I understand that if a word is in italics it means that it is not in the original text 'their' is perhaps not meant to be there, if you take the (their) out you've got 'But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew strength' which would make perfect sense as we know that our strength is from the Lord. His strength being made prefect in our weakness.
(2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Around the end of the study on Joseph's 3rd test Andre stresses the importance of 'hearing' the Word to gain the faith that we need. The more we hear the Word of God that we will have more faith.

Faith cometh by hearing Rom 10 v 16-17
Being a doer of the Word not a hearer only James 1 v 22-25

Another scripture that emphasises the importance of hearing
HEAR and your soul shall live - Isaiah 55 v 3

We cannot fulfil the will of God in our own strength, just as in trying to fulfil the law, we will fail, it's not in us, that is, in the old nature. But, and here's the GREAT news it IS in the New nature, our born again (or born from above) creature, born of God, INCORRUPTIBLE it cannot be/do otherwise, the plant is in the seed. Just as in our old nature we were 'sold under sin' (Rom 7 v 14) that which is born of God cannot commit sin, (1 Jon 3 v 9) is righteous and cannot be otherwise. God's nature is in the seed, the seed just needs to grow/mature in us.

John 1 v 11 - 14
V 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

All we need to do is nurture the seed, but even that we need to depend on the Lord for, and ask Him for the zeal and endurance/strength.
Phil 2 v 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of (His) good pleasure.

All we need to do is, keep going for God. Just keep waiting on the Lord, be filled with His Spirit and listen for what He is saying. The rest is automatic growth of the seed He has planted. His work, His glory, just as dear old brother Arthur used to say, if God is to get All the glory, He does all the work. 

Ephesians 2 v 1 - 10
V 9 Not of works lest any man should boast.

I hope that some are encouraged by this, as I was. 

Love to all in Jesus, and thank you Andre, I am going to continue 'listening' to your studies on Joseph. As you say it's from hearing the Word we will gain the faith and strength.

Phil 4 v 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Coll 1 v 27 To whom God would make known what the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you , the hope of glory: 

Christ in me the hope of glory

(Romans 11:33 KJV) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
How marvellous is our God!!

Love in Jesus
Marion

Romans was written by the apostle Paul
(Romans 7:18 KJV) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but (how) to perform that which is good I find not.
He, that is Paul understood the infirmities of the flesh, but he also went on to the victory over the flesh, and went on to suffer many things for the Lord's sake 
(Philippians 3:8 KJV) Yea doubtless, and I count all things (but) loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them (but) dung, that I may win Christ,