The Key


Jesus said:: If ye love me, keep my commandments.; (John 14:15)

Here is the key to the door that will open on to the narrow way that shall lead to the Celestial City and the very presence of God.: Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.; (Matthew 22:36-40)
This is a commandment, not a request. You must do it.
Disobey the commandment, lose the reward. Yes.
Jesus said it - the man whose Spirit was in the beginning:: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.; (John 1:1-5); And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)full of grace and truth.; (John 1:14)
Jesus the Creator gave up the freedom of the Spirit to be yoked to the body of flesh and blood.
Jesus of Nazareth loved the Father enough to die on a cross in obedience, and loves us enough to teach us the Way to salvation.
Jesus was speaking while still under the law, because as we know, a Covenant requires blood¹because in this world blood is life. In this case the blood of Jesus would be required so that we could pass from the life of death (the life of blood) to the life of the Spirit, the eternal life.
Jesus gave up His life of the blood so that we could inherit His life of the Spirit if we follow in His footsteps.

The law and the prophets. Jesus was speaking of the then and of the future.
The law. God's requirements - Old Covenant.
The prophets. Men led by the Holy Spirit - New Covenant.

Jesus gave His blood and earthly life for you and me.
Jesus Christ now lives without blood, in the Spirit, and preached to the spirits in prison. (1Pe 3:19)
Upon resurrection from death all men shall live by the spirit and not by the power of the blood. This must therefore mean that those who remain alive at the coming of Jesus to meet Him in the air shall have left their blood behind?: And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.; (Luke 24:36-39)

Remember, we shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye.
How much changed?: Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.; (1 Corinthians 15:34-58)

This long passage of Scripture explains the key.
This is the pearl of great price that you must purchase. You must sell all you have to buy the field that contains the pearl.
That which you must sell is your will, your ego, your SELF. You (and I) must actually give it away, a bit at a time as you learn that the Person to whom you are giving it shall give you back more than you can ever imagine.
You must believe that He can do it, that He is storing up rewards for you in your future home as well as protecting you and supplying your needs here and now.
He, God, does it because He made you and cares for you and wants you to care for Him.
To care for Him so much that you are prepared to give Him anything that He may ask. To give Him your will; your very self, on your knees, in submission, very happily.
Jesus is not asking you to give all your money away, because He knows that this is humanly very difficult. He was there! He is asking you to trust Him with it, not only because He gave it to you in the first place, but because you believe that you shall always have enough.
He must be able to say to you "go and give so much to that man; go and buy a pair of shoes for that person over there; go and buy a bag of meal for that old woman; that ministry needs so much; that person over there is open to My word, please go over there and start up a conversation, I shall tell you what to say".
He shall know that you are obedient to His prompting out of adoration for Him. You don't need to know why, just know that it is for His use and therefore the best use that the money or time can be put to. Yes.

The Living God.

Sounds very difficult to get right, not so? That is why Jesus of Nazareth said that it was the strait gate and not everyone shall find it.

He shall bless you, oh my oh my but He shall bless you. You will stare in wonder and gratefulness at the Spiritual power round about you and cry out in exaltation that you are part of it.

God is Spirit.
Satan is a spirit, the angels and demons are spirits.
Lord Jesus Christ is Spirit with a physical body; the firstfruit.
You shall eventually have a body living by Spiritual power.
The physical world of now is controlled by spiritual beings: they are more powerful than us, not so?
The new earth will be powered by God's Spiritual Power and we citizens shall be part of it!

Let's look at this passage of Scripture in 1 Corinthians 15 again with new eyes and study it a verse at a time so that the whole picture can be grasped and believed. Plead with God to reveal it to you:: 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.; 35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?; 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:; 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:; 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.; 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.; 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.; 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:; 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:; 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.; 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.; 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.; 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.; 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.; 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.; 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.; 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.; 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.; 54 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.; 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?; 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.; 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
: The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.; (Psalms 19:8-14); That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.; (1 Peter 4:2)

Heavenly Father, most Holy God, there are no Gods before You. Blessed are You, from everlasting to everlasting.
May we learn that by giving up our own independence and becoming obedient to You, that we shall have a dependence far, far outweighing in blessings any independence that we could ever obtain in a thousand lifetimes.
Please teach me to trust in You and be thankful for Your Lovingkindness.
In the name of Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
: Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.; (Psalms 18:35-36); We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call.; (Psalms 20:5-9); Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.; (Revelation 19:7-9)

¹ The Heart of the Gospel