In This Issue
1. One with God Reality
2. The Everlasting Kingdom of God
3. Top News Headlines
Subscribe to OpenHeaven.com Digest
1. One with God Reality
By Ron McGatlin
This awesome journey of Grace is now taking forerunners into the freshly revealed reality of literally becoming one with Christ.
Remember, revelation is not something new; it is the opening of our eyes to see what has always been there.
Spiritual limitations exist in unbelief – lack of faith.
Believing must have an object. It matters greatly what we believe and what we do not yet believe.
Revealed truth opens the potential of believing more or differently than what we previously believed. As God further opens our spiritual eyes and ears, that which we could not see clearly can come into crystal clear focus. Spiritual truth that was once only vague concepts and generic statements can become living reality. The clear picture becomes a word or seed planted in our hearts. As the seeds of further revealed truth sprout and grow into our lives we are transformed – supernaturally changed from within. The transformed life matures within and flows out to transform the world around us.
Two Become One
If you have been in the Bible or among Christians for awhile, you probably have read or heard something about becoming one with Christ and one with the Father in Christ. But what does being one with God really mean?
Creation projects a natural picture of this spiritual reality in the joining of husband and wife. "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man”.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
This natural picture is a living illustration of the spiritual reality of God becoming one with His spiritual Bride and Wife on earth bearing many spiritual sons and daughters.
Jesus confirmed the natural picture of this spiritual reality. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So then, they are no longer two but one flesh.”
In 1 Corinthians and Ephesians, Paul added some clarity. “Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For "the two," He says, "shall become one flesh. But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Indeed this is a great mystery. Paul was referring to this same mystery of the ages when he wrote, “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
The kingdom of God on earth exists by the mystery of Christ actually living in us and us in Him, the two becoming one. This is more than just living together as two separate beings. This is becoming as one being. How can this be? It defies our rational understanding and goes beyond where we have been taught in our religious teachings. Most of us may have been taught surreptitiously or unintentionally to seek to be like Him, not to become one with Him.
A few days ago the Lord allowed me to receive a clearer understanding of becoming one with Christ. The verse from Ephesians above is a key to becoming one, “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” Because we tend to think of ourselves first as natural earthly beings it is difficult to grasp the reality of becoming one with God. It is much easier to think of trying to be like Him, which is not a true biblical concept. Lucifer sought to be like the Most High. Adam was created in the likeness of God and we will, as Christ manifest in us, be in the likeness of Him again. However, it is not really us becoming like Him; it is actually Him living in us – with us as one. There is none like God.
Understanding the reality of becoming one with God
We are spirit beings. We live in a body and have a soul. However, we are first and forever spirit beings.
Christ Jesus is a Spirit being. In the beginning, before the creation of the world and mankind, Christ Jesus was Spirit-God, the Son with Spirit-God, the Father in heaven. These two along with Holy Spirit were and are ONE Spirit God.
Christ Jesus became a man in an earthly body. He called Himself the Son of Man. He was the Son of God become the Son of Man to redeem the world and everything that was lost in the first Adam. After His ascension, Christ returned at Pentecost in the Holy Spirit. He came back to earth, the Father with Him, to enter into and become one with His people. Jesus made this clear in Chapters 14 through 17 of John’s Gospel.
John 14:23: Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
John 14:17-18: "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
John 14:19-20: "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.”
John 14:23: Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”
John 15:4-5: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
Jesus said in John 17, “….as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You ---- I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one….”
Spirit Beings
Spirit is likened to air in the scriptures. The Greek word for spirit is “pneuma,” which literally means a current of air or breath. Jesus spoke of the spirit as like the wind that you could not see but could see and feel the results of it moving. He also said that you cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. It is not easy for us to understand Spirit and spirit beings. We can better understand physical or natural things that we can see with our natural eyes.
Consider this real illustrative example. A couple and their young child were driving to a meeting on a cold day with the windows closed. The child did a natural diaper thing releasing some very foul air into the air inside the car. Very quickly the entire air in the vehicle was transformed. The dominant foul air quickly permeated the entire air in the car, and the two became one. The bad air and the fresh air were now one air with the characteristics of the more dominant air. The two cannot now be separated. There is only one air in the car.
Like the air a foul spirit of darkness or a pure Spirit of light can become one with our spirit being. We can become one with a harlot spirit or one with God by the Holy Spirit.
Spirit beings become one
When our spirit being is filled with His Spirit, His far more dominant Spirit of glory becomes one Spirit with our spirit. Like air the two are one Spirit and can no longer be separated. Our spirit being is no longer visible as us; it is Christ’s Spirit living in our container (body). We are consumed and become one Spirit with Christ. We then become joint heirs with Christ. We become mature sons of God in Christ. We are in the world as Christ is in the world. We truly are the Body of Christ on earth.
Our body and soul are earth equipment that is subject to and used by our spirit being.
Our spirit becomes Christ’s Spirit and flows up into our souls (mind, will, and emotions or feelings) and out through our bodies affecting that which it comes in contact with. His thoughts become our thoughts. His ways become our ways. His attributes become who we are. The lives which we live will manifest the life of Christ Jesus on earth, as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17). To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col 1:27).
Keep on pursuing love. It never fails
and His kingdom never ends.
Ron McGatlin
archive.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net
2. The Everlasting Kingdom of God
John Mark Pool
The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:15Never forget we reside in a Kingdom not made by man's hands! This earth will be our transformed Kingdom of God beginning when we know Him and can have faith to transform this earth into God's spiritual atmosphere. Become His Word and decree this kingdom become His Kingdom now in earth as it is in Heaven!
Hebrews 9:15 summarizes the fact we in the Lord have an eternal Kingdom and we must know our authority in that Kingdom as we transform this earth accordingly.
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. Hebrews 9:15
Our inheritance is that we as God's children are heirs of the entire Kingdom of God, and as we begin to live and move and dwell as God's children, and not simply "associates of the earthly kingdom," we will indeed transform lives today that are desperate for their "belonging" to the Father. When we demonstrate that our life is not in buildings, activities, functions, and "the game of churchiosity" we can offer the reality they want – a genuine Father who is dwelling within us – His temples are not made by man's hands!
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building. Hebrews 9:11
This was so evident when I recently stepped up to the same podium in Rome that the Apostle Paul used in the Pretorium. Wow, what a thrill to feel that these ancient rocks where Paul preached were yet resounding with the anointing of compelling others to come to the Father through the Son, Jesus Christ! This is the temple of the Known God, the very House of Prayer, and the sanctuary of hope that is Christ dwelling within us!
Battle for the Kingdoms!
There has been a "Battle of Kingdoms" since the existence of God's creation of mankind. This was for communion and for fellowship with God – not the devil. Since this fellowship did not include Lucifer, humans have had to contend with satan's efforts to wrestle us from God's Kingdom design.
Our Lord is the One whom we say is the God of the living and not the dead, so be sure to demonstrate His good works to those desperate for understanding of "to whom do they belong" and for what purpose is all this life on earth? We have the complete message in a temple wrapped in flesh made by the Most High God.
Earthly rulers living only in the "Monarchy of Man" (not regenerated by Christ) have temporary power. Evil in this world is temporary. But God's sovereign authority and power are eternal, and thus His victory will be everlasting. This means persecution and suffering for Christians are also temporary. God will judge evil, reward faithfulness, and rule the world forever.
The final victory will see Jesus rule openly and eternally over all creation. And this will continue forever – world without end! Amen. God's Kingdom has already been established, yet one day will be the transformed into the only presiding existent eternal Kingdom without end! God is indeed going to change this present earth into His competed Kingdom of God.
This is only a portion of this article, for the full article, Go Here: http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=34627&a mp;a mp;PN=1&get=last#132773 3. Top News Headlines
Egyptian Pastor Speaks Out on Muslim Brotherhood - 2/3/2011
This is not an organic movement of oppressed people that are ready to take their rightful place on the road to democracy. This is absolutely not the truth at all. This is well-organized and well-planned in all these countries by the Muslim Brotherhood. This is not a new group. The group has been established since 1928. Islam is a religion and a government. Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35547&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1
Riots on the Highway to Egypt - Insiders View of Middle East - 2/3/2011
The land of Egypt is going through convulsions. Middle Eastern analysts usually sidestep the perspectives of Biblical prophecy as well as the anti-Biblical aspects of jihadi Islam. What is transpiring in the street riots of Tunisia, Jordan, Yemen and Egypt? What is weighing in the balance from a spiritual perspective? How will this influence the Jewish state? Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35539&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1Planned Parenthood Busted Helping Human Traffickers - 2/3/2011
Planned Parenthood was caught red handed helping a man posing as a child sex trafficker in New Jersey. A recently released video clearly shows an office manager in a private meeting with the sex trafficker. In the video, the man makes the nature of his business clear and details that his so-called clients are either minors or illegally present in the United States. Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35548&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1
Albania: Caravaning for Peace - 2/3/2011
Totally overshadowed by the dramatic events in Tunisia and Egypt, thousands of Albanians have also been taking to the streets in desperation for just and stable national leadership. On 31 January Christians initiated a Caravan of Peace which gathered in front of Mother Therea's Monument in the square named after Albania's most famous daughter. Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35541&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1Chick-fil-A Responds to Marriage Backlash - 2/2/2011
Chick-fil-A's support for marriage is being criticized by gay rights groups. Until now, the reviews on Chick-fil-A's marriage policies have been positive. Over the years, the company has poured $30 million into a marriage center for employees and offered discounts and incentives to attend retreats. The marriage commitment made sense the company follows biblical principles. Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35531&a mp;a mp;PN=1
Iranian Christian Pastor Summoned, Arrested - 1/27/2011
Pastor Behnam Irani has been convicted of "actions against the Order." DeMars said this means house church meetings and other Christian activities. "I have learned that he was summoned for a meeting with the security service and subsequently arrested." Pastor Behnam is a husband and father of two children. "Please pray for his release and for his strength to endure. Read On: http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35458&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1Wave of Protests in Arab World Endangers Christians in Eritrea - 2/1/2011
While Tunisia was witnessing a remarkable uprising in December 2010, Eritrea renewed the crackdown on Christians. While dozens of Christians were arrested at least two died in separate prisons after being refused medical treatment. "That a fresh onslaught on Christians in Eritrea began around the time of the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, is not a coincidence," Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35521&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1Federal Judge Strikes Down Obamacare - 1/31/2011
A federal judge has ruled Barack Obama's health care law is unconstitutional. That makes the second ruling against the controversial legislation. US District Judge Roger Vinson agreed with 26 states that the new law violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance or be penalized. The case is expected to wind up in the US Supreme Court. Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35512&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1Police Break Up Brawl at North Carolina Church - 1/31/2011
There's an old saying in public relations — There's no such thing as bad publicity. Members of Greater New Zion Baptist Church would probably challenge that. They challenged each other recently on a Sunday morning. 30 cops arrived to break up fights. It was all over the head of the church. It used to be Reverend LeVonia Ray. And we thought that job belonged to Jesus. Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35511&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1Omni Hotels: Porn-Free TVs Helped Us Win New Customers - 1/31/2011
Omni decided to eliminate all adult entertainment back in the days when sexually-oriented movies were still a big money maker. Since then, pornography fans have been bringing along their own movies. Within six months of Omni's decision, it stumbled upon a new, lucrative business — religious meetings such as evangelist Billy Graham's annual convention. Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35510&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1Controversial Muslim Cleric Caught While Smuggling into US Over Mexico Border - 1/28/2011
US border guards got a surprise when they searched a Mexican BMW and found a hardline Muslim cleric curled up in the trunk. Said Jaziri was banned from Canada and France, and had called for the death of a Danish cartoonist who drew pictures of the prophet Mohammed. Jaziri was arrested in San Diego. He had allegedly paid smugglers five thousand dollars for their help. Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35481&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1Report Projects Muslim Population to Double in US by 2030 - 1/29/2011
There were about 2.6 million Muslim adults and children in the United States (0.8 percent of the US population) in 2010. The Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life predicts that figure is expected to rise to 6.2 million (1.7 percent) in 2030. Most of the growth will be due to immigration and higher birth rates among Muslims. Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35494&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1Bill Introduced to Protect South Carolina from Sharia and Other Foreign Law - 1/29/2011
Foreign laws are increasingly finding their way into US court cases. This is especially true of Islamic Sharia law, which has been applied to family law in several states. But a bill making its way through the South Carolina House and Senate is intended to prevent this in the Palmetto State. There's a concern foreign law would interfere with constitutional rights. Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35487&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1Churches Loan Buildings to Muslims for Worship - 1/29/2011
Some American churches have taken a controversial step to reach out to their Muslim neighbors. At least two congregations are letting Muslims use their church buildings to hold Islamic worship services. On the other hand, one critic says, "It is not self-evident that this duty to love your neighbor requires us to provide property for false worship." Read On:
http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=35492&a mp;a mp;PN=1&TPN=1
For More Top News Headlines, Go Here: http://archive.openheaven.com/news/headlines/ 
Unlimited permission to copy and post or reprint without altering text or profiteering is hereby granted subject to proper credits and inclusion of this web address: http://archive.openheaven.com . However, if an item not written by Ron McGatlin is marked Copyright, you should contact the original publisher for permission to reproduce.
Thank you for forwarding the OpenHeaven.com Digest to your mail list.
Edited by Ron McGatlin on 02/04/2011 at 3:38pm
Topic: OpenHeaven.com Digest February 04, 2011
