I think congratulations are in order. You’re pregnant! Yes, it’s true. The fact that you’re pregnant is life changing news indeed, but there is much more to it than you may think. Understanding what I am about to share with you here will absolutely change the course of your life. There will be some practical application to what I am going to share with you as well. What am I talking about? That’s a great question. Let me explain…
Recently, an itenerant Christian worker came and visited a group that I am a part of in the city where I live. He conducted a two day meeting with all of us. It was an intense two day meeting to say the least. In the New Testament, we have numerous examples of itinerant apostolic workers (like Paul, Barnabas & Timothy, etc…) going to a city or region for an extended period of time to share the glorious mystery of the person of Jesus Christ to a group of people. It is this mystery of Christ that serves as the foundation for New Testament churches.
This glorious presentation of the person of Christ (gospel) is quite profound and is not typically what we hear today. Most of the people in the group I am a part of have come from a religious background, have attended services most of their lives, have listened to countless sermons, have served as clergy in religious institutions, and have read the Bible most of their lives as well. Simply put, we all have been inoculated with little bits of the good news, but little did we know there is much more to the good news (gospel). The consistent comment that most in the group made after hearing this two day message about the person of Christ was something like this:
Although everything that was said about Christ is central to the scriptures, I have never seen Christ like this, and I have never heard this message before.
That was certainly my sentiment as well. The more that I hear about this glorious and mysterious Christ (including His body), the more I realize just how small my view of Christ has actually been. As my vision of Christ is enlarging, I have become aware of a stunning reality. This message about the all encompassing Christ & His Bride is continually being ‘preached’ to us in everything that God has made.
God literally has a one track mind.
He is consumed with His Son, and He continually speaks of His Son at all times in all things. When He speaks of His Son, He is also speaking of us because we have forever been baptized into the Son’s very own body! (1 Cor. 12:12-13)
As I am slowly being awaked to the beauty of Christ, I am beginning to see Him everywhere. Yes, I have known that the scriptures say that the created world reveals the divine nature of God (Romans 1:20), but I never knew how literal that was until now. I am realizing that in the created world around us, the pictures of Him, His Bride, and the New covenant are endless. Today, I’d like to tell you about one such picture of Christ & the New Covenant that I have recently become aware of…
Pregnancy
Has it occurred to you that God could have designed reproduction and birth to occur in a variety of ways, yet He chose human pregnancy on purpose? I am convinced that the Lord is preaching the gospel to us, as well as declaring our present reality to us every time we see or encounter pregnancy. Let me explain:
The Infusion Of New Life
I am not a medical doctor, but the more I realize about the physical nature of pregnancy, the more I see the message of the New Covenant in it. Obviously, in order for pregnancy to occur, a seed of life must be placed by another deep inside of us. When a woman becomes physically pregnant, there have been studies that have shown that traces of the baby’s own DNA can actually be found in the mother’s blood stream! She literally carries the blue print for the baby’s life in her own body.
Wow, can you see the spiritual implications here?
First, the scriptures tell us that in Christ, we have received the seed of life from another. Just like in human pregnancy, the seed that impregnates us does not originate from us, but from another. This seed has been placed deep down in the depths of our being. Consider what Peter the apostle tells us:
for you have been born again not of the seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)
Peter goes on to tell us in the verses that follow that the seed we have received is different from fleshly seed. Fleshly seed has a short life span. In human physical pregnancy, the life that results will eventually die. The seed that Peter is talking about, however, is eternal because the seed comes from the Word of God, who is a living person! Scripture says that this Word of God is Christ Himself (John 1:14). He is the one who is preached. He (the person of Christ) is the eternal Word of God, and He is life. Christ gives us His seed, and like human seed that produces pregnancy, this seed from Christ is living and produces life. Christ is the seed giver, and Christ is the seed Himself!
This divine & eternal life (Christ Himself who is the very fullness of God) has been placed deep within us and is why scripture says we are now the very temple of God. This seed of life has forever changed our being as this seed has literally ended our old nature and has given us a new nature. We are now carriers of His DNA, so to speak. Our old nature has passed away (past tense), and the new has come. We are now physical carriers of life.
We are literally PREGNANT with the one who is the very hope of glory!
Because God created physical pregnancy the way He did, we can understand the glorious work of the gospel. Really, I’m not making this up. To study this further, read and meditate on what Paul says in Colossians 1:26-27 & 2 Cor. 5:16-17.
What do we do now?
There is a great need today to KNOW we are pregnant. Many people in the religious system have no idea that they are pregnant. As a result, they live like they are not pregnant. This obviously causes lots of problems. Spiritually speaking, failure to KNOW that you are pregnant will cause you to live like you did before you were pregnant. Let me explain…
Before you were pregnant, you were on your own. There was just you. You approached life independently by your own life, wisdom, and strength. There was no other ‘life’ inside of you, so you just thought about yourself and what ‘YOU’ needed to ‘DO’ to live and please God. In the Old Testament, the people of God (the Jews) approached God this way. They knew about God. They knew His requirements and commandments. Many tried their best to ‘DO’ what God required them to do.
The problem was, God never intended His people to live by their own life. He never intended us to ‘DO’ anything. Our flesh has no ability to please God and be obedient. That’s why there was a better covenant needed. In the Old Testament, the people of God did not yet have access to divine life because the mystery of Christ was still hidden. In Christ, however, there is an entirely better covenant and ministry unveiled. The mystery of Christ is not just revealed anywhere, however. This mystery is unveiled IN US! (See Hebrews 8:6-13, Colossians 1:26-27).
Simply knowing this will change many things. It is not something we ‘do’, rather it is something we ‘know’. Please don’t make the mistake of assuming that most Christians know this. This truth is still a mystery to the majority that claim to be in Christ even though this is an elementary truth of the gospel. People might give intellectual assent to this truth, but not really ’know’ this truth deep in our spirit. We need to truly ‘KNOW’ that we are pregnant. I have heard that when a woman realizes she has another life growing inside of her body, it automatically affects what she does. Her natural maternal instincts automatically kick in and value the new life inside. She begins to be constantly aware of the presence of this new life inside of her at all times.
As she nurtures this life inside of her, things that might endanger the life growing inside are avoided. It is not a matter of her will or discipline, rather a matter of her desire to nurture and protect that which is infinitely valuable inside of her. She knows that her decisions are not just about her anymore, but she makes decisions with the health and development of the new life inside of her in mind. Her desires & cravings begin to change because she actually begins to crave and desire what the baby inside of her needs and craves. Her desires and the baby’s desires become one and the same!
I think you get the picture. The only thing that could interfere with this process is if the woman believes the lie that the life inside of her is not infinitely valuable, or if she does not know she is pregnant. There is actually a T.V. show today that is entirely about women who did not know they were pregnant until the day they gave birth! The thing these women consistently say is how they wished they knew they were pregnant ahead of time because they desired to nurture the health of that baby from the beginning of their pregnancy.
Much of what is taught in institutional Christianity today comes from an Old Testament prospective. Instead of being taught to live life with the knowledge and awareness of this new life living inside of us, we are taught to simply ‘do’ more, or to ‘be’ more obedient. I have news for you. The life and person of Jesus Christ living inside of you does NOT need to ‘do’ more, or ‘be’ more obedient. Jesus Christ is fine the way He is. He is perfect.
The life inside of you is not disobedient to the two greatest commandments, He loves God and people just fine.
The life inside of you does not struggle with bitterness, He forgives people just fine.
The life inside of you does not struggle with lust, He sees people accurately.
The life inside of you does not struggle with fear, He is the perfect love that casts out all fear.
The life inside of you does not love the world’s religious or economic system, He already hates it.
The life inside of you does not struggle with wanting justice, He already loves and fights for the oppressed.
The life inside of you is not sectarian or racist, He already loves all the nations.
I could go on, but hopefully you get the picture. God is not interested in improving upon or reforming our fleshly lives, rather He has impregnated us with another life altogether. Since we are pregnant with this eternal life, wouldn’t it be great if we could live by this life now? I have good news for you…
WE CAN!
Simply KNOWING we are pregnant will go a long way toward that end. Don’t believe me? Try it and you’ll see what I’m talking about. After all, I speak from experience. I’m pregnant.
Brother, you’ve got the uncanny knack to write or post something that I’ve been thinking about myself for days! This is awesome, and I’ve been thinking about this very same thing this week (not the pregnancy comparison, but I like that). This is a vital truth, thanks for sharing this.
We’ll have to catch up soon, I’m eager to hear about what’s up in Nashville! Blessings bro!
I thought maybe I’d share a few thoughts, I actually wrote this just a few hours ago. Most of this is taken from what Milt talked about here in columbus, but is my “processing” of it.
It’s really quite staggering to contemplate everything that hung on the cross with Christ. Sin, the law (all law), the world’s system (including the religious system), and notably, the old man. In the eyes of God, the part of Adam we were once a part of was killed forever (Gal. 2:20), yet from our perspective, the race is still physically living itself out. Essentially, we are dead. This is an interesting concept because we invest so much time into refining and disciplining the flesh, trying to be like Jesus, but for what? Is God really interested in fixing our individual issues, so we (as individuals) can be pleasing to Him?
To be perfectly honest, I have always found the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) to be a very depressing read. I was taught (and was viewing) these commands as the Christian code of conduct, as a set of strict rules that are impossible for me to follow (at least for any length of time). When I would break one of these, it would start a cycle of guilt, shame, asking for forgiveness, resolution to do better, then inevitable failure once again. It’s interesting how Milt put it: these commands are not individual commands, but a description of a kingdom of people living by a divine life. I am still chewing on this, and it makes sense, but I do not know right now how to live by His divine life. I think in the earliest stages of building organic church, its about the relationships and building those relationships, not having great meetings. There’s a danger there of re-creating an institution in your own home.
Christ became a life-giving spirit on the cross- as Milt put it, the tree of life hung on a tree of death to crucify death. The truth is that He is here now, and wants to live His divine life out through us. If this isn’t true, and now life is all about following the rules, WHY do we need a crucified savior? If it’s all about law, He died in vain. We already had the law. Why do we need more law? Somehow, I don’t think Christ went to the cross with a “you all owe me” mentality.
I would think that if I told most Christians the law has been abolished, it would imply some sort of moral anarchy, a state of lawlessness. So I can sin all I want, God will forgive me, and I can afford to be as morally lax as I want. Here’s what I’ve been feeling: Obedience from love is very, very different from obedience out of obligation. When true repentance (change of mindset) occurs, actions follow. I know that over the past year, the Lord has given me a different set of eyes for certain things which I was previously indifferent to. I began to understand that what He sees as beautiful, I will see as beautiful. What He sees as ugly, I will as well. For so long, I thought repentance = resolution to do better and try harder. It’s no wonder that while I prayed and prayed for God to fix this issue and that issue so I could be better, nothing happened. I’m dead, why would he want to fix me and my issues? It is He living through me that can accomplish these things I once saw as so condemning.
As I said, I’ve been thinking about this all week and wrote it all down this afternoon. It’s awesome to read this and get another perspective. Love you bro!
Andy,
brother, reading your comment here brought a smile to my face as I have been fortunate to track with you from a distance over this last year. What He is doing in you, and in Central Ohio is indeed exciting to me. I love you brother!
Good analogy Jamal. As John the Baptist said, “He must increase and I must decrease.” To your point, though, before we can do that we need to actually realize the “divine nature” is already living within us and we need to choose to “participate” in it as 2 peter 1:4 says. Maybe you can write a follow-up on how we as the body can help nurture and grow that life (baby) in each other through edification, love, and encouragement in Christ.
Matt,
Thx for reading and responding here. I appreciate the suggestion for a follow up article. I do have some ideas and suggestions toward that end as well:)
Stunning analogy and really, it’s more than just an analogy! I pray daily that we can just grasp a glimpse of what God is doing around us and wants to do through us. Thanks for letting God speak to me through you. Will definitely pass this on!
Mark,
thx for reading. Isn’t it amazing to think that this is really more than just a clever ‘analogy’? We really do have another life living inside of us!! Love and miss you brother!
Jamal-
Beautiful word picture!
As I am PHYSICALLY pregnant (33 weeks along) I feel very close to this message not only spiritually, but mentally can feel/see what you are saying…this is something Jason and I have been talking about and experiencing over the last couple years. Knowing we are SAINTS and no longer SINNERS has been a beautiful epiphany that has gained much fruit in our lives for the glory of Christ. The most frustrating part is sometimes when others do not “get it.”
For HIS glory always,
Brianna
Brianna,
Congrats on being physically pregnant too! Also, I know all too well what the frustration feels like trying to share with people who understand the concept of having another life living inside, but not realizing it in reality. As a result, they retreat back to ‘Old Covenant’ living by default. They focus on external obedience through trying to religiously fix their ‘flesh’ and ‘perform’ better for God. There is no life and freedom in this kind of living. The gospel is literally of no affect to them, and sometimes watching this occur in the lives of the people I love is almost too much for me to bear. I know what you mean sister. Thx for reading and sharing.
As a mother of 2, I can really relate to this! Pregnancy is a wonderful picture of the Gospel that I’ve never seen this way before. Thanks for sharing friend! This was very encouraging for me! Blessings!
Hey sister, it’s great to hear from you. I’m glad this article was an encouragement to you. Thx for sharing the article as well. Give your family my love and greetings.
love your comment: “Jesus Christ is fine the way He is. He is perfect.” great article brother!
Thx for reading:)
i love this, jamal. the idea of being pregnant with Christ’s life is such an awesome concept. our identities must be seen so as one that our care for His life inside us is not of labor but of instinct. it makes me ponder psalm 139…
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths,[a] you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to[b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.
19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
once we have a revelation of who we are in Christ and what it means to have Him fully dwell inside of us, we realize that there is no distinction and nothing can separate us from the love and identity we have in Christ and Christ in us. (ro 8:38-39)
Yes sister, you are right. Understanding our pregnancy truly affects our identity. When our identity is repaired, things begin to fall in line. Also, the things that are not consistent with our new identity in Christ begin to fall away. It all comes back to Christ. He’s all we have left. Everything else was crucified on the cross with Christ. Love ya my sister:)
UMMMM….yeah…great stuff, Jamal….just wait till the birth pangs come…which I believe we are experiencing some of which now….
Thx for reading and commenting Shay! Won’t it be great when the baby is born? I’m looking forward to that day.
Amen Jamal. And it’s wonderful to catch a glimpse of the child that will result from this pregnancy and birth [manifestation].
He is spoken about in Romans 8:18-19:
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. For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the *** manifestation of the sons of God. ***
Trevor,
Amen brother! The rocks are crying out for the manifestation of the sons of God, and I am blessed to be on this journey with you. There is truly glory in us!
Immaculate Conception
Luke 1:30-38
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor(charis- grace) with God.You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
We have found favor (grace) with God and therefore we get impregnated with the seed of God. His name is Jesus, Son of the Most High. Once, He was in the womb of Mary in the flesh, today He is inside us as a life giving Spirit. But like Mary we might say, “How can this happen? I do not qualify, I haven’t done anything right to be able to bring forth this son”. But the Lord says, “You don’t have to ‘work’ to bring forth this son, only believe. No human effort is necessary, only believe. For nothing is impossible with God”. We just respond by saying, “May it be to me as you have said.” When we first believed, the Holy Spirit came and overshadowed us and came into us with this seed. Christ lives inside us today through the Holy Spirit. Don’t you know that Jesus Christ is in you, not as a theology or doctrine, but as an absolute reality? Examine to see if you are in the faith. (2 Cor 13:5).
Sam, thx so much for sharing this comment. Wow brother, you have no idea how much this encouraged my heart today! Christ is being birthed into the world through His body. There are so many obstacles that the enemy sends to try to prevent Christ from being manifested through His corporate bride. Sometimes I say what Mary said: “How will this be?” The answer to us is the same as it was to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”
What encouragment!
Well said my brother!
Milt,
Thanks for pouring your heart out to us a few weeks ago. We are still being affected by stewing on the Eternal Purpose of God that you shared with us. I have described it as being like a key that unlocked Christ in me. I see Him everywhere now. He’s so much bigger than we imagined:) Love you brother!
well done & with some great commentary – worth reposting.
Jamal, All I can say is WOW. This hit me hard! Brought me to my knees in tears. I have been laughing and crying happy tears ever since! I feel as pregnant as can be!!! The Spirit is strong in me! Thanks you so much bro!
Pam,
I know how you feel completely:) Your heart and response is an encouragment! Blessings to you sister.
So very well said, my brother! I would like to add something that came to my heart. In the first trimester of pregnancy a woman feels this life inside of her with the knowing that she has a life growing inside of her, but there is an astounding most realization of this life when in this first trimester she feels a quiver, a movement, by that life. So much is in that first happening of movement. That flutter of life brings to the woman’s heart and mind the reality of this life inside of her. It is real! It moves! She feels it inside of her at that moment and knows that life lives and moves from inside her. The moment of “knowing” the absolute reality is by that flutter, that quiver of the life inside her. We could go a long, long way down that realization of the Life of Christ in us.
Kat,
You have no idea, but this comment floored me! This is literally one of the most beautiful things that I have heard. I was having coffee with a brother this morning, and he told me just how incredibly moved he was to read what you wrote. I so wish every believer could experience what you have described here. All would do well to think about what you have said here. You are a blessing sister!
This is a powerful expounding on the analogy. I bet the sisters have a lot more they can offer us on there experiences and its analogous truth here.
Wow! Amen and amen, Kat
Reminds me of the language that Luke uses when he describes the birth of the church at Pentecost. He uses the same imagery, same language, and same Greek words to describe the birth of the ekklesia in the opening chapters of Acts as he does the birth of Jesus in his Gospel.
Luke was very clear that the birth of the ekklesia was the re-birth of Jesus in the earth. Makes sense since he spent so much time with Paul. Blew my circuitry when I first saw it.
Christ is ALL.
fv
Psalm 115:1
Frank,
Amen brother, it is stunning to think of what He is doing in us, His Church, as being the birth and manifestation of Jesus Christ all over again in the earth. It is amazing that Luke grasped the vision of the incorporated Christ that Paul so powerfully presented to the churches he worked with and wrote to. Seeing Christ in light of His body is truly stunning and has been ‘overloading’ my circuitry as well. Thx for your dedication and work for the gospel my brother. I am forever affected and grateful!
Jamal,
This is a fantastic reminder of who we are. Visions of overflowing fountains and the river that poured out of the temple in Ezekiel come to mind. A fountain that brings life and a river that conveys life from the temple to the outermost parts of the world.
Thanks for reminding us who we are.
Thx for reading and commenting my brother. I am so glad to have met you finally:) It is truly great to be reminded of who we are, and what our condition is. We are truly pregnant! Congrats:)
Amen bro! We are in Christ, and He in us. Such a beautiful thing.
Amen Michael. I see Him in you bro for sure:)
That’s quit a compliment, brother! Thanks. Same to you indeed.
My brothers, what a smile you bring to my heart! Your Christ hearts are revealed in your words to one another. Such an astounding beauty. Yes bros, you are beautiful in Christ; the beautiful, holy, flawless, impeccable Bride of Christ.
And it’s not always easy, yes sisters?
Sometimes it is so uncomfortable to be pregnant, it can seem unbearable. But both physically and spiritually, it’s totally worth it!!
Thanks for sharing, brother! Your blog is one of my faves!
Erin,
Thx for commenting. You are right, it is uncomfortable, but totally worth it. The honor of having ‘Christ formed in us’ as Paul put it, is humbling and mind blowing. We, the church, are blessed as was Mary! Thx for your encouragment sister. I’m looking forward to seeing Christ manifested through you all in Oklahoma City!
I really appreciated this post. My wife and I just had a baby a few weeks ago so this really touches us in a fresh way. To me describing it this way makes the reality of Christ in us more tangible and accessible. Instead of me trying to be holy so that I can get into heaven or see God which is a belief I once toiled under. The reality of Christ’s life inside of us and pursuing Him being aware of His life will cause me to avoid those things (without legalistic law) that are not according to His life. Seeking Him instead of fruits of Him is the way to see the fruits of His life manifesting in us.
Seth,
Brother, I’m so glad that this article blessed you. It is a great thing to be free from the false belief that we have to ‘try’ to be holy, or to please God. God is pleased with His Son who dwells with and in us. Isn’t it absolutely amazing that our ‘work’ is simply to believe and to be aware of this breathtaking reality?
I love and miss you bro:)
I love and miss you too. The time we spent together when you stayed over still impacts me today. We are truly blessed to know Christ in one another and be free to express Him in all things.
Great article, Jamal. I was thoroughly encouraged by it and the comments! Not only is Christ’s life the seed of the New Covenant in us, but you can also see the picture of pregnancy as us living inside of Him! He is our environment. Everything is in Him, including us. Just as the growing child receives everything from the mother’s life, we receive everything from Christ’s life.
Several times in the article you mention our need to know that Christ is inside of us and that we are pregnant with His life. How is it we can know this? There is no other way but by FAITH.
Mark,
Thx for reading and commenting brother. What you have said here is powerful, and is a lot of what I am going to be sharing in the next article. I’m thankful for you:)
only a mother can know the son or daughter in their womb, only the Bride can know the Christ in them,
I agree with the notion of pregnancy, Jesus birthed the church, I also am not sold about the structure of the traditional church the layety and the clergy has brought much trouble and disunity in the body of christ The main issue with in the body of CHrist is lack of unity, Islam for instance has a public face of unity yet behind the sceens there is great jealouse and distrust, christianity is quarling with in and with out, Jesus spoke about unity as being strength. Prov 6 also says that those who bring discord between the brothers is an abonomination. As we are supposed to be an army we need structure and leaders who put Jesus as Lord and follow him, having man traveling ministries is great but if we are to defeat the emeny Satan we must be better organised that he so let us pray for the leadership of the holy spirit to put a structure in place to defeat the plans and works of the enemy.
Yes I a pregnant with the spirit and desire the birth of the overcomers to bring Victory for Christ my Lord.
Thx for taking the time to read the article James. Blessings to you:)
Yes, and I would like to offer another perspective. The Light shines into the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. As we learn to live by the indwelling life of Christ and give expression to Him individually and more specifically as a body God will get His purpose fulfilled. Fortunately the enemy has been defeated already and as long as we can come together and unite under His headship then we will see that in reality in everything.
I had the same thought as James. What is true of the bride is true of Christ. Christ was pregnant since the foundation of the earth, we were in Christ, predestined in Him. At the cross, the birthing blood and waters flowed from Christ, and the bride was born. Now, we have Him inside of us, both true. We are one, indeed.
Bro Jamal,
I was sitting outside for a few moments earlier to speak with Father and this came to me rather quickly as I was contemplating on the sufferings of the saints, individually and as the body of Christ in a locality. This seems to me to be a time of greater spiritual suffering. What entered my mind is how in Genesis God spoke to Eve and said that with increased pain she shall give birth.
The changes actually begin in her when the seed is planted within. This seed once planted in her, multiplies within and forms with greater and greater increase. As this new creation forms within, she suffers as the transformation of herself is a long, laboring process of many changes within her that soon become apparent by her body’s outer expressions. She becomes burdened, heavy, and stretched beyond the limits of what she thought she could endure. She continues to enlarge as the new creation enlarges within her. She begins to desire what this new creation within her desires. Strange food that she never ate before, but must have it. She appears the same person, but even the contents her blood has changed. She is not the same as she was before the seed was planted within her.
When this seed of life is almost fully formed, her body is then prepared to feed and sustain this new creation about to be born. Now she becomes fully extended, and within her the new creation life begins to move, entering into the way of birth, alive and one with her, and one within her.
The time has come with a horrendous pain almost unimaginable. It feels as though she may die, for the pain is too great, too deep within, ripping her apart. She must be fully open in order for the new creation life to come forth. This opening up must be in order to give way for the new creation, and is long suffering, and demands patient endurance, though at times she cries out in utter agony. The birth of this new creation is about to come forth, and all the world shall see the expressions of this new creation life.
But wait, there’s more. This birth is twins! That’s right, twins. With the birth of this new creation life we have the individual and the community body. Twins! Who knew?
The real and true birth of this new creation is thereby named Ekklesia! And she comes forth from the seed that was planted in the individual, and multiplied, and suffered the transformation that the new creation could be birthed. All that labor, suffering, and pain has brought about a new birth. One Life that is many parts. Isn’t she beautiful? She is Ekklesia, and birthed from out of the Seed of Love, Jesus Christ!