Spiritual Jurisdiction

As you study God's Word, you will find that there are at least two types of Biblical truths crucial to Christian maturity. The most basic and essential type of truths I refer to as Foundational Truths. Foundational Truths are those truths upon which we build our lives. They are the "first principles of the oracles of God" [Hebrews 5:12]. They are the most basic and most important revelations of God's Word and are necessary for a life of stability in the Lord. Foundational Truths like "The New Birth", "The Baptism in the Holy Spirit", "The Hope of Heaven", and "Faith Toward God" are the building blocks upon which the Christian life must be built. A Another type of truth necessary for Christian maturity I refer to as Pivotal Principles. Though not foundational in their nature, they are equally important in helping believers come to full age in the Lord. These Pivotal Principles are spiritual laws upon which other spiritual truths hinge. Jesus' comment after teaching the parable of the Sower and the Seed in Mark 4:13 will serve to clarify what I am saying: "...Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?" Jesus taught here that understanding other parables hinged upon understanding the parable of the Sower and the Seed. A Pivotal Principle is not the same as a Foundational Truth, but it is very important, for upon these Pivotal Principles hangs greater understanding of Foundational Truths. If, for example, you do not understand that man is spirit, soul, and body, it will be difficult for you to comprehend the foundational truths of the New Birth and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Or if you do not understand the spiritual law of Identification, you will not be able to truly comprehend the foundation of your death, burial, resurrection and ascension with Christ. Spiritual Jurisdiction is a Pivotal Principle. And upon this spiritual law so many other spiritual truths depend. Failure to gain a working revelation of this basic precept will hinder you from obtaining greater understanding in many other spiritual matters. In writing this book I have purposed to emphasize the practical applications of the truths I am teaching, focusing on the vital side [the every day use] of the teaching rather than the legal side [pure doctrine]. Rather than going into great depth and detail in expounding upon the legalities of the principles of authority I have purposed to answer questions about why things do not seem to work for us as we were taught they should and then explain how to get them to work.