Clearly, you are a epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on the tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we think the sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life, ( 2 Corinthians 3:3-6).
For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I believed and therefore I spoke, we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God, (2 Corinthians 4:6-15).
We all know the scripture of the beloved John the Baptist spoke of which songs and prayers have been declared many many times….. Lord, You must increase and I must decrease…. right? The above scriptures show how that is manifested in our lives…. the glory of God is shown through our lives as the reflection of the Lord’s image is displayed. However, to have that happen, our carnal life and attitudes have to be declared dead at the cross and removed….. as wind of the Spirit is blowing through us so Christ may increase.
How does that happen? By many afflictions, the glory of God increases because the deliverance of the hand of the Lord moves in our happenstances. As Paul states the truth revealed in the mystery of Christ in 2 Corinthians 2:9, Yes, we had the sentence of death in our selves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.
This godly principle is true in all our happenstances that the Lord allows for our faith to grow in His ability to pull us through all darkness and death and allow the power of His resurrection to rest in and upon our lives….. This is living the mystery of godliness….
But woe, it is not for the strong of heart or self confident, or independent….. It is for the weak in spirit, the down trodden, the oppressed, the incapable, the least of the best and the most despised…. if that is you, come and be taught of the Lord and live in the power of His might….. for we already know our power and might is without any merit…. We already know we are failures in need of the love and strength of our Savior. We gladly lay down our lives for His work in us as His new creation.
Paul confirms how the Lord can use the nobody’s of the world to be His warriors as stated in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
But of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us the wisdom from God- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption- that, as it is written, He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.
The last verse is the reason why all this struggle is pursued hotly by the Spirit of God….. that no flesh may glory in His presence….. in fact, in His presence, seeking His face, we disappear as we see Him…. after all, He is God…. and He is awesome, but He is good.
So as we continue to seek the Lord in ways that we never have allowed to venture…
Did you ask the Lord a question as what you desired from Him for 2015?
Did He respond?
Did you receive the answer by faith?
Did you start living the response by faith?
Did you make mention of the new revealed knowledge of Jesus Christ because of this response in thanksgiving?
If not, start and if you have, see what He has in store for you this coming week….
After all is said and done, keep watching…… for He looks for those that He can show Himself strong on their behalf….. but we also have to keep watching and waiting for His appearing…..As He does, let us tell Him, we want to know and live in the knowledge of His presence 24/7…..
So….. therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and work of faith with power, that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ, ( 2 Thessalonians 1;11-12).
We are called by a great God to be His vessels…… What kind of vessels are up to us….As we grow in the knowledge of the Lord and the power of His might, may we also grow in our love…. When we grow in our love towards Him, the fear of the Lord is also growing so that we might not take lightly the work of the Holy Spirit.
So as Paul also states in Romans 11:22, Therefore consider the goodness and the severity of God; on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
Our God is an awesome God….. He is worthy of all honor and glory from His children.
So, let us rejoice in the mercy of our great God who has called us to be His living epistle of His great love and grace.
Look for Him as He is looking for you looking for Him!!!!
Selah !
