2Corinthians 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
A written message is a powerful thing! It has brought great good. It has launched nations into war! It has brought joy to people and it has been the bearer of great sorrow to people! Peoples lives have been changed by a written message! But greater still, when our lives become the words of the message! What power!, what influence we become in the Hands of the Living God!
Jesus said: "My words are Spirit and they are Life! When we are determined to know Christ, our Life becomes the written message!
Galations 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Paul ask the question: "Do we begin again to commend ourselves?"
Do we have to write a letter to tell of the validity of our ministry to you! Or is there any need of being introduced by a letter of you or do you have need to receive a letter of commendation from us?
Paul said to the church at Corinth, "you are our letter!"
You are written in our hearts! Paul was saying in fact, that this people that became a part of the Church, was birthed by God because God had written them upon his heart. Therefore, Pauls' letter was written with a greater substance than that of ink and paper! His very life!
These souls were written upon his heart! Before salvation came to Corinth, God had to have a man to stand in the gap for a people in that city. Pauls' life literally became that written message to the city of Corinth!
What volumes a life speaks! of a man or woman who God has truly written down upon their hearts the souls of the lost in their city! Paul was a written message for all to read! That message was truly the burden of the Lord and it would not be in vain!
But it doesn't stop with the message written in our life, but that message reaches those that are written upon our heart. They become epistles ( a written message) that men read! Suddenly, because somebody has became the written message, Holy Ghost conviction begins to come to the people that you are praying for! The Harvest is truly ready but we must pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send laborers to us! The Harvest itself doesn't realize that it is the Harvest until the laborers pray and go forth. That prayer for the Holy Ghost to bring conviction will give us the ability to gather the Harvest!
We can talk about the message, but until our lives become that message, there will be nothing in us worth reading!
We can talk about the Harvest truly being ready without acting according to known Truth, and there will be no gathering!
We must become written epistles that men may know God through!
2Corinthians 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
We may be moved by the Lord to write a letter to someone as the Spirit directs. But more powerful is a man or a woman that their life is a written message for people to read! May God write His message through our life! Then after communion in prayer, let us go forth into the city and be known and read of men! The Harvest will be gathered! God, I pray that my life may be the letter that You've already written!
Amen!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The Down Playing of Truth
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; ( 1. Hope of eternal life! 2. God cannot lie! 3. Promise before time!)
1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed (in trust) unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ!
"Paul says, I'm a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ!"
The Greek word, doulos doo'-los S.C. G1401 SERVANT
From G1210; a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond (-man), servant.
The Greek word, apostolos ap-os'-tol-os S.C. G652
From G649; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Deu 15:12 And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
15:13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
15:14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.
15:15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.
15:16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;
15:17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.
Two types of servants (slaves) are these:
1. Those that through the law are commanded to serve their master.
2. Those that through the law of the Spirit have been made free to serve by the love of God.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
1:24 And they glorified God in me.
Paul said: When it pleased God! The God who separated me from my mother's womb! The God who called me by His grace!
When it pleased God to reveal his Son in me! That I might preach Him! That I might preach Jesus Christ among the heathen!
"Immediately, I didn't rely on anyone or anything else for my ability to do what God was pleased to do in my life!"
When it pleased God! Jesus Christ touched my life! (Acts 9) To reveal Himself in me! That I might preach Him! Jesus!
Acts 19:8 And he (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
19:10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
"It pleased God to reveal Jesus his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen!"
Acts 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
19:18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
"We've got a generation today that has "down played" the truth to where they think that the answer to reach the heathen is to be relevant to what they are involved in."
It pleased God to separate Paul from his mother's womb to reveal his Son, Jesus, in Paul!
That he might preach Jesus Christ among the heathen!
Paul didn't back-peddle from the truth to be relevant to the heathen!
God is always pleased when we stay with the truth and preach that truth! God will do special miracles by the servant of God who is separated and called by God who will preach the truth!
But there's a lot of vagabonds that have come into the Church today that are taking it upon themselves to use fleshly means to try to build the Church!
They watch the world all week and then use their idols, their reality shows, and their stars to try to preach some kind of mixed-up gospel!
Paul, when it pleased God! Preached Jesus Christ, a Rock of offence to all flesh, but God wrought (to make or do) the miraculous when he preached the Truth!
No down playing the truth! No mixture so it could be swallowed easily without gagging the flesh ! The Truth was called to crucify and slay!
The Truth of the gospel is that I must die!
The Truth of the gospel is that all have sinned and that all must die!
Just preach it the way Jesus said! Then they will be drawn to the Cross! The place of death to sin and the flesh!
Acts 19:13-20 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
"There was an outward sign that the Truth had changed the lives of many heathen (unbelievers)."
Those masquerade parties the seeker-friendly crowd tried to win converts with back-fired on those smart boys!
They were stripped naked of their costumes and had the tar beaten out of them !
They had to flee out of the house with no authority from God!
No power of the Truth to make a differance in the heathen they were trying to reach!
"God, Do it again in this hour! Strip us naked before this world if we try to down play YOUR TRUTH!"
But at the same time Truth, God's Truth will be enough and it will prevail!
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. Acts 19:17-20
God's Word will grow mightily and prevail in this hour!
1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; ( 1. Hope of eternal life! 2. God cannot lie! 3. Promise before time!)
1:3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed (in trust) unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ!
"Paul says, I'm a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ!"
The Greek word, doulos doo'-los S.C. G1401 SERVANT
From G1210; a slave (literally or figuratively, involuntarily or voluntarily; frequently therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency): - bond (-man), servant.
The Greek word, apostolos ap-os'-tol-os S.C. G652
From G649; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
Deu 15:12 And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.
15:13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty:
15:14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy winepress: of that wherewith the LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him.
15:15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day.
15:16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will not go away from thee; because he loveth thee and thine house, because he is well with thee;
15:17 Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.
Two types of servants (slaves) are these:
1. Those that through the law are commanded to serve their master.
2. Those that through the law of the Spirit have been made free to serve by the love of God.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
1:24 And they glorified God in me.
Paul said: When it pleased God! The God who separated me from my mother's womb! The God who called me by His grace!
When it pleased God to reveal his Son in me! That I might preach Him! That I might preach Jesus Christ among the heathen!
"Immediately, I didn't rely on anyone or anything else for my ability to do what God was pleased to do in my life!"
When it pleased God! Jesus Christ touched my life! (Acts 9) To reveal Himself in me! That I might preach Him! Jesus!
Acts 19:8 And he (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
19:10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
"It pleased God to reveal Jesus his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen!"
Acts 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
19:17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
19:18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19:19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
"We've got a generation today that has "down played" the truth to where they think that the answer to reach the heathen is to be relevant to what they are involved in."
It pleased God to separate Paul from his mother's womb to reveal his Son, Jesus, in Paul!
That he might preach Jesus Christ among the heathen!
Paul didn't back-peddle from the truth to be relevant to the heathen!
God is always pleased when we stay with the truth and preach that truth! God will do special miracles by the servant of God who is separated and called by God who will preach the truth!
But there's a lot of vagabonds that have come into the Church today that are taking it upon themselves to use fleshly means to try to build the Church!
They watch the world all week and then use their idols, their reality shows, and their stars to try to preach some kind of mixed-up gospel!
Paul, when it pleased God! Preached Jesus Christ, a Rock of offence to all flesh, but God wrought (to make or do) the miraculous when he preached the Truth!
No down playing the truth! No mixture so it could be swallowed easily without gagging the flesh ! The Truth was called to crucify and slay!
The Truth of the gospel is that I must die!
The Truth of the gospel is that all have sinned and that all must die!
Just preach it the way Jesus said! Then they will be drawn to the Cross! The place of death to sin and the flesh!
Acts 19:13-20 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
"There was an outward sign that the Truth had changed the lives of many heathen (unbelievers)."
Those masquerade parties the seeker-friendly crowd tried to win converts with back-fired on those smart boys!
They were stripped naked of their costumes and had the tar beaten out of them !
They had to flee out of the house with no authority from God!
No power of the Truth to make a differance in the heathen they were trying to reach!
"God, Do it again in this hour! Strip us naked before this world if we try to down play YOUR TRUTH!"
But at the same time Truth, God's Truth will be enough and it will prevail!
And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. Acts 19:17-20
God's Word will grow mightily and prevail in this hour!
"Church, there's no need to down play Truth."
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