Raised To Preside And Fill

Ephesians 1:15-23; 11,12

"Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may (may be able to?) give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He worked in Christ when He RAISED HIM from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power, might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and GAVE HIM to be head over ALL things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of HIM WHO FILLS all in all."


We can see what the Most High has in mind for those who have faith in the Lord Jesus and love for all the saints: with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, those might have enlightened understanding regarding His calling for this life, His glorified inheritance toward us, His power to resurrect. This truth is available to all BELIEVERS. But, what the Father gave specifically to Jesus will not be available to another: Head over ALL things to the church. The good news is that Jesus, the head over all things to the church, has a resurrected place for each believer. It appears that Jesus was not given His place by the Father UNTIL He laid His life down for friends.


"In Him, also, we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."


Ask the Lord to increase your faith in Him and love for all the saints. He will show you how to prepare, gird yourself and serve, in Him!

 

You can reach the writer of this blog at ngm0811gdh@gmail.com

The Law As Tutor (As The Backboard Helps the Shooter)

Please Read Galatians 3:19-25

 

"What purpose then does the law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept (confined) for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor (in a household, the guardian responsible for the care and discipline of the children) to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor".


The promise is the availability of everlasting life, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus to/in those who believe. Faith is the understanding (like the inherent knowledge within that we must eat to live. Babies even, while understanding little else, know that they are hungry) that Jesus Christ is, and accompanied by the works of that understanding (if we are willing to obey His inspiration), Jesus Christ builds His church, and the gates of Hell shall NOT prevail against what He is able to build in us, individually and as a body.


The game of basketball, most people know, is played on a rectangular "court". The goals are anchored to a backboard - a solid, hard surface that assists in shot-making and also keeps errant shots from rolling far away from the GOAL. Young players are directed to "use the backboard" for their shots. As players develop, they use the backboard less and at the highest levels of play, the backboard is used in a small percentage of shots taken - the players have become proficient in scoring the ball WITHOUT the backboard. The coaches hardly bother to recommend it.


The Galatian church had become tempted to go back to the backboard, the tutor, as the scripture describes. But, the tutor had been made obsolete by the indwelling of the Righteous One- Christ in us, the hope of glory!


Paul asks them, "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:2) "Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Galatians 3:5)


God has manifested Himself to man through supernatural occurrence from the beginning; from the initiation of the writing of His Book to the finishing of the same. Only don't be tempted to go back to what was the tutor and try to find or experience Him. The new wine comes from Jesus' words in the gospels and the words He inspired through man.


The Galatian church was a new testament church in every regard yet they were tempted, probably by peer pressure from the Jewish people who were against Jesus as the Christ, to make themselves more like those who were being tutored according to the law. You see, life would be easier for them without the gnashing teeth of unbelievers. This exercise exposed the Galatian's will and, ultimately, the correction by Paul. There was an assault by satan-inspired thieves to steal what the Holy Spirit brings - a life of victory in Christ Jesus.

You can write to the author of this study at ngm0811gdh@gmail.com

Not Unqualified, Disqualified.

2 Corinthians 13:1-6

"This will be the third time I am coming to you. 'By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established'. I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare - since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you are DISQUALIFIED. But I trust that you will know that WE ARE NOT disqualified."

The image comes to me of a track meet - specifically the 100 meter dash. The participants have lined up and are ready to go, so they presume. They have been evaluated and found to be competitive. The starter informs them to take their mark. One or more of the participants jumps out early, trying to gain an edge on the others. That (those) runners have accomplished a false start and are disqualified by the track and field rules. They may not compete for the prize. Those who started falsely weren't UNQUALIFIED but were DISQUALIFIED.

I perceive admonishment in Paul's third approach to the church at Corinth. They seek proof of Christ speaking in him who is not weak toward them but mighty in them. Paul informs them that Christ was crucified in weakness yet lives by the power of God. Paul says the same is true in/for him and, by extension for Christians IF they are willing to allow it. He beseeches them to examine themselves as to whether they are in the faith; to remember that Jesus Christ is in them. To have to be reminded that Jesus Christ is in you might mean that you are not weak in Him but strong to yourself! Your carnal approach to this life in Christ dominates. Truly the Corinthian church had been qualified - born again from above by the Holy Spirit! Yet in that Spiritual empowerment they were DECIDING to ignore Paul's admonishments that represented our God's attempt to bring them stronger meat.

The apostle Paul informs that the Corinthian church should know that he (and those with him) are not disqualified. He is concerned that they (CC) will not stand the test.

 

You can reach the writer of this blog at ngm0811gdh@gmail.com