To Fulfill The Word of God

Colossians 1:19-29

"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on the earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless, and above reproach in His sight - if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister."

"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister ACCORDING TO THE STEWARDSHIP FROM GOD WHICH WAS GIVEN TO ME FOR YOU, TO FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD. The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations but not has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and reaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I ALSO LABOR, STRIVING ACCORDING TO HIS WORKING which works in me mightily."

The stewardship that was given to Paul for the church happens to be the stewardship God has given to all His saints (those who repent/turn to God at every revealing of Jesus Christ to them; those who understand what His calling was and are willing to persevere with Him in it!): to FULFILL THE WORD OF GOD which is attempting to work mightily in them. Paul tells the Colossian church that he still labors according to that which is working in him.

Paul teaches that we should "pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).  

"Teacher, We Want You To Do For Us WHATEVER We Ask"

Mark 10:35-45

"Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, 'Teacher, we want you to do whatever we ask.' And He said to them, 'What do you want Me to do for you?' They said to Him. 'Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory.' But Jesus said to them, 'You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?' " 

"They said to Him, 'We are able.' So Jesus said to them, 'You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared.' "

"And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, 'You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many."

The disciples' request seemed reasonable, if not holy. Jesus said(through John in Revelation 3:21): "To him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." 

They were, at that point, more interested in the end of their faith rather than the works to arrive there. Jesus corrects them/us. Then James writes (4:1-3): "Where do battles and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war, yet you do not have because you do not ask. YOU ASK and you do not receive because you ask amiss"............in this context to lord over instead of serve.

Jesus assures those who will speak to "this mountain", doubt not in the heart but believe by His grace that causes those to be strong in standing, so that the removal of "this mountain" shall become complete in them, then they will have WHATEVER THEY SAY, to the glory of God! (Mark 11:22-24)

Make Straight Paths For Your Feet

Proverbs 3:5,6; Hebrews 12:12-17

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct (MAKE STRAIGHT) your paths."

"Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and MAKE STRAIGHT PATHS FOR YOUR FEET, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord; looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane(godless) person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing (of his birthright), he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears."

We make straight the paths of our feet by seeking Him to find Him; knocking on His door so that He may open up to us; asking of Him to receive Him. These actions result in the Father, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ (whose name is "The Word of God") by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, revealing Himself to those who approach this way. As we do so the path becomes clearer and produces His healing for our lameness. Peace and the holiness continue to be formed on the straight path to/through the narrow gate, producing fruit for others to see what God is doing in the lives that we live through/with/in Him. So fulfilling the path becomes, because of who He is to us, that we are much less likely to deviate from it.

You don't make straight paths for your feet by your design. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith!

Silver and Gold is NOT What I Have for You

Acts 3:1-8, 16

"Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to beg alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, 'Look at us.' So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.' And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones RECEIVED STRENGTH. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them- walking, leaping, and praising God."

"And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith that comes through Him has given him (the previously lame man) this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."

It is probable, more so than possible, for us to expect something based upon previous encounters/experiences. The encounter between the man laid at the gate of the temple and Peter/John almost certainly wasn't their first- as he was laid there daily and the disciples came there regularly. The STRENGTH RECEIVED came as a result of revelation to Peter/John followed by action according to the revelation. On behalf of the man at the gate, previously lame, he "gave them his attention".

We Live by this Substance and Evidence

Hebrews 10:35-39; 11:1

"Therefore do not cast away your confidence (your evidence), which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 'For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry (delay). Now, the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him'. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition (destruction), but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Now faith is the substance and evidence by which we believe to the saving of the soul! Faith is the realization and confidence that the Holy Spirit brings to us (by the direction of Jesus Christ) by which we are awakened, stand, persevere and become victors through/in Christ Jesus! Like a blueprint reveals to a contractor how to build a structure, faith in Jesus Christ will produce a place for "He who is coming" to dwell.

"And shall not God avenge His own elect, who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?  I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes (returns), will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:7,8)  

Will the Son of Man find this substance and evidence on the earth? Or, how much of it will He find? Will He find us devoted to this confidence? His reward is in His hand!

     

Concerning Spiritual Gifts, Endeavor to be Recognizable

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I don't want you to be ignorant...."                        (1 Corinthians 12:1)                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

"The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all...."(12:7)

"Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel...."(14:12)

"Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified" (built up by recognizable manifestation of the Holy Spirit). (14:16,17)

"I (Paul) thank my God that I speak in tongues more than you all; yet in the church (implying that he speaks in tongues for personal edification outside the church) I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue...."(14:18,19) 

"Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore, if the whole church comes together in one place and all speak with tongues (rendering the clear, piercing manifestation of God through the spiritual gifts UNRECOGNIZABLE), and there come in uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are 'out of your mind'?" (14:22,23)

"How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification (the building up of all gathering, believer or uninformed)" (14:26)

"If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant."(14:38) In the margin of the bible I use(NKJV), the last sentence is described this way: 'If anyone does not recognize this(as the commandment of the Lord), let him be UNRECOGNIZED'. Paul is showing us how to resist that which could serve to make us look spiritual, albeit disorderly, so that all engaged may RECOGNIZE God by his Spirit!

"Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order."(14:39,40) 

"No...But I did Stay at a Holiday Inn Last Night"

Many remember this commercial for Holiday Inn. The setting begins with some sort of dilemma, followed by an individual entering the picture to stabilize the situation. 

I remember the spot where a bicyclist had fallen and was injured. A man enters the scene and begins to treat the cyclist's injury, prompting the the cyclist to ask, "Are you a doctor?". The man assured the cyclist, "No.....but I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night." A witty commercial yet PRACTICALLY IRRESPONSIBLE FOR REAL INJURIES.

Do you speak with tongues of men AND OF ANGELS as Paul did? (1 Corinthians 13:1)

Are you one of the "all" Paul wishes "spoke with tongues"? (of angels; for we all speak with tongues of men) (1 Corinthians 14:5). Do you think Paul is wishing something for you that shouldn't happen?

"Therefore brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues (of angels).  (Corinthians 14:39)

It should be difficult for the believer to read these words (1 Corinthians, chapters 12-14) and it not stimulate a question regarding the "tongues of angels". When one asks, "Have you spoken in the tongues Paul preaches?  If their response is "No.....But", you should understand that they are not in a position to help you with the subject, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL INEVITABLY TRY!

The knowledge to assist in the Holiday Inn commercial WAS NOT ACTUAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. Assistance with regard to the "tongues of angels" comes directly from those who have ACTUALLY experienced this blessing from God, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit.