Brethren! Complete This Application!

Recently, the county where I reside received word from state officials that their application for grant funding had been denied. The reason for denial was FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION. Apparently one very important component, REQUIRED BY THOSE WHO HAD AUTHORITY, had been left out.

"For we (Paul and those who are with him) are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you be MADE COMPLETE." 

(2 Corinthians 13:9)

"Finally, brethren, farewell. BECOME COMPLETE." (2 Corinthians 13:11)

application- a form to be filled out by an applicant; the act of putting to a special use or purpose (two of ten definitions in Webster's)

There is no paperwork to fill out in this process Paul discusses, but the understanding to put to special use or purpose is vital. Becoming complete is in God's hand, in the name of Jesus Christ by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by your submission to it. 

"Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and ALL THE BRETHREN WHO ARE WITH ME." (Galatians 1:1,2) With these words Paul begins his letter to the Galatian church.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is not I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (body) I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Just as completion of the grant application would have provided dedicated funding, the understanding to allow the Lord to show us how to be crucified with Him will provide the avenue to intimacy Paul had received.

Sainthood: Comprehending the Love of Christ

Ephesians 3:17-19

".....that you, being rooted an grounded in love, may be able to comprehend WITH ALL THE SAINTS what is width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

comprehend - to understand the nature or meaning of; to take in or embrace; include; COMPRISE (Webster's)

comprise - to consist of;  to be composed of (Webster's)

I would say that sainthood begins when a person first trusts in Christ; after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation, having believed and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. 

(Ephesians 1:12-14)

Paul greets these as "the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus".(Ephesians 1:2)

Yet, that is the beginning. Saints of God are willing to turn toward Him at every revelation of Jesus Christ, counting not the cost there of; receiving the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; the eyes of their understanding being enlightened; that they may know what is the hope of His calling; what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:17,18)

The love of Christ requires that they keep His commands, are willing to lay down their lives for their friends and let Him show what it means to become the called according to His purpose, as He is head of all things to the church.

Would you like to be one of those who comprehend? Would you like to be comprised of the width and length and depth and height of Christ's love? Ask the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, and your joy will be full! 

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate; for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." (Luke 13:24)

Wasting His Goods

Luke 16:1,2,9; 19:11-27

"He also said to His disciples: 'There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was WASTING HIS GOODS. So he called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward'."

Then, if you will read ahead, the unjust steward compounds his unrighteousness. Instead of repenting, He makes himself a home, with the unrighteous, by unrighteous mammon. 

The heading of that portion of scripture is "The Parable of the Unjust Steward". 

"Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: 'A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'WE WILL NOT HAVE THIS MAN TO REIGN OVER US.' (Please read through v.27) 

"And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the FRIEND of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:23.24) A man is made into a "just steward" as he seeks, knocks, asks; hears and repents as God reveals; allows 'the nobleman' to reign over him.

Wasting (squandering) or scattering His goods is the rejection of those things we already understand about the kingdom of God. The "wicked servant" (Luke 19:22) had an understanding of what to do ("Do business till I come") but rejected the works by which he could be justified. He would not let This Man justify him. 

What Is Lame May Be Healed

Hebrews 12:13

"....and make straight paths for your feet, so that WHAT IS LAME may not be dislocated, but rather be HEALED"

Notice Paul did not say that we might be lame, rather inferring that we are. Importantly, Paul warns also that from that lame state we might become dislocated.

Paul reminds us that it is an exhortation to us to receive and endure the chastening, even the scourging of the Lord.(v. 5,6) It appears that it is our decision, once receiving the understanding regarding His chastening, whether we will press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus: learning how to eat the bread so we are able to drink the cup that IS the new covenant! 

"No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able (although He will allow us to be tempted to that point), but with the temptation (or as the temptation comes, for God, Himself, does not tempt) will also MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) Making the way of escape is an empowerment to persevere, just as our Master did!  We, In His name, to the glory of God. 

But with most of them (Israel) God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness." (1 Corinthians 10:5) Although they all experienced God's supernatural deliverance from the bondage in Egypt, many, not all, lusted after evil things in their freedom. Clearly, instead of learning to worship God in the wilderness, many chose to persist in what would result in dislocation from Him. Just as clearly, He makes the way of escape for healing us, through and through!  

Eat, And Drink, For Elimination

Matthew 15:17

"Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is ELIMINATED?" 

"As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven- not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever." (John 6:57,58)

"and when He had GIVEN THANKS, He broke it and said, 'TAKE, EAT, this is My body which is for you; DO THIS in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood. THIS DO, AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, in remembrance of Me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, YOU PROCLAIM the Lord's death till He comes." (1 Corinthians 11:24-26)  He is coming at that point for resurrection life to those who obey Him!

"For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls"...(Hebrews 12:3) THIS IS WHERE WE DRINK OF HIS CUP!

Paul informs the Corinthian church what Jesus told the original twelve disciples: partake worthily of communion with Him by eating the bread "which came down from heaven" and makes for everlasting life. Eating this living bread, the bread of God, makes us ready to drink His cup. As we learn to eat, and drink in Jesus name (because of, through and with Him), we will be empowered as we understand to ELIMINATE sin as it approaches; in ourselves first and then for a testimony for others. 

"What Do You Want Me To Do For You?"

Mark 10:35-52

"Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, 'Teacher, we want You to do for us 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....." (verses 35-38)  

Enough said. If we do not KNOW what we are asking for, that request will lead to correction from the Lord. In this case, the desire for exaltation apart from the formation of overcoming perseverance that results from the cup that He drank from and the baptism that He was baptized with. 

"Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' Then many warned him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more. 'Son of David, have mercy on me!' So Jesus stood still and COMMANDED HIM TO BE CALLED. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, 'Be of good cheer. Rise, HE IS CALLING YOU.' And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, 'What do you want Me to do for you?'  The blind man said to Him, Rabboni (My Great One), that I may receive my sight.'  Then Jesus said to him, 'Go your way; your faith has made you well(Lit. saved you).' And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road." He received his sight to follow!(verses 46-52)

What are we asking Jesus to do for us?  My Great One! That I may receive what you know I need to see to follow you!  All glory to the Father!

To Become Guiltless of His Body and His Blood

 1 Corinthians 11:23-29

"For I (Paul) received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup IS the new covenant in My blood. This do, AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, in remembrance of Me.' For AS OFTEN AS YOU EAT THIS BREAD and drink this cup, YOU PROCLAIM the Lord's death till He comes."

"Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner WILL BE GUILTY of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."

To be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord could mean that one is not unable, but unwilling, to respond as our Master, Jesus Christ, when he was betrayed. The Jews betrayed Him to the Roman authorities; Judas Iscariot did the same but to the chief priests; Peter denied Him and the others of the twelve, excepting John and the Marys, dispersed. Those betrayals didn't keep Jesus from pressing toward the goal for prize of the upward call of His Father. He had been called to a work and He finished it. 

Guiltlessness regarding the body and the blood of the Lord is formed in those of us who are willing to let the Father, in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, show us how to partake WORTHILY of communion with Him: as often as we eat the bread and drink of the cup. His cup IS the new covenant to the Father. Not religious laws but His life sown for the salvation of man. The idea is for His church to be multiplied in this manner, through His cup, for those who are outside to see.