Will You Allow His Grace to be Sufficient?

‘And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.'

(2 Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV)

'For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth 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, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.' (2 Corinthians 13:4-6 KJV)

Will you be crucified through weakness? Paul understood, was willing, in the meekness of Christ. He clearly taught the same to the Corinthians. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Charity: Giving by Showing what is Necessary

'Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.'

'Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth....' 

(1 Corinthians 13:1-8 KJV)

It is clear that we can exercise the components of the first paragraph without also giving what is necessary by showing what we understand about the second.

'That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practice the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.' 

(1 John 1:3-7 KJV)

Charity gives as it understands and walks in the light as it is revealed by the testimony of Jesus Christ and the apostles.

They That Love It

‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.' (Proverbs 18:21 KJV)

'And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.' (John 12:23-25 KJV)

The seed coat protects the heart of the seed. That coat, if not dealt with by the right conditions, will keep the heart from producing any fruit at all. Protection does prevail for that seed until it met with the power of the moist, fertile ground: then what is perceived as protection actually aids in the development of the growth that produces. How do we practice this righteousness?

'But what saith it (the righteousness of faith speaketh!)? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart one believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth CONFESSION IS MADE unto salvation.' (Romans 10:8-10 KJV)

From this day and point in your development in the kingdom of God, confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus: His Lordship over your life. 'I confess you, Lord Jesus! I desire your lordship over my life! He is faithful to show you how to dissolve your protected heart and bring forth useful fruit that glorifies God.

Stagnant in Salvation?

'For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he has enough to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, "This man began to build, and was not able to finish." Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.'  (Luke 14:28-35 KJV)

'For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.' (1 Peter 4:17-19 KJV)

The price of discipleship is high, and remains so! The demand, or desire for such must realize that. If you have begun to build and don't know how to continue and finish, ask of the faithful Creator! He will reveal what you desire of Him.

The Petitions that John Desired of Him

‘Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God has made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.' (1 John 5:5-15 KJV)

What do you desire OF Him? Is it to understand the 'three that bear witness in earth': the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son? No matter what any say, the witness of God is greater!

Jesus Christ unsettles the Temple

“And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.' (Mark 11:15-17 KJV)

'What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

(1 Corinthians 6:19,20 KJV)

Clearly, Jesus knew the working of those mentioned activities was counter-productive for the temple as a house of prayer. His acts testified of His intentions toward each believer personally, as the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in us.

'Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.'

(Hebrews 12:11)

Understanding His Coming

‘And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David;) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them unto heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord has MADE KNOWN UNTO US.' (Luke 2:1-15 KJV)

'And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, EVEN IN his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourself from idols. Amen.' (1 John 5:20, 21 KJV)

'Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of thy mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get UNDERSTANDING. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
(Proverbs 4:5-9 KJV)

Recognize that we must proceed in the understanding that God has given of His Son: for promotion and honour, grace for glory in Him. Merry Christmas, as we celebrate with understanding.