His Grace Should Be Sufficient For You

2 Corinthians 12:1-9

"It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago- whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows- how he was caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows- how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool for I will speak the truth. But I refrain lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me".

"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness'."

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake. For when I am weak then I am strong."

Paul is telling on himself. He is confessing his sin to us. Necessary, he says, so that we determine to avoid the same exercise of self-service. Paul as we know was an apostle. He has experienced and will experience (as will all spirit-filled, spirit-led christians) visions and revelations of the Lord. It seems Paul had grown boastful with those experiences, reporting his exaltation "above measure" or what it should have been in Jesus Christ. He goes now so far as to speak of his experiences as "a man he knows". No self-exaltation there. He had been corrected.

During his self-exaltation, a thorn in the flesh was given to him, a messenger of Satan. Whose desire is it that we be not exalted above measure? During the time when Paul was experiencing the thorn in the flesh, he pleaded with the Lord (as you would expect) so IT would depart from him. The Lord's response was "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness". What the Lord had given Paul should have been enough for him for He certainly ministers life. In Him is all the fullness of the Godhead. His strength cannot nor will be made perfect in the strength of you. As there is less of you there is more room for Him! The Lord knew that, in the trial, Paul would turn from his strength to the One who created all things, and would be made free from the bondage of his self-service!

Contentment rejoices in His sufficiency.

The Living Word

This past week I was driving into a local city to purchase a coffee and start my day. The drive from my home is about 25 minutes and usually quiet: meaning no radio or CD. I had arrived in town and was confessing scripture, specifically I Corinthians 13 which is the "love chapter". Christians know how important it is to love like God so His description of what love does is important if we are to walk hand in hand with the Godhead. When I confess scripture, I focus on the words spoken and the meaning, trying not to just say words but seek Him for what He knows we need to hear to be a doer, not just a hearer.

Moments later I turned into a single-laned alley to gain access to the coffee shop. As I approached the parking lot from the alley, another motorist pulled his vehicle into the alley and sat there, looking at me. My immediate response to his action was to proclaim his idiocy and wrangle my car out of his way. After, I heard these words, "hadn't you just finished confessing what the love of God does?" Needless to say, I was frustrated.

Later that morning, I heard in my spirit the Lord say, "My Word was never intended to be effective without the breath of the Holy Spirit empowering you to be a doer of it". I had confessed that portion of scripture many times and as recently as five minutes beforehand and the Words I had confessed fell flat to the ground, not able to empower me to overcome selfish behavior (mine and others). Jesus was able to navigate these types of situations without falling short of the grace of God. He also had the Holy Spirit without measure. He was One with the Father.

James 1:19 reads, "let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath". Hear what?  The anointing of the Holy Spirit coming within you to overcome. The anointing to be victors over all temptation comes from within. That is why we must be new creatures in Jesus Christ through the new birth and infilling of the Holy Spirit! But wait! I have been born again and filled with the Holy Spirit for twenty years. Why am I getting this just now? We are being built up a spiritual house.

It is not that the written Word (logos) is not life-giving. We need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to do it like Jesus did!

So, we study the Word of God to SHOW OURSELVES approved. BUT, we direct our attention to our Father, thanking Him for who He is and what He has made available to us through Jesus Christ. We praise our Lord, Jesus Christ who was the Father's perfect emissary of willing obedience to Him for our sake. We press toward Him  (Them) so that we may be one with Them(John 17:21). Then we will hear Their Words, empowered BEFORE the temptation to sin arrives, and respond just as Jesus would/did!

 

Your Faith Will Make You Whole

We have discussed that faith is fundamental in becoming complete in Christ Jesus. Faith is "the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not yet seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony" (Hebrews 11:1,2). Clearly, faith (a revelation to us of God: who He is; how He expects His children to live; what His plan is in each of our lives, individually) precedes the manifestation of all those things in Christ Jesus. The revelation focuses and empowers us to press on in Him. 

"Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better but rather grew worse. WHEN SHE HEARD ABOUT JESUS she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, 'if only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.' Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction ." (Mark 5:25-29) Why would she have thought that her touching Jesus' clothing would produce such a result? It is my impression that she received an understanding from God regarding Jesus Christ that focused and directed her steps regarding her affliction. She acted on the understanding first by saying what had been revealed to her ("with the mouth confession is made unto salvation"  Romans 10:10) and then by taking the steps directed- literally touching His clothing.

The good news is that faith is the seed of all things included in salvation in Christ Jesus. Any seed contains the directions for how it will be manifested. Salvation in Christ Jesus desires to touch our spirit, our soul, our physical body, our vocation or call, a good land or our sustenance. It is all-encompassing. The faith that you have been given: whether by a measure or increased/greater in its depth, holds the keys to your victory over sin/sickness/self-service/defeat. The scripture says that Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of faith.

Call out to Him from the depth of your soul, from the depths of who you know yourself to be, and He will answer. He will remind you of the things He has revealed to you that you have yet to act upon and reveal to you those things that build upon the former. Each revelation serves to focus/direct your path to completion in Him so you can walk just as He walked - not apart from Him but with Him because you are in Him!

Tongues: For Personal and Private Use

The topic of spiritual language is devisive amongst christians. The reason: Satan likes it that way. He knows if he can keep the christian away from the gifts of the Holy Spirit, he can keep them from becoming "witnesses to Jesus Christ"(Acts 1:8) in our sphere of influence. The examples of the Holy Spirit coming upon people always resulted in the spiritual language of tongues coming forth from those people experiencing that power.

My family and christian friends know that I agree with the biblical teaching on this subject. They know I strongly advocate for every christian to seek after spiritual gifts yet they have rarely, if ever, heard me as I pray in tongues because it is not important that they hear me. In my personal christian life, I speak in tongues other than my native language of english because "he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries"(I Cor. 14:2) and "but you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit"(Jude v.20). Reference back to v.19 regarding sensual persons, causing division, because they do not have the Spirit. Having and praying in the Spirit empowers us to be Spirit-led as opposed to being sense-led. It is my opinion that  these references speak of tongues for personal use. I am edifying myself in Christ as I speak in tongues. A strength arises in in my spirit for my soul as I pray/speak in tongues.

I Corinthians, chapter 14, discusses tongues for public edification. As you read this chapter, you will see there is place for this manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the church service as well. Here, tongues are vocal and are to be heard by others, serving as a sign to unbelievers. 

I Corinthians 12:29-31 reads,"Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? " I have prayed/spoken in tongues personally and almost daily for 18 years yet vocally in church only on 3-4 occasions over that same period. Earnestly desiring the best gifts (those that profit others as well as you) will put you in a position to be ready when He calls upon you.

Remember, we struggle not with flesh and blood, but principalities, with powers, with rulers of darkness of the age, with spiritual hosts of wickedness in high places. This is a point of contention in particular christian circles because Satan wants to steal the empowerment Jesus means for us to have. He wants to remove the spiritual which draws people to God's goodness and make church a lecture series. This is a living gospel, we need all the tools God means for us to have!
  

Receive the Holy Spirit

In the gospel of John, chapter 20, Jesus formally provides the Holy
Spirit to the apostles. Previously, Jesus had declared certain people
clean, presumably because they were willing to hear what He was
teaching, "because of the word I have spoken to you". It appears that
the giving of the Holy Spirit in John 20 was simply an empowerment, at
least to forgive/retain sins, yet this is the first reference I know of
where Jesus speaks of giving the Holy Spirit to anyone. Nevertheless,
He certainly did.

In the book of Acts, chapter 1, Jesus again speaking to the
apostles, informed them that they should wait in Jerusalem for the
Promise of the Father: the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Obviously this
baptism with the Holy Spirit is a second work of Grace as the apostles
had already received the Holy Spirit from Jesus in Jn. 20.

Acts, chapter 2:1-4 states that "the apostles were all with one accord
in one place (doing what Jesus had commanded) when a sound came from
heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole place where
they were sitting. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
distributed and resting on each of them. And they were all filled with
the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit
gave them utterance".

I have heard ministers say that when you are born again by the Holy
Spirit, you then receive all the Holy Spirit you will need or get.
Clearly the apostles experienced two distinguishable events: after
being made clean by His word that they were willing to receive; they
received the Holy Spirit when He breathed upon them then were baptised
or filled with the Holy Spirit WITH THE EVIDENCE being speaking with
other tongues (differing from their native language). I suggest to you
that each time we speak in tongues, whether in our personal prayer time
or vocally in a church service, God refills us with the Holy Spirit. It
builds us up on our most holy faith! (Jude v.20,21)

What Has Jesus Said to You?

John 11:1-44

The eleventh chapter of John's gospel shows us how Jesus responded to the death of Lazarus. Mary and Martha went to Jesus to inform Him that Lazarus was sick. Jesus responded by informing them the sickness was not unto death. He was dead, but Jesus knew His petition to the Father for Lazarus would be successful: the Father and the Son would be glorified as capable to not only heal but to raise people from the dead. We see in verse 43 that, just as Jesus had said, Lazarus was raised from the dead after four days. Again, Jesus spoke, saying, "Lazarus, come forth!" Jesus has all power in heaven and earth! What He told Mary and Martha was as good when He said it as it was when Lazarus walked out of the grave.

Now let us look at how those who had been around Him responded to His words. His disciples, as well as Mary and Martha, said the following:

v.8  (when Jesus knew it was time to travel back to Judea to help Lazarus) the disciples said to Him, 'Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are you going there again?" (I am guessing that Jesus already knew that.)

v.12  "Lord, if he sleeps he will get well." (Another interpretation I suppose Jesus was aware of. He then had to tell them that Lazarus was dead but would live.)

v.23 Jesus informs Martha that her brother will rise again. Martha goes on to tell Jesus what she knows.

v.32 Now its Mary's turn. She tells Jesus that if He would have been there for them, her brother Lazarus would not have died. The scripture reads that Jesus groaned and wept. I think it is very possible that He was groaning and weeping due to His disciples lack of understanding that what He has spoken will be.

v.37  And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?"

v.39  Jesus begins the resurrection of Lazarus. Mary has more information for Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." Jesus re-explains believing unto glory; thanks the Father and resurrects Lazarus.

Matthew 8:8 shows us that the centurion said to Jesus, "only speak a word, and my servant will be healed". The centurion knew when Jesus spoke, it was good as done. No groaning nor weeping here.

I am in no position to criticize another person: I have had wobbly legs in certain matters just like the disciples. But, thanks be to God, I want to be like the centurion.

"He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges Him- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day." (John 12:48,49)

The Bread of Life

 John 6:48-58

"I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I give is my flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, "how does this man give us His flesh to eat?"

Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I IN HIM. 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 that comes down from heaven-not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."

This is an intense portion of scripture as it directs us to do something which is physically impossible yet obviously is very important to our Master. Jesus reminds the Jewish people that their fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and died. The manna was edible. They gathered it daily and consumed it that day. They had no other food to eat. It was vital to their existence. Jesus is telling the Jewish people(and us) that, if they want to live eternally, they must feed on Him. Eating His flesh and drinking His blood is a way of telling them/us to partake fully of who He is: partake worthily of communion with Him. Now, is it really physical eating and drinking that Jesus is concerned about? He used this analogy because He knew how vital eating/drinking are to life. He knows we want to live yet the way to REAL LIFE is in Him! Ask the Father to reveal to you what it means to eat Jesus' flesh and drink Jesus' blood. I think you will find this is a raw depiction of one who hungers and thirsts for Him!