Haggai
2:5
‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
Jeremiah
31:25
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
2
Corinthians 4:8
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair…
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair…
Most
of us will never face the kind of opposition Paul faced on behalf of the
Gospel. However, there are many Christians worldwide who are persecuted for
their belief in the good news concerning Jesus Christ, our Lord. For those of
us who don’t face such persecution, what is the take away? Here’s one: I’ll
come away a stronger Christian. Indeed, I’ll turn my back on the paltry
challenges and pithy struggles I go through daily to turn my heart and my focus
toward my brothers and sisters in distant lands who are being hunted and killed
because they name the Name of Christ. I’m speaking specifically of our brethren
in Iraq, who are facing dire persecution. But it’s not only Christians in Iraq
that are being persecuted, there are missionaries worldwide who suffer for
Christ’s sake. Those of us who don’t suffer the threat of physical harm are
reminded to….. pray. Pray to God on behalf of those who suffer for Christ’s
sake. Really pray. Pray until something happens. Pray until something changes.
Pray until God shows up. Pray. It’s sobering to think that our prayers will
mean the difference between life and death for so many. Paul understood this.
Paul
understood that the Church at Corinth had to be refocused, repurposed toward
the weightier things of the Kingdom of God. There’s on ongoing struggle, a war,
if you will. Corinth experienced some of this in their church, but then they
got the opportunity to go home and sleep in their own bed, with and near people
who loved them. So do we. We struggle with besetting sin and church issues but
then, we get to go home and sleep in our own beds, relatively safe compared to
many Christians enduring persecution. Now is the time for us to be repurposed,
refocused toward the persecuted people of God. Can you feel it? That call
toward spiritual focus on the purposes of God. How… refreshing. How cleansing.
When our perspective is corrected, how clearly we suddenly see… Amen.
2
Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Isaiah
45:3
I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
As Paul offers this tome of forgiveness and
restoration, he reminds his readers that the entire purpose of our existence is
to proclaim the glory of Christ Jesus. “It’s not about me.” It’s not. It’s
about Jesus. It’s that message that the enemy seeks to blunt, confuse and
ultimately, destroy. But it can’t be done. Jesus has pressed His precious
Spirit into fragile, temporal, perishing earthen vessels. When these vessels
are pressed, His Glory, His Majesty, His Power pour out. His Mercy, His Love,
His Grace are made manifest. When that happens… the vessels are glorified. They
take on the beauty of the Spirit within them. We glorify the broken vessels
among us. The broken vessels glorify Christ. They and we reveal one of the
mysteries of the Gospel, God’s Holy Spirit in Man. Glorious! And when His
Spirit, the Holy Spirit is poured out of us, Christ is glorified. How beautiful
are the feet of those who preach this Gospel of Peace..
Romans
10:15
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
Isaiah
52:7
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
So then, Paul encourages the believers at Corinth through his trials and
tribulations. His ‘death’, figuratively speaking would cause ‘life’ in the
being of his readers. Refocused, repurposed, refreshed, the Church at Corinth
could now rise out her ashes, out of her pain into the gloriousness befitting
the ‘Bride of Christ’. His words still serve that same purpose: to raise us out
of our individual miseries to be a part of the glorious bride that He is
returning for. Beloved, with that in mind, let us remember our brothers and
sisters facing persecution around the world, keeping them lifted and
encompassed in prayer. One day, one glorious day sometime ahead, you may find
that, in the few brief moments when they weren’t struggling for survival, they
prayed….. for us.
2
Corinthians 4:15
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Joel
2:13
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Selah…
.wb
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