For We Can Do Nothing Against the Truth, But For the Truth -- Part 1274

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." (Galatians 4:19)

"And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Now  I beseech you brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints,, that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed." (Romans 15:29-33)

"For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established, that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Now I would not have you ignorant ..." (Romans 1:11-13)

"In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established." (II Corinthians 13:1) That the Word of God, through which we are sanctified, is not taught in error. But rather, "sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy Word is truth." (John 17:17)

And, neither changing the truth of God into a lie, and thus, worshiping and serving the creature more than our beloved Creator. (Romans 1:25)

Instead, we as believers in Jesus by faith, as preachers and teachers, disciples and/or apostles, evangelists and/or prophets, ministers and/or priests of the good news gospel, or elders/deacons within the body of Christ, or those displaying the gifts of the Holy Ghost should not be burdensome, nor seek your's. Did you catch that?

Those who preach the gospel should not be burdensome, NOR SEEK YOUR'S. Instead, as apostle Paul writes -- I seek rather you. As in "you" loving the Lord Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength -- standing in the offering plate, giving of yourself to those things that are right and just. And as such, your heart's desires being openly displayed for the kingdom of God, so that no one within the body of Christ is without. (Acts 2:36-47)

Why did Paul consider this important? Because we are to look after one another, and cherish those who are members of the body of Christ. "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." (I Corinthians 10:24) Note that the word wealth here actually means well-being. We see a similar message in the epistle of Paul the apostle to the Philippians:

"Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." (Philippians 2:2-4)

But there is more.

Apostle Paul added clarity to his message when he continued, saying, "For the children ought not to lay up for the parents but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. But be it so, I did not burden you ..." (II Corinthians 12:14-16)

When we come to Jesus by faith, those who helped us achieve salvation and eternal life should be laying up treasure for you -- not the other way around. This is why apostle Paul repeatedly wrote that he would not have us ignorant and neither would he have us burdened by those in positions of authority -- who being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Romans 10:3)

For example, he wrote, "now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles." (Romans 1:13) Because in Paul's mind, when you accept Jesus into your heart and follow in the apostles doctrine, "ye are our glory and joy." (I Thessalonians 2:19-20)

Further, "for I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in." (Romans 11:25)  Because as new babes in Christ, we need to understand the mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father until the fullness of time had come. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared [him]. (John 1:18) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) And they shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins ... God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)

Moreover, "brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:1-4) Because as Peter (standing with the eleven) on the day of Pentecost instructed the first 3,000 souls saved in this new testament dispensation of grace, we are to repent, and be water baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and that we, as a consequence would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-47)

Again, there is more. 

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." (I Corinthians 12:1) Because there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord, and there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. And that the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal -- whether the word of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, or interpretation -- but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will. (I Corinthians 12:2-11)

And also, apostle Paul warned us not to be ignorant of those who are ignorant.

"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water perished; but the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men, but beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (II Peter 3:1-9)

Therefore, be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour Jesus, who is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) The King of kings and Lord of lords. (I Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16)

As the apostle declared to one and all -- "For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong, and this also we wish [even] your perfection. Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification and not to destruction ... be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you." (II Corinthians 13:9-14)

What does all this mean? That as believers in Jesus by faith we willingly choose to follow our Lord God and Saviour, being clothed in His righteousness through water baptism in His precious name -- the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In essence, we become to the world "fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ. We are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable but we are despised. Even unto this present hour, we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no certain dwelling place, and labour, working with our own hands, being reviled, we bless, being persecuted we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat; we are made as the filth of the world, and are the off scouring of all things unto this day.

I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel ... for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." (I Corinthians 4:10-20)

The message in the first chapter of John could not be any clearer and yet because of traditions of men and a religious culture that tickles men's ears rather than align teachings with the scriptures, we stumble. But for what? If the Word is God and the Word became flesh, then yes, that means God became flesh and dwelt among us. The same God who created the world and all its inhabitants loved you and I so much that He became flesh and took our place of sin on the cross of Calvary. The greatest love story ever told is the story of our Lord God -- the same God in the beginning -- becoming our Saviour.

This is why Jesus is the last name given under Heaven whereby we can be saved. Jesus is the Christ that was foretold by the prophets. Jesus is the Lord God Almighty who both created us and then took on the shame of the cross so that we might have life. There is no other. Indeed, Jesus is Lord! The same begotten that came from the bosom of God for the time that He was on earth has now returned to His throne.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life! A Son only while on earth where the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. Now Jesus is the King of Kings. He is the Spirit that is holy. He is the God who willingly shed His blood for our salvation. Make Jesus King in your life today. And don't let anyone Lord over you, unless they are willing to ensure you find the treasures within the gospel -- that desired tree of life.

Let him/her with ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate with Jesus!