word – Praying Pint

26. “Even though I am nothing”

2 Corinthians 12:11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works. For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!

Luke 17:10    So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Ephesians 3:8   To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Romans 15:18-19   For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed,  by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ;

What would our lives be like if we would look at all we do, all we are able to do, and all we have done and know in our heart that we are nothing and it is by the grace of God that we exist and are able to do anything at all. Would we act differently? Would we be more thankful? Would we be more humble? Would we be more helpful to others? Would we see others in a different light? It is not a though we should be walking around with our head hung low and seemingly pouting or self-deprecating. Rather, we should walk with our head on straight with the knowledge that we are nothing in the flesh but in the spirit, we are a child of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the flesh we are but a tool of our Lord, that is if we keep the influences of fleshly desires and worldly temptations out of our mind. This is not easy when there is so much technology that feeds anti-christian worldly ideas at lightning speed continuously. There is but one way to keep from being drawn away. Staying in His Word. I am not saying this lightly but that it should be a desire of your soul. Why is this important? Because without feeding and digesting His Word the world has a way of dragging you into its lifestyle and way of thinking. Feeding and digesting His Word will manifest humbleness, trust, obedience, faith, hope, praise, honor, worship, and reliance in Him alone in your life.

25.c. “My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.”

2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Psalms 73:26    My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Isaiah 40:29    He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Psalms 119:81   My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.

Psalms 27:13    I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!

Job 19:26-27   And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,  whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

Isaiah 40:31    but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Psalms 119:71    It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

Psalms 119:67    Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

Psalms 73:24    You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

Having hope and faith in God, and trusting in, relying on, and clinging to Jesus Christ, opens our heart, mind, and soul to eternity. It is not as though we understand it but we are certain of it. We know without a shadow of a doubt that we will be raised from death to life and forever be with Him in His glory. In this understanding, we can rejoice through our flesh is fading away. Can you imagine what it will be like to be in the presence of God and see Him face to face? Standing in the presence of the creator of all there is, the One who knows all of your past and future thoughts and intents, the One who sent His Son to die for you and to redeem you, the one who forgave you of all your sins and has separated them as far as the east is from the west, the One who has taken your blood-red sin-stained soul and washed it white as snow, the One who loved you and made know the mystery of salvation, the One who will raise you up and forevermore you will be with Him in eternity.

We ought to live in light of this and humbly and obediently doing that which honors and glorifies Him alone.

22.k. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, or self.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Colossians 3:17    And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Peter 4:11   whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Colossians 3:23   Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Philippians 1:10    so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Do you give thought to “all that you do”, you are doing for the glory of God? How much of each of our days are spent without the thought? If God and His Word are not consistently within our thoughts we can be certain then honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ is not being honored. We may do good things that honor Him but if the intent is not to honor Him by what we are doing then we miss honoring and glorifying Him. A good place to start is by practicing the presence of Jesus Christ. For sure He is always present but are our actions, thoughts, and tendencies reflecting we are aware.

21.r. “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

Corintians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Jeremiah 8:9 The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?

Psalms 119:98-100 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.

When we hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ there are many implications to consider. The path of wisdom begins by believing in God with reverent fear and confident trust and reliance. The path of foolishness denies and rejects that God exists and has reached out to mankind and made himself known to His creation.

The path of wisdom becomes aware of sin and confesses, repents, and turns away from it. The path of foolishness rejects and denies sin has eternal consequences.

The path of wisdom feeds on the Word of God and continues to desire and seek to humbly know, honor, and glorify God by and through His Word. The path of foolishness rejects the Word of God and denies it has any power or wisdom.

The path of wisdom seeks God first and tries to understand the world we live in through Him. The path of foolishness seeks worldly wisdom first and then tries to prove and eliminate anything of God.

The path of wisdom begins with and ends with God. Any attempt to find wisdom apart from Him is foolishness. When a heart seeks and desires wisdom from God, God will give it. Trying to find wisdom in God’s word but never spending any time in or meditating upon it is foolish.

21.l. “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,  comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

John 14:27   Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Isaiah 55:12   “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace

Galatians 5:22    But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Where has peace and joy gone? Have they been taken away? Where does a person find peace and joy? If you are hoping to find a measure of peace by staying tuned into the latest news outlets, I am afraid it will not be found. What will be found is story after story of accidents, wars, hatred, or fear. If you are hoping to find peace by staying tuned into the latest Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram posts, once again, I doubt you will find it. You may find some semblance of peace in the lives of those who post how wonderful their life is. Many times you will find those who bash this and that and drive division and confusion which leads to no peace or joy. Do you ever wonder why we spend so much time on things that will not bring peace or joy but certainly do bring the opposite? Chasing after peace and joy in what the world offers will leave you empty and wanting.

Paul tells us that peace and joy come through the grace of God by believing in Jesus Christ and it is in this hope we find true peace and joy. It does not mean that we are going to go through this life without trials and troubles but rather, when we do we have hope in the God of all creation, all-powerful, all-knowing, and always present with us, we will find peace and joy that satisfies our souls and is able to make us rejoice and stand firm knowing He is in control. It is when we take our eyes off of Him and place them on things of this world that peace and joy a far from us.

20.r. “Let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.”

Romans 11:20 They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness.

James 2:19     You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Hebrews 3:12     Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

Revelation 3:17     For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Hebrews 3:19   So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

Hebrews 4:6     Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

Hebrews 4:11   Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

Isaiah 66:2    All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

Hebrews 4:1     Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

Paul said, “note the severity and kindness of God”. We have a natural thought that clings to God’s kindness but sidelines and thoughts to His severity of judgment, wrath, and anger. We cling to “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” but we give little thought of His wrath and anger against unbelief, trust, faith, and obedience in/on Jesus Christ. Paul saw how easy it was for believers to fall into disobedience. He saw how they became complacent and neglectful of things of God. They became lukewarm towards seeking and desiring to honor and glorify Him. Over and over again Paul urged people to remain steadfast and to not forget the grace, mercy, kindness, and love of God. Paul had to be dismayed when he would return to towns he had once been and had seen great numbers of people believe in Jesus Christ, only to find they had become neglectful and complacent in their devotion to God. Paul so how easy it was for the heart of man to fall away from being fully committed and living for God every moment of every day. God’s kindness and severity remain true and steadfast. We do well to our hearts, minds, soul, and our daily lives in line with the Word of God at all times lest we become disobedient through neglect and complacency.

20.l. “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.” But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, “I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry.” Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Luke 16:29-31 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

1 Corinthians 1:18-24 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

If salvation is so simple, available to all who trust in the person and work of Jesus, then why do so many reject, deny, or neglect it? Saving faith comes through hearing by the word of God. Though people hear or read about the Gospel of Jesus Christ they do not exercise saving faith in Christ – making them (and us) all the more responsible. How much more responsible is a person for their rejection of the Gospel once they have heard it? This is a bit of a dilemma for me. On one hand they hear it, but unless their heart is open to receiving understanding and wisdom from God about it it will be just words on paper or sounds in the air. On the other hand when their heart is open to the gospel God exposes their hearts, minds, and souls to the Gospel (hearing or reading) something utterly changes – they understand sin, their sin and separation from God, and God’s plan and purpose of salvation, redemption, and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. This point in a persons life is where they will either humbly surrender all self-reliance and self-worth and believe in/on Jesus Christ. In their hearts, minds, and souls they are changed. They have gone from being condemned to redeemed, unforgiven to forgiven, guilty to innocent, hell bound to heaven. This is what the Gospel will do to a person when they act on the wisdom and understanding given by God to them. It is true to many good people never see the need for Jesus Christ. They have determined in their heart that they are good enough and worthy of heaven. The destiny of all people, both good and bad, is eternal hell.

20.k. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:8 “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Mark 16:15-16    And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Acts 10:43   To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Galatians 3:5    Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith

Acts 13:38-39    Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,  and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

I must admit I am intrigued by the difference between believing and believing in and on Jesus Christ. I imagine there are those who believe Jesus Christ. They believe He is the Son of God. They believe He was sent by God. They believe He died and rose again. They believe He is coming again. The believe there is a heaven and a hell. They believe the bible is God’s Word. They believe doing good is right. They believe in some form of justice for the guilty and innocent. And yet, for all of this belief, they fall short of what it means to believe on/in Jesus Christ. The difference is they believe about Him but not in/on Him. One is an intellectual understanding, belief, and knowledge of the subject – Jesus Christ. To believe in/on Jesus Christ is completely different. It is life -changing, life-altering, life-leading, and true peace and joy giving faith. The bible says this is being born again, made new, and being a new creation. This newness of life comes from believing in, trusting in, clinging to, relying on, surrendering and yielding to, and obeying Jesus Christ. A persons life is changed.

I fear many believe that the work of Jesus Christ was a blanket forgiveness over all of mankind’s sins and that all who do good things in this life will go to heaven. They live good lives and can be kind and loving but they never really see a personal need for personal forgiveness of their personal sin. Their belief in the blanket covering has blinded their personal need for forgiveness.

Ask God to reveal to your heart if you are believing in/on Jesus Christ or believing about Him. Only a heart seeking for God to open their hearts, minds, and souls to the wisdom and understanding for the need for forgiveness will see Jesus Christ as redeemer and savior. It is in this understanding that belief about changes to believing in/on Jesus Christ through faith and trust. The difference is that this God-given wisdom and understanding will lead to a person calling out to Jesus Christ to save them. There should be no doubt in your heart, soul, and mind about this.

18.x. “I have given them your word”

John 17:14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

“See how the Lord Jesus himself takes all his teaching from the Father. You never hear from him any boast about being the originator of profound thoughts. No, he just repeated to his disciples the words he had received from the Father: ‘I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me.’ If Jesus acted thus, how much more must the messengers of God receive the word from the Lord’s mouth, and speak it as they receive it!” (Spurgeon)

The whole revelation of God was and is manifested in the words, works, and actions of Jesus Christ. We would be in spiritual darkness without the revealed Word in Jesus Christ and the written Word of God. We are called to bring and reflect the Light of Jesus Christ into the darkness of this world. We do this for His honor and glory. Our goal is to be in the world but not of it or of the evil one. We are not to be fearful of this darkness. We are not to be surprised by the evil one directing the dark and evil deeds of those who are his captive. We are to live with a desire to continue to grow in our understanding and knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are to live with a continued desire for His Word. We are to live with a desire to be obedient, faithful, and reliant on Him. How can this be if we choose to become complacent and neglectful of the very Word that will continue to grow us in this understanding? Christianity is not a course we take for a semester and think we have acquired knowledge for a lifetime. A believer is forever in study, forever gaining knowledge, and forever becoming so that no matter how dark the darkness is, people will see the light of the Gospel and give glory and honor to Jesus Christ.

18.w. “Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

John 17:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

1 Peter 1:20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

The life of Jesus was a manifestation of God’s glory, and the disciples beheld this glory (John 1:14).

Jesus only ever sought the glory of His Father (John 7:18, 8:50).

God the Son seeks to glorify God the Father (John 12:28).

God the Father glorifies God the Son (John 13:31-32).

Jesus could not truthfully or sanely pray this if He were not Yahweh Himself, equal with God the Father. In Isaiah 42:8 and 48:11, Yahweh proclaimed that He shares His glory with no one. If God the Father and God the Son share their glory, they must both be Yahweh.

“He had one main petition: that the Father would receive him back to the glory he had relinquished to accomplish his task. This petition for a return to his pristine glory implies unmistakably his preexistence and equality with the Father. It confirms his claim that he and the Father are one (John 10:30).” (Tenney)