Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Lifting Up Jesus - Giving Credit Where Credit Is Due




“Preach the word!” —2 Timothy 4:2

“We are not saved only to be instruments for God, but to be His sons and daughters. He does not turn us into spiritual agents but into spiritual messengers, and the message must be a part of us. The Son of God was His own message— “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). As His disciples, our lives must be a holy example of the reality of our message. Even the natural heart of the unsaved will serve if called upon to do so, but it takes a heart broken by conviction of sin, baptized by the Holy Spirit, and crushed into submission to God’s purpose to make a person’s life a holy example of God’s message. […]  God’s message in the flesh. “…you shall be witnesses to Me…” (Acts 1:8).  Allow God to have complete liberty in your life when you speak. Before God’s message can liberate other people, His liberation must first be real in you. Gather your material carefully, and then allow God to “set your words on fire” for His glory.” CHAMBERS

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”

It is nice to have people tell you how strong you are in the midst of a trial … but it is better to have people say they see the power of God at work in you as you endure in your trial.  On the one hand we pray to God for help to endure and then on the other, we bathe in the praise and encouragement from others about how we are enduring.  While serving for the past 10 years in some very difficult places in some very difficult circumstances, we have received many words of praise for our service.  What I tell people is that the only credit I can take is saying “yes” to God.  That is not feigned humility, but giving credit where credit is due.  As people watch you live your life .. be certain to point them to the source of your strength … to the One who is the source of the fruit in your life.  Jesus said “If I am lifted up I will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32)  ELGIN

“All In All”

“You are my strength when I am weak.  You are the treasure that I seek.  You are my all in all.  Seeking you like a precious jewel.  Lord to give up, I’d be a fool. You are my all in all. Jesus. Lamb of God.  Worthy is your name.”

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

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