This confidence
2 Cor. 3:1-5 1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 4And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: 5Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.
Paul writes to the church at Corinth, you are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men.
The bible says that we are in this world, but not of this world. Which means that while we are here on this earth, we are the representatives of Christ. We are the body of Christ. You may be the only Jesus that some people ever get to see.
Many of us work with, or run into on a regular basis, people who are not “in church”. That is why it is important that we try to live as Christians.
It is a popular form of teaching today, that when you accept Christ as Lord and savior, that you keep it to your self, and try to live good, and be nice, and after that, you can do pretty much whatever you want to.
Live how you want, mon-through Saturday, but on Sunday be on your best behavior.
But this type of teaching is dangerous to you, and everyone around you.
Jesus said in the great commission, in Mark-“ Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”
Matthew- Go then and make disciples of all nations....
Our Job as Christians, is to make other Christians. To reproduce in the earth, which is Gods ultimate design.
The importance of living a Christian life, effects more than just you. In fact, its not all about you. Its about standing in place of Jesus for other people.
You never know, how other people watch you. You never know, what other people look at, and how closely they examine your life.
The reason why we are scrutinized so heavily, is not because people are just trying to find a fault with you, but it is because they are looking for answers. They are looking for help. They are looking for direction.
Paul said you are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men. As you call yourself a Christian, you automatically are subjecting yourself to be read. Just like an open book.
You are the next book in the bible.
That is why it is so important to be led of the spirit of God in everything that we do. They that are led by the spirit of God, shall be called the sons of God.
Jesus said in John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.#
This is how you recognize someone who has the Holy Ghost living on the inside of them, because they do not take the credit for the things that they do, but they give all the glory to God.
Jesus said when the spirit of truth has come, he shall not speak of himself, but shall speak what he hears of the father.
Galatians 5:18 says- If you are led by the spirit, then you are not under the law.
As a new creature in Christ Jesus, old things pass away, behold all things become new. We’ve talked about how it is a process for someone to grow in the Lord, and it is. It is a transformation which does not occur overnight. In fact when we first get saved, we should walk around with signs on that way work in progress.
The most important thing that we can do as Christians, is to be led by the spirit of God. To allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us in everything that we do.
In order to do this, a lot of times we have to block out people that we really care for. This is one of the hardest things that you can do. But there are some decisions in life that you can not rely upon mom en them for the answer.
Because most of the time whether it is friends or family, they try to give advice based on personal experience, but the advice that we need comes form God, and God alone.
Again the most vital piece of information that I could ever give you as a Christian, is to be led by the Spirit of God.
It is extremely dangerous to ignore his voice. I went to look at a job......the lord said move.....then he said stay.....I cant figure out what has happened to my business, i moved 2 counties, but might have well been 2 states. This man is a pastor.
Often times we mistake the voice of God, for our own desires. We think that something sounds so great, until we eventually convince ourselves that this must be God’s will.
I have a friend who continually contradicts himself, and says it is the Lord. He will tell of a dream that he has, and twist it to make it fit his own desires.
We must be careful to listen closely to the voice of the spirit.
How do you know its the spirit, and not yourself ????
A sure test to see the source of the voice, is to see if it lines up with the word of God. If you feel something in your spirit, and it lines up with God’s word, then it is the leading of the spirit.
Jesus said the comforter, who comes after me, will guide you in all truth.
Paul said to the church of Ephesus, I pray That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.
Elijah was listening for the voice of God when he said, He was not in the fire, not in the storm, not in the earthquake, but in a still small voice.
It doesn’t have to be a loud thunderous boom, or the sound of mighty waters, but often times, God speaks to us in a small still voice.
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things that God has in store for those who love him, but he has revealed them unto us by his spirit.
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.
