Morning Moments

1 Tim. 3:16 (KJV)
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

THE PROCLAMATION - "preached unto the Gentiles"

If you had died and were raised from the dead wouldn't you want everyone to know about it? Not so with Jesus, which is another attestation of His deity. God doesn't do things as we do. Jesus appeared after His ressurection only to a few of His followers.

Think about this: Jesus limited the number of apostles to twelve. Jesus limited His travel to a small area of the world. Jesus limited His Deity to express REAL humanity. Jesus limited His message to Jews. Jesus lived a limited life in so many ways, but at Pentecost, He unleased Himself to all humanity by arranging the means of humans to reach humans in a power humanity has never known. From that moment on He, to whom ALL authority is given in heaven and earth, has been preached among the Gentiles and the Jews. We are ONE IN CHRIST so that now there IN HIM is neither Jew nor Gentile.

God designs man through the new birth to be an expression and example of God's life in human beings. Let that sink in. GOD WHO IS LIMITLESS LIVES IN ME BECAUSE JESUS LIMITED HIMSELF AS GOD TO BECOME THE ONLY PERFECT HUMAN BEING TO EVER QUALIFY TO BE THE SUBSTITUTE FOR MY SINS. Nobody else could do it, so He emptied Himself for me that He might with Himself fill me! Now that my friend should make any dead baptist shout:)

THE REGENERATION - "believed on in the world"

Regardless of our color, culture, customs, gender, or whatever other differences there may be naturally, the one thing that can unite all humanity is the new birth which comes only through abandoning ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Let me be clear about this. Jesus said that if you save your life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for Him and the gospel, you will find it. NO EXCEPTIONS! It is a life for a life...your life for His life.

You can play around if you want to with symantics but the truth is there is a straight gate and a narrow way and FEW there be that find it. Copy that Houston?

We have created a sub culture in Christianity of easy believism that is not consistent with the Word of God. One who is genuinely REGENERATED can never be the same again. It may not make us sinless yet, but it makes us want to be and THAT is real faith in Jesus Christ. Anything else is a cheap substitute and a quick fix.

This is why we are willing to go where ever in the world, sleep on the ground, marbel and concrete floors, and whatever else it takes to get the message of the regenerating power of the gospel out. The Scripture says that the New Testament Church went everywhere preaching and teaching to gospel. Everybody did it. What's our problem?

EXALTATION - "received up into glory"

If you could only feel the excitement and joy running through my body right now! It ain't emotional my friend, it is spiritual. Because He became what I was - SIN (He became sin for us...not sinner, but sin), that I through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, might become what He is - RIGHTEOUS! Man that's righteous! He did not make me deity, but He made me a vessel for deity through the new birth. I am IN Him and He is IN me.

He who ascended sent His Holy Spirit to make me the habitation of God. I can hardly contain myself with these thoughts. TO HIM be praise and honor and glory and power and dominion, both NOW AND FOREVER world without end!

BLESSINGS!
All this summed up in one verse. Only God could be so pithy.