What We Receive From God Is Not Ours To Keep

When in Christ, we are a vessel being filled and overflowing with what is God’s.  As the Lord pours into us, so do we pour out all that the Spirit has given.  Do not worry nor be stingy, you cannot empty what God has to give! 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles,
so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives,
so also through Christ our comfort overflows. ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

In your worst times Christ has lifted you up, in another’s worst time, we are to pour out that same gift to encourage another.  God’s children have by grace and mercy received His Spirit, which fills us with “all comfort” now and for eternity.  The Spirit of God manifests in each believer a bounty of wonderful spiritual gifts (cf., 1 Cor. 12:1-11) that reveal God’s power – His bestowal exceeds what we as a vessel are willing to use. 

 

To those who have been freely given much, to them comes great responsibility, Jesus reminds you and I that, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded” (Luke 12:48).  In our life, full of His Spirit, Jesus reminds us, that “as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew10:7-8 NKJV).

 

Are you only a receiver – a taker – or are you a giver, one overflowing of Christ’s Spirit?  Being crucified to Christ is not being dead, but resurrected to life, and in power having Christ flow over into our lives then, flooded with Christ, we “freely give!”

 

Overflowing,

Owen <><

Perspective: Power or Talk

Christ Jesus has commissioned with his authority, and endowed with power those who are his servants, Christ’s followers. It is for the sake of the Gospel and doing what matters!

You can have rational arguments about Christ, or reveal his power to the sick, possessed, and destitute.    

When in Christ we can pray over the sick, who are then raised and healed; we can pray over the possessed, who are then set free of evil spirits, and we can pray over the destitute, who then receive hope and release form affliction—the authority and power of Christ over the world of Satan is realized. In the Spirit’s power is influence to receive healing, freedom, and hope, such as no mere talk can bring.  A touch by the Holy Spirit's power reveals more than words.

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." 
~ 1 Corinthians 4:20 

Perspective: You can have rational arguments about Christ or reveal his power to the sick, possessed, and destitute. What they see will be the power of Christ, and the Kingdom of God will have gained another child.

In His Power, Owen <><


Scripture:
Authority of Christ: Matt. 28:18, 2 Cor. 5:19b-20      
Power: Mark 16:17-18, Acts 1:8