Love Fulfilled Ministry

humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that he exalts you in the honorable time - 1 Peter 5:6 Jesus said "whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). "For whoever humbles himself like as this child he exists great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:4). Humility exists a great virtue in heaven. In fact Paul writes Jesus "although he was in the form of God, did not regard equality as God to be eagerly grasping rather he emptied himself taking on the form, born in the likeness of man and found in the form like as a man" (Philippians 2:5-7). How do we become great in the kingdom of heaven? We humble ourselves. How do we humble ourselves?  Your attitude be the same as Christ Jesus although he was in the form of God... he emptied himself... - Philippians 2:5-6 We are to have the attitude and mind of Christ Jesus, it is something we can set our minds upon. But I think humility is much like repentance,...

Therefore if you have been raised with Christ seek that above... the mind above, not of, to the extent of the earth  - Colossians 3:1-2 There is a difference between just thinking on good things (though it is good) and seeking the mind that is above. If we have been raised with Christ seek that above.  What does Paul mean if you have been raised with Christ? Does not the resurrection come later when I am given a new body? True, I await redemption of my body but Paul writes we have been raised with Christ and sit in the heavenlies with him (Ephesians 2:6). This is amazing when you think about it. How can I sit with Christ in the heavenlies and exist in this body at the same time? It is because I am a new creation in Christ, I am now spiritual, thus the spiritual man has been raised with Christ. This is the man I am to seek to become, thus what am I seeking above? The mind above, spiritual, which speaks of being transformed by the renewing of the mind.  Blessed be the God a...

so I find the law when I will to do good, the bad is present in me - Romans 7:21 There are laws in the new covenant, they are not like the handwriting and written code of decrees and elemental principles like the old testament Mosaic law, but nonetheless, there are laws that apply to the Christian life. There is a law of faith that states we are justified by faith apart from works of the Law (Romans 3:27-28). We are under the law of Christ that states we are to bear and fulfill one another's burden (Galatians 6:2; 1 Corinthians 9:21). We are commanded to love thus we are the law of love, which is very important because our faith works through love, and without love, our faith is not true and will not lead us into maturity, sanctification (Romans 13:8,10; Galatians 5:6; Colossians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 13:2). Today, I don't mean to cover all these laws but just a few related to the feature verse, which I am calling the law of carnality. It is important for believers to understan...

we have not ceased praying for you and asking so that filled of knowledge, of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, walking worthy of the Lord, to the extent all pleasing, bearing fruit in all good works and increasing in knowledge of God, empowered in all power according to his glorious might that to the extent all endurance and long suffering, with joy giving thanks... - Colossians 1:9-11 There is a difference between doing good works and bearing fruit of good works. The first puts much emphasis on the flesh, doing works, living to laws, rules, principles, serving, giving... while the later puts emphasis on growth, being filled to the fullness of God where the fruit comes through maturity. When the church is brought to maturity, we are "filled of knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, walking worthy of the Lord." Fullness, "bearing fruit in all good works and increasing in knowledge of God, empowered in all power according to his...