As I opened Biblegateway.com , my spirit leapt for joy as this scripture jumped off the page at me:
"He has even made us competent to be workers serving a New Covenant, the essence of which is not a written text but the Spirit. For the written text brings death, but the Spirit gives life." 2 Corinthians 3:6 CJB
The phrase 'made us competent' is explained in the preceeding verse with this words, "...our sufficiency and qualifications come from God."[AMP].
[There should be no 'imposter syndrome ' for any worker serving God's new covenant. Why? because our qualification comes from God not men!]
In that same verse, Paul emphasises that our calling as workers in God’s Kingdom in this post Christ's resurrection era, is to serve a NEW agreement (covenant).
The former covenant was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of 'those' scriptures.[Romans 15:4CJB] So we serve the new, while learning from the old.
However, the glory of the old covenant was visible. As long as it was held onto by the children of Israel, it's glory was not ambiguous or hidden, the covenantal exploits of YHWH was visible. The ancient Israelites replayed the acts of YHWH over and over to their children and in their songs/psalms. This gave them their sense of confidence, assurance and trust. YHWH had showed all through the ages that the power of the covenant was not a make-believe agreement with an imaginary God, therefore the people could trust it.
Now I ask in Apostle Paul's words of 2 Corinthians 3:7-11 (CJB):
"Now if that which worked death, by means of a written text engraved on stone tablets, came with glory — such glory that the people of Isra’el could not stand to look at Moshe’s (Moses') face because of its brightness, even though that brightness was already fading away — won’t the working of the Spirit be accompanied by even greater glory?
For if there was glory in what worked to declare people guilty, how much more must the glory abound in what works to declare people innocent! In fact, by comparison with this greater glory, what was made glorious before has no glory now. For if there was glory in what faded away, how much more glory must there be in what lasts."
Paul - a Jew who believed in Jesus Christ as the Messiah- here he argues that if the law and writings of Moses (former covenant) brought a level of the glory (worth, power and effulgence- fragrant beauty) of divinity into the lives and world of the humans to which it was given (Israelites), but yet it (that covenantal dispensation) was to be fulfilled and done away with, how much more will this era of God's spirit working life in all who come to God through the new covenantal relationship in Jesus be much more glorious!
This era (dispensation) of God's grace is the era of his greater glory. Because, "...now, Jesus has received a superior priestly service just as he arranged a better covenant that is enacted with better promises." [Hebrews 8:6]
This new covenant period should marked by a much greater level of glory (worth, power and the effulgence - fragrant beauty) displayed in our world through all Jesus followers.
The glory of God is His will being done on earth, his divine life being displayed in all it's beauty, power and grace. Indeed Jesus showed the foretaste of this glory by his life in grace and dominion over sin (Mark 2:10,Hebrews 4:15), evil, sickness and infirmity (Matthew 8:16), lack (Matthew 17:27) and death (Luke 7:15) as he walked the earth. His disciples exhibited this very glory fulfilling his promise that: "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."John 14:12NIV
May his glory, destined to flow out of every one of us Jesus followers, flow today! May the world see the full display of God in all his dimensions in and through us. In Jesus name amen.
"God’s purpose is now to show the rulers and powers in the heavens the many different varieties of his wisdom through the church".[Ephesians 3:10 CEB]
While the glory of Jesus in his Church is not in the amount of physical riches we display on earth, his divine power overcoming decay, lack, sin and any limitations to the advancement of his Kingdom should be shown through us by his Holyspirit. The glory of Jesus as shown in scriptures is the demonstration of his divinity - this should be visible through the church which is his body.
Paul the Apostle said "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—".
The 'good' in the good news (gospel) we have is that the covenant we have is NEW! It is one based on God's grace/undeserved favour and not based on mere good works. When we preach the tenets of this new covenant, then we can walk confident in the better promises and power it holds.
The British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth lived and preached with power because he understood and believed the biblical message of salvation by Faith that Apostle Paul taught. The most supernaturally powerful ministries preach the new covenant because only empowered people do powerful things. God wants his people empowered with accurate and up-to-date information.
"Those who act wickedly against the covenant he will corrupt with his blandishments, but the people who know their God will stand firm and prevail." Daniel 11:32 CJB
If we teach and model Christ's unconditional Holy Love, we produce a people loved and exhibiting his love.
If we teach the Truth of his divine authority delegated to us his followers, we produce a people secure, exhibiting supernatural authority over all realms.
And if we teach the totality of the truth of the New Covenant, we produce what Jesus produced: disciples full of confident trust, walking in His grace, love and power each day - displaying his glory!
"So trust comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through a word proclaimed about the Messiah." Romans 10:17
Beyond 'my' or 'your' doctrine, it is now time to take advantage of all the biblical insights and ministry gifts, embracing the total body of Truth revealed in the scriptures to build a well rounded and prepared people for the Lord. No part should be overlooked, "until we all arrive at the unity implied by trusting and knowing the Son of God, at full manhood, at the standard of maturity set by the Messiah’s perfection."
These sites are inspirational. Check out:
Soul Suvivivor Watford's https://naturallysupernatural.co.uk/
"In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Luke 22:20 NIV
"Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Revelation 15:4 NIV
"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14 KJV
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20 -21
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