The Mystery Of Faith! - Part 2

.....We have been using our Faith more for temporal things than for Spiritual things. Like driving down the road for instance. We apply our Faith by driving within the lines laid out on the roads everyday, expecting others coming in the other direction, to do the same. We have also used it to measure our life by quality and quantity. Society, as well as the church in general, judges others in this same manner. If they are lacking something in the physical or in their possessions, they say that they are lacking Faith or that there is some kind of sin in their life. They couldn't be further from the truth. In Philippians 4: 11-13, Paul said that he knew what it was like to be abased, and abound, to be full, and to be hungry, to abound, and to suffer need. But the revelation he had after stating that was that he could do all things through Christ who strengthens him. He also learned to be content in whatever state he was currently in. For another example, just go back and read about Job, and what happened to him, and all that he went through. He may have questioned God, but he did not lack Faith.

.....Paul says to look toward the things unseen. His possessions were to get to know God, and find his purpose in life. He was referring to Relationship. A union secured by Faith, in a gift, given by God, according to His Promise, as stated in Romans 4: 13 and Romans 5: 17, "A Promise of Righteousness," being in right standing with God, through Jesus Christ.

Faith puts our trust in God and not in ourselves.

.....An example of this is our Salvation. Our Faith began with Jesus, continues with Jesus, and shall end with Jesus, who is the Alpha, and Omega, the beginning, and the end, the first, and the last.

Faith comes by way of Revelation.

.....Faith initially was designed to respond to God according to "His Divine Will and Purpose" for our life. First, to come to Christ, and second, for completing His Will in our life, establishing the order of God here on this Earth. Revelation of the Truth in us from the Holy Spirit, will always change the natural. Filling us with the fullness of God, taking us, and changing us from Glory to Glory, Ephesians 3: 17-19.

.....God wants us to live out His dream. And that is why He gives us, His children, visions. Acts 2: 17, says that God gives old men dreams, and young ones visions. An example of this is in 1 Chronicles, Chapter 17 and Chapter 22, with David and his son, Solomon, concerning the building of the temple of God. And through the Mystery of Faith, we are to pursue that unseen place in the natural, and make it manifest for all to see on this Earth, bringing Glory to God, who gave us that vision.
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Paul's Thorn

.....Have you ever wondered what Paul's thorn was, or why he had it. I've been meditating on this in my personal studies and would like to share it with you today. Let's start by looking at the Scriptures. 2 Corinthians 12:7 says "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of Revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me (an assault of the enemy). Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in the infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

.....The communication Paul had with God in this instance was an expression denoting fear. An intense wearying, difficulty, or affliction that bothered him enough to ask God for help. God was overseeing the entire process. So that Paul would forever rely on God and not think of himself as a god from the Revelations he was receiving. The thorn represented the curse noted in Genesis 3:18. This is also revealed in Isaiah 55:12-13 and says "For you shall go out with joy and be led out with peace, (God's Joy and Peace). The mountains and the hills ( those things that stand in your way, obstacles), shall break forth into singing (the Joy of the Lord) before you, and all the trees (men) of the field (where the Harvest is) shall clapped their hands (Praise God). Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree (strong men of God, out of the curse, bearing good fruit); and it shall be to the Lord for a name (Jesus), an everlasting sign it shall not be cut off." This symbolically depicts creations (man's) joy at God's redemptive work, the reign of Christ, in Luke 2:13-14, and creation itself being delivered from the bondage of corruption in Romans 8:21.

.....The thorn ultimately served a good purpose, teaching Paul of the overcoming grace, (unmerited favor), of God which was always enough in his own weakness. Note that God did not remove the thorn or indicate that He was upset at Paul for asking and pleading for its removal. God actually responded differently than that in which Paul prayed and expected. Paul ultimately realized that whenever Satan buffets him, either directly as a destructive adversary or indirectly as God's controlled agent, (as with Job) it was always to bring about character development. God's character. That is why all things work for the good of God.

.....So Paul boasted in his infirmities because of the grace in which he received through the understanding of the Finished Work of the Cross, (Christ). God's strength was sufficient enough to enable him to continue in his Apostolic ministry and calling. Nothing could or would stop him to cease serving God. And that is why he was able to take pleasure when he felt personally weak. He had a Revelation that he was strong in Christ.

.....Proverbs 22:5 says "Thorns and snares are in a way of the perverse; but he who guards his soul (mind, will, and emotions,) will be far from them." Life is always in inner battle within the soul. A constant conflict between the demands of passion and the control of reason. I am dead but Christ lives in me. I must renew my mind through the Word of God to the Truth. Bringing about inner perfection, (Salvation of the Soul) and victory. This must be done by relationship not religion.

.....In John 19:2 its says "The soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His (Jesus') head." We know from earlier Scriptures that the thorns represented the curse. And it being placed on his head represents the war that encompasses the mind (the battle within). Jesus took those things that we war against in our minds to the Cross and replaced it with Peace. In John 14:27 its says "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as a world gives (a false sense) do I give you. Let your heart be not troubled, neither let it be afraid." This is the peace that surpasses all understanding. For He himself is our Peace. ( Ephesians 2:14)

.....We must see ourselves Crucified with Christ and Him living in us. He alone can enable us to rise to the standard which He himself has set before us. This is the peace we have by Faith. (Romans 5:1) No matter what thorns, (physical, mental, or spiritual) trials or tribulations we may have in our own lives.
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