REPEATING WHAT JESUS DID
PART 2
MF Blume
January 17, 2016
2 Corinthians 4:6-18 For God, who commanded the light to shine
out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
(7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (8)
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed,
but not in despair; (9) Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast
down, but not destroyed; (10) Always bearing about in the
body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be
made manifest in our body. (11) For we which live are alway
delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might
be made manifest in our mortal flesh. (12) So then death
worketh in us, but life in you. (13) We having the same
spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore
have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; (14)
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also
by Jesus, and shall present us with you. (15) For all
things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the
thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. (16) For
which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the
inward man is renewed day by day. (17) For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (18) While we look
not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:
for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are
not seen are eternal.
While ministering this message last week, the Lord showed us this world is as dark as when God first spoke light into existence.
• But God spoke light in our hearts and wants it to come forth from our hearts.
• First he had to see our veil over our hearts removed to get the light inside us.
• Now that it’s in, it needs to come out IN MINISTRY.
• And the enemy will do anything to stop that from happening.
• He causes us to focus on SELF.
• Chapter 3 shows it coming in when we turn our hearts to Jesus.
• Chapter 4 shows the need for it to come out.
• And God allows struggles to strike us to help it come out.
Paul was unstoppable because he realized the purpose God had in allowing struggles.
• If we get so caught up with the struggles themselves, they’ll overcome us.
• So Paul is helping us learn what made him so powerful.
• Paul considered all this struggles as means to help the earthen vessel break open.
• There is a bigger purpose than just us.
• And people who never take Christ’s
command to take their crosses and deny themselves will never catch it.
• They’ll be too concerned over themselves
and temporary pleasure to continue through these struggles.
Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set
on an hill cannot be hid. (15) Neither do men light a
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth
light unto all that are in the house. (16) Let your light
so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify
your Father which is in heaven.
The bushel is our flesh.
In order to go through things, we have think of a greater purpose than pleasure for ourselves.
It’s not hard when we really grasp how much better it is for us to suffer and see a greater result.
Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in
us.
Hebrews 12:1-13 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the
sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the
race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God. (3) For consider him that
endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be
wearied and faint in your minds. (4) Ye have not yet
resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (5) And ye have
forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My
son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou
art rebuked of him: (6) For whom the Lord loveth he
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (7)
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what
son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (8) But if ye be
without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards,
and not sons. (9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our
flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much
rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
(10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own
pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his
holiness. (11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to
be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the
peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby. (12) Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down,
and the feeble knees; (13) And make straight paths for your
feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it
rather be healed.
We’re dealing with the urgent need for us to realize sufferings
are all overseen by God for the purpose of getting this light out of
our earthen vessels.
• And secondly there is a GREATER OUTCOME than
any degree of self denial we have to possess, by comparison.
Matthew 10:38-39 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth
after me, is not worthy of me. (39) He that findeth his
life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find
it.
It’s everywhere.
Luke 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Disciples are people disciplined by His teaching.
• We must allow this discipline.
2 Cor 5: (15) For all things are for your sakes, that the
abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the
glory of God. (16) For which cause we faint not; but though
our outward man perish, yet the inward (WHERE LIGHT IS) man is renewed
day by day. (17) For our light affliction, which is but for
a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory; (18) While we look not at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are
temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Don’t look at the struggle in front of you.
• Look at what Jesus did.
• Something not there, but AFTER and a RESULT OF the suffering of the breaking.
AND THE MIDIANITES WILL BE DESTROYED IN YOUR LIFE!
Satan cannot relate to self-denial, and cannot understand resurrection.
• You experience a spiritual resurrection when
you suffer in struggles and do what’s right by remembering what
Jesus remembered…
• A seed is all alone unless is falls into the ground and dies to bring forth SO MUCH MORE THAN ITSELF.