Dying in the Lord~ 16

The excellency of the power is seen to be of God and not of us.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

We who live are always brought down to death in order that the Life of Christ may be available to other people. No matter how educated, talented, or well-intentioned we may be, we have nothing to give that is of eternal worth. It is only as we die that the Virtue of Christ is presented to the needy.

How the world longs to see Jesus! But Jesus is not available in a church that is living in its well-intentioned, religious adamic nature, only in one that has been crucified and raised again in Christ.

God's strength does the work.

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: (2 Corinthians 1:9)

We do not enjoy the process of being brought down to death. We keep attempting to save some part of our doing or thinking. But whatever is gain to us is loss for Christ. God interferes with our life until we are close to despair. We count ourselves as dead.

Then the Lord's power and wisdom are revealed. We are lifted up and brought into a whole new realm of hope and glory.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (1 Corinthians 12:9)

When we are weak, then we are strong. We are strong because God's strength begins to work as we are unable in ourselves to accomplish the tasks set before us. Paul gloried in his distress because the Presence and power of Christ were working in him.

Continued. Dying in the Lord~ 17