POWER AVAILABLE TO THE BELIEVER

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT       (ed. 3.1.13)          July 4, 2012

To say the Holy Spirit is ignored  in many evangelical settings today
is an understatement,  but this is plainly the case.   We give lip service 
to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as  we assemble,   regularly,
but since the Holy Spirit is by His very nature mysterious,  there is no 
understanding of  His work.  This seems to  be the cause  for  the reti-
icence on the part of believers to share in His  unlimited  potential.  If 
we do not understand a process or principle, we tend to avoid use of it.
So, we are limited  in our relationship to this third person of  God.

     What  makes  the Spirit’s  work  among us  so vital  is; when  Jesus 
returned  to the Father,  He sent His Spirit to do  His work among us? 
He is not a different God, but the same God as is God the Son,  (Jesus 
Christ) and God the Father.   In one place in Scripture,  Christ  makes 
this statement, “God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must wor-
ship Him in  Spirit and in truth.”  (John 4: 24)  He was explaining to a
woman at the well in  Samaria about a  change coming in the  worship 
of God.  God is Spirit.  He cannot be contained in buildings made with 
hands, or confined  in any way.  Further aspect  of this is; the Spirit is 
God  without  the limitations placed  upon  Jesus Christ as He  walked  
among  men.   Because of  the  incarnate  state,  His  humanity,  Jesus
could be in only one place at a time.  He was subject to the bodily pro-
cesses, temptations and  requirements as are we.  In order  to identify
with  mankind,  bear our sin and remain in a sinless state, Christ  was
was housed in a human  body.  His work has been done here;  we now 
deal with the same God, but without those limitations.  (A clarification
to this fact, would be:  There is mystery  about  this incarnation,  since
Jesus Christ  did  supersede  these  limitations  at  times.  He displayed
the  ability to do  miracles and had a unique  relationship to the Father
unknown to  humanity.  Is it possible He was showing us the potential 
we also have, with the Father?  Do we limit ourselves by our failure to
exercise the  faith and power  He had  through "prayer and fasting?"  
Read Matthew 17: 14-23.  

       Let’s look into advantages we now have  since ourn lives are guided 
by the God of the universe, The Spirit of God.  (Remember Jesus stated
as above,  “God  is  Spirit...”)  Is the essence of  God the Father  that of
Spirit?   The question came to mind the first time it registered with me 
that  Christ  had said,  God is Spirit.  This  might be answered by some-
one more knowledgeable than I and possibly deferred to the hereafter. 
One thing  we can clarify is the fact;  God the Father, God the Son and 
God  the  Spirit are one.  There is  only one God.  The other  fact is,  at 
times,  in Scripture,  God is stated as  plural;  “Let us make man in our
image...” Genesis 1: 26.  This is  apparently  a reference  to God, three 
in one. 

The word “Trinity” is not used in Scripture.   It is  the invention of one 
who has  studied the Scripture, thinking a term  needed  to  be created 
describing three persons in one.  The term is widely  accepted by Bible 
scholars, but is not stated, per say, in Scripture.  Because of this, some
refuse to accept the doctrine of the Trinity. That will have to be settled 
in eternity.  (Since I am not a "Scholar," by any stretch, my view is not
relevant.)

Jesus Christ, prior to His ascension,  was able to influence his  hea-
rers. Now, the Holy Spirit of Christ indwells believers.  He, from inside,
inspires and empowers.  He stated, believers  would  do greater works
than He did.  (John 14: 12) The only way  that could be possible is  the 
limitless power of the Spirit of the same Christ following his Ascension

     What then,  is the work of  this one called  God the Spirit?  Staying 
with Scripture, we find God’s Holy Spirit convicts sinners, John 16: 8,  
comforts the saints, John 16: 7, shows  us  truth, John 16:13, reminds 
us of what we have in the Scripture, John 14:25, and at times gives us
words  to say in defense of our life of  faith in Jesus Christ.  (Mark 13: 
11) The Spirit knows us and helps with our inabilities, offering gifts to 
be  used in service to our God, Acts 2:4 and empowers our words. 
Romans 15:19 

    All of this work of the Spirit is contingent upon our being in the will 
of God  revealed in  Scripture.  There is also the work of  the  Spirit in 
prayer.  He is said to come along side as we pray when we do not know 
for  what to pray or are  without  words,  "He  prays  the Father  in our 
stead."  Romans 8: 26-27.  One word of caution:  The Berean  Church 
in Acts  had a noble  congregation who,  when they heard  the Apostle 
Paul , searched Scripture to see if his teaching were true and in agree-
ment with the Old Testament.  Acts 11:17.  I trust we are of noble cha-
racter and will imitate them.  The only way for one to  make Scripture 
come alive is to search God's Word, personally.  God  has children; no 
grandchildren.  Each of us is to have a personal relationship with God 
the Father in the name of Christ with the enlightenment and power of 
the Spirit.  More information on the "Gifts  of  the Spirit,"  are  seen in 
Chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians.  For  more on  the "Fruit of  the  Spirit" in
the  life  of   believers,  as  opposed  to  the "Works  of  the  flesh,"  see 
Galatians 5: 16-25.  A word of clarification is appropriate at this point. 
Some groups consider the fullness of the Spirit to be synonymous with 
the baptism of the Spirit.  For our purposes here, we consider baptism 
of the Spirit as separate and occurring at the time of regeneration of a 
new believer.  As you will see, the Apostles directed persons who were
born again to be filled with  the Spirit but  no one  was ever  advised in 
Scripture to be baptized of the Spirit.    

In Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians,  he directed the church there to 
be filled, controlled and empowered,  by the Holy Spirit of God rather 
than drunk, (controlled and powered) on  alcoholic  beverages. There 
are passages we may take from here and  there to determine how this 
may be accomplished, but since it is obviously the will of God for us to 
be filled with His  Spirit, we can pray for  this filling and be sure it will 
occur.  As we  look in 1 John 5: 14-15  we see when we ask anything of 
the Father knowing it to be His will,  He hears our prayer and fills our 
 request.  (Sometimes we have to wait for answer.)  These are the first 
parts of the process of being  filled with the Spirit.   He has directed us 
to be  filled with the  Spirit in Ephesians and  in 1 John 5,  He said He 
will  honor our  petition in accordance with His will.  There is another 
part to being filled with the Holy Spirit.  The Lord will not fill unclean  
vessels with the Spirit. This gives us another key; repentance from sin  
or the works of the flesh.  Bill Bright,  founder of Campus Crusade for 
Christ, explained it as “Spiritual breathing.”   By repenting and confes-
 sing our sin,  we exhale the evil.  By asking our God to fill us with  His 
Spirit,  we are inhaling the Lord.  This word picture helps us to under-
stand the process of being filled with the Spirit.  It  is a mystery requi-
ring faith in the one who promised His Spirit to the one who asks.

        Secondly, as in Ephesians, we are directed to walk in the Spirit of 
God.  This is accomplished after the act of “Spiritual Breathing,” as we
take a step of faith,  acting on something we know to be God’s will  for 
our lives.  This step should be taken, immediately after the experience 
of the filling of  the Spirit.  It might be the act of witnessing to a friend, 
giving your personal testimony or by simply making a  gift to the Lord.  
One reason for making a gift to the Lord as our first act of “Walking in 
the Spirit” is, in Malachi we are given a means of trying the Lord. (See 
Malachi 3: 8-12)  In this way we see the result of walking in the Spirit.  
I know of  no other place in Scripture  where we are  directed to  “try”  
God to see Him  fulfill a promise.  There are other disciplines we may 
practice  “in the Spirit,”  unavailable to us before being filled with the 
Spirit.  However;  everything  done in  the  power of  God  is  of  faith.  
"Without  faith it  is impossible to  please  God...,  Hebrews 11: 6.)   A 
believer filled with  the Spirit of  God will, by faith, be able to love the 
unlovely,  believe things that with  men are impossible,  and see good  
things accomplished  in his life;  not possible before.  This is not blind
faith,  but is specifically  faith in  the Lord Jesus Christ.  In  faith,  the 
believer’s  Spiritual eyes will be opened and the mind of  Christ  made 
available  to him.  The list of  acts done,  by  faith in  the  power of  the 
Spirit might read as follows:

                                                  
                                                Witness by Faith
                                                   Love by faith
                                Walk by faith in the power of the Sprit
                                       Expanded belief in the impossible
                                          Answers to the prayer of faith
                                  Understanding the Word of God by faith
                                             Teaching others by faith
                                         Reception of Gifts of the Spirit
                                  Overcome sinful practices through faith
                                                      New Joy in life
                                            Divine assurance of salvation
                       Living in conformity to God’s plan and purpose for life.

      As you can see by this short  list of blessings received through being 
filled by the  Spirit of God;  there are many things we expected to come
through faith in Christ that were not happening prior to  being  filled 
by His Holy Spirit.  If we are attempting to  live the Christ  life without 
the fullness of His Spirit, we are still in the flesh and can have no assu-
rance of  our salvation.  Everything we do as  Children of God  is  by 
faith, Christ in us.  Our prayer to be filled with the Spirit  might entail  
the act of confession and repentance of our known sins, in agreement 
with God, and believe He has forgiven our sins. 1 John 1:9 "If we  con-
fess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us
 from all unrighteousness," and  petition the Lord  to Fill us with  His 
Spirit.  We might then,  give thanks to  the Lord  for forgiving  our sin  
 for filling us with His Spirit.  Afterwards,  will  come the  act  of faith;  
the  important first  step in "Walking in  the Spirit of  God.”   “For  as 
many as are led  by the Spirit of God,  they are  the sons of God.” See 
Romans 8:14.  The implication is clear,  if one is not  being led  by the  
Holy Spirit  there  can be no assurance he is a son, or in Christ.  

        Reading  the verses following,  points out  this very thing.  “The 
Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” 
(Romans 8:16)  This is the calm  assurance from within of our salva-
tion in our Lord Jesus Christ and we can  confidently face any situa-
tion in life knowing our eternal destination has been secured in Him 
and does not rest in anything we are, we do; have done. As we grow 
in our walk with the Savior,  we may or may not become scholars or  
Bible teachers.  We will become disciples of Christ and in turn begin 
to  disciple  others.  (Matthew 28: 19-20)   This  is not  a suggestion, 
 but a commission, or command.
   
For further study on the Work of the Holy Spirit:
Ephesians 5: 18, We are to be filled with the Spirit.
John 7: 37-39, The Spirit Gives life.
John 16: 12-14, The Spirit glorifies the Son and reveals truth.
Romans 15: 16, The Holy Spirit sets believers apart for service.
Hebrews 13: 1-6, The Holy Spirit will never forsake the believer.
Luke 11: 13, God gives His Spirit to those who ask...
       (We must never think of the Holy Spirit as  being anyone
           but the Lord God.  God Is a Spirit, The Spirit of Jesus
            Christ and God the Holy Spirit.  One entity or person)

donporter July 4,2012  (edited 11.11.14, 3.09.17

Psalms 19: 1, "The heavens declare the glory of God, And the
                             firmament shows His handiwork." (NKJV)

ARE YOU "IN CHRIST?" ESSENTIAL!!

  Romans 8                                                                     July 31, 2012

       “There is therefore now no condemnation to  those who are in 
Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according 
to the Spirit.”  
        "For the law of  the Spirit of  life in Christ  hath made me free
from the law of sin and death."  Romans 8: 1-2

  This is really good  news, and on further examination of  Romans 8 
we find  many other such passages that are good news to those of us 
who are in Christ, having left off walking according to the dictates of 
this mortal body.  We have abandoned works on our own behalf and 
in fellowship with our  Heavenly Father are walking by faith,  not  by 
sight.  Here  is a list of  news-bites included in this passage  from  the 
pen of the Apostle Paul,  as led by the Holy Spirit,  enlarging on  the
four  gospels.  Here  the Apostle explores the significance of Christ’s  
sacrificial  death on  the cross, and the benefit  to those who  walk in 
the Spirit.
 vs. 1. In Christ we are free from the condemnation of the law, sin 
          and death.
vs. 2.   The Spirit  has made me  free from  the law of  sin and death.
vs. 3-4. He has fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law in us.
vs. 5-6. As we walk in the Spirit, He gives us life and peace.
vs. 7-11. In Christ, the body of flesh is reckoned dead, but we are alive
               in Him.
vs. 12-14 We are led by the Holy Spirit and are sons of God.
vs. 15. We are free from fear and have a personal relationship with
             the Father.
vs. 16. The Holy Spirit keeps reminding us of this unique relationship.
vs. 17. This son-ship with the Father makes us joint heirs with Christ.
             We have the privilege of fellowship in Christ’s sufferings and
              are glorified with Him.
vs. 18. Our suffering here cannot be compared with the glory of our
             future in Christ.
vs. 19. We, with the rest of creation eagerly await the transformation.
vs. 20-21 God‘s creation was not willingly subjected to the futility of
                condemnation, and lives for the hope of deliverance from the
                bondage and corruption brought upon it through rebellion.
                            (The transgression of God's law is sin.)
vs. 22-23 We, and the rest of creation groan with labor pangs having a
                foretaste of things to come and are awaiting full redemption.
vs. 24-25 Our hope is Christ’s eminent “catching away” of the church
                and second  coming when  He shall set up  His Kingdom on
                earth. (1,000 years)
vs. 26-27 The Spirit, itself, bears our infirmities to the throne of grace
                  since we do not  know how or for what to pray.  The Spirit
                  searches our hearts, knowing God’s will, and intercedes on
                  our behalf.
vs. 28-29 This intercession causes all things to work to our good, con-
                forming us to the likeness of Jesus Christ. (Sanctification)                                              
vs. 30-31 We have been Predestined, called, justified and glorified.
                Since God is for us, on our side, who can be against us.
                  (To be against us is to be against God, our Father.)
vs. 32    Seeing God did not spare His Son, God's Unspeakable Gift,
              we know he will give us all we need.
vs. 33    Since our judgment is in God’s hands,  no one can lay charges
              against us.
 vs. 34  Our advocate is Son / heir to our judge who will not condemn.
vs. 35- No one is able to name anything separating us from the love of
             the Father.
  vs. 36-37 In this flesh we may be slaughtered as sheep, but In His
                 name, (power) we conquer anything coming against us.
vs. 38-39 A complete list of the things unable to separate us from the
                   love of God, leaving nothing.                                                        
              (This post is from a survey of Romans 8, 2003)
                                                                                                  donporter 7.31.12

"JESUS SAID WHAT?" Matthew 10: 34

                  "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: 
                           I came not to send peace, but a sword."

    We find in the Old Testament Jesus described as "Prince of Peace."  
There is no doubt He was just that, but what of this idea that He came 
to bring a sword, not  peace on earth?  This passage of  Scripture con-
tinues  to state that He would set  a son against his father,  a daughter 
against  her mother  and  daughter-in-law  against her mother-in-law. 
(Verse 35) 

Verse 36 indicates a man's enemies would be his own household.  
How could this be? I asked.  If  we consider  the men to whom he
 initially made  these remarks,  we have a  more  accurate  under-
standing of  the matter.  These  men  were mostly Jewish,  practit-
ioners of  that  religion.   It is  clear  to a casual  student of  God's 
Word, or secular history; individuals who abandon the religion or    
culture  of   his or  her  parents  have been shunned , abused, dis-
owned or even killed.  This is particularly true of the of the major 
religions of  the Middle  East.  Both  Jewish and  Muslim parents, 
at  minimum, shun or disown their children who turn from those
religions to  the religion  of  Jesus  Christ of  the  Bible.  Recently,
there  have  been  reports of parents  putting  their  daughters  to
death when it was discovered they had  converted to Christianity.  
God's Word  does not  require  substantiation to  be authoritative.   
It is sobering,  however;   to see  graphic  fulfillment of the Words  
of Jesus Christ in today's world.

We may say, "I believe the principle's  Christ taught were true for
 people to whom he spoke  directly, but how does this apply to me 
in our culture?  If we do  not see direct  parallels in modern times 
throughout God's Word applying to us, does it  apply to us?  If we 
do not see those parallels, we are blind, can't see afar off, and are
still in  our sins.  Possibly you do  not personally know one who is 
"sold out" to serving our Lord,  living  by faith,  seeking  the King-
dom of God first and generally living out his profession of faith in 
Jesus Christ.  Since this is a rare thing,  it is  likely we will not see 
drastic  measures  taken by  parents when  their children become 
Christian.  Just about everyone readily accepts it when their child 
makes a  perfunctory effort to live for Christ for a short time after
a confession of  faith in  Christ.  It is rare indeed,  to see an indivi-
dual  make the kind of  dramatic turn around as  is reported  from 
the Acts of the Apostles.  Even  in the early days of  the Church, it 
was an exception rather than the rule to observe a new "Christian" 
catching fire and  burning out for His Lord.  In the day in which we 
live,  it is unheard of.  If we saw  Christ bring sword,  or contention 
between a professed Child of God and parents, friends or relatives,
it would be the result of  the new life making those of  us contented 
with the status quo very uncomfortable.  If citizens of the U.S. of A. 
are  hung up on  anything,  it's  comfort.  Anything  threatening our 
way of life is anathema. It  will not be  tolerated.  We have watered 
down the Gospel so effectively, it offends no one.  We live "vanilla"
lives and the average citizen of our once great land would be blown 
away if he were confronted by a family member or friend "infected"
with the fullness of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Finally, what do we mean when we refer to one being sold out to the 
the Lord Jesus Christ and the ideas  He taught?  First one must  be 
in submission  to Jesus Christ  in everything,  having  established a 
personal  relationship  with Him as  Savior and  Lord,  As we follow 
Him, the principles he taught become our priority.  We are not Chil-
dren of God,  in Christ,  because of adherence to a set of  principles 
or doctrines.  We follow this way because of  the New Birth,  Christ
lives His life in us.  The change comes as we become like  Him, and
have his image stamped upon our souls.  Since this is rare, the ways 
in which our friends and relatives respond may not  be pleasant and 
some might think we had  become mentally or emotionally unstable.  
They would not understand this, since they too made professions of 
faith in Christ, but their lives or either unchanged or it's just surface.  
Some will say, "Let's not get carried away" and others may become  
abusive.  If we are not very different from  citizens of our culture, is 
there evidence that faith in Jesus Christ is vital/real  in our lives?

   There may be a way to  avoid many of  the unpleasant situations
   that arise after a genuine  conversion to  Jesus Christ.  The way
   might be for the new believer to adopt the following way of living.
      "Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should 
        do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the 
        prophets."  Matthew 7: 12   You  will only  follow this "Gol-
        den Rule" as you care about others, deeply, and get to know
        them on a personal basis.  Half-measures do not work in any
        other issues of life.  Why should we apply them to our faith.

There are three  chapters in Matthew,  in  which the passage above
appears.  Matthew,  chapters 5, 6 & 7,  are generally called the Ser-
mon on the Mount.  This is a great place to start, if you would avoid
contentious situations with  unbelievers.  Your righteous  life might
just stop their criticism...         donporter,sr, edited 4.11.17

    

Just thinking out loud...7.17.12, edited 11.11.14

THE OBJECT OF OUR FAITH

The Object of Faith Rom. 5                                                                  6-15-12

                    “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; 
                      the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the
                                 elders received a good report.”
                                             Hebrews 11: 1

     Believing something, does not make it true.  We as "religious" indi-
viduals are  prone to get some things backward;  this is common when 
we speak of faith.  The most important thing is not how much faith we 
have.  Do we  have faith,  and  how  faithful is  the  faith  object?  The 
first thing to consider is the object of our faith.  If our faith's in others, 
they let us down.  If we have faith in ourselves, we will surely be disap-
pointed.  If we have faith in faith it will come to nothing.  There is one, 
however; who is worthy of our faith.  It's impossible to place too much 
faith in Him, the omnipotent one.  In Romans 5 we see our standing in
the eyes of our creator and eventual  judge to be based on our faith in 
Jesus Christ.  This  faith,  be it  great or small,  is the basis  for a  right 
relationship to God  the Father.  Faith  gives us access to  His grace or 
 unmerited favor  A truth I find  helpful;  “Jesus Christ is God’s grace,
 personified.”  This faith is the basis for hope, leading to perseverance 
in trials,  proven character and  access to the Holy Spirit who gives us
our abilities to  live pleasing to  our Lord.  Not only are our  abilities a 
gift of God the Spirit, the Spirit Himself is a gift of God the Son.  Faith 
comes from God‘s Word.  “...Faith  cometh by hearing and  hearing by 
 the Word of God.”  Romans 10: 17  

  In Romans 5: 6-9 we see a remarkable  passage.  “For when we were 
still without  strength,  in due  time  Christ died for  the  ungodly.  For 
scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man 
someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love 
toward  us,  in  that while we  were  still sinners,   Christ  died  for  us.  
Much  more then,  having now been  justified  by His blood,  we shall  
be saved  from wrath through Him.”  It is as though God is letting us 
know we do not have to qualify for a relationship with Him if we base 
the relationship on our faith in His son.  Although we  are  unworthy, 
Christ  died for us and  prepared the way for  us to know  the Father, 
whom to know aright is eternal life.  Just how do we  know the object 
of our faith to be worthy,  or faithful? The first consideration;  who is 
this Jesus Christ and what  do we know about Him? 

In Genesis we see one who was with God at the beginning and accor-
ding to  later revelation in the New Testament we find  Him to be one 
of three persons who existed prior to any act of creation. He is, there-
fore,  not an angel, since angels are  created beings.  He is  not  just a 
man, but became a man and He is equal with  the Lord God,  God the 
Son.  It is said;  He did not consider  this equality with  God  as some-
thing to be grasped,  held to Himself, but took upon Himself the form 
of a “servant” becoming the one called “Son of Man.” Why did He do 
this,  giving up His claim to equality with the Father?  Because of  His  
great love for His creation.  Some  say this “Son of  God/Son of Man,”  
was a created being and was never equal  with the Father  Jesus said,  
“I  and my  Father are one,” making  Himself  equal  with  His Father.   
When he became man, he no longer had the glory of Deity. This Glory 
of God that He shed to become as we are, is not compatible with man.
He died at the hands of evil men, was in the tomb three days and then 
did something no one else has done in history.  

  He rose from the grave, alive again after being dead. Those who came 
back to life in both the Old and New Testaments, were brought back to 
life by miracles outside themselves.  Later, they died again.  Christ had 
life in Himself. His identification with us; his incarnation, made it pos-
sible for us to come to Spiritual  life in  Christ and  have a relationship 
with God the Father restored.  We now  have Jesus Christ, Son of God,
as the object of  our faith.  We are not only born again, having eternal  
life,  we become the ever living Sons of God, brother and sisters of  the
the Lord Jesus Christ.. 

We are worthy, in Him, of the glory He has given us along side him in 
Heavenly places.  (Ephesians 2:4-10)  We are sanctified  to be vessels
for use by the Master in His work among  men on  earth.  This worthi-
ness is of Him, not ln us.                     donporter,sr   4.06.14, ed. 4.11.17   

BLESSINGS PASS THROUGH US...

(1 Peter 4:  8 - 11)

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one 
  to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." vs 10

In the four verses  referenced  above,  faith  is  not mentioned, as such.  

It is implied  and is  the very basis of  the  passage.   In verse  8;  "And

above all  things  have fervent  charity  among yourselves:  for  charity 

covers the multitude of sins,"  we see a principle of  sharing resources 

because of the love between believers, and the cleansing that comes as 

we give of ourselves sacrificially. If we hold things loosely, are quick to 

give ourselves and our means, it shows we are, in that respect, like the

Savior.   In  the verses  9-10,  "Use  hospitality one to  another  without 

grudging.  As every  man hath received  the  gift, even so  minister  the 

same one to another, as good stewards of  the manifold grace of God," 

We see the grace of  hospitality offered, freely, as though our personal 

possessions were held in common. There is the sense of joy in the sha-
ring,  since it is without compulsion and the idea: that all we have is a 

gift.   Whether it  is material or  Spiritual  blessing from the  Lord God, 

we are merely channels  through whom it  flows to  those who  have a

need.  The implication here;  people who follow Christ live with hands

stretched out to  assist,  comfort and encourage others whether or not 

these “others” are  in the faith .  The first  responsibility is  family and

brothers  and sisters in Christ.  The word “stewards,” indicates,  those 
of  us who are  blessed,  are not owners of  those blessings or gifts. We 
are merely vessels our  Lord uses to bless others.  Is  it  not  sad to wit-
ness  one who is  “called as  a minister” who has  hands out to  receive 
of others more than stretched out to give. 

   

     Finally we see the purpose of the matter.  Since we take no credit to 

self for   our gifts or blessings,  there is one who gets  glory, praise and 

dominion.   As we begin to understand these principles there is a deep 

sense of humility as  we are aware of  our unworthiness of  the  gift or 

the  praise.   The  Child of  God is  privileged  to  be  used  as a conduit 

of  blessing to others.  When we  become cognizant of  the fact that the 

Creator of  it all deigns to take mind of us and use us in His great plan, 

we must  fall on our faces with the Psalmist,  giving Him thanksgiving 

and praise.

 “If  any man  speak,  let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man 

 minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in 

 all  things may be glorified  through Jesus Christ, to whom  be praise 

 and dominion for ever and ever, Amen.”  1 Peter 4: 11
                                                                               donporter 7/7/12

    One other thing that occurred to me upon reflection of the blessings 
passing  through us as representatives of Jesus Christ is quite critical.
Timely forgiveness of any who would offend,  even sin against  us, can
be an important  blessing and a testimony as well as cleansing to us as 
believers,  and a positive testimony to the offender.    See:
http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2015/12/forgive-us-our-
trespasses-matthew-6.html