Vision 2

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) - But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Today's devotion will be in 2 Corinthians 3 and it starts in verse 1 to 6 revealing about ministry of new covenant.
In this chapter, God tells us to be ministers of new covenant not of the old. Meaning there are 2 separate covenant and they are NOT the same covenant. The Old Covenant is about your adherent to the Law of Moses where you are justified before God by your works or performances.

The New Covenant however is about God giving Grace where your works or performances cannot be justified else Grace is just not grace.

Earlier on, I shared about vision. The bible tells us, out of the heart we either bring forth good things or bad things. (Matthew 12:35). The word bring forth means make manifest. So if you want to manifest good things, you need to start having good vision.


And 2 Corinthians 3:18 tell us that IF we behold the glory of God, we will be changed or transformed into the same image.

And We want that!

Behold here in the Greek = "katoptrizó" which means to reflect. Like looking into a mirror.

How do we behold the Lord's Glory? What are we suppose to see or envision? What is the Glory of God that we can behold?

The word Glory in Greek is "Doxa" which means "opinion (always good in N.T.), hence praise, honor, glory". The word Doxa comes from the word "dokeō" means "exercising personal opinion which determines value". In simple term, having a good opinion of God.

With that being said, the answer is found in the same chapter.

It is interesting to note that in verse 14, it says;

14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read.

Do you see that? Whenever the Old Covenant is read, minds are made dull! This is why we need to move away from old Covenant! In same verse 14, Bible tells us this dullness is taken away when anyone turns to Jesus Christ.

Then look at this verse below;

2 Corinthians 4:4 Tells us Satan has blinded the minds of unbeliever so that they could not see the Light of the Gospel that display the Glory Of Christ.

The Glory of God is Jesus Christ. To reflect on the Glory of God is to reflect all the good things that Jesus Christ has done at the cross. We can of course think to behold God's Glory is to envision his power and splendor. But if you read the entire chapter of 2 Corinthians 3, it talks more about the New Covenant that brings righteousness, hence the context is on Christ's Glory on the cross that has ushered you into God's kingdom with all your promised inheritance given now, not future.

When we behold this everyday, God promise supernatural transformation into the image of his Son, effortless apart from our doings or hand and mind attempts.

The Old Testament preaching will always put demand on you..you must walk holy, you must obey...the onus and burden is on you..(The 10 commandments of You Shall not You Shall not You Shall not). But the New Testament preaching showcase God dispensing his grace (I will, I will, I the Lord will..I here refer to God) on you so that you may walk with Him.

Which covenant are you under? Do not mix the two and do not put works into Grace.

God Bless!

2 Corinthians 5:1–21
The New King James Version
Assurance of the Resurrection

5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.



This text deals with a question on the minds of many: What happens to believers when they die? Christians will leave these bodies, be resurrected in new bodies, and be with the Lord. Plainly speaking, to be absent from the body means we will be present with the Lord.

The truth that to be absent from the body means we will be present with the Lord proves two false doctrines to be false. It refutes the false doctrine of “soul sleep” (saying that the believing dead are held in some sort of suspended animation until the resurrection occurs) and the false doctrine of “purgatory” (saying that the believing dead must be “cleaned up” through their own suffering before coming into the presence of God).

This post has been edited by OlgaC4: Sep 5 2021, 11:25 AM

Good worship song

YOU HAVE NO SAY

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) - 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Salvation is a gift. If you have to pay something..take for example your birthday, it is no longer a gift. Verse 9 clearly tells us it's NOT by works and we rarely hear what come next being preached.

'So that no one can boast".

The word boast here in greek is kauchaomai which means to glory in, proudly.

Why?

When it comes to Salvation everyone has equal ground to qualify. No one can say person A deserve more than B. Doesn't matter if Person A has been a great preacher, preached so gloriously, got thousands or even million others saved, he has the same ground as you and I in qualification to Salvation which by Faith in the Son of God, accepting Christ as "THE" savior, not you saving yourself.

It's a problem when one think because he/she obey God to the letter, He qualifies.

It becomes a form of work. That is saving yourself by your own obedience to God's Law.

Throughout the years I've heard people saying it's not a work but a response to God, 2 sides of coin with faith where faith without works is dead (James 2:20), etc.

Whatever it is, at the end of the day, you're saying you qualify-merit because you have done <insert whatever it is> <---VERY hard to argue against or to deflect, it is as solid as it is. It is still meriting.

The phrase where Bible says in Ephesians 2:9 no one can boast means you HAVE NO SAY. If God says you cannot merit it then even your works with Faith does not merit it. (James 2:20). I believe the greatest confusion came from verse 14 of James 2. Many think the word save there refers to Salvation. To defuse and make clear what the context means in verse 14, the word save there means to deliver the person from a situation. If you look at verse 15. THAT is the context, hence never refers to Salvation.

Why Am I so adamant in sharing this over and over again?

2 Reasons.

Reason 1, so that ONLY God gets the glory because it's the finished of Jesus Christ His only Begotten Son that got you save. Not because you refrained from sin and obeyed God.
Reason 2, so that the Devil's weaponry is disarmed. When a believer helplessly put himself under God's Grace, the devil has no say. To put a believer under the Law, the devil can always nitpick and accuse so and so have not adhere enough to all the laws of God hence disqualify for Salvation.

Reason 1 gives God the pleasure of His Glory that God is the one working in your life. If God is the one doing it alone then He gets the Glory "ALONE".
Reason 2 is so important because it means life and death to the stability of the believer's relationship with God.

Think and digest slowly, I pray the Holy Spirit will make this clear to you.

God Bless

This is my current fav worship song




[Verse 1]
I can’t wait for Eternity
Join the Song
They are Already Singing
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Are You Lord

Just to Bow down
Before your Throne
See your Face, I’ll Cry out
Because you are
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Are You Lord

[Chorus]
Jesus, King of Kings
Jesus, Majesty

[Repeat Verse 1]
I can’t wait for Eternity
Join the Song
They are Already Singing
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Are You Lord

Just to Bow down
Before your Throne
See your Face, I’ll Cry out
Because you are
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Are You Lord

[Chorus]
Jesus, King of Kings
Jesus, Majesty
Jesus, King of Kings
Jesus, Majesty

[Verse 2]
Standing with those
Who have Heard WELL DONE
Proclaiming Forever
That you’re the One who’s
Faithful, Faithful, Faithful
Are you Lord


What can we Give you
But Endless Praise
The Heavens ROAR as we Shout
Your name is
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus
You are Lord

[Chorus]
Jesus, King of Kings
Jesus, Majesty
Jesus, King of Kings
Jesus, Majesty

[Bridge]
Worthy, Worthy, Worthy
Lord, another Glimpse of Glory
We Sing once More
Worthy, Worthy, Worthy
Lord, Forever, Forever

Worthy, Worthy, Worthy
Lord, another Glimpse of Glory
We Sing once More
Worthy, Worthy, Worthy
Lord, Forever, Forever

Worthy, Worthy, Worthy
Lord, another Glimpse of Glory
We Sing once More
Worthy, Worthy, Worthy
Lord, Forever, Forever

[Chorus]
Jesus, King of Kings
Jesus, Majesty
Jesus, King of Kings
Jesus, Majesty

[Outro]
Worthy, Worthy, Worthy, Lord
Worthy, Worthy, Worthy, Lord
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are Holy, Holy
Are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are Holy, Holy
Are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Holy is the Lamb
Holy is the Lamb
Righteous is the Lamb
Righteous is the Lamb
Jesus is the Lamb
Jesus is the Lamb, AMEN

Challenge anything you hear from any pastor until you read it yourself in your own bible.

Ephesians 2:4 (NIV) - But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

The Bible tells us God is RICH in mercy. You will find it difficult to see any Bible text declaring God is rich in wrath. God has wrath but the very core of who God is, is not wrath but love.

Yes God is also Holy, thrice Holy. Holy Holy Holy. Yet This Holy God reaches out to sinners and sinner were able to approach this Holy God. The prostitutes, tax collectors, etc.

Because God is rich in mercy, we can dare hope and come to God. This is for those who have been far off and for whatever reason, you went away from God.

God Bless.

This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Sep 8 2021, 01:51 PM

Ephesians 2:14-18 (NIV)
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,
15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,
16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

This is so powerful.

What the Bible is saying here is that, Christ has caused 2 groups (Israel and Gentiles) to be one new Man. From God's pov, when it comes to people, there are only Jews and the rest of the world gentile. Ephesians 2 helps us to understand the gentiles (You and I) where excluded from the covenant that God made with Israel. The new Man here basically just refers to one singular body of believers (God's people).

but Christ, through his sacrifice at the cross, set aside (put away) the law with it's command and regulations that held us under bondage to condemnation. Christ blood redeemed us. The world cannot understand the purpose of Christ death on the cross. Some will say God cannot die and not suppose to die hence reject the Bible. While it is true God cannot die but Christ also came as Man. He has dual nature, both God and Man.

And the purpose of the cross is the MOST powerful work of God, so powerful, the devil would blind those who don't understand. To this very day, you can still see and hear people don't understand, if they did, the enemy would not want Christ to die. Why? Because he wants people to perish in condemnation and judgment of God's Law. There is a hostility that comes from God's Law (OT Laws). That hostility are the accuses of God's Law against us and it has caused us to be separated from God.

Because Christ has died and God the Father accept Christ death for the remission of sins, anyone who put their trust in Christ is redeemed and thus has peace with God.
Verse 18 tells us that..through Jesus Christ we have access to the Father by his Holy Spirit.

Hope this helps you to understand Ephesians 2 verse 14 to 18.

God Bless.

You need to know the original (The Truth/Word/Bible) in order to spot the fake.

Posture of Rest

Luke 20:42 -43 (NIV) - David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “’The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."’


IN my older devotion, I've shared that the Christian posture to Salvation and Victorious life depends on how much we rest in God. (Hebrews 4:10-11) Hebrews 4 narration was talking about the Israelites entering into the promised land and the Holy Spirit changed the word from entering into the promised land to entering his rest. When God changed this word then it is of imperative importance we learn why and what God was trying to say.

Promised Land for the Israel back then, is today our promised Salvation in typology.

QUOTE

Hebrews 4:10-11 (NIV) - for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Likewise in Luke 20 verse 42 to 43; when it comes to our enemies being subjugated.

The Lord tells us to sit at his right hand until He makes our enemies a footstool. But you may say that verse was talking about God the Father to Jesus Christ.

But in Ephesians 2:6 tells us we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 2:6 (NIV) - And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,

What God has said to Christ is also ours for our inheritance.

Ephesians 1:3 tells us that!

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.

The Bible is consistent throughout.

Sit at my right hand here refers to Sitting with Jesus Christ, it's a posture of rest. Posture of rest = You have Faith in God. If you cannot sit, neither rest, being paranoid if not worried, that shows you have problem trusting God. Perhaps you personally feel you need to do something because you don't know if God is going to be for you.

What or Who are your enemies? If we want God to make all our enemies our footstool, then SIT! REST!

When we sit and rest in God, The Lord promise to Work in our life.

God Bless.

The first “LORD” in “the LORD says to my Lord” is the eternal God of the universe, the Great I AM who revealed Himself to Moses in Exodus 3. This self-existent, omnipotent God speaks in Psalm 110 to someone else who is also David’s “Lord.”

The second “Lord” in “the LORD says to my Lord” is the Messiah, or the Christ. Psalm 110 describes this second “Lord”

The Bible is very detail

This post has been edited by OlgaC4: Sep 9 2021, 12:29 PM

Verse.1
There's.a.table.that.You've.prepared.for.me
In.the.presence.of.my.enemies
It's.Your.body.and.Your.blood.You.shed.for.me

This.is.how.I.fight.my.battles......

Pre-Chorus:
I.believe.You've.overcome.
And.I.will.lift.my.song.of
Praise.for.what.You've.done

Chorus.1

This.is.how.I.fight.my.battles,.this.is.how.I.fight.my.battles
This.is.how.I.fight.my.battles,.this.is.how.

Verse.2

In.the.valley.I.know.that.You're.with.me
Surely.Your.goodness.and.Your.mercy.follow.me.
My.weapons.are.Praise.and.Thanksgiving
This.is.how.I.fight.my.battles... ...

Pre-Chorus:

I.believe.You've.overcome.
And.I.will.lift.my.song.of
Praise.for.what.You've.done

Chorus.2

1

This.is.how.I.fight.my.battles,.this.is.how.I.fight.my.battles
This.is.how.I.fight.my.battles,.this.is.how.

Bridge.

It.may.look.like.I'm.surrounded.but.I'm.surrounded.by.You.(3x)

Posture of Rest 2

Psalm 23:5 (NIV) - You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

In other translation, the word table there has been commonly agreed as "feast".

Nobody eats in presence of enemies. It's not normal. It is normal if our senses are heightened or tense in presence of real enemy.

But we have supernatural principle because God is above what is normal.

Yet if you could see with revelation, the posture to take to defeat enemies here is to sit and feast at the Table.

That is a posture of rest. It takes Faith to rest and some may tell me, not everyone can exhibit that kind of faith and yet I still say this.

It can means between life and death unto victory.

The Worship song that I posted above showcase how we fight our battles in relation to all that I've shared

God Bless

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQWFzMvCfLE

VERSE 1:
You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now revealed in You our Christ

CHORUS 1:
What a beautiful Name it is
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

VERSE 2:
You didn’t want heaven without us (bad theology)
So Jesus You brought heaven down (bad theology)
My sin was great Your love was greater
What could separate us now

CHORUS 2:
What a wonderful Name it is
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

BRIDGE:
Death could not hold You
The veil tore before You
You silence the boast of sin and grave
The heavens are roaring
The praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again
You have no rival
You have no equal
Now and forever God You reign
Yours is the kingdom
Yours is the glory
Yours is the Name above all names

CHORUS 3:
What a powerful Name it is
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus

TAGS:
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus


Beautiful song but some serious bad theology

This post has been edited by OlgaC4: Sep 11 2021, 12:58 PM

How is Sin rendered powerless?

Romans 6:6 (Berean) - We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin


I like this translation in berean study bible, it says our body of sin might be rendered powerless. And we all want that, but how?

I like to share with all of you in the same book of Romans 6 but in verse 11

Romans 6:11 (NIV) - In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.


It says here in the same way. Count ourselves dead to sin. The word count in the Greek "logizomai" which means to take into account, like an accounting term.
Question is...in the same way of what?

Romans 6 tells to take count in the same way how Jesus died to sin (verse 8 to 10).

Question, how did Jesus died to sin?

Did HE die because He had sin? Answer is No. In Him is no Sin
Did He die because of imputation of sin from us? Yes. God puts all our sin on his body.

So THINK...in the same way.

You have died to the imputation of Sin. (in the same way)

There is NO MORE Imputation of sin unto you (in the same way)

Having a repented mind of this everyday, The Bible promises the body of sin might be rendered powerless.

I will tell you, it will not be easy to repent on this everyday because our mind have been programmed by the devil for so long, your holiness, your salvation depends on your performances to God's Law, The devil wants you to be self focused.

The Gospel of Christ want you to be Christ focused on What Christ has done, not what you have done. To be Christ occupied is to account in the same way how Christ died to Sin which is NO MORE imputation of sin unto you from God the Father. Repenting this everyday, will cause Sin to be powerless. Read Romans 6 verse 14 and consider in relevance to to all that is written here and judge for yourself if this is not true?

I pray the Holy Spirit will reveal this to you.

God Bless.

I concur. God exchange our sin with his righteousness.

Must needs go through Samaria.

John 4:4 (KJV) - And he must needs go through Samaria.

Samaria is a place where Jews would avoid passing through even though it's a shorter route to take. The Jews have no dealings with Samaritans, they hated each other. Jews consider Samaritans to be unclean / filthy. If you read the history, it's to the point they find them to be disgusting.

And think for a moment, whom did Jesus Christ went to meet in Samaria? <--This is very crucial revelation here.

Perhaps there are some of you has sexual sins and unable to overcome such problems, you avoided God. I share this devotion for your benefit.

You know for a Man to have few female partners, it's something that is not unheard of.

But for a woman who had 5 husbands and we must understand in the ancient middle eastern culture. What more today? We talk in scornful gossip when we see things like this, don't we?

Don't you think it's something that is just too much even from Asian perspective what more ancient time? And it's not just mere husband and wife relationship, we are talking about sexual sinful habits.

The one that this Samaritan woman is living with, is not even her husband.

You know, from religious environment, there will be tongue wagging and finger pointing, we all know that too well don't we?

Yet look at the Tact, the way Jesus talk to this woman. We may bite and attack when we see such immorality and do not dismissed this so easily, it is overt sinful immorality. You cannot deny it. This Samaritan woman is someone religious people love to stone. Today we may not throw physical rocks. But there are all kind of stone we throw.

Yet God offered Her Grace despite the fact she had 6 Man in her life. If God is the same yesterday today and tomorrow, Jesus MUST needs go through Samaria, why are you avoiding God?

Come to Him that He may give you streams of living water that can stop the loneliness, the gap of your life so much so even sexual sins can be ended.

Read this devotion and meditate on this truth from the Bible.

Come back Home to God.

God Bless.


This post has been edited by unknown warrior: Sep 18 2021, 09:49 AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUp1tqHkZ9w&t=917s

47.48 minutes onwards is the utmost important.

This post has been edited by OlgaC4: Sep 15 2021, 11:37 AM

Post #3417 updated

Study the progress of Samaritan Woman

Romans 4:5 (NIV) - However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

Noticed in John 4, Jesus did not condemn the Samaritan woman but offered her Himself as the Living Water. Jesus dealt with that woman with divine tact and compliment her by saying you are right.

Noticed also that Jesus revealed Himself to this woman as the messiah but never to any of the religious leaders. That is something precious and honorable.

This Samaritan woman progressed every fast in her dealing with God, From calling Him Sir progressing to calling Him Messiah and later evangelizing. But the religious leader very slow in comparison. Jesus told Nicodemus, You are Israel Teacher and you do not understand?

John 3 and John 4 are put side by side for comparison.

Why?

Think about this.

This Samaritan woman was living outside of marriage with sexual sin. A Pharisee, member of Jewish council who are steep in God's Law.

Is God condoning sin?

No.

Both of these 2 have sins, either way. But study the way God deals with both.

One who readily wanted what Jesus offered (that takes trust and faith) vs one who came to God with their knowledge of God's law.

Read Romans 4:5 again, the Bible says God justify the ungodly. If God justify the godly, it would make sense wouldn't it?

Grace is supernatural, not everyone can understand it. The Law anyone can understand it. Do good get good, do bad, get bad. Grace is receiving good even when you don't deserve it. That takes the Holy Spirit to illuminate.

God is graceful to those who knows they are ungodly and willing to admit it without the slightest doubt. But people who comes to God with all their self accomplishment like the rich young ruler, see how often, such people often find it very hard to receive from God.

I pray this speaks to you. Put yourself under God's Grace.

God Bless.