PASSIONATE PURSUIT...HE HAS GIVEN UNTO US

II Timothy 1:6

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

We know we are living in the end times. As we go forth in the obedience of Christ, we find there is always spiritual warfare to endure. The Lord says to endure the hardness as a good soldier. It’s time that the weak say they are strong, and the poor say they are rich.
The Lord imparts the spiritual gifts by the laying on of hands, and they are without repentance. He says remember the gift and use it. Put on your whole armor. Our spiritual gifts are part of our arsenal that the Lord has given us to fight and overcome. When we encounter circumstances or trials that are meant to bring glory to God, it can be intimidating and even present fear. That fear can cause us to make irrational decisions. Fear can move us to do things that we said that we would never do. That's why the Lord says he gives us a sound mind with His spirit, that has sound counsel, and we move by the spirit.

Don’t be afraid to use the gifts that God has given you. The Lord has equipped you for His glory, and there is no failure in him. Some things are for learning lessons, but all are for His glory. Whether there be diversities of healings, deliverances, casting out devils, or raising the dead; Jesus says that he has not given us the spirit of fear. He has given us power to perform His will, and with that power is the purified love to see things through the end! Therefore, we move in our gift according to the measure of faith but with no fear or shame. We cannot be ashamed of the operation of the spirit within us that the Lord is using to purify us, and bring us to our expected end in Christ.

Be therefore partakers of the afflictions means you’re in unity with my growth process. I am afflicted and therefore you’re afflicted. I’m preparing for elevation in the spirit, therefore you’re preparing for elevation in the spirit. When one member suffers, we all suffer.

I Corinthians 12:22

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to the part which lacked: 
You have had to see me suffer a miscarriage. As a woman, these things can be shameful. You may have seen me have a yard sale to make money where my business lacked. You may have been the neighbor who witnessed the sheriff place an eviction notice on my door. Whatever you have seen, I believe the Lord allowed you to see so that you know that the Lord moves us from faith to faith and from glory to glory. All the while, the Lord shaped us on the potter’s wheel, ever increasing the faith, he made it clear that he was the one who is the author and finisher of our faith. He alone gives the increase. The natural eye may witness circumstance, immaturity, and lack. However, the spiritual eye sees the Holy Spirit interceding, perfecting what is lacking, and speaking victory through our shortcomings. There is the word manifested that says to pray without ceasing.

II Thessalonians 1:3-5

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

This scripture confirms the Lord’s desire to build us up on our most holy faith. Paul prays and thanks God that our faith abounds exceedingly, and also that our love toward each other abounds. So then, we can see that the persecutions, patience, and endurance will bring forth manifestation of righteous judgment and the glory of God.

Paul often mentions that he is a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ, and that he was bound to thank God…We are bound to each other in the Gospel to teach, grow, and abound in His love. Our fruits must remain. To be a prisoner of Jesus means we are anchored. We should get to a place where we are unshakeable and unmovable in our faith walk and beliefs. Meaning, we won’t waver with circumstances or because of what our eyes see. Be wise as serpents, and yet gentle as doves. The things we don’t understand, we must relinquish to God. As this spiritual warfare continues to rage, we cannot mind high things, but remember what has been taught by His spirit.
Psalm 131:1
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
​#keeppraising #keepseeking #keeptrusting