POWER OF GOD UNVEILED...HAVE YOU BEEN SHOWING LONGSUFFERING AND MERCY?

AN EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK...
​LONGSUFFERING​

II CORINTHIANS 6:3-10

GIVING NO OFFENCE IN ANYTHING THAT THE MINISTRY BE NOT BLAMED.
BUT IN ALL THINGS APPROVING OURSELVES AS THE MINISTERS OF GOD, IN MUCH PATIENCE, IN AFFLICTIONS, IN NECESSITIES, IN DISTRESSES, IN STRIPES, IN IMPRISONMENTS, IN TUMULTS, IN LABORS, IN WATCHINGS, IN FASTINGS;
BY PURENESS, BY KNOWLEDGE, BY LONGSUFFERING, BY KINDNESS, BY THE HOLY GHOST, BY LOVE UNFEIGNED.
BY THE WORD OF TRUTH, BY THE POWER OF GOD, BY THE ARMOUR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND ON THE LEFT,
BY HONOUR AND DISHONOUR, BY EVIL REPORT AND GOOD REPORT: AS DECEIVER, AND YET TRUE;
AS UNKNOWN, AND YET WELL KNOWN; AS DYING, AND, BEHOLD, WE LIVE; AS CHASTENED, AND NOT KILLED;
AS SORROWFUL, YET ALWAYS REJOICING, AS POOR, YET MAKING MANY RICH; AS HAVING NOTHING, AND YET POSSESSING ALL THINGS.
 As we have studied in previous chapters concerning joy, it is safe to share that there is no joy without overcoming trials and tests building us up in our most holy faith. If we partake of the heavenly callings, then we must also partake of the sufferings of the cross. We must eat of the whole loaf and take the bitter with the sweet.

In the last days the Lord warns his children that we will endure diverse temptations and all manners of evil. Yet, while warning the Lord also states that we must not allow our good to be evil spoken of and He also states for us to be good stewards of the mysteries of His Holy Word and walk worthy of our vocation. In doing so we are no offending or causing blame to come upon the ministry. The Lord doesn't want our labors or suffering to be in vain. He wants us obtain the promises in Him.

It is needful to recognize that after mentioning that we maintain ourselves blameless unto God, He mentions that we maintain our worthiness as ministers of God in patience, afflictions, necessities, and distresses. We are going to go through trials and sufferings simply because by faith we have obtained a divine nature and have been given divine power. We will be afflicted but the Lord delivers us out of them all. He says we must endure in much patience.

A PURIFIED MIND

Philippians 4:8

FINALLY, BRETHREN, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONEST, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE JUST, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE PURE, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY, WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT, IF THERE BE ANY VIRUTE, IF THERE BE ANY ORAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS.

At the time of the writing of this book, the apostle Paul had ben imprisoned. Prior to being thrown into prison he had affected thousands of lives having been used to work signs, miracles, and wonders. He compelled people to repent and believe. He had impacted so many lives and word spreads that he has been shut up and his followers write to him. Love makes people do crazy things and warfare makes people do even crazier things. These two powerful things can affect the state of mind of any individual wanting to do the will and purpose of Christ. However, the Lord Jese Christ says to be in the same mind of the Lord.
In these last and evil days, the adversary is attempting to set traps and snares for the chosen ones of God. Oftentimes, the warfare starts with thoughts of the mind with attempts to get us to act contrary to the word and sin against God.
We know that the persecution and the intensity of affliction amount the true saints of God is what was the driving force to the dispensation of the gospel. Paul often mentioned to the chosen, “you are my letter written upon the tablet of my heart.” He stated that the things which happened to him was for a testimony and for the furtherance of the gospel.
Through all of the tests, trials, and the many afflictions; we must have the purified mind of Christ.
The Lord has used Paul to compel us to think on the things that are true. This is mentioned first. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Yet, the adversary comes to create chaos, distraction, and turmoil by bringing thoughts that are not true.
He commands us also to think on things that are honest, it is interesting that the Lord makes a distinction between true things and honesty within this scripture. They are not the same although they are corelated. We must be honest with ourselves about who we are in Christ. Who Christ is to us, and his will for us in his everlasting kingdom.
He called us out of the world that is full of darkness into his marvelous light. He chose us as his own and sanctified us to be separate. We must be honest about what that really means especially when Jesus has poured upon us his Holy Spirit. To whom much is given, much is required. He called us to a higher standard of righteousness and stewardship.
He has also shared that when we seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then all other things shall be added, that includes holiness. The Lord often used the phrase, “hold fast to the truth”, because the adversary during the last and evil days comes to weary the true believer and beguile them with seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. Therefore, he says, “hold fast to what you have been taught”, because it can be snatched from you if you allow the adversary to steal the truth and the honest things that are given from above.
With honesty comes integrity. You’re moved by the Holy Spirit to do what is righteous in the sight of God even when it seems like no one else may be holding you accountable. He trusts us with His Spirit and His word. We must be honest with ourselves about the measure of faith that the Lord has given us. The apostle Peter had been used to work signs, miracles, and wonders and walked with Jesus while he ministered in his earthen vessel. He had been given power from on high. Peter told Jesus with his mouth that he loved him, and that he would die for him. At one point the Lord openly rebuked Peter and stated that he was peaking these things of men’s precept and not savoring the things that be of God (Matt 16:23). He said what he thought the Lord wanted to hear. He said he would die for the Lord and yet he denied him, not once or twice, but three times. At that time his measure of faith wasn’t strong enough that he would die for him though he wanted it to be. We must be honest. The Lord Jesus requires complete surrender. We must be honest when we ask ourselves, “Have you completely surrendered?  Have you laid it all at the altar of your heart before the Lord?” We must be honest about the role that we desire the Lord to play in our lives. He has several names and desires to move by the operations of the Holy Spirit. He is our redeemer. Are you allowing him to redeem you? He is a Father. Are you allowing him to do the leading and guiding, counseling, instructing, and providing? We must be honest about who we are allowing him to be, because he is a gentleman and will not force himself upon us.
Besides the spiritual warfare of the mind, we must look at our actions and our works of faith. We must be honest when we examine our walk. Are you doing what the Lord has instructed you to do in his word? Are you bearing the fruits of righteousness? Are you doing his will or your own?
If we are not honest with our heart then we can give advantage to the adversary to war with us that much the more. Then it is easier for us to give heed to lies and deception and leave the hedge of protection, within the narrow part of the truth. Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way.
Paul encourages us also to think on things that are just. Jesus is our righteousness and he is the just judge. We are living in the end times where the adversaries are bringing about several spiritual movements of falsehood. These movements contain familiar spirits and provoke people to dwell on unresolves issues of the past. The adversary will attempt to get folks to focus on how the days of old were. He wants you to listen to old music and also to remember old injustices. Jesus is God of all truth and newness. He gives us renewed minds. He gives us renewed strength in our inner man day by day. The old man is put away and a new man emerges.
There were times in the past when I wasn’t that close to the Lord. I was inappropriately touched by a family member and when I finally had the strength to tell my mother, it didn’t seem to me that she handled the circumstance properly. Then I personally wen tot the local police. They didn’t investigate. The told me that sexual abuse cases were hard to prosecute, and that it would be his word against mine. Although I was hurt, I forgave quickly. Fortunately, the spirit of the Lord moved upon my heart to not hold things and to forgive. I had to see this person often. I had some anger with regards to the response of the local police. However, I believed in Jesus and he comforted me concerning the matter. I prayed about the circumstance and stopped looking for justice to be handled in natural way, and to see justice with a natural eye.
Thinking on the just things, I thought of reasons to show mercy. The Lord said, “blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” He also commanded us to learn what it means that he will have mercy and not sacrifice. Vengeance is the Lord’s.
He will handle things when our obedience is fulfilled (II Cor 10:6). The just shall live by faith. Therefore, if we think on faithful things we will be justified before God. Our thoughts will turn into actions of faith. It is just to seek for the Spirit of God. It is just to praise. It is just to worship him with your whole heart. It is just to pray to know the will of the Lord. It is just to wait on the Lord when all you know to do is stand. Be unshakeable, unmovable, and ever abounding in the love of Christ.
The things that are pure are the heart of God and the love he has for his children. The Lord Jesus stated that we must have clean hands and a pure heart (Ps 24:4). Keep your hands clean by completely trusting the Lord Jesus Christ.
The adversary is the author of all manners of evil and he is good at bringing false accusations, lies, and hypocrisy. Stay the course and walk by the Spirit to not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. That doesn’t mean to let your guard down and allow people to run over you. Guard your heart and protect the spirit of God within you. Be wise as a serpent and yet gentle as a dove. Abstain from all appearance of evil and if it be possible, be a peacemaker.
In order to have clean hands and a pure heart, we must ask. The Lord says we can ask anything in his name and he will do it and that our joy may be full. He also said when we seek his kingdom that holiness would come.
We must allow the Holy Spirit to reign; His Holy Spirit has the refining fire that cleanses. We shouldn’t grieve the spirit or quench the spirit. He purifies us and makes us white as snow. He makes our prayers pure and our supplications pure in the sight of God. Think on the pure things…your testimony. What brought you to Him? How did he make you over? How did he heal you? These things are the pure love of Christ.