1 Corinthians 3:21-23 – “So then, no more boasting about mere mortals!  For everything belongs to you, ²² whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future.  Everything belongs to you, ²³ and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”

I was challenged as I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today.  What was my challenge?   It was more expansive than I could elucidate in a short post, but I will share this excerpt.   

We have all we need!   Please explain!  That must be defined and expanded for clarity and understanding.   In 1 Corinthians 3:21-23, Paul repeats a declaration twice.  “For EVERYTHING belongs to you.”   He expanded it in v. 23 – “Everything belongs to you, and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.”   We have EVERYTHING through our relationship with Jesus.

We must go back to 1 Corinthians 1:5-9 and rehearse in our minds Paul’s description of us IN Christ.   We are Rich in every way in Jesus.  (Made Rich indicates God’s provision and abundance – nothing lacking).

• Rich in our words. 
• Rich in our knowledge.

We lack no spiritual gift.   (Spiritual gifts are given to meet specific needs.)   Therefore, we have no needs that do not have a solution or provision.  It is already done in heaven.

• Rich in strength (spiritual power and stamina).
• Rich in purity.

If we comprehend, believe, and embrace our position, it becomes our condition, and we manifest the riches given to us in Christ.  We move from theoretical to functional Christianity.   Power, not rhetoric, becomes our reality.  We gain Spirit-powered knowledge and revelation.  We transition from fluff to substance or from talk to action.

If we have all we need, why do we need so much?   Could we be trying to live in two kingdoms simultaneously with dual citizenship?  Are our perceived needs merely fleshly desires, or are they genuine needs?

If we have access to the mind of Christ, authority over the forces of darkness, full access to the atonement, and are empowered by the Spirit of God, fully submitted and committed to Him and His purposes, how can we lack?

In Him, there is no lack.  Our struggles stem from our yieldedness to self.  If we are IN Him, the cravings of the flesh are subjugated to the Spirit and wither away unnourished.  The things of the Spirit flourish nourished by the Word through the Spirit of God.

What do we need more than Jesus?   We say nothing, yet we struggle with numerous issues in life.   If Jesus becomes our life and God’s purpose and kingdom, our pursuit – What could we lack?

We have the answer to life available to us.  Everything belongs to us!  It’s up to us to possess the promises and occupy the provisions.  God has done His part.  Let’s do ours.  Everything belongs to you!

Living like a pauper in the place must end.   We have all we need in Christ!   Everything belongs to us!

Psalms 121 – “I will lift up my eyes to the hills — From whence comes my help?  2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.  3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.  4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.  5 The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand.  6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.  7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.”  NKJV

Another beautiful morning in the DFW area, cool temperatures, a slight Southerly breeze blowing, train horns shattering the morning silence, the coffee temperature perfect, and my Bible providing needed nourishment.  In conversation with the Lord, these passages came up regarding help!

Like the Psalmist, we find ourselves facing possible or imminent attacks from time to time in our lives.  The Psalmist was looking to the hills (mountains) and asked where is my help coming from.  Was he looking at the natural mountains?  Was he looking to heaven?  Was he looking to Jerusalem?  No matter, he identifies where his help is coming from – – The LORD who made heaven and earth. 

He was looking to the one who would not allow our feet to slip—who does not sleep or slumber.  The one sustains, keeps, or protects us in Everything.  He is our covering to keep us from being burned by the sun or trouble.  He is the one who preserves us from all evil and preserves our souls as we go out and come in.  He is our fortress, our defender, our protector, our deliverer, our guide, and our counselor.

I have experienced this protective care and keeping of the Lord more than once.  He would make a way when there seemed to be no way.  He came through when there was no other source of help. 

• He has come through financially, providing funds when an emergency arose that would have devastated my family and me without His miracle. 
• He has provided healing when I faced cancer’s sentence of death and numerous other times when my physical condition prevented me from accomplishing His purposes for that time. 
• He has provided wise counsel with a clear path to victory when there was confusion and searching for the way. 
• He has provided the loving touch of His hand when loneliness and despair had set in and lifted me from the pit of self-pity back onto the solid foundation of victory. 
• He has been my provider, defender, protector, guide, friend, counselor, and LORD in so many instances that time will not allow me to include here. 

Where is my help?  Where is my country’s help?  Where is my family’s help?  It is coming from the LORD!  He has promised that if we Call unto Him, He will Answer us!  Lord, I am calling, confident that you are answering!  As in the Old Western movies, the U.S. Cavalry is coming in the nick of time.  The Christ of Calvary will be ON TIME, EVERY TIME!!!

Look up; your redemption draws near!  Today is a good day for you to being the day rejoicing in the Lord and thank Him for what He has done, is doing, and is going to do on your behalf!

May the LORD bless you richly as you embark on today’s journey! 

1 Peter 4:8 – “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” NASB

The most quoted passage concerning what love covers is the one above.  It is used in so many ways, some legitimate and some illegitimate.  Some are doctrinally sound, and some border on if they are not entirely heretical.  Some use this passage to manipulate and others to gain a second chance.  The usages are endless, but that begs the question: “What does love cover?”

Proverbs 10:12 tells us – “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions.” NASB Then we read: 17:9 – “He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.”  NASB

In the classic Love Chapter of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13, we have a litany of things describing and depicting love.  We find what it is, what it does and does not do, and how it is demonstrated.  Yet, the most incredible passage on Love in the Bible is John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son….”  What greater picture of love could we obtain, and what greater example of the covering power of love?

The Book of Proverbs is a most beautiful book regarding this subject.  Let me cite a few passages to illustrate what I am talking about:

Proverbs 15:17 – “A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate.”  NLT

Proverbs 17:9 – “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.”  NLT

Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  NLT

The passage that causes me to sit in amazement at the intricate wisdom that flows from God’s Word is found in the thirtieth chapter of Proverbs: “There are three things that amaze me – no, four things that I don’t understand:  how an eagle glides through the sky, how a snake slithers on a rock, how a ship navigates the ocean, how a man loves a woman.”  NLT

The expression that amazed me was not that a man could love a woman, but the HOW was the focus.  We find in the New Testament that a man is to love his wife as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her.  In simple terms, we are to love our wives with our lives. 

You cannot do that without being willing to “forgive” and without a desire to “bring her to total fulfillment” in her life!  In many respects, this means, sir, that you become secondary.  I am convinced that a marriage made in heaven involves both parties being so attuned to the Spirit of God that their visions and dreams are mutually compatible and complimentary!

What does love cover?  EVERYTHING!  According to 1 Corinthians 13, love is “patient, kind, free of envy, and jealousy, does not brag or boast, and is free of self-consuming pride.  It is not rude, not self-seeking, does not become easily angered, and doesn’t keep a record of wrongs.  It never delights in evil but rejoices in truth.  It ALWAYS protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. 

The final statement in the passages is that Love Never Fails!  I do not know about you, but I am so glad that we have the statement of the apostle Paul regarding God’s love toward us in Romans 8:35-39 – “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” NASB

Two things I will conclude with:

• The Agape Love of God cannot be killed or stifled.  It is Unconditional Love!
• We, filled with Him, are able to love Unconditionally!

It is a sad fact that few of us ever really learn how to love unconditionally and never get past the human Phileo, Storge, and Eros.  We have tender affection toward one another (phileo).  Most friendships are built on this type of love.  We move into the physical demonstration of affection (storge).  It is genuine affection. 

Some only know Eros.  A healthy marriage has all four types.  A healthy spiritual life has Agape, Phileo, and Storge expressed toward God and even others in Christ.  So, I suggest you examine your relationship with God, your mate, and others, see what is missing, and ask the Father to help you work on that dimension.

We have the promise from God that if we ask, He will provide.  So may God be with you as you set your heart to grow in His grace and mercy! 

Blessings as you proceed down the pathway of this experience, we call life!

Luke 18:35-43 – “As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. 36 Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. 37 They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, 41 “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” 42 And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”  43 Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.”  NASB

I have had people sternly rebuke me for not being dignified in church.  A person told me emotion had no place in a worship service.  Bartimaeus, the blind man, had people around him trying to force him to follow proper decorum and be proper, but he would have none of it.  He had heard of Jesus, and when they told him that this miracle worker was coming by, he immediately began to make a scene and got loud, trying to get Jesus’ attention. 

We need to allow ourselves to lose our rigidity and get God’s attention in our time of need.  Bartimaeus was successful, and when Jesus stopped and addressed him with the question, “What do you want Me to do for you?”  Bartimaeus, unlike the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, was specific and clear about what he wanted.  He said, “I want to regain my sight!”  Jesus received that as an expression of faith and declared, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”  Bartimaeus went from there, seeing again!

I feel like David, when he danced before the ark of God, and his wife criticized him for not being dignified, declared, “I will be more vile (undignified) and will be base in my own sight….”  He was unmoved by the criticism because of his love and appreciation for what God had done and meant to him. 

Sometimes we need to stop worrying about being dignified, proper, or following some man-made rules of how to act in God’s presence and determine that we are going to “touch the hem of His garment.”  I guess it depends on how desperate we are, how much we desire the miracle, and how much we are willing to become a spectacle before God.  When I need the touch of God, I do not care what anyone around me thinks; I want God to touch me.  If that means crying loudly in public, I will.  If that means dancing as David did, I will.  If that means acting as Bartimaeus, I will. 

When we need a miracle that only God can provide, receiving His touch should be our number one priority, not how people perceive us!  Know what you want and be willing to reach out for it.  Jesus is passing by, and it only takes a touch of His hand or a word from His lips to turn your mourning into dancing. 

May God be with you as you go through your day!

Psalm 42:1 – “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God.”  NASB

CONDITION NUMBER TWO – Come to Jesus.

• That involves and means ‘total surrender’ of our lives to our LORD. 
• That means to seek the will of God in all things and walk in the light you have received.
• That is Total Surrender! 

Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 11;28-29, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.  30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” 

He followed that up in 1 John 1:7, saying, “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  If we are to have all of Him, He must have all of us.  He must have control. He must increase, and we must decrease.  He must be Lord as well as Savior.  He must find us a yielded vessel.  We cannot have His fullness without coming to Him in total surrender.

CONDITION NUMBER THREE – We Must Drink.

You will never quench your thirst, in the natural, by looking at a picture of water or reading about the water. You have to Drink!  This means we must have a whole-hearted reception of His water and Him in our lives.  We must receive His gifts, His fruit, and His Spirit.  His Word must live in us. 

I call your attention to 1 Cor 12:4-13 –“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” 

The gifts of the Spirit are directly connected to our relationship with and our connection to Christ. 

In Galatians 5:22-23we discover a powerful truth.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  That is like a magnet to a hungry heart! 

In Revelation 22:17, we are invited to Come.  The thirst can come.  The hungry can come.  The willing can come.  You and I will never be filled and satisfied until we come to His River and Drink!

CONDITION NUMBER FOUR – We Must Believe on Jesus as the Bible Teaches.     

Biblical belief implies obedience is required if we are to receive His fullness.  We must walk in complete obedience!  There are no shortcuts to God!  Jesus told His followers in Matthew 28:20 to go into all the world and share the message of Grace and then teach the new converts to Obey God’s Commandments.  He also told them to tell the new converts that He would guide and comfort them.  In Mark 16, this is repeated, and in verses 15-20, He gives a more detailed directive. 

In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”  After His resurrection and ascension in Acts 1:4, we find the followers of Christ assembled just like He had instructed, and they were WAITING for the Promise of the Father.  They were awaiting that River that would spring up inside them through the Holy Spirit.  In Acts 5:32, they testified that they were His witnesses, and so is the Holy Spirit God gives to the obedient. 

The truth is that if we want more of God, we can have more of God!  The problem is not on His end. It is ours.  If we want more of His Holy Spirit, we can receive.  If we want to see the Power of God manifest in our lives, we can have that Power.  Whenever I talk to God about Power, He talks to me about Purity!

THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE:

Thirst, come to Jesus, Drink, Believe, and Obey. 

My question to each of us today is,“Are We Thirsty?”  Do we long for more of God?  He is willing and waiting for us to Come and Drink!  We must allow our thirst to draw us to His River!

CONCLUSION:

• Having More of God is not Automatic. It requires effort on our part.
• To Quench our Thirst, we must come to Him and Drink!

1. The question is, how intense is our Thirst?
2. Will we invest our time and energy to pursue Him?
3. The question is will we determine that anything less than the fullness of God is unsatisfactory in our lives. 

If we are hungry and thirsty, we will have all of God we can receive.  The supply is unlimited.

God bless you as you pursue Him!   Have a fantastic day!