“Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:15
Paul, a 1st century apprentice of Jesus writing to a dysfunctional, yet spiritually-active church in Corinth (modern day central Greece), declares to them that “everything is for their sake.” By “everything” Paul means his recent suffering. He had experienced multi-faceted pain, confusion, physical and emotional attacks, and near death encounters for proclaiming the Way of Jesus.
All of this led him to conclude that he was “carrying in the body the death of Jesus.” Despite these awful events, he maintained an optimistic attitude. He declared himself to be intact and free from despair. Why? Because Paul understood that his suffering had purpose - “that the life of Jesus would be manifested through our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10).” Or, in other words, as our passage says: So that grace… extends to more and more people.
Because of his master Jesus’ example, Paul understood that the suffering of a disciple for being a disciple releases Kingdom breakthrough. The Lordship of Jesus is established on the earth not by military conquest but by the cruciform posture of the lives of Christians. And because Paul had sold himself out to his Master’s mission - because he had completely ceded all control of his life to the Messiah - he could authentically rejoice in suffering, knowing that his tribulation would lead to triumph. And what was that triumph?
The new creation world (which Jesus had inaugurated) colliding with the principality-and-power-architected darkness of the 1st century landscape and releasing the life and the goodness of God’s future reign into the present.
And at this, the pagans of the world of the Roman Empire could do nothing but fall to their knees and thank the Father of Jesus. What brings glory to the Creator God? When the human beings he made in his image properly function in their vocation of love-filled, Holy-Spirit-empowered service to destroy the works of the devil and reverse the corruption of God’s creation that occurred at the fall.
This is the template to adhere to if we want to see revival in our day and time. Triumphant kingdom glory is as available to us as oxygen. The cost? The total abandonment of control over our life, a heart fully yielded to the plans of God, and a joyful acceptance of whatever consequences may follow.
So when we cry out to God asking for a move of the Spirit in our lives, our city, our churches, and the world, we may indeed receive divine solutions, heavenly strategies, and anointed ministry models, but we do well not to forget that none of these will come until we first pick up a cross.
All of this led him to conclude that he was “carrying in the body the death of Jesus.” Despite these awful events, he maintained an optimistic attitude. He declared himself to be intact and free from despair. Why? Because Paul understood that his suffering had purpose - “that the life of Jesus would be manifested through our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:10).” Or, in other words, as our passage says: So that grace… extends to more and more people.
Because of his master Jesus’ example, Paul understood that the suffering of a disciple for being a disciple releases Kingdom breakthrough. The Lordship of Jesus is established on the earth not by military conquest but by the cruciform posture of the lives of Christians. And because Paul had sold himself out to his Master’s mission - because he had completely ceded all control of his life to the Messiah - he could authentically rejoice in suffering, knowing that his tribulation would lead to triumph. And what was that triumph?
The new creation world (which Jesus had inaugurated) colliding with the principality-and-power-architected darkness of the 1st century landscape and releasing the life and the goodness of God’s future reign into the present.
And at this, the pagans of the world of the Roman Empire could do nothing but fall to their knees and thank the Father of Jesus. What brings glory to the Creator God? When the human beings he made in his image properly function in their vocation of love-filled, Holy-Spirit-empowered service to destroy the works of the devil and reverse the corruption of God’s creation that occurred at the fall.
This is the template to adhere to if we want to see revival in our day and time. Triumphant kingdom glory is as available to us as oxygen. The cost? The total abandonment of control over our life, a heart fully yielded to the plans of God, and a joyful acceptance of whatever consequences may follow.
So when we cry out to God asking for a move of the Spirit in our lives, our city, our churches, and the world, we may indeed receive divine solutions, heavenly strategies, and anointed ministry models, but we do well not to forget that none of these will come until we first pick up a cross.
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Day 10: Say Yes to ChangeDay 18: Keep In Step With the SpiritDay 21: Pick Up a CrossDay 19: God’s Heart of GenerosityDay 17: A Solid Foundation in an Ever-Changing WorldDay 16: What a Mess I Had MadeDay 15: A Culture that HonorsDay 14: Gifts and SeedsDay 13: Open DoorsDay 12: Our Relationship RoadmapDay 11: How Hungry Are You?Day 7: Go and Make DisciplesDay 6: An Evangelistic Heart for Our CityDay 5: Everyone Will KnowDay 4: But GodDay 2: Choosing HungerDay 1: You CAN fast