TUESDAY, JUNE 27TH 2023.
EPISTLE WRITTEN IN THE HEART
TEXT:2 CORINTHIANS 3:1-6.
1. Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
*Timeless Truth:* _"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people"_ Jeremiah 31:33.
INTRODUCTION
Corinth, just like in the modern world, is known for some fraudulent practices. The culture of the world is usually reflected in a church that is filled with "mixed multitudes." As a result, a lot of fake preachers and prophets moved from locations to locations under the pretext of being ministers of God. In order to address this, the Church was always expected to give letters of recommendation to Christians visiting other locations. An example is in Romans 16:1,2, where Paul commended "Phebe, our sister...that ye receive her in the Lord." He used this background to write to the Corinthian Church. The strongest recommendation letter of believers is actually the life of Christ, written in the heart and lived out for the world to see.
1. Ministerial Commendation
a. "Do we begin again to commend ourselves or need we epistles..?" v1. Recommending or commending fellow Christians is good and at times needful. But what should be the basis of that recommendation?
b. "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men." v2.The proof of a successful ministry is not in supernatural gifts and miracles, and neither is it in the possessions and wealth of that ministry. It is known by the fruit of righteousness that is reproduced in the hearts and lifestyle of the people.No success in ministry without the reproduction of Christ life in the members.
c. The fact that "ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us" v3, shows clearly that the life expected of all believers is the life of Christ and that is the practical Bible that unbelievers see, read and follow.
d. Anything short of emphasis on christlikeness and practically conforming to the image of Christ in all lifestyle is a fake christianity.
Question
Do you emphasize the preaching of christlikeness? Do onlookers see your lifestyle as christlike?
2. The Message to Christians
a. The Law, as opposed to the new covenant, was written on the tables of stone and not in the hearts of the Israelites. As such, their understanding of the will of God was restricted to "dos or don'ts." The law was of the letters that lacked the Spirit to do the will of God. "For what the Law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh." Rom.8:3.
b. The New Testament is a fulfilment of prophecy: "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts."Jere.31:33 The word of God is written "in the fleshly tabernacles of the heart" of the New Testament saints. The word of God is now written with the pen of the New Testament writers using the indelible ink of the Holy Spirit for the New Testament saints. Heb.8:10.
c. The letters of the law kill as it only convicts and condemns but cannot save. "And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. "
d. Even though "the commandment is good," it takes the Spirit of the living God to put it in the believers' hearts and make them manifest the life of Christ. Coldness and dryness of the word in the heart are results of lack of fire of the Holy Spirit.
Question
Do you have the fire of the Holy Spirit making the word of God lively and effectual in your heart?
3. The Messenger of the Covenant
a. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves... v5. but our sufficiency is God." The ministers of the New Testament, with all their human and spiritual wisdom, cannot effectively minister life and miracles to the saints without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
b. Christ is the real Minister of the New Testament "who has made us able ministers of the new testament" 2Cor.3:6 with the tool of the word and the Holy Spirit imparting life. Without this, none can live the Christian life, and with this, christlikeness is a reality.
Question
Are you a minister of life giving power or just mere letters that kill?
Prayer Points
1. Lord, make my life mirror the true life of Christ for the world to see a worthy example.🙏🏼.
2. Enable all your children to operate in the realm of the Spirit and engagement of your laws in our hearts🙏🏼
3. Ignite the fire of the Holy Spirit in our hearts to make the Word become more alive in us.🙏🏼
4. Grant all your ministers life giving power of the Holy Spirit for effectiveness in ministry🙏🏼
HYMN Prove it by the life you live.
*Bible in One year* I Kings 15,16.
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