ABOUNDING IN FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE

ABOUNDING IN FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE
While praying this morning I asked for abounding faith to come to some for whom I was praying. I was surprised later while reading the second chapter of Colossians to see Saint Paul praying in a more profound way. I was so struck by what the Lord was saying through him I copied it for you.

If you aren’t familiar with the Amplified Bible perhaps these few verses will encourage you to obtain one. I call it “Miracle Grow” for your faith will grow super fast since it teaches as you read.

2[For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One).

3In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.

4I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech.

5For though I am away from you in body, yet I am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your [standing shoulder to shoulder in such] orderly array and the firmness and the solid front and steadfastness of your faith in Christ [that leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

6As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him.

7Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.

8See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men's ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).

9For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].

10And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead--Father, Son and Holy Spirit--and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

11In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but in a [spiritual] circumcision [performed by] Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts).

12[Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead.

13And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,

14Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.

15[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

Please read Matthew 25 and the Book of First John today for God is preparing the Bride for Jesus. If you’re a Christian these passages will help you to be ready. Remember, we must be without spot or blemish “not sinners saved by grace“. In 1st John chapter 3 you can see what God has to say about sin. Please remember, the wages of sin is death!

You might understand if you see sin as a highly infectious disease. God isn’t going to allow disease in Heaven. We must be as pure as He is, and we are, when Jesus lives in us by our being born again of His Spirit. Paul says, “The mystery hidden from the ages, Christ within you the hope of glory.” Please pray with me for the Bride.

In His Service,

Capt. Ben Marler


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