1 Cor. 4:20 π Phlp. 3:18 π Heb. 5:9
Saying Word, Word can many times be an evasive way of bypassing surrender, self-denial and total abandonment to God. The word of God is two things: the written word (scripture) and the living word, Jesus Christ. We would rather, in most cases talk about the written word than conform and surrender totally to the living word, Jesus. This surrender is accomplished by dying to self; we Christians then find out the only right we have is the right to have no rights. Our heads can be stuffed with Bible verses, but we have no desire to walk the path of the crucified Saviour. “For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power” ( 1 Cor. 4:20; top ) – power derived from surrender and holiness.
We cannot have faith in every word (logos) whenever we think we will; the Holy Spirit will bring a word of Jesus (Rhema) that applies to the situation and circumstances we are in and the big point is: will we obey that particular word? “And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” ( Heb. 5:9; top )
The central point of Jesus’ temptation was: You are the Son of God. Assert Your authority; You will bring the world to Your feet if You remember who You are and use Your power and authority. Jesus was tempted by Satan with logos words.
Jesus’ answer was, “I did not come here to do My own will, although I am the Son of God. I am here in this order of things for one purpose only: to do the will of the Father.”
We are often prompted to believe because we are a child of God and identified with Jesus we can ask whatever we wish, but we too are here that the Father’s will be done as it was for our Lord Jesus. This means total surrender to the cross. “For many walk (Christians) of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” ( Phlp. 3:18; top ) Why did Paul say “enemies of the cross of Christ” and not “enemies of Christ”?
The true test of our Christian walk is our surrender to what the cross represents and how it should affect our lives. We Christians are often the enemies of the cross and rebel against what the death on the cross represents: death to sin of every type and every degree.
These enemies of the cross are enemies of total death to “self.”
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