*Spiritual Nourishment*
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV
*Spiritual Review*
God is good, all the time. Going through the above passage, we see a great man of God in Apostle Paul saying out loud that with all his knowledge and great deeds by the power of God through the gospel of Christ Jesus, he was humbled by a personal issue he could not overcome. This is what truth, love and peace in the presence of God really represent because they push us into the realm of self accountability, or assessment and inner liberty, which usually propel strength. Most times, people wrongly assume that once you are connected to God, then all your problems are solved. Yes, in Christ Jesus, all our problems have been solved, but in receiving and glorifying God the Father in the name of Christ Jesus, we need to work them out spiritually from the inside to the outside. Apostle Paul said, “the messenger of satan to buffet (Torment/trouble) me.” He went to God in prayers and what was the response of God? God said,“My grace is sufficient…” meaning, you already have the answer or solution in Christ Jesus. However, here was the challenge we must not overlook, God said “His strength or solution is made perfect in weakness.” This part is coded. But thankfully, the Holy Spirit will help us to decode it. What God was simply saying to Apostle Paul and through that lesson to the whole world is that grace is not just an ordinary word to comfort our hearts in His goodness to us. Rather, grace is the compound presence of the Spirit of God with power to resolve all things. Grace is the moving presence of the Holy Spirit against the wiles or works of the devil. Grace is the place of holiness, faithfulness and forgiveness. These three are never separate because they represent the genuine and unstoppable power of the Divine God through humans over any given situation. When we have forgiveness in our hearts, this means we look and appreciate people with the sincere heart of God in Spirit, even when they cannot see it or think otherwise. Forgiveness refreshes and cleans your heart from elements of decay. Through forgiveness in the heart, we become faithful to the things of God even with our everyday mistakes and challenges. Now, the beauty of forgiveness, which is the twin brother of grace, is that it breeds faithfulness; it is through faithfulness, we become righteous with God, and this takes us directly into His holiness, which is the presence of God’s Glory. This is what makes us the hope of God’s Glory because God is Glory. Forgiveness, faithfulness and holiness are all of God compacted in salvation through Christ Jesus to humankind in love.
Brothers and sisters, here is the real juice for us to sap into our souls. Grace is a spiritual life giving and acting substance from God, who is Spirit. Grace is Spirit and the move of the Spirit is not a casual and insincere issue. This is the greatest investment in the whole of humankind forever with power, freedom and good provisions from the Creator; God Almighty given to us as our inheritance, which the Holy Scriptures refers to us as chosen generation, royal priesthood, holy nation or people of God… The message Apostle Paul got and rightly shared to all is that challenges are actually stepping stones to grow more in God in Spirit. That is, for us to always expand our scope in any endeavor we find ourselves in politics, business, sports, science, jobs and others to the Glory of God the Father. That means, God was saying to Apostle Paul, I have given you great insights into His unsearchable riches and great works have come out through you. But hold on Paul, God said, those are just scratches on the surface and you have not even begun. When Apostle Paul got this message, he suddenly realized that it was not by might, nor power but by His Spirit. He suddenly realized is to grow more in God and to know His resurrection power in Christ Jesus. He suddenly realized that he is not competing with anyone but pressing forward toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. He suddenly realized and counted all things as dung that he may win Christ…Hmm. He suddenly realized that he is not in the flesh but in the Spirit of Christ Jesus. He suddenly realized that there is no condemnation to those in the Spirit of Christ Jesus. He suddenly realized that looking unto the Glory of God, we shall be moved or changed from Glory unto Glory (Growth) by the Spirit of the living God. That is, we can preach great sermons, pray all night, make extraordinary prophetic utterances, know and quote the whole of the Holy Bible by heart, but if you are not moved or seriously connected to His Spirit, it is emptiness and not part of God. This is what the enemy really hates and is also the power over the enemy, who is the Holy Spirit of God. Jesus Christ truly said it, He would not leave us comfortless, but will send us the Comforter, who is the Holy Spirit from the Throne of Glory.
In essence, the place and journey of Christ filled Spirit is a lonely and narrow road but you are never alone because God’s Glory is always the guide. The message of God is Spirit, His gift is Spirit, His life is Spirit, His purpose is Spirit and His calling on us is to use His Spirit to manifest His blessings into our lives in Jesus name because His love is the best for us and to us by His Grace.
Glory to God the Father in Jesus mighty name…Amen!
Fear not, only believe in Christ Jesus and we shall be made whole (Successful).