In our last visit we may have shocked and rocked the foundations of many, like an earth quake, of that I am sure. Well here's another, taking us back into the OT to get this revelation of Christ's activities within us. This comes by way of a conversational revelation I shared while talking with two old friends, with my wife at my side, while she was there shopping. In sharing the humanity that we all shared in Christ Jesus, a concept not heard of or known by these two men of letters, was no great shock or surprise to me. But what I said, required me to dig into the Scriptures to find its source. I fond it in Lamentations 3, I'll not quote the whole passage of thought, just the meet of the LORD's flesh will suffice. Here it is, first in the KJV and then in the ESV and then my target portion in the KJV+.
Lamentations 3:19-26 "Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD." (KJV)
Lamentations 3:19-26 "Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." (ESV)
Lamentations 3:22-24 "It is of the LORD'SH3068 merciesH2617 thatH3588 we are notH3808 consumed,H8552 becauseH3588 his compassionsH7356 failH3615 not.H3808 They are newH2319 every morning:H1242 greatH7227 is thy faithfulness.H530 The LORDH3068 is my portion,H2506 saithH559 my soul;H5315 thereforeH5921 H3651 will I hopeH3176 in him." (KJV+)
The revelation that I shared was this, each new day is a brand new beginning, when we are exonerated, redeemed and we know it. Especially when at the end of each day we thank the LORD for his mercies of that day, and the covenant of grace, that is ours to enjoy. With this added at our arising prayers of rejoicing, we should, one ask for his mercies for that day, and two, ask for and thank him for our newness of life in him, our covenant of grace. In this way each day has no pass history and all is in newness of our original innocence, by his faith. Now I have provided the Hebrew language of the OT in Strong's Dictionary numbering system for your use, to find what I found. Have fun!
Now the preeminence of Christ beginning at verse 24.
Colossians 1:24-29 "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning[2] every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom[3]; that we may present[4] every man perfect[5] in Christ Jesus: Whereunto[6] I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (KJV)
Colossians 1:24-29 "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning[2] everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom[3], that we may present[4] everyone mature[5] in Christ. For[6] this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me." (ESV)
Colossians 1:24-29 "This is why no form of suffering can interfere with our joy. Every suffering on your behalf is just another opportunity to reinforce that which might still be lacking (in your understanding) of the afflictions of Christ on our behalf to his body which is the church. (The inconvenience that Paul might be suffering on behalf of the believers is not to add to the sufferings of Christ---as though the sufferings of Christ on our behalf were insufficient but it is to further emphasize and confirm the principle of unselfish agape that constraints the New Testament ministry and minister.) I am an administrator in GOD'S economy (dispensation); my mission is to make his (revelation in) word known to you with utmost clarity. Humanity's most sought after quest, the mystery which has remained elusive and concealed for the ages and generations, is now fully realized in our redeemed (exoneration) innocence. Within us, GOD is delighted to exhibit the priceless treasure of this glorious unveiling of Christ's indwelling in order that every person on the planet, whoever they are, may now come to the greatest discovery of all time and recognize Christ in them as in a mirror! He is the [1]desire of the nations and completes their every expectation and search! (He is not hiding in history, or in outer space nor in the future, neither in the pages of Scripture, he is merely mirrored there to be unveiled within us. Matthew 13:44, Galatians 1:15-16, 2Corinthians 3:18, 4:4, 7. This is huge! What GOD was now able to disclose in his Saints is immediately equally relevant in the nations! This is what we were waiting for [1, Haggai 2:6-7]) This is the essence and focus of our message; we [2]awaken everyone's mind, instructing every individual by bringing them into [3]full understanding (flawless clarity) in order that we may [4]prove (present) everyone [5]perfect in Christ. (Translating [2, G3560, vous+tithemi as to re-align every mind with GOD'S mind. The word, [3, G4680 akin to] sophos, comes from sopes meaning to clear, clarity. The word, [4, G3936] paristano, to stand beside, comes from (we've seen this before) para, sphere of influence, closest possible association, and (G2476) histemi , meaning to stand, to exhibit with evidence. The word, [5, G5046 from G5056] teleios, means perfect, without shortcomings and fully efficient.) [6]Our completeness in Christ is not a remote goal, but our immediate reference! My labor now exceeds any zeal that I previously knew under the duty-driven Law of willpower. I am laboring beyond the point of exhaustion, striving with intense resolve with all the energy that he mightily inspires within me. ([6, G1519 ] eis, is a point reached in conclusion.)
Today we hit the road running, I apologize for the length but we all needed this. Until our next visit may the LORD increase his value within you and yours.
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