The world’s understanding of authority is rank, position, the power to give orders and make decisions.  However, let us consider that in the kingdom of God, authority is function.  God’s authority is given on the basis of humility.  In many cases the traditional Church has taken what the world sees as authority and has placed it in the Church for position.

Only in humility will I function in godly authority demonstrating and recognising the grace of God in my life to be what He created me to be, and do what He enables me to do.  The power we all seek to function in the kingdom is for the extension of God’s kingdom, (not self glory), for the glory of God.  In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus declared, Matthew 6:13:  “……For Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever.   Amen.”   From this scripture we note that God has safely placed His power for the extension of His kingdom, for His glory.  The power nestles safely between the two.  Many have attempted to wrestle that power from its position of safety and use it for their own glory, only to discover that God resists the proud, (1 Peter 5:5).

God is interested in my closet life with Him.  He is interested in my motive for doing something, not what I do.  EXAMINE YOUR MOTIVES.  God sees my heart.  In the eyes of men I may appear to be doing all manner of good works, but if my motive for doing them is wrong, such as men pleasing, living to men before pleasing God,  self glory – wanting to look good in men’s eyes, then God is displeased. Only what I do to the glory of God produces gold in my life.  All else is wood, hay and stubble in God’s eyes.  Paul exhorts us: “…..whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God”, 1 Corinthians 10:31.  My primary motive should be to please God and, very often, men will disagree with my actions.  I have to die to what man thinks of me in these situations.  Paul said , “I die daily”, 1 Corinthians 15:31.  This death is dying to self but the wonderful outcome of it is that as I “die”, then the resurrected life of Christ is released in me, enabling me to be, and do, what He created me for – to function in His ability!

2 Corinthians 4:7 and 10:  Paul declared:  “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, AND NOT OF US.  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.”   Jesus suffered the cruel death of Calvary for our sin, in our place.  We don’t have to suffer that agony, but we must surrender the right of self will and self glory in order that the above scripture can become truth to us – that the excellency of the power of God, the life of Jesus Christ may be manifest in our mortal flesh.  We have all wanted the manifested life of Christ, the power, without the dying to self will and glory.  Let us focus on our closet life with God, a walk in humility – to please and fellowship with the Father.  He created us for HIS good pleasure!  He delights to see His children, His creation, walking in obedience.

Jesus reprimanded Peter for savouring the things of men instead the things that be of God, (Mark 8:33).  We all have history on that count!

The New Year 2020 is unrolling before us.  May we make a part of our prayer to be that, this coming year, we will give our beloved Saviour, the pre-eminence He rightly deserves, that we would savour the things of God, before the things of men.  In humility, let us allow God’s wind of change to freely blow in our lives.  As we surrender, learning obedience, change will come by divine appointment to glorify God in our lives.  Keep humble.  Stay expectant!

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TO ALL OUR READERS AND FELLOW TRAVELERS:…..as we stand, once more, at the gate of the year.

A sincere thank you for all your love, support and encouragement.  We appreciate, and thank God, for every one of you.  We are in this together!

On reflection of the past year, let us raise our Ebenezer (1 Samuel 7:12)  to our magnificent, Almighty God and Father, with grateful hearts for His faithful love and goodness to us.

Praying 2020 will be a year of fruitfulness to the Father’s glory.