"... that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord, going before them." Zechariah 12:8
Then welcome to Christianity God certainly chooses and honours the poor, the weak, the underprivileged the sick, the widow and the orphan. Where a weak one a feeble one can become mighty through His power. Philemon was a slave which the apostle Paul says “he is a beloved brother”.
Warped Values in Christianity
James was livid and angry about the values that have warped post Jesus Christianity...
James 2:
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God.
The source of wealth and treasure and power of a Christian was intended and remains entirely supernatural in nature
Treasures? What treasure? Treasures of eternal salvation and covenantal faithfulness, supernatural and abiding peace in the face of crisis, the favor and affection of Christ. "Blessings all mine with ten-thousand beside." How God provides for all our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ. Get plugged into Christ, in order to fully understand and realise the eternal security (even financial) which is provided for every believer.
Deut 32:30
How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
Luke 10:19 NLT
Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
Gideon was a nobody, "I am the smallest nobody, that was ever a body," he said. So was Mary the mother of Jesus, so was Elijah, King David, Abraham, Joseph, all men of no standing, no reputation. DL Moody was a shoe clerk, Smith Wigglesworth was a plumber. Whom God raised up and made mighty in Him.
Dearly loved, honored by God and performed great exploits having eternal impact in the Kingdom of God. The Gospel the good news of Christ exalts the lowly from the dung heap and makes one an ambassador for Christ. The gospel and the working of the Holy Spirit make the feeble mighty in faith. God gives the authority and power in Christ to the believer, makes us more than conquerors. "Over all the power of darkness." He causes the believer in Christ to sit upon the throne of Christ's glory. But never expect for men to say, "well that's nice." Expect to remain despised because of the cross.
People whom Jesus regards as impossible to be saved (by all natural considerations) and be made truly holy in God’s Kingdom
Jesus certainly did not persue the rich to save the rich – well Zacheus was rich but the wrong kind of rich (enriched through illegal activities, would be equivalent to a loanshark or drug dealer today) But look how gloriously saved was Zacheus! In fact he said it is impossible to save them apart from a miracle from God!
Matthew 19
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
"I'm just a normal person, just an ordinary person". Like the Shulamite who said "I am dark" the Lord says to you, "you are lovely, with one glance you ravish my heart." So be glad in your everyday estate.
The power of God and persecution are brothers. We cannot expect to have one and escape the other. If Jesus was despised so will we be. He warned us of this.
Hebrews 11:33-38
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?
Luke 10:19 NLT
Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
Gideon was a nobody, "I am the smallest nobody, that was ever a body," he said. So was Mary the mother of Jesus, so was Elijah, King David, Abraham, Joseph, all men of no standing, no reputation. DL Moody was a shoe clerk, Smith Wigglesworth was a plumber. Whom God raised up and made mighty in Him.
Dearly loved, honored by God and performed great exploits having eternal impact in the Kingdom of God. The Gospel the good news of Christ exalts the lowly from the dung heap and makes one an ambassador for Christ. The gospel and the working of the Holy Spirit make the feeble mighty in faith. God gives the authority and power in Christ to the believer, makes us more than conquerors. "Over all the power of darkness." He causes the believer in Christ to sit upon the throne of Christ's glory. But never expect for men to say, "well that's nice." Expect to remain despised because of the cross.
People whom Jesus regards as impossible to be saved (by all natural considerations) and be made truly holy in God’s Kingdom
Jesus certainly did not persue the rich to save the rich – well Zacheus was rich but the wrong kind of rich (enriched through illegal activities, would be equivalent to a loanshark or drug dealer today) But look how gloriously saved was Zacheus! In fact he said it is impossible to save them apart from a miracle from God!
Matthew 19
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
"I'm just a normal person, just an ordinary person". Like the Shulamite who said "I am dark" the Lord says to you, "you are lovely, with one glance you ravish my heart." So be glad in your everyday estate.
The power of God and persecution are brothers. We cannot expect to have one and escape the other. If Jesus was despised so will we be. He warned us of this.
Hebrews 11:33-38
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
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