What follows is the expression of the Life in Abundance that the Father offers all of fallen mankind through His Son, our Lord, Savior and Brother! What follows has nothing whatsoever to do with man’s religion, it is so far above that sad joke that man’s religion ceases to exist in its presence!
If you want the Lord, then this is what it will take: die! die! die to self and this world, and only the Lord Himself can help you do this!
I would like to begin in with his word from Martin Luther -
“Human reason is easily offended by the vile shapes of the cross. It judges insane those who want to comfort, help, and care for others, or who boast about their great riches, righteousness, fortitude, victory over sin, death, and every evil, and about their joy, salvation, and eternal life, all while these same people are needy, weak, troubled, and despised, and are mistreated and killed as the most noxious enemies of the state and of religion, not by the rabble but by people of quality in both the political and the ecclesiastical realms. They consider themselves to have done God the greatest service when they have done this. And so when they promise eternal blessings to others while they themselves are perishing so miserably in the sight of the world, they are ridiculed and forced to hear: ‘Physician, heal yourself’ Lk 4:23! This is the source of the complaints throughout the Psalms: ‘I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people’ Ps 22:6. ‘Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help’ Ps 22:11.
“Therefore it is really a magnificent commendation of and praise for the Galatians that they were not offended by Paul’s weakness and trial but received him as an angel of God, indeed as Christ Jesus. It is a great and outstanding virtue to listen to an apostle. But it is a greater and truly Christian virtue to listen to one who was as miserable, weak, and contemptible as Paul here admits that he was among the Galatians, and to receive such a one as an angel from heaven and to hold him in such honor as though he were Christ Jesus, without being offended by his many and great weaknesses. In these words, therefore, he greatly praises the virtue of the Galatians, saying that it will be with him forever and is so gratifying to him that he wants everyone to know about it.”…
and then a few passages from the Word –
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Cor. 4:7-12
You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. Gal. 4:13-14
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Cor. 12:9
You can find the entire article here:
href=’http://livingwalk.wordpress.com/?p=3870&preview=true’>From Death to Life – W.E. Smith « Livingwalk – W.E. Smith.
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