Sevenfold Promises And Statements In The New Testament - Part Two

Sevenfold Promises And Statements In The New Testament - Part Two

K. Seven aspects of true faith in the church age mentioned, including the Godhead/Trinity.

Ephesians 4:4-6

1) There is one body, 

2) and one Spirit, 

3) even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 

4) One Lord, 

5) one faith, 

6) one baptism, 

7) One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

One Spirit (the Holy Spirit),

One Lord (Jesus Christ, the Son),

One God and Father.

L. Seven components to the whole armour of God.

Ephesians 6:14-18

Stand therefore, 

1) having your loins girt about with truth, 

2) and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 

3) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

4) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 

5) And take the helmet of salvation, 

6) and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 

7) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

M. Paul’s sevenfold natural advantages counted loss for Christ.

Philippians 3:5-6

1) Circumcised the eighth day, 

2) of the stock of Israel, 

3) of the tribe of Benjamin, 

4) an Hebrew of the Hebrews; 

5) as touching the law, a Pharisee; a Pharisee;

6) Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; 

7) touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Paul lists seven natural advantages he had, which he rejected in favour of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection.

See Philippians 3:7-10

N. Seven aspects of Paul’s character and beliefs given.

2 Timothy 3:10

But thou hast fully known 

1) my doctrine, 

2) manner of life, 

3) purpose, 

4) faith, 

5) longsuffering, 

6) charity, 

7) patience,

O. Sevenfold assertion of Christ’s deity.

Hebrews 1:2-3

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, 

1) whom he hath appointed heir of all things, 

2) by whom also he made the worlds; 

3) Who being the brightness of his glory, 

4) and the express image of his person, 

5) and upholding all things by the word of his power, 

6) when he had by himself purged our sins, 

7) sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

P. Seven furnishings in the temple/tabernacle.

Hebrews 9:4-5

Which had 

1) the golden censer, 

2) and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, 

3) wherein was the golden pot that had manna, 

4) and Aaron's rod that budded, 

5) and the tables of the covenant; 

6) And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing 

7) the mercyseat;

of which we cannot now speak particularly.

Q. Sevenfold statements about each covenant, Mount Sinai contrasted with Mount Zion (Sion), the Law compared with grace.

Mount Sinai:

Hebrews 12:18-19

For ye are not come unto the mount 

1) that might be touched, 

2) and that burned with fire, 

3) nor unto blackness, 

4) and darkness,

5) and tempest,

6) And the sound of a trumpet,

7) and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

Mount Sion (Zion):

Hebrews 12:22-24

But ye are come unto mount Sion,

1) and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,

2) and to an innumerable company of angels, 

3) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven,

4) and to God the Judge of all,

5) and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

6) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant,

7) and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

R. Heavenly wisdom has seven characteristics.

James 3:17

But the wisdom that is from above is

1) first pure, 

2) then peaceable, 

3) gentle, 

4) and easy to be intreated, 

5) full of mercy and good fruits, 

6) without partiality, 

7) and without hypocrisy.

See also Proverbs 9:1.

S. Seven things about God’s people.

1 Peter 2:9-10

But ye are 

1) a chosen generation, 

2) a royal priesthood, 

3) an holy nation,

4) a peculiar people; 

5) that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

6) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: 

7) which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

T. Seven characteristics we are to add to our faith.

2 Peter 1:5-7

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith 

1) virtue; 

2) and to virtue knowledge; 

3) And to knowledge temperance; 

4) and to temperance patience; 

5) and to patience godliness; 

6) And to godliness brotherly kindness; 

7) and to brotherly kindness charity.

November 8th, 2023

Jerry Bouey

Written By God’s Spirit

Written By God’s Spirit

2 Corinthians 3:1-3 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

Pretty neat imagery there! True believers don't need credentials or letters of commendation by others to be used of the Lord. We are His letters, written on by the Spirit of the living God.

2 Corinthians 3:4-6 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Our sufficiency is from God. "Sufficiency" means:

Sufficient, ability or competency to do a thing.

The word "able" in verse 6 means:

To make sufficient, render fit; to equip one with adequate power to perform duties of one.

As we walk daily with our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, He equips us with all we need to serve Him through the power of His Word and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:3-4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

May 19, 2021
Jerry Bouey

Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord

Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

I would have to say that this verse is one of the most convicting and motivational verses that I have found within the Word of God. Every time I have grown weary in the work or wondered whether my service was making a difference, I would come across this verse or another one similar to it - Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. According to the Lord Jesus Christ, our service for Him and for the sake of the Gospel is not in vain, it is not empty or worthless. There is a promised harvest if we will continue to be steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Being steadfast means keeping my eyes focused on the Lord, trusting in Him, and clinging tightly to His Word. The Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines steadfastness as "Firmness of mind or purpose; fixedness in principle; constancy; resolution; as the stedfastness of faith." Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee. Colossians 1:23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Being unmoveable means I will not waver in my commitment and service to Him. I will take the stands I need to in my Christian walk, and will not compromise or move from those positions, despite what lukewarm believers and a politically-correct society says to me.

Being always abounding in the work of the Lord means I will not grow lazy in my service to the Lord, I will not let my feelings dictate when I will serve, nor will I let myself falter in my commitment to reach the lost.

The word for abounding is Strong's #4052, which means "to superabound (in quantity or quality), be in excess, be superfluous; also (transitively) to cause to superabound or excel." What this means on a practical basis is that I am not to stagnate in my service for Christ, but should always be seeking to excel, to do more (excelling in quantity) for Him, and to do better (excelling in quality). If after a lifetime of service, all we can look back to is the same level of service year after year, then we have not always abounded in the work of the Lord. (Lest I be misunderstood, I am trying to encourage faithfulness, but I am also trying to encourage a willing attitude that says what more can I do in my service to Jesus Christ? He has done so much for us, we ought to give Him our all in return. See Romans 12:1-2)

There are many ways we can abound in our service:
(Notice that all these verses contain the same word in Greek, translated as abound, excel, abundant, increase.)

Abounding in edifying our brethren. 1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Abounding in giving. 2 Corinthians 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

2 Corinthians 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

Abounding in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Abounding in love and discernment. Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

Abounding in joy. Philippians 1:26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

Abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:7 Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

2 Corinthians 9:11-12 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

Abounding in a life that pleases God. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

There are many ways our Heavenly Father has abounded towards us:

1) Giving us Christ's abounding righteousness, that far surpasses any righteousness we can devise. Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Yes, Christ's righteousness far exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees!

2) Having an abundant supply that can meet all our needs. Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! See also Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:19; Romans 8:32

3) Providing an abundance of grace. Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

4) Giving us an abundance of hope. Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

5) Providing us an abundance of comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

6) Offering us an abundance of wisdom and prudence. Ephesians 1:8 Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

In John 10:10, Jesus compared the quality of life the devil desires for us with the quality of life He Himself desires for us - the abundant life. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (#622): I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (#4053)

Strong's #622 means "to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose)." Strong's #4053 means "superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); by implication, excessive." The life of service that Jesus offers His brethren was far better than anything this old world could offer. It is a life filled with the fullness of joy, peace, contentment, and blessings innumerable as we walk with and abide in Him.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly (#4053) above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Are you ever weary in your work for the Lord?

In Revelation 2:2-3, Jesus commended the Ephesians for their works, labour, and patience. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

They were faithful in service, toiling for their master. The word "patience" is Strong's # 5281, meaning to "stay under", ie. persevere in trials. They had borne (#941 - endured), and had patience (#5281 - perseverance), and laboured (#2872 - to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard; toil) for Christ's name's sake. And they had not fainted (#2577 - become weary).

A trace of the words "fainted" and "weary" throughout Scripture reveal some of the Lord's intended ways for us to refresh our spirits.

We are to continually:

Seek God in prayer. Luke 18:1 And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Wait upon the Lord. Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Remember that it is He Himself who fights our battles and delivers us from our troubles and distresses. Deuteronomy 20:3-4 And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God is He that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.

Psalm 107:5-6 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.

Hope and trust in His Word and the promises contained therein. Psalm 119:81 My soul fainteth for Thy salvation: but I hope in Thy word.

Study His Word and look to the Scriptures for comfort. Isaiah 50:4-5 The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

Amos 8:11-13 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst.

Look for Jesus Christ throughout the Scriptures. Isaiah 28:9-13,16 Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Matthew 11:28 Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Relying on God's mercy and grace. 2 Corinthians 4:1,16 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Take Christ's yoke of service upon us. Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Persevere in well doing. Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

And keep looking unto Jesus and remembering His example. Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Are you weary in the work? Keep looking unto Jesus for the grace and strength you need to continue in service to Him. The solution is not to back off from our spiritual walk and devotion to the Lord, but to cling that much closer to Him, to plead His promises, and trust His Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen our hearts.

Stay steadfast!
Stand unmoveable!
Strive to keep abounding in the work of the Lord!
It is not in vain!

Hebrews 6:10-12 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

September 21st, 2002
Jerry Bouey

Are You Ready, Willing, And Able?

Are You Ready, Willing, And Able?

I'm sure the phrase "ready, willing, and able" is one you have heard countless times. By it we mean we are prepared to face anything we have to face, willing to do anything we need to do, and are equipped to perform any task. Noble goals. Are we in fact ready, willing, and able as Christians?

Are you ready?

The most important thing to be ready for in our service to the King of Kings is in the area of salvation. If the Lord Jesus Christ came back today, would you be ready to go to Heaven with Him? Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow, are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

John the Baptist's mission was to prepare the way of the Lord, to preach repentance and faith, to preach the Gospel that saves. Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

The ten virgins were waiting for the Lord's return, but some of them weren't ready. Some of them did not place personal faith in the Saviour, believing in Jesus Christ's death for their sins, His burial, and His physical resurrection. When Jesus comes again, will you be ready? Matthew 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

I have found six ways that the child of God can be ready to serve the Lord Jesus Christ:

1) Ready to live for Christ:

a) By resisting temptation:

Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Mark 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

b) By dealing with disobedience in our own lives:

2 Corinthians 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

2) Ready to search the Scriptures daily, and to study it diligently (2 Timothy 2:15):

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Ezra 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

3) Ready to do good works and contribute to the needs of the saints:

2 Corinthians 8:11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

2 Corinthians 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

1 Timothy 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate.

Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.

4) Ready to fight (as Christians, our fight is spiritual, against spiritual forces of wickedness and darkness):

1 Chronicles 12:24 The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.

5) Ready to be a witness and share the Gospel:

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

Romans 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

Psalm 45:1 My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

6) Ready to die for the Lord:

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

Luke 22:33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

I fully believe that if we intend to be faithful to the Lord and perhaps die for Him someday, then we will need to be faithful and live for Him right now, day by day. If you won't live for Jesus Christ, I guarantee you will never die for Him! You may be killed by someone, but it won't be as a martyr, unless you are killed for your testimony of Jesus.

Are you ready, my friend?

Are you willing?

This one is simple: are you willing to serve the Lord? Do you have a desire to please Him in all you do? Or are you doing the things you want to do in your own life, regardless of whether that is God's will for you or not? While there is much in the Word of God regarding His will for our lives, I will focus only on the passages that deal with our will in serving Him.

Again, the first requirement is salvation. John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. It isn't your will-power that gets you into Heaven, but your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the way of salvation He offers.

After you receive Jesus as your Saviour, you need to choose to give Him yourself, your life, your all, if you ever hope to be used by Him, to bear fruit for His kingdom. Romans 12:1-2 is an excellent passage stating that in light of all that Christ has done to save us, it is only our reasonable service to give our lives back to Him; and as we do so, we are able to discern the Lord's perfect will for our lives. It all comes down to first giving ourselves to the Lord to do His will. See also 2 Corinthians 8:1-5.

There are so many things to learn in our walk as Christians. Where do we start? So many of God's children get discouraged by the myriad opinions of others (on various subjects such as Bible Versions, which church is right, what type of music to listen to, what type of clothing to wear, etc.) that they decide they can't determine God's will or leading in these areas. But the Word of God gives us a sure promise in John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. If we choose to do God's will, He will reveal it to us! (See also James 1:5) This will involve Bible study and prayer, as well as an obedient heart that puts into practice all that it learns. If you won't obey what you already know, don't expect the Lord to give you more guidance.

The Bible teaches that Jesus is our example. When He was going through the darkest time of His ministry on earth, what did He do? He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, and truly submitted to His Heavenly Father ' will, even though it meant His own cruel death on the cross to pay for our sins.

Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Matthew 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Mark 8:34-35 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after Mm, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

Matthew 20:26-27 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.

It is not enough merely to be ready, we must be willing from the heart.

Ephesians 6:6-7 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.

 A true willingness is followed by action.

2 Corinthians 8:11-12 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

Let's live our lives in such a way that we please the Lord. May the Lord look at us the way He looked at King David. Acts 13:22  I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

Two other passages that you may want to read are: Matthew 21:28-32 and Luke 7:41-43.

Are you willing, my friend?

Are you able?

This last section sums up this study: Are you able to serve the Lord and to do His will in your life? (Our main problem is not so much that we aren't able, but for the most part aren't willing.) Where do you get the ability and strength to perform all that He wants you to do?

The answer is simple, yet profound: our sufficiency is in Christ. The Bible teaches that we are complete in Christ, and without Him we can do nothing. (Colossians 2:10 and John 15:4-5)

2 Corinthians 2:15-16 says, For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

The answer is clearly found in the next chapter (3:5-6): Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament.

Jesus is the source of our strength (2 Corinthians 12:9), our source for boundless grace (1 Corinthians 15:10), our source for victory (Romans 8:37 and 1 Corinthians 15:57), and, in fact, we find in Him all we need for our Christian lives and service.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Let the Lord have His perfect way in your life, and then you will be ready, willing, and able. He will make you what He will have you to be.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Are you able, my friend?

No  but Jesus Christ is!

Study written May 12th, 2002
By Jerry Bouey