“But as soon as they believed
Philip, which preached the things that concerned the kingdom of God, and the
Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women” (Acts 8:12, Geneva
Bible).
Bind us in our words and worship to
these things this day, our God and King (1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 15:3).
“For we preach not ourselves, but
Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God that
commanded the light to shine out of darkness, is He which hath shined in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency
of that power might be of God, and not of us. We are afflicted on every side,
yet are we not in distress: we are in doubt, but yet we despair not. We are persecuted,
but not forsaken: cast down, but we perish not. Everywhere we bear about in our
body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might also be made
manifest in our bodies. For we which live, are always delivered unto death for
Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal
flesh...and because we have the same Spirit of faith, according as it is
written, ‘I believed, and therefore have I spoken,’ we also believe, and
therefore speak, knowing that He which hath raised up the Lord Jesus, shall
raise us up also by Jesus, and shall set us with you. For all things are for
your sakes, that that most plenteous grace by the thanksgiving of many, may
redound to the praise of God. Therefore we faint not, but though our outward man
perish, yet the inward man is renewed daily. For our light affliction which is
but for a moment, causeth unto us a far most excellent and an eternal weight of
glory: While we look not on the things which are seen, but on the things which
are not seen for the things which are seen, are temporal: but the things which
are not seen, are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:5-11,13-18).
On these days of the Gathering when
I’ve been feeling particularly “earthen” and aware of the slow perishing of the
“outward man,” I remember the message of the Kingdom and the Name. I don’t have
to be powerful, strong, and confident: it is powerful and strong and
unstoppable. It’s not about me. The leadership of Christ’s Church does not
require me to be the Charismatic Leader. It requires the message of Christ the
King and Savior.
And I suddenly remember (being so
stupid – along with Agur in Proverbs 30:2 – that I repeatedly need to be
reminded of it) that He does this...He often humbles me and burdens me in
heart, mind, and body for days leading up to the Gathering of His Congregation.
And I am reminded that they are His, I am His, and He is in charge of this
thing, regardless of my self-doubt. I am earth, He is astounding glory, and He
will shine through His vessels (the proclaimer and hearers both).
“As the providence of God in general
reaches to all creatures, so, in a more special manner, it takes care of His
church, and governs all things to the good of His church” (1689 Baptist
Confession, 5.7). This governing to the good comes especially through His
primary means of grace, the preaching of “the kingdom of God, and the Name of
Jesus Christ” by a lowly, weak clay pot.
Bind us in our words and worship to these things this day, our God and King (1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 15:3).
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