Leading the inner man
2 Cor 3:2-18
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 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.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 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.
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.
12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Ps 103:7
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: (NIV)
Ÿ We cannot be like Moses and be the only one who knows God´s ways! The people have to know them for themselves!
Ÿ Discipline has become a dirty word in this Generation.
In our fear to be too radical or too hard on the people we have closed the door that leads to his presence.
Only by diligence in the things of the spirit, time in his presence and recieving from Him can we overcome in this day and lead a people to be overcomers.
Eph 6:5-7
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
Rom 10:10
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
This is what we want to see!
Ÿ Instant Obedience to the Word!
Rom 6:17
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Ÿ Spirit led Conviction by the Word!
Acts 2:37
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Ÿ Spirit led giving!
Exod 35:21
21 And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments.
v We have to be ministers of the spirit and be able to reach the hearts of people. If we do not write on their hearts we have done nothing!
*We have to Love people enough to go for the Heart!
*We will have to get real
*We have to be spiritual ourselves
*We will have to have a confrontational love
*We can no longer be afraid of what people think
*We have to allow the Spirit of God free room in our gatherings
*We have to discourage spiritual elitism! (only we the leaders can know God)