NOT THE LETTER BUT THE SPIRIT

 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you.

Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.

This is where some in the church mix it up. We cannot measure by the world's standard, it has to be God's standard. 

*it is not the state of the edifice, but the heart and soul of those who worship in it;

*it is not the number of people that troop in, but the number that are recognized by the Heavenly Father;

*it is not how many years you have been in church or ministry, but how far you have matured and how many lives you have impacted;

*it is not about how many titles you have bagged, or degrees you received... Who you help? 

*it is not about how famous you are on media, in the secular world. . . Does the Heavenly Father recognize you? 

What is the evidence of who you are in Christ? 

It is the number of lives you have impacted, the souls that the Lord has restored through you. 

(We have many who just move people from one denomination to another, that is not the impact, Christ has only one bride) Selah

Know who is the boss, never forget, do not get carried away:

2 Corinthians 3:4-6

We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ.

It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.

He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.

Many still live in the old, there is a new way. All who practice one type of religion or the other, are still trapped in one version or the other of the old way. They need to accept liberty which Christ brings. Not carefree, for the new is even more disciplined. It is more glorious. 

2 Corinthians 3:8-11

Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?

If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God!

In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.

So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!

The veil is taken away (though many want to keep others in the dark). The Spirit of God, brings true illumination to the believer. Freedom from incantations/recitation, foolishness of outside cleaning to bring about inside cleansing, when we know that what defiles a man comes from inside:

Matthew 15:11 

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

John 3:3 & 5

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

For unless a man submits to God's Spirit he remains in the dark, yes, in bondage. 

2 Corinthians 3:14-17

But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.

Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand.

But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Glory to God. The door remains open for anyone who will believe and come. He continually makes us more like Himself day after day. Thus we can impact lives and that is where the true eternal reward is. 

2 Corinthians 3:18

So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Glory to the Heavenly Father. 

He calls us blessed. 

Love

@the watcher