John testified that Jesus was in a higher rank than Him for He existed before Him.
We learn here that there are rankings in the spiritual realm. Not everyone is in the same level. Your ranking depends on how much you humble yourself and how much you overcome temptations, the devil and the world. The more on a higher rank you be, the more of eternal value will be accomplished through you. It's not about the numbers who follow you, but the quality of your life. It's quality not quantity that matters. COME UP HIGHER.
Of His fullness we have received all, grace upon grace. Paul prays in Eph 3:19, 4:13 that that we might be filled with the fullness of God and of Christ.
This is God's will for us, to have the fulness of God upon us. It's not something that happens automatically. It depends on our capacity. Fullness of God is like an ocean, but if we have the capacity of a cup, it will be filled but it doesn't mean there is no more. Our capacity can then be increased to that of a jug and be filled. It can be increased further to a bucket, to 100liters tank and all can be filled. Don't be satisfied where you are. Seek to increase or enlarge your capacity. There is still more of the fulness of God you are yet to experience but the reason is that your capacity is limited. Our capacity is increased as we overcome temptations and humble ourselves. Seek therefore to overcome every temptation you face and always humble yourself wherever you are.
Moses gave the law but grace and truth were realised through Jesus.
Does it mean there was no truth before Jesus? God's word is the truth. Truth here means reality. Where your outer life is a real reflection of your inner life. There is no hypocrisy. If we see you humble on the outside, it's true in the inside also. If you are loving on the outside, it's true in the inside... Have you this truth. If we take a scan of your inside thoughts, attitudes and motives, will it be the same as we see you on the outside? Christ came to give us reality. Seek for it.
Grace also means God's power. Grace came through Jesus means that wherever grace is mentioned in the old testament, it means favour. The common definition of grace is God's unmerited favour; but since it came through Jesus Christ, that cannot be the definition of grace. Everyone in the old testament experienced a favour from God they didn't deserve. God gave health and wealth and children to good and bad people even today. They didn't deserve it but God gave it.
Jesus on the other hand merited everything that God gave Him yet we are told that God's grace was upon Him. Lk 2:40.
God's grace isnot given to everyone but only to the humble . 1Pet 5:5
When we have Grace, we re enabled to overcome temptations. Rom 6:14, we are also taught to say no to ungodliness, and worldly desires. It teaches that in this present evil world, as evil as it is today, we can live soberly, righteously, and in a godly way as we wait for the coming of Christ. Titus 2:11-13.
God's grace gives us everything we ever need to do everything that God wants us to do, that is to do all of Gods will for our individual lives. 2Cor 9:8.
It's God's power in our weaknesses. 2Cor 12:9
No one has God. Jesus is the exact representation of God. When we look at the life of Jesus, we learn How God is in all aspects. It's grace that made Jesus represent God well, it is grace that will make you represent Christ well, but, always remember that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Jam 4:6
When John was asked who he was , he honestly acknowledged that he was not Christ, nor Elijah, nor a prophet. He was a voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare people for the coming of the Lord through His message of repentance.
Many preachers are not a voice but an echo of what others said. They themselves have not sought God and heard from Him. God is always calling His people back to Him from their lives of sin. The true prophets calls people from their lives of sin to holiness but the false prophets comfort people in their sin, from the old testament times til today.
They asked why John baptised and He said there was one greater than Him who he was not worthy to even untie his sandles.
We see here true humility and realise how proud we are.
How have you been serving God.
Do you have a deep conviction that you are not worthy to serve God even in the least thing for Him. Most of us feel pretty worthy to serve God and that is why there is not much progress in the spiritual lives of the majority of those who serve God.
Ask God to open your eyes and show you that you are not even worthy to do the least for Him.
It doesn't mean we'll do nothing. John continued preaching and baptizing.
You are blessed to be a blessing
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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo
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