praise Him for the Body life and the overcoming life in Christ

Praise the Lord.


I really mean it. I'm encouraged afresh just to say those three words packed with power to do at least three things spontaneously: 1) Take me out of whatever condition I may be in as a result of the typically chaotic events of my day, and elevate me experientially to my proper position seated in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus; 2) twist the arrow that has been shot into the heart of the enemy who accuses day and night, who was defeated by Christ's vicarious death on the cross; and 3) enthrones the God of glory upon the praises of His chosen and redeemed ones. I posted this quote from an outline from a recent ministry meeting on my Facebook, but it's worth noting again here: O Senhor tem perfeito louvor ou força da boca de pequeninos e crianças de peito para fazer calar seus adversários, o inimigo e o vingador – Sl 8:2 (The Lord has perfected praise or strength from the mouths of babes and sucklings to shut the mouths of his adversaries, the enemy and the avenger—Psalms 8:2). I wish I could just drink a cup of this every morning for the rest of my life!


I appreciate the spontaneity of the life supply in the fellowship of the Body of Christ. The portion of members that I may consider small has helped me in ways I have not yet come to understand, and have trouble recognizing. I long for a spirit of lowliness to just be open to the speaking of each member, regardless of whether or not I've already heard what it is they have to say. Otherwise, I'm seriously missing out. One of the most memorable sentences shared with me during my trip to Brazil captures this exactly: If you can't receive help from anyone except the members whom you consider to be more mature than you are, you don't know the Body. Amen, it's really true. I hope the Lord would really have a way in me along these lines during my time living in the brothers' house.


One more thing I've enjoyed that I can't exclude comes from having finished chapter two of Watchman Nee's The Overcoming Life. The book is incredible. What I've seen so far is that the standard of God's salvation for a Christian as seen in the Bible is much higher than the experience of most Christians. In this, we have to acknowledge that either our experience is wrong, or God's word is wrong. As a Christian, my initial response to reading this affirmation over and over again was to think, well that's a given; I believe that God's word is right, and cannot be wrong. But then I began to consider, if I believe so fervently in the infallibility of God's word, why is my experience so low?? May the Lord continue to shine! I want the life that more than conquers! I want to reign in life! I want sin under my feet! And what's most wonderful is that this is the kind of life I received when I got saved. May I learn to stand on God's word as the solid foundation I so commonly affirm it to be! May I stop striving to attain to something apparently unattainable and simply obtain what Christ has already achieved!