II Corinthians 4:5-7
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, 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 the power may be of God, and not of us."
February 20th
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Revelation 3:21
"...even as I also overcame"!!! Was Jesus a deceiver? Was He a slanderer? Was He a backbiter and gossiper? Was He envious? Was He striving to be exalted in the sight of men?
See to that you get this clearly and never forget it: UNLESS you are in this earth-life, striving to be an "overcomer" (of human weaknesses and carnality), you shall certainly miss out on "heaven"! Yet by that I do not mean that you are heading for "hell" (according to the older sulphurous effusions from the pulpits).
Long and deep dwell on the precise wordings of Revelation 3:21: "...even as I also overcame...." "...even as I also" becomes: "in like manner" (as He cast the Devil behind Him, rising above human folly and carnalities, to live SOLELY for the Father in Heaven – as He clearly stated in John 8:29).
I am not trying to imply that we must achieve relative "perfection," but rather, that we yearn and strive for the "overcomer's estate" (that we may be like unto Him), otherwise we shall not receive His CLEANSING FIRE. UNLESS that you have or do receive [which grants the "oil" to light the "lamp" – Matt. 25] there can be no entry into heaven(!) – but only a partaking in the earthly kingdom; or for some a post-millennium life on earth wherein to "work out their own salvation" (Phil. 2:12).
All the foregoing is on the assumption the person has been "generated from above" (Jn. 3:3).
...None but "the pure in heart shall see God" (Matt. 5:8).
Chat 2/1996 (continued tomorrow...)