EXPECTATION OF THE RECEIVER OF THE NEW COVENANT MINISTRY

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EXPECTATION OF THE RECEIVER OF THE NEW COVENANT MINISTRY

Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:1–10

2 Corinthians 5:1 – For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Verse 4 – For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened—not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.

Verse 5 – Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

Verse 7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Verse 8 – We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Verse 9 – Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

Verse 10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Glory to the Lord Jesus in the highest for another wonderful day in this week. May His grace continue to abound in our lives, in Jesus' name.

Previously, we discussed the challenges faced by the New Covenant ministry, and today we are going to examine the expectations of those who receive this ministry.

During Jesus’ lifetime, He promised us many things as believers. One of those promises is that He is going to prepare a place for us after His departure, so that we can be where He is also (John 14:1–3). In verse 1, Paul says, "For we know..." Many believers easily backslide or give up in this race because of ignorance regarding the promises of God for those of us who have received the New Covenant ministry. We know first, then we believe.

How many of His promises do you know?
How many of His plans for your life have you discovered in the Scriptures?

Paul lays emphasis on the new body that will be given after we die. He grows weary of this earthly body, groans, and sighs because he is aware of another body that is to be given after death. Whenever you come to the awareness of God’s plans for your life as a believer who has received this ministry, you will begin to long for it, yearn for it, and look forward to its fulfilment. Believers should not live their lives as those who have no hope, because if that were the case, we would be no different from unbelievers.

2 Corinthians 5:5 – Note this: All who are destined for heaven hereafter are prepared for heaven while they are still here. The stones of that spiritual building and temple above are squared and fashioned here below. And He who has prepared us for this is God—because nothing less than divine power can make a soul a partaker of the divine nature. No hand less than the hand of God can prepare us for this. A great deal is to be done to prepare our souls for heaven, and that preparation of the heart is from the Lord.

Secondly, the earnest (guarantee) of the Spirit gives us this assurance—for an earnest is a part of the payment and secures the full payment. The present graces and comforts of the Spirit are the earnest of everlasting grace and comfort.



Continuing further, Paul says we walk by faith and not by sight, because faith is for this world, and sight is reserved for the world to come. It is our duty—and it is in our best interest—to walk by faith until we come to live by sight. How comforting and courageous we ought to be in the face of life’s troubles and even at the hour of death! Therefore, we are, or ought to be, always confident (2 Corinthians 5:6). And again, in 2 Corinthians 5:8: “We are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body.”

True Christians, if they duly consider the hope and perspective that faith gives them regarding the world to come, would be comforted in the midst of life’s trials and supported in the hour of death. They should take courage when confronting the final enemy (death), and be willing to die rather than live, when it is God’s will for them to lay aside this earthly tent.

Lastly, believers are to live their lives to please God, so that His promises can be fulfilled in them, and so that they do not receive eternal damnation.

Are you truly living to please God?
Are you preparing for eternal damnation—or for the new body and eternal rest?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your word sent to us again this morning. May Your name be praised forever, in Jesus' name.

Lord, we pray that You open our eyes to more of Your plans and promises, so that the devil will not take advantage of us.

Help us to always prepare for eternal rest, and to be doers of Your word.

Give us the grace to reign with You in Your kingdom.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.


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