Wretched

Biblically informed and growing Christians will increasingly understand that they have treasure in earthen vessels. They understand that they need to keep their earthen vessels in subjection.

2 Corinthians 4:7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Like the apostle Paul they will know that they were wretched before they were saved and that their flesh will be wretched until God changes them in a moment. But they will not understand those things until after they are saved.

Romans 7:18: For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

1 Corinthians 9:27: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Acts 9:3: And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Paul didn*t know then that he was wretched. He knew that he was blind. He knew the light that blinded Him was more than just a light, it was a person far superior to himself. He learned that the light was Jesus. And he learned that Jesus wanted him to stop doing some things and start doing some other things. He was told the first thing he should do and that he would be told what else to do. When I received Jesus what overwhelmed me was a desperate awareness of my own helplessness. It was enough to surrender myself and my life to the greatest power that ever existed. And I am still learning over and over that if I am willing to obey Him He will guide me. There is great danger in men believing they are rich and need nothing. And there are many other things they do not know about themselves until God reveals them. They are wretched, poor, blind, naked, spiritually dead, helpless, unforgiven, unsaved and unacceptable to God.

1 Corinthians 15:51: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Revelation 3:17: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Are you like the Revelation wretch that did not know he was wretched? Or are you like Paul who knew that he was? By the way, there is a website that might be a blessing to you: Wretched with Todd Friel.

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