God will keep us from the devourer
Sharing on Tithes and Offering.
Definitions:
- Tithes : Giving of a tenth of our first fruits to God and church
- Offering : Presentation as an act of worship and giving to help (for example Christmas offering or offering for tsunami victims, etc)
- First fruits: The first gathered fruits of a harvest, offered to God in gratitude. The first results of an undertaking.
1. God initiated giving
God sets the example of giving in salvation and in beginning of creation. He supplies to us to give. As the Father gave in John 3:16, so we give in the same spirit which is sacrificially. God is the giver of life and of salvation (Genesis).
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
(Gen 22:13-14)
God also gave out of His grace : Noah, Rahab, Solomon, for the church the giving of the Holy Spirit.... and our salvation!
One of the true signs of receiving a giving from the highest Heaven is that grace becomes a hallmark of their ministry.
And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
(Act 4:33)
2. Giving starts with giving our own selves first
2 Cor 8:
5 And [this they did], not as we hoped , but first gave their own selves to the Lord , and unto us by the will of God .
The Macedonian church’s example to give their substance by first giving of themselves to the Lord, then out of that they gave sacrificially.
Out of a heart of thankfulness for salvation, the early church gave to support each other generously. This is done with genuine love for each other, a true mark of discipleship. Obeying the second of the two greatest commandment to love others.
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
(Act 4:32)
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
(John 13:35)
3. God’s promises if we give tithes and offering
Mal 3:
6 For I [am] the LORD , I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed . 7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances , and have not kept [them]. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts . But ye said , Wherein shall we return ? 8 Will a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say , Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings . 9 Ye [are] cursed with a curse : for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation . 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse , that there may be meat in mine house , and prove me nowherewith , saith the LORD of hosts , if I will not open you the windows of heaven , and pour you out a blessing , that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].
- If we don’t five our tithes and offering, the judgment is very strong ; do we rob God?
- Robbing God in not giving tithes and offering shows our ungratefulness in receiving salvation, not acknowledging that He is our Provider. It also means that there will be the house of God being neglected and the poor uncared for. In other words when we deprive the poor, we also rob God!
To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
(Isa 10:2)
And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.
(Lev 19:10)
Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
(Jer 22:3)
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Mal 3:5)
- God will not only judge workers of iniquity, but also to those who overlook the needs of the poor in our offering.
- Note that the judgment for both is the same, God’s heart reaches out to the poor
- God doesn’t curse us, but rather we are cursed because of lack of generosity
– both in acknowledging God as provider (by our first fruits, tithing) and offering for the poor
- Know for a fact that God will bless us with Heavenly blessings! Blessings that are not just for today, but for eternal.
- The today’s blessings are easy to define. They are our daily needs for food and clothing (shelter included).
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
(Mat 6:31-33)
God know our every need. Like wise we consider the needs of others
- What are the eternal blessings then?... His Kingdom! Jesus spoke a lot of the Kingdom of God as well as the inheritance laid out for us. Matt 5:3,10, 20 Jesus talks about the poor and the righteous inheriting His Kingdom. Jesus ask us to pray His Kingdom to be established on earth (Matt 6:10). Jesus taught the parables of the Kingdom. It was the subject in His heart, as well as in His heart that we inherit His Kingdom.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
(Rom 14:17)
- We give our external (money and first fruits) but God bless us with Heavenly Blessings
– His Kingdom and fullness of life thereof.
4. How are we then rich
- Definition of being ‘rich’ is being able to bless out of our abundance. Nothing to do with the quantum we have. Able to give is the rich-ness that we are able to give.
2 Cor 8:
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ , that , though he was rich , yet for your sakes he became poor , that ye through his poverty might be rich .
- That we know the grace--the act of gratuitous love whereby the Lord emptied Himself of His previous heavenly glory (Php 2:6, 7) for your sakes. Became poor--Yet this is not demanded of you (2Co 8:14); but merely that, without impoverishing yourselves, you should relieve others with your abundance. If the Lord did so much more, and at so much heavier a cost, for your sakes; much more may you do an act of love to your brethren at so little a sacrifice of self. Might be rich--in the heavenly glory which constitutes His riches, and all other things, so far as is really good for us (compare 1Co 3:21, 22).
Duet 8:17,18
17 And thou say in thine heart , My power and the might of [mine] hand hath gotten me this wealth . 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God : for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth , that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers , as [it is] this day .
- Recognize that it is God that gives us the ability to work, his providence of our intellect and skill. He sustains us by giving us health to be able to work. Therefore we have to than honor God from whom all blessings flow.
Prov 3:9,10
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance , and with the firstfruits of all thine increase : 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty , and thy presses shall burst out with new wine .
5. God protects us from the devourer
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
(Mal 3:11)
- That’s why Job won’t curse God because of the Righteousness in him.
- What about storage of earthly treasures ( Matt 6:19-21) where neither moth, nor rust destroys and thieves can’t steal. Job had the qualities that the devil couldn’t touch, although the body suffered and losing everything dear to Job.
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
(Rom 1:4)
- God’s holiness protects us from corruption as it did Christ. Basically protects us from being devoured by the devourer who comes to kill, steal and to destroy.
- His peace that passes all understanding that keeps us in sanity is only when He reigns as Prince of Peace.
- Joy of the Lord which is our strength will not fail us (Neh 8:10).
Suicides getting younger in age, people who live a cursed live, not having any salvation to their living hell. For us to live is Christ, to die is gain means we have a greater life in eternity to look forward to.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Carrying the Cross – The rich young ruler
Matt 19:16-22
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
1. The Rich Young Ruler
- The young man was probably a magistrate or a justice of peace holding authority to make important judgments
- The capability of the man is probably beyond his years, that is why Scripture describe him as ‘Young Rich Ruler’ not just as a just ‘rich ruler’
- He has good knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and seems to be conscientious about obeying them
- Acknowledges the authority of Christ by addressing Him as Good Teacher or Good Master, thus putting himself under the tutorship of One greater, perhaps even recognizing that Jesus authority is from Heaven as did Nicodemus
2. Misplaced importance
- He is obviously not a Sadducee in believing there is eternal life
- Also he knows of the greater blessing of a heavenly life. How much of us would have the desire like this man to look forward to eternal life, not merely concern for the current. He does have a good sense to believe for the eternal, especially being young in age
- Jesus answered him kindly and ensures that before He answers the quest for eternal life with the certainty the answer is from God Himself. Therefore finalizing the truth that Jesus’ answer is not of some human philosophy but instead carries the eternal worth of Heaven
- ‘Keep the commandments’: Obedience inevitably leads to eternal life as did Jesus submitting His will to the Father at the garden of Gethsemane. Because obedience to the Word of God shows our love for Jesus (John 14:15, 14:6)
- For also we have had the gospel preached, as well as them. But the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter into the rest, as He said, "I have sworn in My wrath that they should not enter into My rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
(Heb 4:2-3)
The obedience to the Word comes with faith to believe thus entering into rest
- However the man didn’t believe the whole council of God to obey all thereof. The danger of believing in what we want to believe will not lead us into rest (the man only obeyed the doing of the 10 commandments) forsaking the BEING which is our love for God and being loved by Him.
- ‘If you want to be perfect, go, …’ this means that the inheritance of eternal is on our ball court. It’s the matter of how much we want eternal life. Matt 6:19-21
3. Taking up the cross
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
(Mar 10:21)
- What then is our initiative but to take up the cross?
- Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(Mat 16:24)
- The cross is our own cross, not crosses, meaning it’s ours to bear. None referring to bearing each other’s cross. The commandment to carry the cross is given out of love, not anger nor punishment, it is because He wants us to bear that and from that bring us to the place for reward with the treasures of Heaven
- What then is our cross (the reproach we are to bear for our pilgrimage of discipleship)? Matt 5:10-12. What then is the evidence of our life – righteousness!
- And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
(Deu 6:25)
- The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
(2Sa 22:21)
- Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
(Mat 25:44-46)
- God has called us to Righteousness as He did with Abraham and all the men and women of faith in the Bible. It is because we are ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor 5:20) that our representation will be true to the God Whom we believe
- The church will suffer because of the issue of Righteousness, for the where God’s righteousness is, there is the revealing of the Light of God which then reveals sin
- Taking the cross is not about reduction of things, for things will eventually loose its value. But really
He must increase, but I must decrease.
(Joh 3:30). Meaning that the greatness of Christ increasing in our life is becoming a ‘must’ not an option thus our intrinsic value becomes more Christ-like than having the form or shape of our character. Ourselves then become diminished and Christ becomes pre-eminent is our character, behavior, thought pattern, value, etc. It is an all encompassing transfiguration that takes place from the time we are saved. It’s called the process of sanctification. If it’s just the mere reduction of things, than Christians would loose out to the religious who have given themselves to poverty and reproach (bald, barefoot…)
4. Before taking up the cross
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
(Exo 20:3-7)
- Taking up the cross preceeded following Jesus. Thus begins with the first 3 Commandments to love, honor and putting God 1st.
- God becomes the utmost in our whole life
5. Salvation is the impossible
Matt 19
21 Jesus said unto him , If thou wilt be perfect , go [and] sell that thou hast , and give to the poor , and thou shalt have treasure in heaven : and come [and] follow me . 22 But when the young man heard that saying , he went away sorrowful : for he had great possessions . 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples , Verily I say unto you , That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven . 24 And again I say unto you , It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle , than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God . 25 When his disciples heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed , saying , Who then can be saved ?
- How then we begin?
But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them , With men this is impossible ; but with God all things are possible .
Placing our life into our impossiblity means to give up and allow this to be a miracle of God, never by our works. Therefore salvation and subsequently following Christ. The denying of self is to be poor in Spirit, not the literal but in the frame of mind to surrender totally - that begins the following of Christ to inherit His Kingdom!
- Not denying ourselves is than to deny the miracle of God saving us unto a new life.
6. Our new life
Rom 6:
3 Know ye not , that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death ? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death : that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father , even so we also should walk in newness of life.
- Our justification : And since He was "made sin" and "a curse for us" (2Co 5:21; Ga 5:13), "bearing our sins in His own body on the tree," and "rising again for our justification" (Ro 4:25; 1Pe 2:24), our whole sinful case and condition, thus taken up into His Person, has been brought to an end in His death. Whoso, then, has been baptized into Christ's death has formally surrendered the whole state and life of sin, as in Christ a dead thing. He has sealed himself to be not only "the righteousness of God in Him," but "a new creature"; and as he cannot be in Christ to the one effect and not to the other, for they are one thing, he has bidden farewell, by baptism into Christ's death, to his entire connection with sin.
- Into His death: It is not, "By baptism we are buried with Him into death," which makes no sense at all; but, "By baptism with Him into death we are buried with Him"; in other words, "By the same baptism which publicly enters us into His death, we are made partakers of His burial also".
- Rising to glory: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father--that is, by such a forth-putting of the Father's power as was the effulgence of His whole glory. even so we also--as risen to a new life with Him. should walk in newness of life--But what is that "newness?" - Life of holiness, that's where our glory lies.
Rom 6:
21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things [is] death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ , [he is] a new creature : old things are passed away ; behold , all things are become new .
Because a new life is a ‘creation’, it is therefore an act of God. Similarly salvation is not of us.
Matt 19:16-22
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
1. The Rich Young Ruler
- The young man was probably a magistrate or a justice of peace holding authority to make important judgments
- The capability of the man is probably beyond his years, that is why Scripture describe him as ‘Young Rich Ruler’ not just as a just ‘rich ruler’
- He has good knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and seems to be conscientious about obeying them
- Acknowledges the authority of Christ by addressing Him as Good Teacher or Good Master, thus putting himself under the tutorship of One greater, perhaps even recognizing that Jesus authority is from Heaven as did Nicodemus
2. Misplaced importance
- He is obviously not a Sadducee in believing there is eternal life
- Also he knows of the greater blessing of a heavenly life. How much of us would have the desire like this man to look forward to eternal life, not merely concern for the current. He does have a good sense to believe for the eternal, especially being young in age
- Jesus answered him kindly and ensures that before He answers the quest for eternal life with the certainty the answer is from God Himself. Therefore finalizing the truth that Jesus’ answer is not of some human philosophy but instead carries the eternal worth of Heaven
- ‘Keep the commandments’: Obedience inevitably leads to eternal life as did Jesus submitting His will to the Father at the garden of Gethsemane. Because obedience to the Word of God shows our love for Jesus (John 14:15, 14:6)
- For also we have had the gospel preached, as well as them. But the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter into the rest, as He said, "I have sworn in My wrath that they should not enter into My rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
(Heb 4:2-3)
The obedience to the Word comes with faith to believe thus entering into rest
- However the man didn’t believe the whole council of God to obey all thereof. The danger of believing in what we want to believe will not lead us into rest (the man only obeyed the doing of the 10 commandments) forsaking the BEING which is our love for God and being loved by Him.
- ‘If you want to be perfect, go, …’ this means that the inheritance of eternal is on our ball court. It’s the matter of how much we want eternal life. Matt 6:19-21
3. Taking up the cross
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
(Mar 10:21)
- What then is our initiative but to take up the cross?
- Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(Mat 16:24)
- The cross is our own cross, not crosses, meaning it’s ours to bear. None referring to bearing each other’s cross. The commandment to carry the cross is given out of love, not anger nor punishment, it is because He wants us to bear that and from that bring us to the place for reward with the treasures of Heaven
- What then is our cross (the reproach we are to bear for our pilgrimage of discipleship)? Matt 5:10-12. What then is the evidence of our life – righteousness!
- And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
(Deu 6:25)
- The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
(2Sa 22:21)
- Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
(Mat 25:44-46)
- God has called us to Righteousness as He did with Abraham and all the men and women of faith in the Bible. It is because we are ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor 5:20) that our representation will be true to the God Whom we believe
- The church will suffer because of the issue of Righteousness, for the where God’s righteousness is, there is the revealing of the Light of God which then reveals sin
- Taking the cross is not about reduction of things, for things will eventually loose its value. But really
He must increase, but I must decrease.
(Joh 3:30). Meaning that the greatness of Christ increasing in our life is becoming a ‘must’ not an option thus our intrinsic value becomes more Christ-like than having the form or shape of our character. Ourselves then become diminished and Christ becomes pre-eminent is our character, behavior, thought pattern, value, etc. It is an all encompassing transfiguration that takes place from the time we are saved. It’s called the process of sanctification. If it’s just the mere reduction of things, than Christians would loose out to the religious who have given themselves to poverty and reproach (bald, barefoot…)
4. Before taking up the cross
Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
(Exo 20:3-7)
- Taking up the cross preceeded following Jesus. Thus begins with the first 3 Commandments to love, honor and putting God 1st.
- God becomes the utmost in our whole life
5. Salvation is the impossible
Matt 19
21 Jesus said unto him , If thou wilt be perfect , go [and] sell that thou hast , and give to the poor , and thou shalt have treasure in heaven : and come [and] follow me . 22 But when the young man heard that saying , he went away sorrowful : for he had great possessions . 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples , Verily I say unto you , That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven . 24 And again I say unto you , It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle , than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God . 25 When his disciples heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed , saying , Who then can be saved ?
- How then we begin?
But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them , With men this is impossible ; but with God all things are possible .
Placing our life into our impossiblity means to give up and allow this to be a miracle of God, never by our works. Therefore salvation and subsequently following Christ. The denying of self is to be poor in Spirit, not the literal but in the frame of mind to surrender totally - that begins the following of Christ to inherit His Kingdom!
- Not denying ourselves is than to deny the miracle of God saving us unto a new life.
6. Our new life
Rom 6:
3 Know ye not , that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death ? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death : that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father , even so we also should walk in newness of life.
- Our justification : And since He was "made sin" and "a curse for us" (2Co 5:21; Ga 5:13), "bearing our sins in His own body on the tree," and "rising again for our justification" (Ro 4:25; 1Pe 2:24), our whole sinful case and condition, thus taken up into His Person, has been brought to an end in His death. Whoso, then, has been baptized into Christ's death has formally surrendered the whole state and life of sin, as in Christ a dead thing. He has sealed himself to be not only "the righteousness of God in Him," but "a new creature"; and as he cannot be in Christ to the one effect and not to the other, for they are one thing, he has bidden farewell, by baptism into Christ's death, to his entire connection with sin.
- Into His death: It is not, "By baptism we are buried with Him into death," which makes no sense at all; but, "By baptism with Him into death we are buried with Him"; in other words, "By the same baptism which publicly enters us into His death, we are made partakers of His burial also".
- Rising to glory: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father--that is, by such a forth-putting of the Father's power as was the effulgence of His whole glory. even so we also--as risen to a new life with Him. should walk in newness of life--But what is that "newness?" - Life of holiness, that's where our glory lies.
Rom 6:
21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things [is] death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man [be] in Christ , [he is] a new creature : old things are passed away ; behold , all things are become new .
Because a new life is a ‘creation’, it is therefore an act of God. Similarly salvation is not of us.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Give Us Clean Hands
Written by Charlie Hall
We bow our hearts, we bend our knees
Oh spirit, come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
Oh Lord, we cast down our idols
So give us clean hands, and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
And give us clean hands, and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
O God, let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks your face O God of Jacob
O God, let us be a generation that seeks
Who seeks your face O God of Jacob
© 2000 worshiptogether.com songs/Six Steps Music
CCLI# 1596342
Album: Worship Together Volume 4
David mentioned 3 times in the Psalms (25:1, 86:4 &
143:8) about lifting our souls to God and not to
another. Why only David mentioned about this, and that
only in the Psalms?
It's probably because it comes out of a man's great
desire for God (in yielding worship, not even for
blessings), in that knowledge, his soul isn't lifted
up to vanity [knowing the worth of posterity (of
Abraham, of Isaac & of Jacob) rather than prosperity -
knowledge that puffs up, methods, wealth, skill,
greater anointing (?)...]. In that place of lifting
his soul to God, he experiences a holy contempt of the
'lesser things', though they may be good by
themselves.... David desired for the best. The path
less trodden to receive the best of His Kingdom
requires giving up the lesser for the greater (Matt
5:1-10). We ask for heaven's great blessings but
seldom for poverty in spirit, nor meekness, nor
righteousness, nor purity of heart.... ask for the
contrary to the world's standards then we will inherit
the Kingdom. Challenging(!), yet it's the pathway to
the highway of holiness (Isa 35:8)...... it truly
takes conviction of the Holy Spirit to remain faithful
on our pilgrims progress to stay on that pathway of
sanctification toward holiness (Eph 1:4 - if God so
planned before the foundation of the world, how
important is that?!).
Written by Charlie Hall
We bow our hearts, we bend our knees
Oh spirit, come make us humble
We turn our eyes from evil things
Oh Lord, we cast down our idols
So give us clean hands, and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
And give us clean hands, and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
O God, let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks your face O God of Jacob
O God, let us be a generation that seeks
Who seeks your face O God of Jacob
© 2000 worshiptogether.com songs/Six Steps Music
CCLI# 1596342
Album: Worship Together Volume 4
David mentioned 3 times in the Psalms (25:1, 86:4 &
143:8) about lifting our souls to God and not to
another. Why only David mentioned about this, and that
only in the Psalms?
It's probably because it comes out of a man's great
desire for God (in yielding worship, not even for
blessings), in that knowledge, his soul isn't lifted
up to vanity [knowing the worth of posterity (of
Abraham, of Isaac & of Jacob) rather than prosperity -
knowledge that puffs up, methods, wealth, skill,
greater anointing (?)...]. In that place of lifting
his soul to God, he experiences a holy contempt of the
'lesser things', though they may be good by
themselves.... David desired for the best. The path
less trodden to receive the best of His Kingdom
requires giving up the lesser for the greater (Matt
5:1-10). We ask for heaven's great blessings but
seldom for poverty in spirit, nor meekness, nor
righteousness, nor purity of heart.... ask for the
contrary to the world's standards then we will inherit
the Kingdom. Challenging(!), yet it's the pathway to
the highway of holiness (Isa 35:8)...... it truly
takes conviction of the Holy Spirit to remain faithful
on our pilgrims progress to stay on that pathway of
sanctification toward holiness (Eph 1:4 - if God so
planned before the foundation of the world, how
important is that?!).
Monday, August 07, 2006
Lawlessness in the Last Days
Jesus faced those who were on the far right (Pharisees
and Sadducess) who were fervent for the law. But in
the last days He warned against lawlessness which will
prevail, having worst effects as Jesus hated the works
of Nicolatans (Rev - letters to the church in Ephesus
and Pergemon) who veer to the far left.
Beware of gnostics that claim to have 'revelation' on
new truths. There are no new truths save what has
already been documented in the Bible.
Jude warns us about worst things will happen in
comparison to Sodom and Gomorrha. Abomination of
desolation is more likely to be spiritual and to the
body of Christ - God has sovereignly done away with
the Ark and the Temple, thus Paul speak of our bodies
as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The law is good in revealing our state and providing
the boundaries of holy living, but we saved through
Grace! May God seal us FROM His courts above, that we
may endure to the very end. Anticipating Jesus (Who
came to fulfill-establish/confirm the law) coming any
day soon.
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it
lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a
righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient,
for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and
profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of
mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them
that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers,
for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any
other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
(1Ti 1:8-10)
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day
shall not come, except there come a falling away
first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition; (2Th 2:3)
http://mb-soft.com/believe/txn/antinomi.htm
That We Pray Accurately for Israel...
Romans 10:19-21
But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith,
I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no
people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of
them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them
that asked not after me.But to Israel he saith, All day long I have
stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and
gainsaying people.
God WILL bring Isreal to a place where they will stop
retaliating but come to repentance..... they have the
intellingence/tactics to handle the Entebbe airport
situation; vengeful hearts to the current kidnapping &
Munich Olympics killing;.... the most key thing was
mentioned in the movie 'Munich'.... one of the
assissins didn't want to continue and said a very
significant thing - 'Didn't God call Isreal to
righteousness?'! That really hit me very hard deep
within. Isn't the church suppose to bear the same
calling?
Even today the movement of the Hasidic Jews are strong
in wanting and desiring the same spirit that Jesus was
confronting with in the form of the pharisees and
sadducees 2000 years ago..... who can beat their
zealousness? Didn't Jesus said that our righteousness
have to exceed these?!
How then is the church going to provoke Isreal to
jealously?.... meaning returning back to the position,
where Isreal is God's and He is God over His people.
Unless we truly live in the place of open heavens
where the Father thunders from heaven, openly,
declaring that we are well pleased of the Father. Not
that we are doing the things that pleases the Father,
but deeper.... in the BEING, not just in the external.
Knowing that God looks at the heart not the outward.
Perhaps we have to seriously re-look into reduction of
the outward and build the inward. Otherwise we can't
beat the Jews at their game of intelligence,
entertainment & 'zeal for God' (the Yehudi Menuhin's,
Steven Spielberg's, ALbert Einstein's, Israel ben
Eliezer's, etc), thus having lack of outward qualities
to provoke Isreal to jealousy.
Rigtheousness is a state that God desires us to be at,
not just an outcome of our works.... less that too be
considered filthy rags....
May the Lord Lord teach us to pray accurately, praying
on target making the greatest spiritual impact.... to
bring His Will to Isreal as it is in Heaven...
Psa 127:4 -5
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man;
so are children of the youth.
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:
they shall not be ashamed, but THEY shall SPEAK with
the enemies in the gate.
Prayer of a matured Christian (prayers of Apostle Paul)
A. Why prayer
Praying for each other is important; in fact it carries more value than just encouraging words. We could then become the source for that single moment but praying takes the person we intercede for to the Eternal Source.
Prayer calls up to the Highest Heavens to impart Heavenly wisdom and revelation of Christ (we can’t truly reveal Christ in all His fullness, Jesus has to do that Himself as He did to Paul on the road to Damascus) . It’s Christ the Savior who supplies all the necessities of those who trust Him, and give them all blessings in the richest abundance. Prayer leads us to seek the Blessor Himself rather than for the blessing.
B. The Model Prayer
Matt
5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.[b] 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words
1. Pray is breath to a Christian, if prayer-less than graceless.
2. Religiosity (true that only the religious pray) in prayer condemns us to both vain-glory and vain-repetitions.
- Vain-glory: if our prayer is liken to working for a reward, what value then is it? Prayer is of grace, not of debt.
- Vain-repetition: What merit can there be in begging? If God doesn’t give what we ask, it’s time we learn that we have to trust Him that we don’t need it. Even in prayer we learn to abandon ourselves to the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. It takes a renewal of our minds (Rom 12:2) to God as such.
C. Contents of Mature Prayer
These are key prayers Paul made for the Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, and let’s extract the essence and depth of his prayers that reached the Throne of God.
Key points:
1. The Father – deepening relationship
- The biggest breakthrough in prayer is that God being our Heavenly Father. The Father figure of God is the key to providence, protection, forgiveness, hope, love, etc. From Whom we receive the vs. 18 ‘…the glory of our inheritance…’
- We then live lives thankful to our Heavenly Father because He truly is our all in all. The deep sense of gratitude must rise from our hearts for by His grace we are saved (Eph 2:8,9). We come before the Throne of God not as demanding children, but with the truth that we wholly belong to Him. For without His grace we will be enemies of God, condemned to eternal death.
- Our inheritance is the
- Jesus in His ministry on earth always depended on the Father. John 10:37,38
37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe[d] that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
- As Jesus was one with the Father, we too should pray that we have the renewed mind and transplanted heart from God.
- Our Christian walk should be as Enoch walked that careful to live to please the God whom he loved. The experience of being in deepening relationship with the Heavenly Father became Heavenly for Enoch finally.
Eph 1:17, Eph 3:14-16,
2. Wisdom imparted
- The Word of God is the Wisdom for us to live by, Josh 1:8
- The Word of God is a double edged sword (machaira: short knife for close combat or cutting up flesh), Heb 4:12. God’s Word has the power to convince powerfully, converts powerfully and comforts powerfully).
- No better revelation of Christ than through the Holy Scriptures. After all it’s authored by the God Himself and has great profit for us. 2 Tim 3:16
Eph 1:17, 18,
3. Deeply rooted, strengthened and founded
- Roots are underground, unseen but yet it determines the life above ground where it’s visible. There are shallow roots and there are deep ones, which one will survive the storm? Roots get the nutrients from good soil. Matt 6:6 is about the secret prayer life that we MUST have first that the external will yield it’s evidence, not the contrary.
- Our own strength will fail, His strength is powerful to carry us through all circumstances with patience and long suffering with nothing less than going through them all with joy. Strength to endure to the end comes being loyal, perfect, complete, secure, peaceful in heart to God. 2 Chron 16:9
Eph 3:17,
4. Fruition
- Fruit of God’s control over our lives. ‘…His power toward us…’ Often we want to experience God’s power through us toward others, the reverse is what God wants to do. True fruits are then yielded as in Gal 5:22,23 are dealing God has over our lives to produce.
- God wants to harvest the fruits from our lives that brings Him the glory and good pleasure, as our Father in Heaven.
Eph 1:19, Eph 3:21, Phil 1:6, Phil 1:1,
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Eph 1:15
Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding[c] being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Eph 3:14
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,[c] 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Phil 1:3
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Phil 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Psalm 41:1-3
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 Blessed is he who considers the poor;
The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
2 The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive,
And he will be blessed on the earth;
You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
3 The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness;
You will sustain him on his sickbed.
To "consider" in Hebrew is to look with understanding, be
circumspect.... not just an after thought.... for the poor. Our Lord's ministry
always go out to the poor, both in the economic sense, weak (women of Jesus
time, the outcast, lepers, gentiles, etc) and in spirit (humility &
meekness). Either sense of the word 'poor', there is a happiness
(blessedness) in store for those who not just give the poor an after thought but
take the necessary practical action.
What would be our happiness then?
We are led aright to safety, Psa 23:3 "He restores my soul; He leads me
in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake." God Himself will
assure our preservation and our descendents as well (Psa 25:13). God is
interested in giving us posterity, not just prosperity (permanency
rather than temporal). So much so our enemies will even see our lives having
the outflow of joy and praises to our Redeemer (Psa 27:6).
The bold statements of "The LORD (Jehovah, the Existing One) will..."
is our guarantee for He is not one who breaks vows. Therefore there
isn't any excuse for our generosity toward the poor.
The poor amongst us maybe even our 'enemies'. As Jesus didn't hold any
prejudices to all who come to Him to be made 'rich' (given a value,
healed, blessed, freed, etc), so we follow the steps of our master.
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