Crying out to God (Study taken from IBLP’s ‘The Power of True Success’)
Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
(Luk 8:22-25)
Jesus did not save the disciples from their distress until the moment they cried out – not one second sooner. When we are distress then we know that we have come to an end of ourselves and He wants us to call upon Him to deliver us.
- The most important crying out is for salvation which is to be born again
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
Today about 5 to 10% follow through in their decision to follow Jesus in comparison to 75 to 80% in the revival days of Jonathan Edwards and Charles Finney. These men didn’t ask for decisions but explained the awesome wrath of God. The change of heart during those days that had the lasting impact was because they were not perfect, having broken God’s commandment and violated His character. The people those days were introduced to a Holy God who required perfection to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The listeners’ response was to cry out so that God will make the decision to have mercy upon them. This approach is very consistent with Scripture with regard to Salvation.
Peter’s message at the first Pentecost resulting in 3000 new believers included:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Act 2:20-21)
What is the difference between crying out and prayer?
- There is a clear distinction between the two….
Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. (Psa 17:1)
Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. (Psa 61:1)
Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
(Psa 88:2)
- Prayer requires being trained as the disciples asked Jesus to teach them so (Luke 11:1)
- Crying takes no training because it’s a natural response as with a newborn baby. It is the beginning response for salvation and a continual expression of our need throughout life.
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. (Psa 55:17)
God will listen to our cries! He also responds
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. (Psa 18:6)
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. (Psa 56:9)
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
(Jer 33:3)
Conditions that hinder us from crying to God
- Not crying whole heartedly
I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes. (Psa 119:145)
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me. (Hos 7:14)
The crying out by David was whole hearted in comparison to the people in Hosea’s time which had mixed in rebellion.
- Not crying with sincere humility
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (Jam 4:6)
When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. (Psa 9:12)
- Not fulfilling past vows
The marriage vow is sacred and cannot be broken
And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
(Mal 2:13-16)
- Not confessing and forsaking sin
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
(Psa 66:18)
And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
(Jdg 10:10-14)
- Not giving to the needs of the poor
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. (Pro 21:13)
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless. (Exo 22:22-24)
In addition to helping the poor and needy, we need to have compassion to those who work for us.
Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.
(Deu 24:14-15)
- Not removing bitterness
Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
(Heb 12:15)
Even to our wives
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
(Col 3:19)
Bitterness is evidence of the lack of forgiveness, which Jesus warns us that if don’t forgive others our prayers for forgiveness will not be heard.
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(Mat 6:15)
Friday, June 22, 2007
You also be patient, establish your hearts, for the coming of your Lord draws near.
(Jas 5:8)
Preceding verses in James 5 mentions about the ‘rich’ that depend on things that will decay yet holding on the riches as though it will be their very source of salvation. This kind of crutch on wealth is subtle, not just on money or on things of value, but I would dare venture to say it is our riches in self or having an unrealistically high estimation of one self. Jesus taught that the poor in spirit are blessed or happy for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 5:3). Happiness is not to be considered in the lofty sense of the word but rather having an inward joy, contentment, fulfillment of being favored by God. We often mistake happiness as a pursuit, some preachers will even say to pursue God for our happiness which is not evident through out Scripture. Blessedness comes in the ‘being’ not doing something in order to be happy. Matt 5, Jesus said blessed or happy ‘ARE’.
It’s a sacrifice of a broken and contrite spirit that He will not despise (Psa 51:17) and seeing that the one offering such a sacrifice can be entrusted with the wealth of the Kingdom of Heaven. The sorrow of sin is a heart that is tender and pliable to God’s Word, coming to a realization of our self, human goodness, and the wealth of human experience is but filthy rags and we desire for God’s interest, which is His Kingdom. Similarly a son or daughter who is not aligned to the aspirations of the father will not inherit the family business. As Jesus went about doing the Father’s business, not His own, that the Father saw fit that Jesus be given all authority in Heaven and earth.
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:
(Rev 3:17)
I can’t help but recall the Lord’s warning to the Laodicea church in Rev 3. It is when we are in the state of needing nothing from the Lord. Luke warmness is the sure symptom of this state. There is only one antidote; it requires the cost of self sufficiency, even giving up things that we are familiar and dear with. People often want to be in ‘control’, we have to loose every sense of security in self in order to find our wealth in God. Therefore let us be ready for the coming of the Lord who call the sheep the His right and Goats to His left. Only the ones on the right will inherit the Kingdom for eternity (Matt 25:33,34).
Establishing our hearts
And may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all, even as we also toward you, in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
(1Th 3:12-13)
The establishing or steadfastly set or strengthen our hearts unto blamelessness that we might live in neither guilt nor condemnation. For us to live in that negative state doesn’t give us any hope. God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, out of sin into righteousness that we might live holy lives. Separated and precious unto God, how else shall we be called the apple of His eye? Being a precious child of God we are loved. Being loved, we also love others as He loved us and gave His life for us.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
(Joh 15:12-13)
To love others would come out of sacrifice or cost to us. This will require a certain degree of putting others ahead of ourselves.
By obeying this commandment of Christ we will be steadfast in our hearts with readiness to meet our God face to face. Many fear death or meeting our Creator, but this needn’t be if our hearts are firmly established being blameless and holy.
Having Patience for what?
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
(Rom 5:3-5)
Trials and tribulations are part and parcel of life. In fact God allows us to go through them to experience the full extent of the power of His Grace. They are also part and parcel of our pilgrimage to keep us in the place of meekness and dependency on God. The outcome of trials can also be the converse, instead of experiencing God’s grace one can end up in utter bitterness.
The glory in tribulations means that we endure with joy because it works the character quality of patience into our lives. Patience is the inner strength to go through trials as with the patience of Job.
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21)
Job learned to put his life into the hand of God who loved him and meant peace and not evil with an expected good end. Let us not just start well and fall apart with trials, but He wants to give us a victorious end with inheritance of the Kingdom of God.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jer 29:11)
There is always an end to our affliction, consider the glory at the end of the dark tunnel of affliction that for the now seem never to end. Learn to have eternity in our foresight.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (2Co 4:17)
Patience is the character quality worked into us in tribulations, followed by experience and hope. Hope is the confidence that God builds into our lives upon that we will know and know deep within our hearts that God will never fail us nor forsake us. We live our lives with our heads high and unashamed, not because of pride, but having our eyes focused Heavenward.
Ultimately, the love of God will be shed abroad in our hearts. Having hope, we will find out that life’s disappointments can be overcome because He loves us. Knowing His love will bring us to the place that we can let all bitterness go lest we get eaten up from inside.
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (2Co 5:14)
God’s love so powerful it constrains us, or to hold us together. Keeping us in the sanity for He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of a sound minds (2 Tim 1:7). He never disappoints us as things and people do. He has promised never to forsake us.
(Jas 5:8)
Preceding verses in James 5 mentions about the ‘rich’ that depend on things that will decay yet holding on the riches as though it will be their very source of salvation. This kind of crutch on wealth is subtle, not just on money or on things of value, but I would dare venture to say it is our riches in self or having an unrealistically high estimation of one self. Jesus taught that the poor in spirit are blessed or happy for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven (Matt 5:3). Happiness is not to be considered in the lofty sense of the word but rather having an inward joy, contentment, fulfillment of being favored by God. We often mistake happiness as a pursuit, some preachers will even say to pursue God for our happiness which is not evident through out Scripture. Blessedness comes in the ‘being’ not doing something in order to be happy. Matt 5, Jesus said blessed or happy ‘ARE’.
It’s a sacrifice of a broken and contrite spirit that He will not despise (Psa 51:17) and seeing that the one offering such a sacrifice can be entrusted with the wealth of the Kingdom of Heaven. The sorrow of sin is a heart that is tender and pliable to God’s Word, coming to a realization of our self, human goodness, and the wealth of human experience is but filthy rags and we desire for God’s interest, which is His Kingdom. Similarly a son or daughter who is not aligned to the aspirations of the father will not inherit the family business. As Jesus went about doing the Father’s business, not His own, that the Father saw fit that Jesus be given all authority in Heaven and earth.
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:
(Rev 3:17)
I can’t help but recall the Lord’s warning to the Laodicea church in Rev 3. It is when we are in the state of needing nothing from the Lord. Luke warmness is the sure symptom of this state. There is only one antidote; it requires the cost of self sufficiency, even giving up things that we are familiar and dear with. People often want to be in ‘control’, we have to loose every sense of security in self in order to find our wealth in God. Therefore let us be ready for the coming of the Lord who call the sheep the His right and Goats to His left. Only the ones on the right will inherit the Kingdom for eternity (Matt 25:33,34).
Establishing our hearts
And may the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all, even as we also toward you, in order to establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
(1Th 3:12-13)
The establishing or steadfastly set or strengthen our hearts unto blamelessness that we might live in neither guilt nor condemnation. For us to live in that negative state doesn’t give us any hope. God has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, out of sin into righteousness that we might live holy lives. Separated and precious unto God, how else shall we be called the apple of His eye? Being a precious child of God we are loved. Being loved, we also love others as He loved us and gave His life for us.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
(Joh 15:12-13)
To love others would come out of sacrifice or cost to us. This will require a certain degree of putting others ahead of ourselves.
By obeying this commandment of Christ we will be steadfast in our hearts with readiness to meet our God face to face. Many fear death or meeting our Creator, but this needn’t be if our hearts are firmly established being blameless and holy.
Having Patience for what?
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
(Rom 5:3-5)
Trials and tribulations are part and parcel of life. In fact God allows us to go through them to experience the full extent of the power of His Grace. They are also part and parcel of our pilgrimage to keep us in the place of meekness and dependency on God. The outcome of trials can also be the converse, instead of experiencing God’s grace one can end up in utter bitterness.
The glory in tribulations means that we endure with joy because it works the character quality of patience into our lives. Patience is the inner strength to go through trials as with the patience of Job.
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21)
Job learned to put his life into the hand of God who loved him and meant peace and not evil with an expected good end. Let us not just start well and fall apart with trials, but He wants to give us a victorious end with inheritance of the Kingdom of God.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jer 29:11)
There is always an end to our affliction, consider the glory at the end of the dark tunnel of affliction that for the now seem never to end. Learn to have eternity in our foresight.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (2Co 4:17)
Patience is the character quality worked into us in tribulations, followed by experience and hope. Hope is the confidence that God builds into our lives upon that we will know and know deep within our hearts that God will never fail us nor forsake us. We live our lives with our heads high and unashamed, not because of pride, but having our eyes focused Heavenward.
Ultimately, the love of God will be shed abroad in our hearts. Having hope, we will find out that life’s disappointments can be overcome because He loves us. Knowing His love will bring us to the place that we can let all bitterness go lest we get eaten up from inside.
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (2Co 5:14)
God’s love so powerful it constrains us, or to hold us together. Keeping us in the sanity for He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and of a sound minds (2 Tim 1:7). He never disappoints us as things and people do. He has promised never to forsake us.
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Characteristic of a Kingdom of God Church
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee , because thou hast left thy first love .
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen , and repent , and do the first works ; or else I will come unto thee quickly , and will remove thy candlestick out of his place , except thou repent .
The warning: Candlestick taken away because they have not done their first works by leaving the first love. Just as the branch that is unfruitful will be cut off due to fruitlessness which is also means that fruitless works is due to not abiding in Christ. (John 15:4-6)
1. What is the first works in love?
Eph 1:4,5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world , that we should be holy and without blame before him in love : Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself , according to the good pleasure of his will ,
Ephesians is the only letter from Paul that doesn’t address any particular problem, but more as a statement of the belief in the body of Christ. Therefore this letter is for us as a church to live by.
To make us holy and blameless, it took the work of Christ upon the cross. I would think that the first works that Jesus is referring to in Rev 2:4 has to do with works in righteousness. God already had this plan in mind before the beginning of creation.
Php 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Which is to work OUT our salvation in trembling in fear, the working IN to us is by God. The working in is the working in of Righteousness. This working IN is as Eph 1:4 which God has already chosen to do before the foundation of the world. And as the verse implies, it is done in love.
The working out of our salvation is obedience in Love.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
2. Key principle of 1st Love
Our first response to God is to love Him. In comparison to all other loves, He will have to take first priority even over family and above all self. Such was the demand in love He has on us! Keep in mind that this is relative, not absolute! We are required to honor our parents, love our wife and turn our hearts to our children. Therefore God is priority and the rest follows.
Mat 10:37-39 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matt 22:37,38 Jesus said unto him , Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart , and with all thy soul , and with all thy mind .This is the first and great commandment.
3. What about loving others?
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart , and with all thy soul , and with all thy mind , and with all thy strength : this [is] the first commandment . 31 And the second [is] like , [namely] this , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . There is none other commandment greater than these .
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you , That ye love one another ; as I have loved you , that ye also love one another .
The above 2 verses is very clear commandment of Christ to love others. But priority is to love God. If we love God, we can love others. If we say we love God, the next progressive action is to love others as John puts it clearly in his epistles below:
1Jn 4:20-21 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
James talk about loving others as the royal law. This is a very practical love to show no partiality (particularly to the rich which the world does), showing mercy, feeding the poor and clothing the destitute. Isn’t this the first works mentioned in Rev 2:4? Doesn’t love require action?
Jam 2: 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself , ye do well :
Those who don’t do the first works are judged severely and have no place in the Kingdom of God.
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, 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 25:31-46)
In fact Jesus commandment to love other is very tough… only if we put away self first. This is the cross we bear daily. Self decrease that Christ increase, and the natural progression is for others.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Isn’t this working out the Lord desires in our first love? Isn’t the above proof of in working of blamelessness and holy living that God is working into us?
Marks of early church
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles ' doctrine and fellowship , and in breaking of bread , and in prayers .
1. Apostles doctrine
Matt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you : and , lo , I am with you alway , [even] unto the end of the world . Amen .
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets , he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself .
45 Then opened he their understanding , that they might understand the scriptures , 46 And said unto them , Thus it is written , and thus it behoved Christ to suffer , and to rise from the dead the third day : 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations , beginning at Jerusalem .
What then is the doctrine or teachings about God that Jesus asked His church to teach and observe? Didn’t Jesus spend a lot of time teaching about the Kingdom of God? He even spent 3 chapters teaching about the Kingdom of God in Matt 5,6 and 7. The Kingdom of God is about sinners forgiven by the finished work of the cross living a new creation life. No longer citizens of the world but of the Kingdom of God. If we shall be God’s people then we are the bear the characteristics of being citizens of His Kingdom. Living in His Kingdom requires us to live by His ways and enjoying benefits of citizenship.
Heb 8:10 For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days , saith the Lord ; I will put my laws into their mind , and write them in their hearts : and I will be to them a God , and they shall be to me a people :
2. True fellowship
Koinonia: community living
- Fellowship is not socializing; it's a sharing of a common life and spirit with the goal of glorifying God. True fellowship is the expression of the Kingdom of God on earth.
- To console, encourage and entreat each other to sanctification. It’s a living organism helping each other in dealing with our weakness, yet in humility lest we fall into sin or our own weaknesses ourselves.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily , while it is called To day ; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin .
- The commonality is our belief as with taking care of each other's daily needs. Unselfish and uncoveteousness was the essence of true fellowship that brought much joy. This requires a certain level of dying to self desires. Our homes must make people feel welcome. There is little of selfishness that can exist in a true fellowship.
Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together , and had all things common ; 45 And sold their possessions and goods , and parted them to all [men], as every man had need . 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple , and breaking bread from house to house , did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart ,
- This characteristic is even harder to live by than just merely sharing with others. In fellowships like this there's no room for superficiality and sin as with Acts 5 incident with Ananias and Sapphira. Untruth will be exposed. Sin will be dealt with quickly. The reverent fear of God prevents frivolous behavior. God's manifested presence was a daily experience.
- There will be evidences of apostolic and prophetic gifts as in Antioch in Acts 13:1-5. Yet there was a submission to each other and their diversity (teachers and prophets) out of reverence for God. Rather than having one way communication in prayer to God, there was time to be still to listen to God's heart. In ministering unto the Lord (not to people), He is honored and speaks His will that it may be accomplished on earth as it is in Heaven. Our ministry aimed at the human level can accomplish up to that point only, which perhaps not accomplished in Heaven, lacking eternal significance. In a true fellowship that ministers to God, releases the apostolic. Unfortunately, most of our plans are conceived out of needs not birth out of deep communion with the Holy Spirit. As with a communion between a husband and a wife, children are fruit of that communion, apostolic ministries are birth as the church communes with the Holy Spirit.
- True fellowship provokes love not hatred nor indifference. Much provocation in social doesn’t spur good works that glorify our Father in Heaven (Matt 5:16). If there competition exists, most likely building self empires is the unseen motive. Then the building together of the Kingdom of God is not in our chief calling.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
- Are we prepared to live life beyond the superficialities of socializing? There is a price we have to pay…. The cost is at the expense of self.
3. Breaking bread
Paul was the only apostle that wasn’t there during the time when Jesus instituted the Holy Communion. As with Paul, the Holy Communion has to be revelation delivered from the Lord Himself that we will understand the power and full implication of the partaking of it. As marriage is as Holy institution, so is the Communion. Therefore Paul warns us that the obedience of partaking of it must be done in reverence to know the cost of both Father and Son in the redemption plan. Never take the blood and broken body of Christ in lightly even as we work out our salvation in trembling and fear.
1 Cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you , That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread : 24 And when he had given thanks , he brake [it], and said , Take , eat : this is my body , which is broken for you : this do in remembrance of me . 25 After the same manner also [he took] the cup , when he had supped , saying , This cup is the new testament in my blood : this do ye , as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me . 26 For as often as ye eat this bread , and drink this cup , ye do shew the Lord's death till he come . 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread , and drink [this] cup of the Lord , unworthily , shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord . 28 But let a man examine himself , and so let him eat of [that] bread , and drink of [that] cup . 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily , eateth and drinketh damnation to himself , not discerning the Lord's body . 30 For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you , and many sleep . 31 For if we would judge ourselves , we should not be judged .
4. Prayer and Intercession
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(1Ti 2:1-2)
Supplication: Request made through prayer to God
Prayers: Uttered or verbalized supplication to God. Also worship.
Intercession: Conference or hold court with God.
Most of us understand asking God and worship Him in prayer. But what is the true meaning of intercession? Having a conference or holding court with God is two way communications as oppose to prayer and supplication which is more God-ward.
And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
(Gen 18:16-18)
Intercession is when God lets us know the things hidden from carnal eyes that we may hold a conversation with God. Many times our prayers are labeled as intercession, how wrong we can be, because we speak from our heart and concern not out of God’s. After having been revealed the plan of the Lord, Abraham proceeded to plead for mercy and hold a deep discussion with God until he felt the peace in His heart that God heard him.
And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
(Gen 18:33)
God responds to pleads of mercy for this is His character as also shown in the intercession between Moses and God in Num 14.
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
(Num 14:11-12)
And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
(Num 14:17-21)
This is intercession in the most holy form!
Conclusion
God’s divine plan from the beginning is about our salvation unto holiness and blamelessness in love that we will do the first works that God intended for us to. After being saved there is no room for idle carnal lives for we live in and for the Kingdom of God to work out our salvation in trembling and fear. He saved us that we will be light of the world to bring glory to our Father in Heaven. In the participation of the Kingdom life, it begins with dying to self that we might be together that there may be provocation of love and growing from glory to glory in our pilgrimage of sanctification. We are never to take the blood and broken body of Jesus Christ for granted less we trample upon the finished work of the cross. There must be constant communion with each other and with God that remind us of our stand in the Kingdom of God. The people of the Kingdom has the tremendous privilege of having God reveal His hidden things and ready to respond to His heart by a holding court with Him. God has an eternal plan laid us before the foundation of the world, are we part of it for many are called and few are chosen.
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee , because thou hast left thy first love .
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen , and repent , and do the first works ; or else I will come unto thee quickly , and will remove thy candlestick out of his place , except thou repent .
The warning: Candlestick taken away because they have not done their first works by leaving the first love. Just as the branch that is unfruitful will be cut off due to fruitlessness which is also means that fruitless works is due to not abiding in Christ. (John 15:4-6)
1. What is the first works in love?
Eph 1:4,5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world , that we should be holy and without blame before him in love : Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself , according to the good pleasure of his will ,
Ephesians is the only letter from Paul that doesn’t address any particular problem, but more as a statement of the belief in the body of Christ. Therefore this letter is for us as a church to live by.
To make us holy and blameless, it took the work of Christ upon the cross. I would think that the first works that Jesus is referring to in Rev 2:4 has to do with works in righteousness. God already had this plan in mind before the beginning of creation.
Php 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Which is to work OUT our salvation in trembling in fear, the working IN to us is by God. The working in is the working in of Righteousness. This working IN is as Eph 1:4 which God has already chosen to do before the foundation of the world. And as the verse implies, it is done in love.
The working out of our salvation is obedience in Love.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
2. Key principle of 1st Love
Our first response to God is to love Him. In comparison to all other loves, He will have to take first priority even over family and above all self. Such was the demand in love He has on us! Keep in mind that this is relative, not absolute! We are required to honor our parents, love our wife and turn our hearts to our children. Therefore God is priority and the rest follows.
Mat 10:37-39 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matt 22:37,38 Jesus said unto him , Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart , and with all thy soul , and with all thy mind .This is the first and great commandment.
3. What about loving others?
Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart , and with all thy soul , and with all thy mind , and with all thy strength : this [is] the first commandment . 31 And the second [is] like , [namely] this , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself . There is none other commandment greater than these .
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you , That ye love one another ; as I have loved you , that ye also love one another .
The above 2 verses is very clear commandment of Christ to love others. But priority is to love God. If we love God, we can love others. If we say we love God, the next progressive action is to love others as John puts it clearly in his epistles below:
1Jn 4:20-21 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
James talk about loving others as the royal law. This is a very practical love to show no partiality (particularly to the rich which the world does), showing mercy, feeding the poor and clothing the destitute. Isn’t this the first works mentioned in Rev 2:4? Doesn’t love require action?
Jam 2: 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself , ye do well :
Those who don’t do the first works are judged severely and have no place in the Kingdom of God.
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, 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 25:31-46)
In fact Jesus commandment to love other is very tough… only if we put away self first. This is the cross we bear daily. Self decrease that Christ increase, and the natural progression is for others.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Isn’t this working out the Lord desires in our first love? Isn’t the above proof of in working of blamelessness and holy living that God is working into us?
Marks of early church
Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles ' doctrine and fellowship , and in breaking of bread , and in prayers .
1. Apostles doctrine
Matt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you : and , lo , I am with you alway , [even] unto the end of the world . Amen .
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets , he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself .
45 Then opened he their understanding , that they might understand the scriptures , 46 And said unto them , Thus it is written , and thus it behoved Christ to suffer , and to rise from the dead the third day : 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations , beginning at Jerusalem .
What then is the doctrine or teachings about God that Jesus asked His church to teach and observe? Didn’t Jesus spend a lot of time teaching about the Kingdom of God? He even spent 3 chapters teaching about the Kingdom of God in Matt 5,6 and 7. The Kingdom of God is about sinners forgiven by the finished work of the cross living a new creation life. No longer citizens of the world but of the Kingdom of God. If we shall be God’s people then we are the bear the characteristics of being citizens of His Kingdom. Living in His Kingdom requires us to live by His ways and enjoying benefits of citizenship.
Heb 8:10 For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days , saith the Lord ; I will put my laws into their mind , and write them in their hearts : and I will be to them a God , and they shall be to me a people :
2. True fellowship
Koinonia: community living
- Fellowship is not socializing; it's a sharing of a common life and spirit with the goal of glorifying God. True fellowship is the expression of the Kingdom of God on earth.
- To console, encourage and entreat each other to sanctification. It’s a living organism helping each other in dealing with our weakness, yet in humility lest we fall into sin or our own weaknesses ourselves.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily , while it is called To day ; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin .
- The commonality is our belief as with taking care of each other's daily needs. Unselfish and uncoveteousness was the essence of true fellowship that brought much joy. This requires a certain level of dying to self desires. Our homes must make people feel welcome. There is little of selfishness that can exist in a true fellowship.
Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together , and had all things common ; 45 And sold their possessions and goods , and parted them to all [men], as every man had need . 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple , and breaking bread from house to house , did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart ,
- This characteristic is even harder to live by than just merely sharing with others. In fellowships like this there's no room for superficiality and sin as with Acts 5 incident with Ananias and Sapphira. Untruth will be exposed. Sin will be dealt with quickly. The reverent fear of God prevents frivolous behavior. God's manifested presence was a daily experience.
- There will be evidences of apostolic and prophetic gifts as in Antioch in Acts 13:1-5. Yet there was a submission to each other and their diversity (teachers and prophets) out of reverence for God. Rather than having one way communication in prayer to God, there was time to be still to listen to God's heart. In ministering unto the Lord (not to people), He is honored and speaks His will that it may be accomplished on earth as it is in Heaven. Our ministry aimed at the human level can accomplish up to that point only, which perhaps not accomplished in Heaven, lacking eternal significance. In a true fellowship that ministers to God, releases the apostolic. Unfortunately, most of our plans are conceived out of needs not birth out of deep communion with the Holy Spirit. As with a communion between a husband and a wife, children are fruit of that communion, apostolic ministries are birth as the church communes with the Holy Spirit.
- True fellowship provokes love not hatred nor indifference. Much provocation in social doesn’t spur good works that glorify our Father in Heaven (Matt 5:16). If there competition exists, most likely building self empires is the unseen motive. Then the building together of the Kingdom of God is not in our chief calling.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
- Are we prepared to live life beyond the superficialities of socializing? There is a price we have to pay…. The cost is at the expense of self.
3. Breaking bread
Paul was the only apostle that wasn’t there during the time when Jesus instituted the Holy Communion. As with Paul, the Holy Communion has to be revelation delivered from the Lord Himself that we will understand the power and full implication of the partaking of it. As marriage is as Holy institution, so is the Communion. Therefore Paul warns us that the obedience of partaking of it must be done in reverence to know the cost of both Father and Son in the redemption plan. Never take the blood and broken body of Christ in lightly even as we work out our salvation in trembling and fear.
1 Cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you , That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread : 24 And when he had given thanks , he brake [it], and said , Take , eat : this is my body , which is broken for you : this do in remembrance of me . 25 After the same manner also [he took] the cup , when he had supped , saying , This cup is the new testament in my blood : this do ye , as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me . 26 For as often as ye eat this bread , and drink this cup , ye do shew the Lord's death till he come . 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread , and drink [this] cup of the Lord , unworthily , shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord . 28 But let a man examine himself , and so let him eat of [that] bread , and drink of [that] cup . 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily , eateth and drinketh damnation to himself , not discerning the Lord's body . 30 For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you , and many sleep . 31 For if we would judge ourselves , we should not be judged .
4. Prayer and Intercession
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
(1Ti 2:1-2)
Supplication: Request made through prayer to God
Prayers: Uttered or verbalized supplication to God. Also worship.
Intercession: Conference or hold court with God.
Most of us understand asking God and worship Him in prayer. But what is the true meaning of intercession? Having a conference or holding court with God is two way communications as oppose to prayer and supplication which is more God-ward.
And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
(Gen 18:16-18)
Intercession is when God lets us know the things hidden from carnal eyes that we may hold a conversation with God. Many times our prayers are labeled as intercession, how wrong we can be, because we speak from our heart and concern not out of God’s. After having been revealed the plan of the Lord, Abraham proceeded to plead for mercy and hold a deep discussion with God until he felt the peace in His heart that God heard him.
And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
(Gen 18:33)
God responds to pleads of mercy for this is His character as also shown in the intercession between Moses and God in Num 14.
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.
(Num 14:11-12)
And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.
(Num 14:17-21)
This is intercession in the most holy form!
Conclusion
God’s divine plan from the beginning is about our salvation unto holiness and blamelessness in love that we will do the first works that God intended for us to. After being saved there is no room for idle carnal lives for we live in and for the Kingdom of God to work out our salvation in trembling and fear. He saved us that we will be light of the world to bring glory to our Father in Heaven. In the participation of the Kingdom life, it begins with dying to self that we might be together that there may be provocation of love and growing from glory to glory in our pilgrimage of sanctification. We are never to take the blood and broken body of Jesus Christ for granted less we trample upon the finished work of the cross. There must be constant communion with each other and with God that remind us of our stand in the Kingdom of God. The people of the Kingdom has the tremendous privilege of having God reveal His hidden things and ready to respond to His heart by a holding court with Him. God has an eternal plan laid us before the foundation of the world, are we part of it for many are called and few are chosen.
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