The Commandment to Love our Neighbor

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matt 22:39)

Being able to love one’s neighbor is the same as loving God (1 John 4:20, 21). The original word used in this statement by Jesus for ‘love’ is 'agape' or ‘divine love’, not ‘phileo’ which concerns affection. Divine love is the esteeming of others over ourselves (Phil 2:3); hence it is a commandment to demonstrate moral and ethical love not led by human emotions. It is one that seeks the best for others, not desiring reciprocation.

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. (Luke 7:47)

From God’s perspective loving others is the demonstration of loving God. The reason why we can’t obey God’s commandment to love above our human affection could be because we haven’t experience the forgiveness of God. It is not that God’s forgiveness is not available, but we reject forgiveness for various reasons. If we view sin from our perspective, there is a sense of self righteousness. Viewing sin from God’s perspective will humble us to know how we have deliberately disobeyed and grieved Him. The heavenly message is that Jesus' objective in coming is to save us from our sins (Matt 1:21). Ask the Lord to reveal His divine love that we may show the same toward others, do not be surprised that it is the beginning of our humble dying to self pilgrimage of experiencing His full forgiveness to show the same toward others (Matt 18:35, Luke 10:37)).

Holy Spirit, the Evidence of Christ’s Lordship

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1Cor 6:19)

It would be incomplete to see the coming and in-filling of the Holy Spirit as just being Power that is endued from on high as the enablement for God’s people to prophecy, for divine healing, etc. We have to be reminded constantly that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the God-head, not merely seeing Him as an authority or empowerment that we can summon according to our will. The Old Testament temple is a place that is most holy or separated from common practices and must be held as the place of great reverence. The difference now is that Jesus Christ went to be with the Father that His Spirit will tabernacle within His people. Holiness has not been downplayed and now the body has replaced the building to being an uncommon or holy dwelling of the Holy God.

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)

The Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in earthen vessels demonstrates the Lordship of Jesus Christ in and through the wider body of Christ. Prophecy is to reveal that which God has hidden, likewise divine healing is to show God’s mercy and power over sickness and oppression, etc. The Spirit’s dwelling in us is that God will Lord over our will, mind and work out what He has worked in through our physical capabilities. We need not beg nor pray to be filled with the Spirit, Jesus has promised, we need to only believe.

Judging Ourselves

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. (Mat 7:2)

Jesus is warning us that if we judge others, we will be judged. The word ‘judge’ is in reference to make a judgment or decision that brings condemnation on another which carries a negative connotation. This is not constructive criticism. When we judge as such, we speak out of a consciousness of the same sin we are dwelling in. For example in 1 Sam 12, the judgment David passed was in reality of himself. Likewise when Judas criticized Mary when it actually a reflection of his thievery (John 12:6). Therefore, before we pass negative judgment on others, check our heart. God may be bringing before us our flaws that require correction.

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (1Co 11:31)

There is another judgment which is to decide or separate with the intent of correction. God gave us His laws to tell us that we have wronged and disobeyed Him. Without law we wouldn't have know what lawlessness is. Don’t see correction as in the negative. See correction or chastening as making what is wrong right; making what is sin righteous. Making what is displeasing to God to His pleasing. God is raising sons and daughters not illegitimate ones.

Folly of Human Independence

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Gen 2:17)

We, as the first Adam did, chose the right to making moral decisions. This resulted in forfeiting both innocence and trust in the Moral God.  Trusting in the Moral God would mean that we don’t have full control but totally dependent on Him to decide between good and evil. Please don’t be deceived, we don’t have the capacity to choose the right due to the strong desires of the flesh.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matt 4:19)

The invitation of the Messiah is to follow Him, not keep in step with Him lest we equate our standing with the Almighty. To follow Jesus means we lay down our affections and keep to the first and greatest commandment (Matt 19:16-22).  To follow Jesus means we yield our mind to Him for the work of metamorphosis. To follow Jesus is a personal decision (John 21:22). This means that we don’t look at what is ahead but on the Author and Finisher of our faith. Wisdom is not independence; wisdom is total dependence on the Lord. Wisdom is the Lord Himself (1 Cor 1:30), therefore abide in Him and not self.

Pagan Forms and Imaginations

And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. (Deut 4:12)

We are warned about forming gods after our own imagination. It is not merely idolaters that form gods, we who are called to live by faith and by the Spirit must never venture into things that gratify the senses. We must not mix our emotions and mental conclusion with spiritual matters lest we dabble as the world dabbles in the uplifting of humanism. Humanism is the worship of man denying the sovereignty of God. Ministers and God’s workers must have the ability to see deeper and not allow emotions to run their ministry.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)

The danger of being addicted to ‘conducive’ environments and forms to worship, hearing of the Word, reading of the Word, prayer, etc is very humanistic. God is looking for faithfulness in His saints, not a company that is caught up in euphoria. His voice continues to perpetuate through history but only those who are weaned children, having calmed themselves can hear the still small Voice. Don’t be caught up with forms, be single mindedly focused on the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Danger of Half Truth

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (Psa 91:11)

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee...... (Matt 4:6)

Nobody knows more about twisting truth with the intent to deceive than the father of lies himself. The devil quoted Psa 19:11 but leaving out the purpose of divine protection. God’s protection as the Good Shepherd doesn't mean that we will never go through the valley of the shadow of death, but it means that He will keep us on the right way, Jesus being the only Way the truth that leads to everlasting life.

Deception is not deception if there is the obvious but is has a low level of delectability (2 Cor 11:13, 14). The antidote to deception is standing on the Truth. Faith is not only to believe in the infallible Word but also to carefully observing and doing according to all that is written (Josh 1:8). There will be many anointed speakers, books, programs, etc that have blessed us, but these are not infallible. Don’t use these as crutches, but hold on to the Word for dear life!

Our Lord Jesus rebuttal was that nobody shall tempt the Lord our God, meaning don’t test God but believe. Keep to the whole counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation. God is never inconsistent, it is we who are such. Never test God by adding to His Word, who are we to help God (Duet 4:2). If we do, there is a road leading to sorrow in front of us.

Right Getting

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Pro 4:7)

Most if not all of us would like to get blessings, knowledge, attention, love, healing, protection and much more. How many would consider wisdom as the fundamental or foundational thing for a child of God? It is liken to have all our sins forgiven by the washing of Jesus’ blood and forgetting the power of the cross that can deal with the entity that has the propensity to sin. Dealing with the root is more permanent and important than to deal with the fruit. Often the root is not obvious; hence we need the grace of God to willingly yield to Christ. We can try and try to prevent sin to rear its ugly head, failure is imminent because the root has a life of its own.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom….. (1Cor 1:30)

Getting wisdom is to receive all that Christ is; that Christ may dwell in our hearts and be filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:17, 19). This is to mean that the life and power that takes precedent in us is not our will but Jesus’ will. We cannot say that Christ is in us and yet we live as though we determine our action, thoughts, speech and even our destiny. It is not that we become a mindless robot, which is the reason why Christ is Wisdom from God. The benefits will surely follow, God is no man’s debtor, keep the priority in the right place.

Anti Corruption

And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. (Dan 11:32)

This portion of Scripture shouldn’t be taken out of context; many would love the second part but must understand the context. The strength and exploits of the people who have a living relationship of God are the same who are willing to be die for the truth (Dan 11:33).  We needn’t defend the truth for Christ is Himself the Truth, but we stand on the truth in the face of the onslaught of flattery, insincere lies.

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Dan 1:8)

There are promises God will keep and there are things we need to purpose to do. There are vessels for honor meet for the Master’s use as there are unpurged vessels unto dishonor (2 Tim 2:21). The sanctity of the vessel determines God’s work to keep in the place of divine strength and to perform His exploits. We yield and continue to present ourselves as a living sacrifice and He will ensure the rest. Keep ourselves and God will keep out the world that screams corruption and deceit from defiling His Holy called out ones. Beware of the flatteries that can spell corruption.

Godlessness

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psa 14:1)

The simplistic view of Godlessness is to express that this is confined to heathens. The Psalmist is saying that those who speak thus in their heart is a foolish. We can defend the existence of God through speech and writing, but in our heart?

What our heart says proclaims the existence of God or not by external expression. Our heart can deny God’s existence when our speech is crude, full of curses, unbelief and all that is negative, as though God will not judge our mouth. We say that there is no God in our heart by our private vile thoughts and actions, as long as we are not caught and exposed in public. We deny God’s being in our heart when we are bitter, unthankful and behave as though God and the world owe us a living.

The fruit of being a heathen in our heart is demonstrated in our corruptible fruit that cause moral revulsion. The speaking of our heart shows how much we revere God and His existence. Fear God, it’s the beginning of our journey in divine wisdom and true knowledge.

Confession of Faith

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10:9)

Confession is beyond articulation of speech, but to assent or to come to a place of concurrence and even to the point of covenant. Out of the belief of the fullness or overflowing heart the mouth confesses faith in acknowledging the power of both the cross and resurrection.  The cross of dying to self, sin and the old man and resurrection to being alive to God in Christ Jesus. It is something that the Father has worked in by grace by the ‘effectual working of His power’ (Eph 3:7). Death always precede resurrection; not just one occasion but daily (1 Cor 15:31). In His light, we see light as well as areas of the darkness in the inner man that needs renewing.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Heb 10:23)

What keeps us from straying and keeping our foot on the pathway of faith is because God is faithful. We hold on not our faith but to God. Faith brings into reality our son-ship and His Promises (Eph 3:6). If we are to profess or confess (same root word), check our speech… ‘Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?’ (Jas 3:11)

Trap of Legalism

And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. (Mar 3:2)

There are two sides to legalism. One is to impose rigorously their personal convictions resulting in the inability to edify or build others. The other is thinking of themselves as freed from all kinds of legalistic bondages, yet fervor in ensuring that they keep their perceived freedom.  Both impose yokes on themselves and others; the difference is which side the yoke is skewed towards.

Jesus obeyed the Father and the Law, yet in that path of life He knew the true spirit of obedience and of the Law. It is about to love God first and others second. It concerns allowing our convictions to be stretched and follow to do what is the right thing that pleases the Father. We can trap ourselves into some mold, form or rut by our inflexibility. Jesus frequently allowed Himself to be interrupted to heal, teach, bless and do all the good necessary to demonstrate the Father’s love. We can be zealous for religious beliefs and lose the Godly essence of His Commandments. 

Unworldly Worship

.........The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. (Exo 3:18)

The Father is looking and calling for true worshipers, but it is a call out of the world’s ways, standards and charms of the world. Egypt is the picture of the world which we are called out and three days is a picture of death and resurrection.  Therefore the worship that the Father is looking for involves dying to all that the world esteems and values, not to invite and integrate. The world carries a different spirit which is dead to God’s Spirit.

And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us? (Exo 8:26)

If the world agrees and accepts our worship it tells about the spirit of the worship. The spirit that connects with the Father is as Jesus defines as having the element of truth. Truth is when our heart have been tried by God and offer out of uprightness of heart (1 Chron 29:17). God is not looking first for talent, musicality, correctness although these are out of an excellent spirit, but a man or woman that has been tried by His purification fire and willingly yielding to allow God to do deeper work. Worship is not cheap, it cost a man or a woman the whole heart.

Cleanliness of Heart for the Safety of the Nation

Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. (Psa 51:18)

With regard to prayer, Jesus says uses the phrase ‘when you pray’ not ‘if you pray’. The Word is our daily bread and prayer is our breath. Both are equally important in our Christian walk as with the physical life needing both a staple diet and air.

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. (Pro 14:34)

An intercessor should desire a clean heart and steadfast spirit, desire this first than desire God to work in our nation. We approach our Father; Whose Name is Hallowed, with clean hands and a pure heart. An intercessor shouldn’t neglect doing personal business with the Father. A fruitful intercessor is one that that has a clear conscience before God and man. God is looking for a man or woman who will stand in the gap for the safety of our nation (Eze 22:30) and that person is one that would do business with Him first before carrying out the Father’s business.

If We….

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1Jn 1:9)

There are things in us that the Lord will not do anything about until we are desperate to do business with Him.  Sin is a violation of relationship with the Holy God that we have committed first and foremost against Him. He is willing to give us freedom from these struggles that prick our conscience and hinder that openness of hearing from the Good Shepherd. The hearing become dry and lack the vitality it is suppose to bring. These road blocks are not put there by devils and demons but by us.

If we say that we have no sin….If we say that we have not sinned (1 Jn 1:8, 10)

Confession of our sins comes in between what we say about our sin and of our spiritual state. Either way we say it is self deception and making God a liar. Either way is to say that we are devoid of God’s truth and His Word. Hence the reason for the dryness and lifelessness of the Word; the Word, to us, is reduced to mere philosophy, thoughts, creeds, wise sayings, unrealistic demands, etc. The freedom to hear the voice of our Good Shepherd avails to all His sheep, if we would take responsibility and humbly confess our sins.

Deliverance from Fear

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. (1Jn 4:18)

Fear is a very real experience that can paralyze the strongest person. Fear is when the person is faced with an unknown or situation when they do not have personal control over. The apostle tells us that fear involves torment; hence there is a danger of an open door to spiritual oppression.  A person living in this state does not have the peace or the confidence in God and live in hopelessness and possibly fall into depression.

We have to ask God to make us complete or whole in His love. The first and greatest commandment and the second commandment concerns loving others, there isn’t any commandment to love self or to demand love. Demanding love from others invite the sense of insecurity as well as fear. God’s love is all sufficient and available to everyone; it is up to us to believe that He really does. If we truly believe and have the faith that God loves us, the whole outlook of life would be entire positive and giving. 

To Love God

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deu 6:5)

The call to love God is sandwiched between the declaration of Unity of the God-head and our obedience. John declares the astounding truth that God is love (1 John 4:8), and love cannot take place unless there is the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7). Genuine love is not about the ability to love one’s self, but considers others above self and yielding to the other.

To love God is beyond rational thinking, because God cannot be comprehended by human thought nor can be concluded into a creed or form but a matter of faith. To love God is beyond human emotional sentimentalism, because the heart is deceitful above all things and subject to inconsistency; it is not situational and wishy washy, but loving God despite….. To love God with our strength is not just about demonstration lest love can be worked for or bought; it is about Him working in and we work out with trembling and fear. Emphasizing one over the other two will not suffice and may lead us astray.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)

If obedience is not founded on love, it becomes legalism. Obedience is not out of blind faith, but of the knowledge of the complete truth; don’t test God (Matt 4:5-7).  The motivation for our obedience is out of love with reverence for our Father and Holy God, for He is Love.

Kol Berama By Simcha Leiner

This song is taken from Jer 31:15, 16. But the hope for the people of God is in verse 17.

God has not forgotten His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And we, gentiles have been grafted into the vine and made one in Messiah through the cross (Rom 11:17, Eph 2:14-17). 
Shalom Israel.


Jer 31: 15-17

¹⁵ Thus says the Lord:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.”

¹⁶ Thus says the Lord:

“Refrain your voice from weeping,
And your eyes from tears;
For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord,
And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷ There is hope in your future, says the Lord,
That your children shall come back to their own border.

Seek the LORD While He May be Found (Isa 55:6-9)

Isa 55:6-9

⁶ Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.

⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
⁹ “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Misplaced Zealousness

And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. (Num 11:28)

One of a character quality of a meek man or woman is to desire the greater good of God’s people. There isn't any sense of exclusivity in gifts or callings but wish God’s best for all of His children. Gifts from God are for edification of the body and never to be regarded as standards of accolades of distinction or qualification. Spiritual maturity is  not is the accumulation or power demonstration of gifts, but it is a journey of faith and diminishing selfish desires so as to putting first Christ Kingdom at the highest consideration in everything.

Are we zealous for religion of zealous for God? It is easy to attach our affiliation and affection to a form spelled out in a creed or way of doing church. Did Jesus heal the blind the same way all the time? Our Lord was not concerned with the how, but with the Who. He lived with a desire to please the Father and do only that which He sees the Father do. It is easy to mimic man’s methods; it is a journey on a path less trodden which is sometimes painful to be disciplined by God. It is the meek that will inherit the greater things of the Kingdom (Matt 5:5).

Choices by Sight

And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. (Gen 13:10)

When tensions arise and challenges abound the laziest way is to go with our senses. God doesn’t want us to be passive allowing situations to flow as though we leave our destiny to fate. He wants us to willingly decrease other affections that guide our senses and develop an internal or spiritual intuition. God doesn’t leave us alone to make decisions, hence He sent His Spirit or Comforter (John 14:17, 18). To allow fate to determine our destiny is to say that God isn’t sovereign or in control. But to have keen spiritual intuition is to know that He is the Good Shepherd Who lovingly guides His sheep in the realm His peace (Isa 9:6).

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)

What forms our hearing and by what filtering we have developed to ensure that what is heard is truly from God? Jesus says to follow Him, that is to faithfully do what is the little that we know and when the cross roads are faced there is a peace that passes all understanding overwhelming us that we know that we know He is gently leading us. One who makes choices according to senses would expect great demonstration of power, but His sheep will be able to shut that all out to listen to the still small voice (1 Kings 19:11, 12). A sensual person thrives on the spectacular; a sheep of Jesus Christ would be still in the midst of a storm and quietly listen.

Adopted as Sons

 
 

Ephesians 1:3-6
New King James Version (NKJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

Boldness for the Gospel

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, (Act 4:29)

It is not that we lack opportunity to spread the Gospel but fearing what people think. Boldness is what we need to pray for and God will faithfully provide (Acts 4:31). In the natural we are bold for the things that we are confident of, for example in our gifting, wealth or even character. Some are bold to sin, not fearing man or God. Believers in Jesus Christ who have been freed from sin and condemnations carry a powerful message of liberty and love (Rom 1:16). In other words, we have the key to setting man, women and children free; deliverance from sin, hell and the devil.

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2Ti 2:12)

To ask the Lord for boldness is also to ask that ‘we be dead with Him’, hence the issue is not about about preaching the Gospel, it is the reason behind preaching the Gospel (Phil 1:15). The negative motivation is obvious, the other motivation of preaching out of 'good will' is also not honorable. We preach the Gospel as 'dead' man and woman denying anything to gain from it, except that we fall in line with God's willingness that none should perish (2 Pet 3:9).

Psalm 104:31-34 "I Will Be Glad in the LORD"

Psalm 104:31-34
New King James Version (NKJV)
31 May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
May the LORD rejoice in His works.
32 He looks on the earth, and it trembles;
He touches the hills, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34 May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the LORD.

Effectual Prayer

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (Mat 6:7)

Jesus is not telling us about repetitions but about vain repetitions. One certainty is that He asks us to be tenacious in our prayer life (Matt 18:2-5). The issue then concerns vain request not about fervent prayer. Vanity involves self-ward desires and tenacity involves ‘Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done….’. We shouldn't and cannot afford offering same prayers as the heathens. As children of God, our asking is that which is above and not below. It concerns Father’s business. If it’s doesn't concern Father’s heart, our prayers would be considered vain repetitions. Knowing our stature as those sitting with Christ in the heavenly realms, we pray down God’s will and not begging for perishable temporal things.

The evidence of an intimate relationship is to bear fruit. As with making disciples and outworking of Christian character, so is prayer. From time to time we should consider and weigh why our prayers have not been answered by the Lord. We shouldn’t excuse ourselves that perhaps it is not the Lord’s will or the timing isn’t right, if it was so we would have been at peace and not recoil into passivity and fatalism.  Prayer is about relationship with the Father and confident thankfulness. He will take care of every minute detail of our daily needs while we concern ourselves with His desire.

The Face of God

And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.(Gen 33:10)

A saint that has been dealt by God looks at people and offenses from an elevated view. Without spiritual discipline we will see these as with the face of the devil. Spiritual discipline will quickly expose our hypocrisy and reveals those who major in speck picking (Matt 7:5). God’s discipline exposes our heart condition and His Word like a mirror reveals what we are through His eyes. How often we have offended the Lord by our pride and disregard the Royal Law (James 2:8). Could it be because ‘self’ taken a position that is larger than life?

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.(Exo 33:20)

As God chastised Jacob to become His prince with a heavenly capacity of a greater to bless the lesser, even Pharaoh. Blessors are ones that have ‘died’ deep inside evident by their meekness and humility. In order to regard others better than ourselves, we have to die to self. How do we see others, even those we have offended or we think deserve to be offended?

Father’s Will be Done

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.(Matt 26:38)

The finality of our entire submission to the Father’s will needs to be battled in the area of the soul. If we continually strive with man and offense result, this is evident that there is deeper work required . More spiritual discipline is needed.

….. for when I am weak, then am I strong.(2Cor 12:10)

Was Jesus struggle at Gethsemane concern suffering and death? His apostles and disciples willingly suffered and died for righteousness sake. Hence Jesus struggle wasn’t about the physical. Was it because He wanted to ensure that going to the cross wasn’t on His own natural capacity and desire but purely founded on His Father’s will? It is relatively easy to serve God out of our ability and talent, but when in our weakness His strength is demonstrated than He gets the full glory and honor.

Staying in The Place of Fruitfulness

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 15:4)

Jesus beckons us to ‘abide’, that is the stay in the place of constant relationship and drawing of His life. The continual drawing from the Eternal source will transform our individualism into unity and oneness with Christ, as He is with the Father. Not in loosing of our identity but rather the out working of our faith entirely resides within the confines of Father’s will and desire (John 5:19). In other words, we are not Holy Spirit helpers, but helped of the Holy Spirit. We become channels and conduits, not the inception. The cross that Jesus bore, any and all glory is directed Father-ward is also ours to bear.

‘Abide in me….’. On our behalf, this is total surrendering, an act of leaving and cleaving. In humility forsaking all other to abide only in Christ, this is the glorious position that is bestowed to His church. It is a place of sonship, authority, acceptance, victory and standing on grounds that have been won. It is a place of lifting up from the ash heaps and clothed with righteousness. It is a place of complete access, intercession and the experience of the joy of answered prayer. It is a place where worship is freely, spontaneously offered and received. As we stay in that place, there is preservation, protection, wholeness and shalom. Abiding in Christ delivers us from self-righteousness and clothed with His.

‘ and I in you…’.  On our behalf, this is a place of receiving the life to overcome and constancy in spirit. Without Christ ‘in us’, we will lack strength to realize the power of sonship. This is the place of God’s speaking into our spirit. This is the place where He has total freedom to work in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure. This is a place of transformation from both the natural man who do out of self good and the old man who carries the propensity to sin. Christ abiding in us delivers us from legalism and the other extreme, licentiousness.

If there isn't any abiding, Christ have no part in us neither we in Him. Outside the abiding is fruitlessness. Fruitfulness is the evidence of a deep and intimate relationship.

Who Are the Pure in Heart?

Direction of Our Christian Walk

And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD. (Gen 12:8)

It was said that Sadhu Sundar Singh wrote a simple but meaning chorus that says ‘I have decided to follow Jesus…. The world behind me, the cross before me’.  Is that becoming a working reality in you and me? Interestingly the instruction to Moses was to build the entrance of the Tabernacle on the east hence worship was westward as opposed to eastward pagan worship of the sun. The worship of YHWH is directly antithetical from the world. Ai stands for ‘ruin’ and Bethel, ‘House of God’. In the perspective of our Holy God, there is no room for syncretism (Exo 29:3), the other alternative brings us to destruction (Matt 7:13).

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (Col 3:5)

The last command at the end of 1 John is, ‘Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen’. Our refusal to allow God to conform us into His moral character constitute idolatry (I Sam 15:23).  The root of stubbornness is from a strong mind or will, which can lead to rebellion by upholding one’s own desires and rights above God’s hence the worship and exaltation of self. In that refusal our thoughts and actions revolve around self. We need to be delivered from individualism and narcissism to be found in the place of oneness and communion with Christ, as He is with the Father.

Consistency

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. (Psa 101:2)

The Lord would have us to be consistent in our behavior. The ‘Sunday best’ that we put on is not what He sees, but the private moments and unpublicized thoughts He considers. What we are in public may not reflect our relationship to Father God as His son.

There is only one perfect way, Jesus the Way. By faith and in Christ can only be found this perfect way; we cannot excuse ourselves and wait for God to work into us, but we have to desire to walk in it. Failure means we humbly return and ask for His grace to restore us as we also have the same grace towards the failures that other struggle with. Nevertheless, failure does not mean we give up. It would be presumptuous to continue our own way and hope or even believe that Jesus, by His Spirit will miraculously transform us if we don’t seek Him to be changed into His glorious image. It is hard work. It is the cross we need to bear, dying to every wickedness and even goodness of self in order to be endowed with the glory of Christ.

Father’s Dealings on His Sons

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Heb 12:7)

Sons of God are those whom God the Father will deal with, depleted of natural strength of both good and evil. We thrive in the good, but God does not see natural good as of Himself. All that a son inherits has to come entirely from Him, by faith. We can summon up every form of ‘goodness’ in ourselves to be demonstrations of the sons of God and we will fail poorly. This will only reap self righteousness. Sons of God do not wear badges of honor but bear the marks of the cross of Christ. Many a times, what we subconsciously boast is precisely where the dealings will be most severe.