Being a Watchman to add value to our nation II - Ps. Susan Tang
The series was taught at the 21st National Prayer Advance organized by Ps. Jean Lim and the Glory Place Prayer House.
The notes were compile by me some additional comments. Ps. Susan allows circulation of the audio CD. If you chose to receive a copy of the messages kindly send me an email.Timely messages for the End Times.
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Watchman to rise up
The function of the watchman is as follows from Eze 3,8
1. Hear
2. Sees
3. Speak up
Eze 3:
17 Son of man , I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel : therefore hear the word at my mouth , and give them warning from me. 18 When I say unto the wicked , Thou shalt surely die ; and thou givest him not warning , nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way , to save his life ; the same wicked [man] shall die in his iniquity ; but his blood will I require at thine hand .
Eze 8:
4 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
Eze 2:
7-8 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.
God is calling Faithful Watchmen
Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?
(Isa 5:1-4)
Isa 5:1-4 Vineyard
God put a tower (for the watchman) and a winepress (dealings of God). The watchman is one that continuously allows the dealings of God in his or her life.Without which we cannot say that we are on the pilgrimage of sanctification for God wants to build watchmen who are strong in spirit. God requires fruitfulness, good fruits. Wild grapes are produced because there are no boundaries or restraint of God upon our lives, therefore we need the dealings of God that brings us to the place of producing the right fruits for God's harvest.
Abraham was faithful to God, willing to faithful unto death.
What is God requiring fm Malaysian Church? Faithfulness.
Psa 105:
18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters : he was laid in iron :
Oh that we pray that we need iron in our soul to be faithful unto death. When we aren't afraid to die, the devil don't have any strategy against us. Iron in our soul build a strong spirit within us.
God chose a man because of faithfulness.
When reality of God sets in, we can live with little. Solomon lost the reality when he looked for excesses. The little that we have in the physical actually is offset in the greater spiritual abundance we have that last for eternity.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(Mat 6:19-21)
God's eyes that roam to and fro the earth to find a faithful man and He found Abram.
2Ch 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
Neh 9:
7 Thou [art] the LORD the God , who didst choose Abram , and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees , and gavest him the name of Abraham ; 8 And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and
Isa 51:
2 Look unto Abraham your father , and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone , and blessed him, and increased him.
Today the Lord is still looking for those who are faithful to Him and willing to forsake even their own lives.
Rev 2:
10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer : behold , the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison , that ye may be tried ; and ye shall have tribulation ten days : be thou faithful unto death , and I will give thee a crown of life .
The overcomer is one that is faithful and their lives bear that testimony.
Rev 12:
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb , and by the word of their testimony ; and they loved not their lives unto the death .
Let not our faithfulness be like the morning cloud. (Hosea 6:4). The faithful are not dependent on circumstances. How many of us in the church today claim to be faithful.... even if we think that we are not 'blessed'.
Opposite of faithfulness is harlotry
Spirit of faithfulness vs. Spirit of harlotry (Hosea)
The many churches today have fallen into spiritual harlotry. Lost in activities as Israel did. Activities are not wrong in themselves but when we are caught up with them, then our focus on God will dim. Could it be why worship is so mood dependent? God called out to Israel to remember Him with a broken heart.
The Lord can be wearied with our sins. Forgiven, yet continue to wallow in sin. The process of God's sanctification and His dealing have we rejected. We can weary God with our iniquity or lawlessness, could it be that we disregard His laws and decide to live according to our standards and not His Moral standards?
Isa 43:
22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob ; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel . 23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings ; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices . I have not caused thee to serve with an offering , nor wearied thee with incense . 24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money , neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices : but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins , thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities . 25 I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins .
Are our doings and deeds turning to God
Hos 5:
4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God : for the spirit of whoredoms [is] in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD .
If our church has the spirit of harlotry, then come out of her for many works have nothing to do with turning to God. Works that don't turn us to God are considered dead works. And the foundation or root of dead works are meant to be pulled out that they don't give continuity to such works. The only pathway to perfection is when the foundation and roots are removed from our lives.
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
In faithfulness, we can pray commanding prayers
The watchman is one that can pray commanding prayers. Iniquity and dead works can disqualify us from the praying commanding prayers where principalities and powers of darkness can laugh at our faces. Watchmen need to stand in the place of authority.
Isa 45:
11 Thus saith the LORD , the Holy One of Israel , and his Maker , Ask me of things to come concerning my sons , and concerning the work of my hands command ye me .
Samuel wasn't a warrior and yet the life his commanding prayers guarded Israel.
1 Sam 7
13. So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.
Life of Samuel has great worth, as long as he was alive kept the enemies away. May we live such lives. Power and life that we live that can take authority over the enemy.
Anti-thesis life: live against the existing order. Even to present church order.
Many have become church manship instead of God's workmanship. Where the gates of hell can't prevail. Are we, as a church, built by Christ or of man? The results are telling when there is the confrontation with the gates of hell.
Where the general church failed God will raise up a remnant to live the Samuel life. The general church is overfed with conferances, teachings, books, etc. Unfortunately the overfeeding didn't give birth to the Samuels who can make the difference to our nation and nations.
Rev 12. The true Church travail and pray for overcamers to come forth.
God is looking for the remnant church that will travail and birth the man-child company of overcomers that threatens the very powers of darkness in the end times.
God uses a few to cover the whole.
The cross life
Samuel have no greed, never lusted. Pure heart to see God. Keep demons at bay. Living within the confines of the cross. The cross is the greatest event in God's history. We have to restrain ourselves by the cross. Without the cross, there's lack of power, no restraint.
When the cross is not preached, the church can be among the perishing.
1 Cor 1:
18. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
If we think the message of the cross is foolish then we join the perishing order.
Outside the cross, there's no true knowledge of God. Vs. 2 tells of no restrain, the result thereof.
Hos 4:
1 Hear the word of the LORD , ye children of Israel : for the LORD hath a controversy (charge) with the inhabitants of the land , because [there is] no truth , nor mercy , nor knowledge of God in the land . 2 By swearing , and lying , and killing , and stealing , and committing adultery , they break out , and blood toucheth blood .
Imperitive Chritianity is living by the demands of God! Can God demand of me? Can I live to yield to God's demand. Choice is not ours, it's entirely God's. Living in the place or readiness to yield to God's demand is one that takes up his or her personal cross and following Jesus daily. Because it's a daily yielding.
If we yield to God's demand like Paul even spirits recognize us. Don't be like the 7 sons of Sceva. Our life yielded identity to Christ. Don't be fooled the spirits know how we life. Don't live for the consciousness of man.
Live in continum with the experiences of our spiritual forefathers who lived the cross life and are amongst the crowd of witnesses (Heb 12:1)
We need the cross life to have power over sin, pornography (demoniac holds), coverteousness, etc that challenge the moral standards of God.
Be the antithesis to bring anticlimax to demonic work.
The apostolic word is a requiring word. 'Bring forth, bear fruit' God's requirement. Be an overcomer, for our names to be in the book of life.
What is God requiring from us? To be a watchman and live an antithesis life!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Being a Watchman to add value to our nation I - Ps. Susan Tang
The series was taught at the 21st National Prayer Advance organized by Ps. Jean Lim and the Glory Place Prayer House.
The notes were compile by me some additional comments. Ps. Susan allows circulation of the audio CD. If you chose to receive a copy of the messages kindly send me an email.
Timely messages for the End Times.
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Balaam was a true prophet, but his heart was not dealt with. He knew the revealed will of God but still prayed about it, when not supposed to. Negotiating with God is already out of the question. This calls for quick obedience lest we fall into the same trap as Balaam did. Lest we begin to doubt God's good and perfect will. Abraham never questioned God about the many things he was asked to do from leaving his homeland without any clear directions to sacrificing his only son (which God provided a ram in the son's stead and knew the Providence of God). In order to be a watchman we must learn to obey expeditiously once the will of God is revealed to us.
The strange thing is that Balaam was used to the miraculous therefore not surprise when the donkey spoke to him. While the donkey saw, he couldn't. Balaam wasn't pure in heart, thus lack seeing God (Matt 5:8). How can we see God's will if we can't behold Him?
Samuel's life long ministry of being a watchman for his nation began with a praying mother crying out of a need that became her greatest sacrifice. We have to read the Bible with a heart to see a great sacrifice of both mother and child. Samuel was left at the temple of the Lord to serve under a back slidden priest and only saw his mother once a year. This pain or 'cross' that Hannah and Samuel had to bear brought about the the greatest praying prophet in Israel.
Hannah's cry in God's presence to ask for a son. Eli rebuked her because he don't know struggling, lamenting, prayers. Don't know about being drunk in prayer. The groanings in deep prayer brings many words to the Father in Heaven. These groaning may have few words but carry great depth to the very courts of Heaven.
This about this, if Hannah didn't give her son back to God, then there couldn't be one of the greatest praying prophet. In these days of many prayers have bred many covetous hearts. The 'give me, give me' generation of Christians have the same insatiable desire as the pits of hell itself. Learn to give back to the Giver, that is why tithing is an important spiritual principle.
The series was taught at the 21st National Prayer Advance organized by Ps. Jean Lim and the Glory Place Prayer House.
The notes were compile by me some additional comments. Ps. Susan allows circulation of the audio CD. If you chose to receive a copy of the messages kindly send me an email.
Timely messages for the End Times.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balaam was a true prophet, but his heart was not dealt with. He knew the revealed will of God but still prayed about it, when not supposed to. Negotiating with God is already out of the question. This calls for quick obedience lest we fall into the same trap as Balaam did. Lest we begin to doubt God's good and perfect will. Abraham never questioned God about the many things he was asked to do from leaving his homeland without any clear directions to sacrificing his only son (which God provided a ram in the son's stead and knew the Providence of God). In order to be a watchman we must learn to obey expeditiously once the will of God is revealed to us.
The strange thing is that Balaam was used to the miraculous therefore not surprise when the donkey spoke to him. While the donkey saw, he couldn't. Balaam wasn't pure in heart, thus lack seeing God (Matt 5:8). How can we see God's will if we can't behold Him?
Samuel's life long ministry of being a watchman for his nation began with a praying mother crying out of a need that became her greatest sacrifice. We have to read the Bible with a heart to see a great sacrifice of both mother and child. Samuel was left at the temple of the Lord to serve under a back slidden priest and only saw his mother once a year. This pain or 'cross' that Hannah and Samuel had to bear brought about the the greatest praying prophet in Israel.
Hannah's cry in God's presence to ask for a son. Eli rebuked her because he don't know struggling, lamenting, prayers. Don't know about being drunk in prayer. The groanings in deep prayer brings many words to the Father in Heaven. These groaning may have few words but carry great depth to the very courts of Heaven.
This about this, if Hannah didn't give her son back to God, then there couldn't be one of the greatest praying prophet. In these days of many prayers have bred many covetous hearts. The 'give me, give me' generation of Christians have the same insatiable desire as the pits of hell itself. Learn to give back to the Giver, that is why tithing is an important spiritual principle.
The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
(Pro 30:15)
God loves to share His heart, but even the high priest couldn't hear. So God shared His heart with a child. God knew the capacity of a child. He knew how he would take the hard message of Eli and his sons who sinned grossly before the Lord. Do we have the capacity to take God's messages and do we know how to handle them in prayer? How do we know Samuel handled the messages well, it showed it his latter life how God continue to trust him with more.
1 Sam 7:4-10 : Samuel taught the people to pour out before God. Samuel, David, Jesus, and Mary knew how to pour out before God. While the majority of us could only trickle before God. When will we learn not to withhold from God?
The pouring life keeps devils away. Not difficult but God will give His grace.
All the miracles that the disciples did, Jesus didn't say that their work was to be remembered. Only Mary's pouring of the oil from the broken alabaster flask did Jesus said that it was a monumental work. Broke and pour as Jesus did on the cross.
Poured out lives are powerful which is in the manifested in the living. This frightened the enemies and caused them to attack. Devils see a threat in a poured out life. In the mounting attack Samuel asked for a suckling lamb, meaning sacrifice, dying to self, laying down our lives, the greatest power against demons. Samuel brought heaven to earth and it was God who fought the Philistines!
Paul was such, not afraid of death. Faithful to the end. He handed death in the spirit, ready to die. Bound in the spirit to Jerusalem despite Agabus prophecy. A poured out life before the Lord is to say that we have died to our rights and we are ready to die for God's cause. (Gal 2:20). There isn't any room for retrieval, it's burning all our bridges. It's about taking up the cross and following Jesus daily.
As Joseph prepared for the bad years ahead, so must the church. God have to put iron in our soul to be overcomers in the end times.
Psa 105:
18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters : he was laid in iron :
That's how Paul was ready to face death. Preparation is in the spirit. Our prayer should be asking God to build into us, not for us to build ministries. As Jesus did (Rev 13:8), determined from the foundation of the world. He was as though slain from the begining of creation but physically fulfilled on the cruel cross at Calvary.
At the end of Samuel's ministry, to be released from his ministry as the people wanted a king. He asked the people to bear witness to his purity. The content of his life shows great conduct. Call forth the overcomer on the inside!
Rev 12:1-5
The woman, the church give birth to overcomer life (man child).
The watchman is one that pours out and ready to sacrifice even our own life, loving not life unto death is one of the key weapons to dovercome the enemy (Rev 12:11).
It is the Christ life within us that will rise up to overcome the enemy. But it requires the cross that Christ might live in us (Gal 2:20).
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Compassion
1. Definition
a. Compassion is responding to a deep need with a longing to do whatever is necessary to meet it
b. Different levels of responding to peoples deep need
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1 John3:17)
If we truly have the love of God, it is a natural thing to show compassion.
- Sympathy: feeling sorry for people who are hurting
- Empathy: feeling the pain with hurting people
- Compassion: doing something about the pain
2. Doing something and faith go hand in hand
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. (Jas 2:15-18)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (Jas 2:26)
- How can we say we have faith in Jesus if we shut our bowels of compassion (ignore the cry of the needy) to do something to help hurting people?
- Faith being along is dead. Our faith can’t grow without the ‘doing something’ for the needy. This means that we can’t grow spiritually and can’t be strong in spirit.
3. Who are the needy?
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)
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (Jas 1:27)
The needy are people who need our help to provide and protection them. James teaches us to provide for the poor, but we cannot neglect defending the needy from exploitation and danger (to their bodies and souls)
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. (Psa 82:3-4)
4. How do we develop a compassionate heart?
- Remember our great debt to God. Matt 18:23-34 is the parable of the wicket servant who was forgiven of a great debt. However he didn’t show likewise to one who owed him a small debt even though the latter cried out for mercy. If we don’t show compassion, our lives will be tormented.
- Enlarge our hearts
I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. (Psa 119:32)
To run the way of thy commandments is be quick to obey. God will enlarge our hearts by His love, our hearts become small with selfishness.
- Turn personal suffering into compassion for others, for by this we will experience God’s comfort
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2Co 1:4)
- Constantly look for ways to do good to others
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:10)
5. The sheep and the goats, the last judgement
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)
Final judgment is when Jesus Christ returns as judge. This is something we have to grasp; because God’s throne of grace is also the throne of judgment. He will separate sheep from goats as a shepherd separates his flock. Note that it is a flock that have been with the fold, thus the separation is within the church. Similar to separation of tares and the wheat which grew in the same field which were fed from the same soil, water and fertilizer. Jesus is coming back to judge because God is Just.
God has prepared His Kingdom from the foundation of the world! Can you see God’s plan and purposes for His children? Jesus calls out to the sheep first to inherit. The mark of the sheep is one that feeds, shelters, protects and visits strangers. Strangers are those who can’t pay us back as with the case of the Good Samaritan. Strangers are people we take risk in helping not considering our loss but considering as doing the right thing proceeding from a life of faith. The sheep is not aware of the good deeds because it is a natural out flow of faith. Self denial and taking up the cross and following Jesus is a clear mark of the sheep.
6. Mercy for the poor
Nebuchadnezzar was counseled against pride and one of the key action of repentance is showing mercy to the poor as shown in Daniel’s advise.
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
(Dan 4:27)
Even in the teaching of wisdom in Proverbs teaches us mercy on the poor. Please don’t end up reproaching or defaming our Maker.
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
(Pro 14:31)
God’s heart is toward the poor, shouldn’t ours be also? When Jesus returns will we be called His sheep or worst called goats unto eternal damnation?
7. The testimony of George Mueller
"The children are dressed and ready for school. But there is no food for them to eat," the housemother of the orphanage informed George Mueller. George asked her to take the 300 children into the dining room and have them sit at the tables. He thanked God for the food and waited. George knew God would provide food for the children as he always did. Within minutes, a baker knocked on the door. "Mr. Mueller," he said, "last night I could not sleep. Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up and baked three batches for you. I will bring it in."
Soon, there was another knock at the door. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. The milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed. He asked George if he could use some free milk. George smiled as the milkman brought in ten large cans of milk. It was just enough for the 300 thirsty children.
George Mueller 1805 – 1898 (http://www.georgemuller.blogspot.com/)
"At last I saw Christ as my Saviour. I believed in Him and gave myself to Him. The burden rolled from off me, and a great love for Christ filled my soul. That was more than fifty years ago. I loved Jesus Christ then, but I loved Him more the year after, and more the year after that, and more every year since."Born in Prussia in 1805, George Mueller began running from God early in life. By age ten he had devised a scheme to embezzle government money entrusted to his father. He spent his schooldays in drunken immorality. He even served time in jail at age sixteen for failing to pay his bills.
The university he attended had some 900 divinity students, but Mueller said there were not nine of them who truly feared God. He continued his sinful habits during his college days until finally at age 20 the burden of his sins overcame him and he trusted Christ as Saviour.
Soon he committed himself to a full-time gospel ministry. When Mueller was twenty-five, he went to Teignmouth, England, with his new wife, Mary, to pastor a small church. He gave up the small salary offered when he discovered it was paid through the rental of church pews. From that time on he resolved to live by faith.
Mueller moved in 1832 to Bristol, England, to be the pastor of another church. There his famous work with the orphans began when two young children were thrown upon the church's care. Mueller had only two shillings to his name when he began the orphanage work, but over the next sixty years God sent more than $7,500,000 to supply their needs. New buildings were built or purchased, staff was hired, and the hundreds of children never missed a meal. Many times prayers were said over empty plates only to have food arrive at the last moment.
Mueller resolved never to tell anyone what his needs were. He told them to God and confidently expected them to be met.
During his life, Mueller started 117 schools which educated over 120,000 young people and orphans. He became pastor of Bethesda Chapel in Bristol. The church had some 2,000 members at his death.
Spurgeon said, "Of flowers of speech he has none, and we hardly think he cares for them; but of the bread of Heaven he has abundance."
1. Definition
a. Compassion is responding to a deep need with a longing to do whatever is necessary to meet it
b. Different levels of responding to peoples deep need
But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1 John3:17)
If we truly have the love of God, it is a natural thing to show compassion.
- Sympathy: feeling sorry for people who are hurting
- Empathy: feeling the pain with hurting people
- Compassion: doing something about the pain
2. Doing something and faith go hand in hand
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. (Jas 2:15-18)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (Jas 2:26)
- How can we say we have faith in Jesus if we shut our bowels of compassion (ignore the cry of the needy) to do something to help hurting people?
- Faith being along is dead. Our faith can’t grow without the ‘doing something’ for the needy. This means that we can’t grow spiritually and can’t be strong in spirit.
3. Who are the needy?
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)
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (Jas 1:27)
The needy are people who need our help to provide and protection them. James teaches us to provide for the poor, but we cannot neglect defending the needy from exploitation and danger (to their bodies and souls)
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. (Psa 82:3-4)
4. How do we develop a compassionate heart?
- Remember our great debt to God. Matt 18:23-34 is the parable of the wicket servant who was forgiven of a great debt. However he didn’t show likewise to one who owed him a small debt even though the latter cried out for mercy. If we don’t show compassion, our lives will be tormented.
- Enlarge our hearts
I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. (Psa 119:32)
To run the way of thy commandments is be quick to obey. God will enlarge our hearts by His love, our hearts become small with selfishness.
- Turn personal suffering into compassion for others, for by this we will experience God’s comfort
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2Co 1:4)
- Constantly look for ways to do good to others
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:10)
5. The sheep and the goats, the last judgement
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)
Final judgment is when Jesus Christ returns as judge. This is something we have to grasp; because God’s throne of grace is also the throne of judgment. He will separate sheep from goats as a shepherd separates his flock. Note that it is a flock that have been with the fold, thus the separation is within the church. Similar to separation of tares and the wheat which grew in the same field which were fed from the same soil, water and fertilizer. Jesus is coming back to judge because God is Just.
God has prepared His Kingdom from the foundation of the world! Can you see God’s plan and purposes for His children? Jesus calls out to the sheep first to inherit. The mark of the sheep is one that feeds, shelters, protects and visits strangers. Strangers are those who can’t pay us back as with the case of the Good Samaritan. Strangers are people we take risk in helping not considering our loss but considering as doing the right thing proceeding from a life of faith. The sheep is not aware of the good deeds because it is a natural out flow of faith. Self denial and taking up the cross and following Jesus is a clear mark of the sheep.
6. Mercy for the poor
Nebuchadnezzar was counseled against pride and one of the key action of repentance is showing mercy to the poor as shown in Daniel’s advise.
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
(Dan 4:27)
Even in the teaching of wisdom in Proverbs teaches us mercy on the poor. Please don’t end up reproaching or defaming our Maker.
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
(Pro 14:31)
God’s heart is toward the poor, shouldn’t ours be also? When Jesus returns will we be called His sheep or worst called goats unto eternal damnation?
7. The testimony of George Mueller
"The children are dressed and ready for school. But there is no food for them to eat," the housemother of the orphanage informed George Mueller. George asked her to take the 300 children into the dining room and have them sit at the tables. He thanked God for the food and waited. George knew God would provide food for the children as he always did. Within minutes, a baker knocked on the door. "Mr. Mueller," he said, "last night I could not sleep. Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up and baked three batches for you. I will bring it in."
Soon, there was another knock at the door. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. The milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed. He asked George if he could use some free milk. George smiled as the milkman brought in ten large cans of milk. It was just enough for the 300 thirsty children.
George Mueller 1805 – 1898 (http://www.georgemuller.blogspot.com/)
"At last I saw Christ as my Saviour. I believed in Him and gave myself to Him. The burden rolled from off me, and a great love for Christ filled my soul. That was more than fifty years ago. I loved Jesus Christ then, but I loved Him more the year after, and more the year after that, and more every year since."Born in Prussia in 1805, George Mueller began running from God early in life. By age ten he had devised a scheme to embezzle government money entrusted to his father. He spent his schooldays in drunken immorality. He even served time in jail at age sixteen for failing to pay his bills.
The university he attended had some 900 divinity students, but Mueller said there were not nine of them who truly feared God. He continued his sinful habits during his college days until finally at age 20 the burden of his sins overcame him and he trusted Christ as Saviour.
Soon he committed himself to a full-time gospel ministry. When Mueller was twenty-five, he went to Teignmouth, England, with his new wife, Mary, to pastor a small church. He gave up the small salary offered when he discovered it was paid through the rental of church pews. From that time on he resolved to live by faith.
Mueller moved in 1832 to Bristol, England, to be the pastor of another church. There his famous work with the orphans began when two young children were thrown upon the church's care. Mueller had only two shillings to his name when he began the orphanage work, but over the next sixty years God sent more than $7,500,000 to supply their needs. New buildings were built or purchased, staff was hired, and the hundreds of children never missed a meal. Many times prayers were said over empty plates only to have food arrive at the last moment.
Mueller resolved never to tell anyone what his needs were. He told them to God and confidently expected them to be met.
During his life, Mueller started 117 schools which educated over 120,000 young people and orphans. He became pastor of Bethesda Chapel in Bristol. The church had some 2,000 members at his death.
Spurgeon said, "Of flowers of speech he has none, and we hardly think he cares for them; but of the bread of Heaven he has abundance."
Friday, July 27, 2007
Worship in Spirit and Truth
But the hour cometh , and now is , when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth : for the Father seeketh such to worship him . (John 4:23)
1. Temple worship
Worship is conducted in a temple, but it shifted from buildings to redeemed people of God.
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them , Destroy this temple , and in three days I will raise it up . 20 Then said the Jews , Forty and six years was this temple in building , and wilt thou rear it up in three days ? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body .
Jesus Himself is the temple. There are a continual worship to the Father and offering the greatest sacrifice of all for our redemption from sin.
1 Cor 6:18 Flee fornication . Every sin that a man doeth is without the body ; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body . 19 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 ? 20 For ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body , and in your spirit , which are God's .
The temple that glorifies God in worship must be a cleansed temple. Realize that our cleansing came with the price to God; the Father in giving His only begotten Son and Jesus, His life on the cross. Out of this we remember our great debt to God (Matt 18:23-34). Of course we have not reached our destination in holiness, but as long as we are in the mode of fleeing fornication we are on the right path. Interestingly Paul warns about sexual immorality and our bodies being the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Is it because worship can become so fleshly that can defile the temple?Today there seems to be a fine line of worshipping the Father in Spirit and in Truth and being so caught up with the sensual as the pagans practiced with temple prostitudes and sexual immorality in their worship.
1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God , and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you ? 17 If any man defile the temple of God , him shall God destroy ; for the temple of God is holy , which [ temple ] ye are .
We should always keep in mind that our bodies are holy or separated or exclusive as God’s temple. The indwelling of the Presence of God in the Person of the Holy Spirit is essential; otherwise our worship is not God-ward. Always keep in mind that God is serious about keeping the body holy unto God.
2. Worship the Father
The Samaritan woman had talked simply of "worship"; our Lord brings up before her the objective of all acceptable worship--"THE FATHER." That could be the reason why we can get caught up with 'moods' and place. The relationship with the Father is critical in worship, as we don’t worship a foreign God, but “THE FATHER”. If it’s not the Father than other things can creep in out of our human perspective of worship, it can become commercialize as in Matt 21 when Jesus drove the traders away. Selling of ‘sacrifices for worship’ is sacrilege as far as Jesus is concern.
3. Going ‘yonder’ in worship
God is seeking out worshipers, one that is willing to go yonder. In solitude we finally reach out to God as OUR GOD personally. No one else can understand the intimacy with the Father except the worshiper is willing to go yonder, even leaving our ‘young men’ behind. The ‘young men’ could be our aids in worship, because at Abraham’s age, he would have required help to carry the things required for worship or additional hands to build the altar. It was just Abraham bringing the sacrifice (Isaac) to present to God. Abraham also went yonder in worship as he bore the burden and perhaps even the grief of potentially losing his only begotten son. But nevertheless still went yonder, not allowing the burden to weigh him in the obedient act of worship.
Gen 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men , Abide ye here with the ass ; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship , and come again to you.
4. Worship is offering a sacrifice
Psa 54:6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD ; for [it is] good .
Heb 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of [our] lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Worship has to cost us something as David understood it in 2Sa 24:22. In fact worship is the cost of giving of our total selves not just giving of our hearts. Sacrifice is about giving of ourselves, not given to the world but to God in holiness and acceptable! And that David knew no restrictions in a costly sacrifice for His Lord when he was willing to pay the cost.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore , brethren , by the mercies of God , that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice , holy , acceptable unto God , [which is] your reasonable service . 2 And be not conformed to this world : but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind , that ye may prove what [is] that good , and acceptable , and perfect , will of God .
'Hour cometh' - no longer bound by season or laws, now is the time… and able to freely offer the sacrifice. Jesus' presence is with us even as she was in His Presence. Previous worship is about sacrifice of physical offerings of bulls and animals, now it is giving of us. Jesus gave His all and we are to do likewise and take up our crosses daily.
5. How is a sacrifice acceptable?
To have a sacrifice acceptable to God is when He acknowledges His pleasing over us. That means that we have to nail human acknowledgements to our cross. Forsaking how people interpret how good a worship we give or lead, but doing what pleases the Father. We don’t have any records about Jesus life except for the incident in Luke 2:49 at the age of 12 years to give us a hint of what He was like. Jesus concern as a boy was for Father’s business or affairs. He seems to be at ‘home’ in the Father’s courts. It was as though His entire preoccupation was with the Father. As the Father seeks… Jesus was found in Father’s Presence, not surprising that He live a life that was pleasing to the Father. Worship is about a life that we live, is it pleasing to the Father?
Matt 3:
17 And lo a voice from heaven , saying , This is my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased .
6. What kind of offering we are to give?
Psa 51:15 O Lord , open thou my lips ; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise . 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice ; else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt offering . 17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart , O God , thou wilt not despise .
There is a deeper worship than with our mouths singing praise and offering the sacrifice.
God is graciously pleased to accept this; it is instead of all burnt-offering and sacrifice. The broken heart is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ; there is no true repentance without faith in him. Men despise that which is broken, but God will not. He will not overlook it, he will not refuse or reject it.
A repentant life is dead to past a new life in Christ (Gal 2:20). "In faith," answers by contrast to "in the flesh." Faith, not the flesh, is the real element in which I live. The phrase, "the Son of God," in Gal 2:20 reminds us that His Divine Sonship is the source of His life-giving power. When our heart becomes broken and contrite than we can say as Jesus did in Gethsamane that 'Your will be done'.
7. Final worship in heaven
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within : and they rest not day and night , saying , Holy , holy , holy , Lord God Almighty , which was , and is , and is to come . 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne , who liveth for ever and ever , 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne , and worship him that liveth for ever and ever , and cast their crowns before the throne , saying , 11 Thou art worthy , O Lord , to receive glory and honour and power : for thou hast created all things , and for thy pleasure they are and were created .
Holy is God, in Whom we wholly ascribe our redemption and conversion. Our lives and hope lies in the mighty hands of our eternal and most holy (as the angelic beings declare 3 times holy) God. As we worship the One Who reigns from the throne, consider His most Holy character less we dishonor Him. Realization of His most holiness, responding in humility that even our very best we can offer in worship requires a determination to cast our crowns before His throne.
All true believers wholly ascribe their redemption and conversion, their present privileges and future hopes, to the eternal and most holy God. Thus rise the forever harmonious, thankful songs of the redeemed in heaven. Would we on earth do like them, let our praises be constant, not interrupted; united, not divided; thankful, not cold and formal; humble, not self-confident. Life transforming worship can take place when we catch a glimpse of God's most holiness. That righteousness of God will be given to us in that state of beholding.
But the hour cometh , and now is , when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth : for the Father seeketh such to worship him . (John 4:23)
1. Temple worship
Worship is conducted in a temple, but it shifted from buildings to redeemed people of God.
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them , Destroy this temple , and in three days I will raise it up . 20 Then said the Jews , Forty and six years was this temple in building , and wilt thou rear it up in three days ? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body .
Jesus Himself is the temple. There are a continual worship to the Father and offering the greatest sacrifice of all for our redemption from sin.
1 Cor 6:18 Flee fornication . Every sin that a man doeth is without the body ; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body . 19 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 ? 20 For ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body , and in your spirit , which are God's .
The temple that glorifies God in worship must be a cleansed temple. Realize that our cleansing came with the price to God; the Father in giving His only begotten Son and Jesus, His life on the cross. Out of this we remember our great debt to God (Matt 18:23-34). Of course we have not reached our destination in holiness, but as long as we are in the mode of fleeing fornication we are on the right path. Interestingly Paul warns about sexual immorality and our bodies being the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Is it because worship can become so fleshly that can defile the temple?Today there seems to be a fine line of worshipping the Father in Spirit and in Truth and being so caught up with the sensual as the pagans practiced with temple prostitudes and sexual immorality in their worship.
1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God , and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you ? 17 If any man defile the temple of God , him shall God destroy ; for the temple of God is holy , which [ temple ] ye are .
We should always keep in mind that our bodies are holy or separated or exclusive as God’s temple. The indwelling of the Presence of God in the Person of the Holy Spirit is essential; otherwise our worship is not God-ward. Always keep in mind that God is serious about keeping the body holy unto God.
2. Worship the Father
The Samaritan woman had talked simply of "worship"; our Lord brings up before her the objective of all acceptable worship--"THE FATHER." That could be the reason why we can get caught up with 'moods' and place. The relationship with the Father is critical in worship, as we don’t worship a foreign God, but “THE FATHER”. If it’s not the Father than other things can creep in out of our human perspective of worship, it can become commercialize as in Matt 21 when Jesus drove the traders away. Selling of ‘sacrifices for worship’ is sacrilege as far as Jesus is concern.
3. Going ‘yonder’ in worship
God is seeking out worshipers, one that is willing to go yonder. In solitude we finally reach out to God as OUR GOD personally. No one else can understand the intimacy with the Father except the worshiper is willing to go yonder, even leaving our ‘young men’ behind. The ‘young men’ could be our aids in worship, because at Abraham’s age, he would have required help to carry the things required for worship or additional hands to build the altar. It was just Abraham bringing the sacrifice (Isaac) to present to God. Abraham also went yonder in worship as he bore the burden and perhaps even the grief of potentially losing his only begotten son. But nevertheless still went yonder, not allowing the burden to weigh him in the obedient act of worship.
Gen 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men , Abide ye here with the ass ; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship , and come again to you.
4. Worship is offering a sacrifice
Psa 54:6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD ; for [it is] good .
Heb 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of [our] lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Worship has to cost us something as David understood it in 2Sa 24:22. In fact worship is the cost of giving of our total selves not just giving of our hearts. Sacrifice is about giving of ourselves, not given to the world but to God in holiness and acceptable! And that David knew no restrictions in a costly sacrifice for His Lord when he was willing to pay the cost.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore , brethren , by the mercies of God , that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice , holy , acceptable unto God , [which is] your reasonable service . 2 And be not conformed to this world : but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind , that ye may prove what [is] that good , and acceptable , and perfect , will of God .
'Hour cometh' - no longer bound by season or laws, now is the time… and able to freely offer the sacrifice. Jesus' presence is with us even as she was in His Presence. Previous worship is about sacrifice of physical offerings of bulls and animals, now it is giving of us. Jesus gave His all and we are to do likewise and take up our crosses daily.
5. How is a sacrifice acceptable?
To have a sacrifice acceptable to God is when He acknowledges His pleasing over us. That means that we have to nail human acknowledgements to our cross. Forsaking how people interpret how good a worship we give or lead, but doing what pleases the Father. We don’t have any records about Jesus life except for the incident in Luke 2:49 at the age of 12 years to give us a hint of what He was like. Jesus concern as a boy was for Father’s business or affairs. He seems to be at ‘home’ in the Father’s courts. It was as though His entire preoccupation was with the Father. As the Father seeks… Jesus was found in Father’s Presence, not surprising that He live a life that was pleasing to the Father. Worship is about a life that we live, is it pleasing to the Father?
Matt 3:
17 And lo a voice from heaven , saying , This is my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased .
6. What kind of offering we are to give?
Psa 51:15 O Lord , open thou my lips ; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise . 16 For thou desirest not sacrifice ; else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt offering . 17 The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit : a broken and a contrite heart , O God , thou wilt not despise .
There is a deeper worship than with our mouths singing praise and offering the sacrifice.
God is graciously pleased to accept this; it is instead of all burnt-offering and sacrifice. The broken heart is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ; there is no true repentance without faith in him. Men despise that which is broken, but God will not. He will not overlook it, he will not refuse or reject it.
A repentant life is dead to past a new life in Christ (Gal 2:20). "In faith," answers by contrast to "in the flesh." Faith, not the flesh, is the real element in which I live. The phrase, "the Son of God," in Gal 2:20 reminds us that His Divine Sonship is the source of His life-giving power. When our heart becomes broken and contrite than we can say as Jesus did in Gethsamane that 'Your will be done'.
7. Final worship in heaven
Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within : and they rest not day and night , saying , Holy , holy , holy , Lord God Almighty , which was , and is , and is to come . 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne , who liveth for ever and ever , 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne , and worship him that liveth for ever and ever , and cast their crowns before the throne , saying , 11 Thou art worthy , O Lord , to receive glory and honour and power : for thou hast created all things , and for thy pleasure they are and were created .
Holy is God, in Whom we wholly ascribe our redemption and conversion. Our lives and hope lies in the mighty hands of our eternal and most holy (as the angelic beings declare 3 times holy) God. As we worship the One Who reigns from the throne, consider His most Holy character less we dishonor Him. Realization of His most holiness, responding in humility that even our very best we can offer in worship requires a determination to cast our crowns before His throne.
All true believers wholly ascribe their redemption and conversion, their present privileges and future hopes, to the eternal and most holy God. Thus rise the forever harmonious, thankful songs of the redeemed in heaven. Would we on earth do like them, let our praises be constant, not interrupted; united, not divided; thankful, not cold and formal; humble, not self-confident. Life transforming worship can take place when we catch a glimpse of God's most holiness. That righteousness of God will be given to us in that state of beholding.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Carrying our cross and follow Jesus
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 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. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (Mat 16:15-28)
0. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (Mat 16:15)
This is a personal question we have to answer. The other question posed is ‘whom do men say I the Son of Man am?’ The correct understanding of whom Jesus is to us will determine our faith and eventually our salvation.
- Jesus came out of a situation where the people were fed
- The Pharisees and Sadducees came to ask Jesus for a sign
How do we perceive Jesus be? Is He one that we look forward to be our blessing and provider thereof.... only?
- Is Jesus one that needs to ‘proof’ His deity to us? We are not to test God (Matt 4:7) or to put proof of God’s character and power lest we fall into the same questioning as Satan himself.
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (Mat 16:13)
- When we start questioning God, we are in the same standing of ‘men’
- Being in the state of being ‘men’, we can only view God from the humanistic view. That is to have our believe based on sight and not faith. Didn’t Scripture teach us to that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6)
- As long as we live in the condition of being ‘men’ we will never live in the place of God’s favor and pleasing. Heavens will not open and Father will not declare that we are sons in whom He is well pleased with.
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (Mat 16:14)
- ‘Some say…’ there will be many opinions that both the world and church at large will give. But there is only one truth that He is the Son of God. If He truly is the Son of God to us what is our response? How should we live our lives? What kind of aspiration do we have? How eternal is our view of life?
- Sadly people and even the church will give honorable opinions of Jesus, but mostly on of how the human minds conceive Him to be. Either He is the LORD of all, or not at all. The human mind will compartmentalize God, accepting the characters of God that we can accept as blessor, protector, provider, healer, etc but can we accept the total nature of God even as He is our Judge, the Holy and Righteous One that no sin can stand in His sight? We only view God from what we like, what about the judgments to the 7 churches as Jesus Christ appeared as the Holy One that even the one that put his head upon the Savior’s breast has to fall down in His Holy Presence?
- If Jesus is the Son of God, doesn’t He have the full view of the plans of the Kingdom of God rather than our small empires that we are involved in building and protecting jealously? Jealousy becomes sin when it becomes self-ward that God-ward. Are we jealous for His Glory and Holy Name? Or are we moral cowards?
1. Peter’s sudden change in response
- In one moment Peter who had the revelation of the Son of God and the next rebuked by the Lord
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (Mat 16:23)
- When we savor things that are not of God, we savor the things of men
- Our thinking becomes temporal and earthly as the people of Jerusalem cried ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’
- The people who threw palm branches and gave the glorious praise to Jesus were also in the crowd that yelled ‘crucify Him’
- Why? The people wanted an earthly savior that has come to meet their ‘felt needs’. They wanted to Jesus to drive the Romans out of Israel to establish an earthly kingdom. But Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world but an eternal one. Didn’t the people learn from the failures of Israel’s monarchy?
- Men’s view of Christ is shallow and will disappoint us when we seek neither His Kingdom nor His righteousness
- Jesus rightly rebuked Peter for earthly ways are Satanic in nature
2. Taking our cross
- Jesus emptied Himself to from Son of God to Son of Man, a truth for us to grasp for ourselves
- To understand this truth, we have to learn Christ by taking His yoke and discover for ourselves His meekness and humility (Matt 11:29)
- We struggle through our Christian pilgrimage and finding no rest or peace is because we fight being yoked. But Christ yoke is easy and burden is light! We fight because by being yoked to Christ our rights have to be relinquished and our lives conquered by the living God. We fight because we lose control of our lives.
- We want to find ‘life’ as it were (Matt 10:37, 38), but the life we desire is not heavenly neither carrying the intrinsic value of the heavenly life. We are often satisfied with the mortal life rather than choosing life eternal which begins at the point of our surrender. When we surrender to Christ and yoke ourselves to Him there is the abundance of life we can experience (John 10:10b)
- The truth is we will have to take the spiritual action of taking the yoke for ourselves. No one can do nor force it upon us, even God Himself don’t have the privilege.
3. The cross that bring death
Death is a taboo for we always want life. However God’s plan of life is through resurrection and resurrection comes only if there is death. So death has to take place, for it precedes life. Not just life but resurrection life. Resurrection life is one of victory, unbounded by human frailty and limitations. We can love our enemies, bless those who curse us, being meek to inherit the earth, to be salt and light to the dying world, etc. All these are elements of the Kingdom life.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (Joh 12:24-25)
We lack carrying our cross in following Jesus mainly because we love ourselves more. We love the life of sin and frailty we live in. We sin and give excuses for our human weakness. Where is the pursuit of holiness or the crying out unto God when our lives are soiled with sin? We cry out to God as Esau did and loudly at that for lost blessings, but we seldom cry out to God for salvation from our sin. If Jesus can to save us, He didn’t save us that we might have a ‘better’ human life. He first saved us from sin that we may have the resurrection life.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2Ti 3:1-5)
Jesus went head on with the legalistic structure of the Jewish culture, but we are warned that iniquity or lawlessness is the problem of the last days. The warning from Paul is with regard to lovers of self being found in the church. Who has the form of godliness but the church? Pagans and atheist are considered ungodly. Lovers of self only have the form but lack the powerful working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. That is why we can remain where in are, lost in the sea of humanism, never having the victorious power of sin. How can we heed Jesus words to be ‘Holy for our Father in Heaven is Holy’ (Matt 5:48), unless of course we don’t have a Heavenly Father.
What message are we, the church sending to the dying world if we continue to live in this hypocrisy. If our message is of repentance and remission of sins (Luke 24:47) and we don’t live this truth in living toward holiness, then the message is nullified. May God help us, the church out of this hypocrisy and start living the truth.
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. 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. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (Mat 16:15-28)
0. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (Mat 16:15)
This is a personal question we have to answer. The other question posed is ‘whom do men say I the Son of Man am?’ The correct understanding of whom Jesus is to us will determine our faith and eventually our salvation.
- Jesus came out of a situation where the people were fed
- The Pharisees and Sadducees came to ask Jesus for a sign
How do we perceive Jesus be? Is He one that we look forward to be our blessing and provider thereof.... only?
- Is Jesus one that needs to ‘proof’ His deity to us? We are not to test God (Matt 4:7) or to put proof of God’s character and power lest we fall into the same questioning as Satan himself.
When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (Mat 16:13)
- When we start questioning God, we are in the same standing of ‘men’
- Being in the state of being ‘men’, we can only view God from the humanistic view. That is to have our believe based on sight and not faith. Didn’t Scripture teach us to that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6)
- As long as we live in the condition of being ‘men’ we will never live in the place of God’s favor and pleasing. Heavens will not open and Father will not declare that we are sons in whom He is well pleased with.
And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (Mat 16:14)
- ‘Some say…’ there will be many opinions that both the world and church at large will give. But there is only one truth that He is the Son of God. If He truly is the Son of God to us what is our response? How should we live our lives? What kind of aspiration do we have? How eternal is our view of life?
- Sadly people and even the church will give honorable opinions of Jesus, but mostly on of how the human minds conceive Him to be. Either He is the LORD of all, or not at all. The human mind will compartmentalize God, accepting the characters of God that we can accept as blessor, protector, provider, healer, etc but can we accept the total nature of God even as He is our Judge, the Holy and Righteous One that no sin can stand in His sight? We only view God from what we like, what about the judgments to the 7 churches as Jesus Christ appeared as the Holy One that even the one that put his head upon the Savior’s breast has to fall down in His Holy Presence?
- If Jesus is the Son of God, doesn’t He have the full view of the plans of the Kingdom of God rather than our small empires that we are involved in building and protecting jealously? Jealousy becomes sin when it becomes self-ward that God-ward. Are we jealous for His Glory and Holy Name? Or are we moral cowards?
1. Peter’s sudden change in response
- In one moment Peter who had the revelation of the Son of God and the next rebuked by the Lord
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (Mat 16:23)
- When we savor things that are not of God, we savor the things of men
- Our thinking becomes temporal and earthly as the people of Jerusalem cried ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’
- The people who threw palm branches and gave the glorious praise to Jesus were also in the crowd that yelled ‘crucify Him’
- Why? The people wanted an earthly savior that has come to meet their ‘felt needs’. They wanted to Jesus to drive the Romans out of Israel to establish an earthly kingdom. But Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world but an eternal one. Didn’t the people learn from the failures of Israel’s monarchy?
- Men’s view of Christ is shallow and will disappoint us when we seek neither His Kingdom nor His righteousness
- Jesus rightly rebuked Peter for earthly ways are Satanic in nature
2. Taking our cross
- Jesus emptied Himself to from Son of God to Son of Man, a truth for us to grasp for ourselves
- To understand this truth, we have to learn Christ by taking His yoke and discover for ourselves His meekness and humility (Matt 11:29)
- We struggle through our Christian pilgrimage and finding no rest or peace is because we fight being yoked. But Christ yoke is easy and burden is light! We fight because by being yoked to Christ our rights have to be relinquished and our lives conquered by the living God. We fight because we lose control of our lives.
- We want to find ‘life’ as it were (Matt 10:37, 38), but the life we desire is not heavenly neither carrying the intrinsic value of the heavenly life. We are often satisfied with the mortal life rather than choosing life eternal which begins at the point of our surrender. When we surrender to Christ and yoke ourselves to Him there is the abundance of life we can experience (John 10:10b)
- The truth is we will have to take the spiritual action of taking the yoke for ourselves. No one can do nor force it upon us, even God Himself don’t have the privilege.
3. The cross that bring death
Death is a taboo for we always want life. However God’s plan of life is through resurrection and resurrection comes only if there is death. So death has to take place, for it precedes life. Not just life but resurrection life. Resurrection life is one of victory, unbounded by human frailty and limitations. We can love our enemies, bless those who curse us, being meek to inherit the earth, to be salt and light to the dying world, etc. All these are elements of the Kingdom life.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. (Joh 12:24-25)
We lack carrying our cross in following Jesus mainly because we love ourselves more. We love the life of sin and frailty we live in. We sin and give excuses for our human weakness. Where is the pursuit of holiness or the crying out unto God when our lives are soiled with sin? We cry out to God as Esau did and loudly at that for lost blessings, but we seldom cry out to God for salvation from our sin. If Jesus can to save us, He didn’t save us that we might have a ‘better’ human life. He first saved us from sin that we may have the resurrection life.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2Ti 3:1-5)
Jesus went head on with the legalistic structure of the Jewish culture, but we are warned that iniquity or lawlessness is the problem of the last days. The warning from Paul is with regard to lovers of self being found in the church. Who has the form of godliness but the church? Pagans and atheist are considered ungodly. Lovers of self only have the form but lack the powerful working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. That is why we can remain where in are, lost in the sea of humanism, never having the victorious power of sin. How can we heed Jesus words to be ‘Holy for our Father in Heaven is Holy’ (Matt 5:48), unless of course we don’t have a Heavenly Father.
What message are we, the church sending to the dying world if we continue to live in this hypocrisy. If our message is of repentance and remission of sins (Luke 24:47) and we don’t live this truth in living toward holiness, then the message is nullified. May God help us, the church out of this hypocrisy and start living the truth.
Friday, June 22, 2007
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)
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)
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.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Praying God’s heart – the prophetic calling
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
- God lays His burden on those who have an ear to hear His heart
- Why His servants the prophets? Is it because they are radically obedient?
- Are we willing to give God the listening ear?
- What would be the reaction that God is looking for in us?
- Do we first, hear the message and respond according to His desire?
1. Example of hearing
1Sam 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
- Samuel was the beginning of a prophetic ministry after the Judges
- Crucial start of the prophetic ministry in hearing from God when the Heavenly Word was scarce
- God desired for someone to hear His heart and found in a boy whose spiritual heritage was inherited from his mother
- In 1 Sam 1:9-13 Hannah would weep before the tabernacle. The character God saw in her was i) one that sought God’s mercy (Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.) ii) Willing to receive with open hand iii) responded in faith even to Eli the backslidden priest’s ‘encouragement’ iv) God responds to brokenness (Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.)
2. Example of having the right response
Gen 18:17-19 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; (18) Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
- The man or woman whom God can trust with His burden is one that i) known of God, ii) has the family in Godly order, iii) just and make right judgments
Gen 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
- Abraham knew the right respond, which was in accordance to His mercy
- God desires that non perish (2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. )
3. The prophets calling
- Generally even in churches today people with the prophetic gifting are treated as fortune tellers instead of being messengers of God
- Abraham was not known to have penned or spoke words of prophecy as we understand it
- God recognized him as a prophet mainly because He gave God the listening ear and responded in prayer
Gen 20:7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
4. What is really in God’s heart for us to pray?
Mat 6:9-10 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
- We generally ask for our concerns rather than God’s Kingdom (Matt 6:33), perhaps we don’t trust Him enough?
- Many of our prayers miss God’s heart because it is more self-ward than God-ward
- God is looking for a remnant that don’t treat Him as a ‘sugar daddy’ or ‘santa claus’ but those who would listen and identify with what’s in His heart
- When His concerns become ours it’s the start of a deep relationship in prayer that hit the target which He will respond
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
5. How would God respond to our prayers that concerns His heart?
Rev 8:3-5 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (4) And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. (5) And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
- If our prayers touch His heart and not our human desires (or even lusts), God will take our prayers and acceptable incense and give a resounding Heavenly respond
- Do our prayers hit the ceiling without eternal significance or do they reach the highest Courts of Heaven?
- God wants to establish His Kingdom and want us to be part of it for we reign with Christ in the Heavenly places but do we speak the Heavenly language in prayer?
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
- God lays His burden on those who have an ear to hear His heart
- Why His servants the prophets? Is it because they are radically obedient?
- Are we willing to give God the listening ear?
- What would be the reaction that God is looking for in us?
- Do we first, hear the message and respond according to His desire?
1. Example of hearing
1Sam 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
- Samuel was the beginning of a prophetic ministry after the Judges
- Crucial start of the prophetic ministry in hearing from God when the Heavenly Word was scarce
- God desired for someone to hear His heart and found in a boy whose spiritual heritage was inherited from his mother
- In 1 Sam 1:9-13 Hannah would weep before the tabernacle. The character God saw in her was i) one that sought God’s mercy (Hos 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.) ii) Willing to receive with open hand iii) responded in faith even to Eli the backslidden priest’s ‘encouragement’ iv) God responds to brokenness (Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.)
2. Example of having the right response
Gen 18:17-19 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; (18) Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
- The man or woman whom God can trust with His burden is one that i) known of God, ii) has the family in Godly order, iii) just and make right judgments
Gen 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
- Abraham knew the right respond, which was in accordance to His mercy
- God desires that non perish (2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. )
3. The prophets calling
- Generally even in churches today people with the prophetic gifting are treated as fortune tellers instead of being messengers of God
- Abraham was not known to have penned or spoke words of prophecy as we understand it
- God recognized him as a prophet mainly because He gave God the listening ear and responded in prayer
Gen 20:7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
4. What is really in God’s heart for us to pray?
Mat 6:9-10 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
- We generally ask for our concerns rather than God’s Kingdom (Matt 6:33), perhaps we don’t trust Him enough?
- Many of our prayers miss God’s heart because it is more self-ward than God-ward
- God is looking for a remnant that don’t treat Him as a ‘sugar daddy’ or ‘santa claus’ but those who would listen and identify with what’s in His heart
- When His concerns become ours it’s the start of a deep relationship in prayer that hit the target which He will respond
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
5. How would God respond to our prayers that concerns His heart?
Rev 8:3-5 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (4) And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. (5) And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
- If our prayers touch His heart and not our human desires (or even lusts), God will take our prayers and acceptable incense and give a resounding Heavenly respond
- Do our prayers hit the ceiling without eternal significance or do they reach the highest Courts of Heaven?
- God wants to establish His Kingdom and want us to be part of it for we reign with Christ in the Heavenly places but do we speak the Heavenly language in prayer?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
We should desire to mature in our prayer life. In the natural our speech should mature (some people take longer than others) from child to teen to adult. Even as an adult, one that has gone through various tribulations of life mature faster (Rom 5:3)
As the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1), it is wise that we do the same. After all it should be our desire to ask Him whom we are praying to, to show us what's in His heart with regard to prayer.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
In other words, learn to ask His will. Jesus in Matt 6 mentioned 'knoweth what things ye have need of' a number of times. We learn to ask with a quiet confidence that He has heard enough to answer, lest our prayers become vain repetitions.
Our fullness of joy in answered prayer is in asking in His Name (John 16:24). If we ask in His name, we also ask in His approval. Thus asking in His will. Casting our life into His will as Jesus did at Gethsemane where the ultimate power of God is endued on us to go through the cross we carry (Luke 9:23) which in dying to our self lust and ambition, brings forth Kingdom life where heavens open and God's pleasing is upon us.
As the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1), it is wise that we do the same. After all it should be our desire to ask Him whom we are praying to, to show us what's in His heart with regard to prayer.
Jas 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
In other words, learn to ask His will. Jesus in Matt 6 mentioned 'knoweth what things ye have need of' a number of times. We learn to ask with a quiet confidence that He has heard enough to answer, lest our prayers become vain repetitions.
Our fullness of joy in answered prayer is in asking in His Name (John 16:24). If we ask in His name, we also ask in His approval. Thus asking in His will. Casting our life into His will as Jesus did at Gethsemane where the ultimate power of God is endued on us to go through the cross we carry (Luke 9:23) which in dying to our self lust and ambition, brings forth Kingdom life where heavens open and God's pleasing is upon us.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Parables of the Kingdom
1. Why parables
Matt 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘ Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should[a]heal them.’[b]
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
- Jesus quotes Isaiah's call to ministry Isa 6:9-10 – “Go, and tell this people:”
- Isa 6:11-13, “Lord, how long?” … till God’s judgment comes
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(1Pe 4:17)
- God's judges us by His standard, for us that believe judgement serves not to comdemn us because Jesus has already paid the full price or propitiation for our sins, but rather to refine us.
- Parables: Simple stories to reveal a moral or spiritual lesson or truth
- These mysteries of God are made plain and easy to those who are willing to be taught (hearing and doing, denoting receiving truth and action as a result of belief, James 1:22)
- Yet difficult and obscure to those who make themselves willing ignorant
- Mysteries are God secrets that He reveals to us with a condition
Vs.11 He answered and said unto them , Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven , but to them it is not given .
- 1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness ; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God .
2. Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3-9)
- He who has an ear let him hear (vs. 9), mentioned also to the 7 churches in Revelation
- This denotes that the hearers need to take special attention. There is a warning or a weighty truth we need to grasp.
- This truth was demanded to be understood by the disciples and so Jesus explained in vs. 18-23. Are we ones that seek the truth or chose to ignore it?
- Jesus is the sower who sows the seed of the Gospel
- Mark 1:15 Now is time (time is fulfilled), the Kingdom of God is at hand. It takes repentance to receive the Gospel
- Response to the sower is the condition of the ground -> bringing life or not. Or even some short lived.
3. It’s the problem with the ground, not the sower
- 4 grounds mentioned
- Even the good ground has different levels
The grounds that didn't bring life
a) Wayside (vs.4). The devil steals the seed away. On the highway, traveler that didn't settle down on decision having no understanding.
b) Stony ground (vs.5), immediate response. No depth, not going further. The sun of testing comes and as quickly as the response, so quickly faith dies
1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
Sanctification is journey God takes us through to prepare us as His beloved Bride when Jesus Christ returns. Trials is to 'kill' the flesh so that the spirit will grow stronger. To bring us to the end of ourselves that we be in Christ. All the world sees is Christ, as we decrease (John 3:30)
c) Among thorns (vs.7). Choked by cares of the world and faith dies. Deceived by riches:
- Vanity of heaping up riches
Psa 39:6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
- Bring boasting not dependency on God
Psa 49:6 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,
- It is righteousness that profits much, not riches
Prov 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
- Reputation supersedes great riches, fear of the Lord, honor and life
Prov 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. 4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.
- Love of money brings much sorrows
I Tim:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- If faith pleases God (Heb 11:6), what is our attitude?
James 2: 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
Matt 5: 3 “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4. The good ground and level of fruitfulness
- 100 in the Bible = Children of promise (Abraham has Isaac at 100) or living in God's promises
- Those that are of the good ground WITH 100fold yields live in all of God’s promises and blessings
- However, the 100fold yielding life comes with a cost of forsaking or dying to something for the sake of a higher blessed life as did Abraham
Gen 12:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land , and received in the same year an hundredfold : and the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great , and went forward , and grew until he became very great : 14 For he had possession of flocks , and possession of herds , and great store of servants : and the Philistines envied him.
Matt 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses , or brethren , or sisters , or father , or mother , or wife , or children , or lands , for my name's sake , shall receive an hundredfold , and shall inherit everlasting life .
5. Subsequent Parables
a) Tares among the wheat. No differences when young. In maturity the wheat brings golden grain and bends down (more fruits, more humble). Both grow up together in church. It's not our duty to identify the tares and up root them. It is the Lord of the harvest that will send the angels to reap. Tares are those who practice lawlessness. The tares, by God's grace grow in receiving His benefits (the field watered and given fertilizer). Having the appearance of Christian life but lacking it's true value unto eternal life. It will show in the fruits and obedience.
Matt 7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
b) Mustard seed
As with faithfulness (Luke 19:17), the Kingdom of God within us grows. God takes us on the journey of increase to greatness. We should never assist God in our growing process because as the 1st ground, fast is not necessary better. Again it speaks of a big tree that brings shelter and has vital signs of life.
c) The leaven and hidden treasure
Similar to the mustard seed, the Kingdom of God within us or the reality of it is worked in by God silently, yet gradual. Strong, yet without much fanfare. It’s a hidden treasure that must be sought after and owned by forsaking others
Mark 4: 26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.
d) Pearl of great price
The Kingdom of God is treasured, valued and not for ‘everyone’
Matt 7:6 “…… nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
2 Pet 2:22 …… and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire .
e) Dragnet
Separating the good from the bad after the catch means that the church, the net of the great Fisher of Man today is same as with the tares and the wheat.
Conclusion
The Kingdom of God is only given to those who hear and receive with genuine faith that is secretly and silently growing inside the faithful. A pilgrimage not be rushed but in accordance to God’s perfect timing. There will be both the good and the bad. The latter appear to be living the Kingdom life, but it’s in the end that separation will occur. May we live as God's children of promise and not be satisfied with sub-standard holy lives. May we be found faithful to the end.
Mat 24:12-13 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matt 13:49 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
1. Why parables
Matt 13:10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘ Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should[a]heal them.’[b]
16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
- Jesus quotes Isaiah's call to ministry Isa 6:9-10 – “Go, and tell this people:”
- Isa 6:11-13, “Lord, how long?” … till God’s judgment comes
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
(1Pe 4:17)
- God's judges us by His standard, for us that believe judgement serves not to comdemn us because Jesus has already paid the full price or propitiation for our sins, but rather to refine us.
- Parables: Simple stories to reveal a moral or spiritual lesson or truth
- These mysteries of God are made plain and easy to those who are willing to be taught (hearing and doing, denoting receiving truth and action as a result of belief, James 1:22)
- Yet difficult and obscure to those who make themselves willing ignorant
- Mysteries are God secrets that He reveals to us with a condition
Vs.11 He answered and said unto them , Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven , but to them it is not given .
- 1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness ; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God .
2. Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3-9)
- He who has an ear let him hear (vs. 9), mentioned also to the 7 churches in Revelation
- This denotes that the hearers need to take special attention. There is a warning or a weighty truth we need to grasp.
- This truth was demanded to be understood by the disciples and so Jesus explained in vs. 18-23. Are we ones that seek the truth or chose to ignore it?
- Jesus is the sower who sows the seed of the Gospel
- Mark 1:15 Now is time (time is fulfilled), the Kingdom of God is at hand. It takes repentance to receive the Gospel
- Response to the sower is the condition of the ground -> bringing life or not. Or even some short lived.
3. It’s the problem with the ground, not the sower
- 4 grounds mentioned
- Even the good ground has different levels
The grounds that didn't bring life
a) Wayside (vs.4). The devil steals the seed away. On the highway, traveler that didn't settle down on decision having no understanding.
b) Stony ground (vs.5), immediate response. No depth, not going further. The sun of testing comes and as quickly as the response, so quickly faith dies
1 Pet 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
Sanctification is journey God takes us through to prepare us as His beloved Bride when Jesus Christ returns. Trials is to 'kill' the flesh so that the spirit will grow stronger. To bring us to the end of ourselves that we be in Christ. All the world sees is Christ, as we decrease (John 3:30)
c) Among thorns (vs.7). Choked by cares of the world and faith dies. Deceived by riches:
- Vanity of heaping up riches
Psa 39:6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
- Bring boasting not dependency on God
Psa 49:6 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches,
- It is righteousness that profits much, not riches
Prov 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
- Reputation supersedes great riches, fear of the Lord, honor and life
Prov 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold. 4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.
- Love of money brings much sorrows
I Tim:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- If faith pleases God (Heb 11:6), what is our attitude?
James 2: 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
Matt 5: 3 “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4. The good ground and level of fruitfulness
- 100 in the Bible = Children of promise (Abraham has Isaac at 100) or living in God's promises
- Those that are of the good ground WITH 100fold yields live in all of God’s promises and blessings
- However, the 100fold yielding life comes with a cost of forsaking or dying to something for the sake of a higher blessed life as did Abraham
Gen 12:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land , and received in the same year an hundredfold : and the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great , and went forward , and grew until he became very great : 14 For he had possession of flocks , and possession of herds , and great store of servants : and the Philistines envied him.
Matt 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses , or brethren , or sisters , or father , or mother , or wife , or children , or lands , for my name's sake , shall receive an hundredfold , and shall inherit everlasting life .
5. Subsequent Parables
a) Tares among the wheat. No differences when young. In maturity the wheat brings golden grain and bends down (more fruits, more humble). Both grow up together in church. It's not our duty to identify the tares and up root them. It is the Lord of the harvest that will send the angels to reap. Tares are those who practice lawlessness. The tares, by God's grace grow in receiving His benefits (the field watered and given fertilizer). Having the appearance of Christian life but lacking it's true value unto eternal life. It will show in the fruits and obedience.
Matt 7:22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
b) Mustard seed
As with faithfulness (Luke 19:17), the Kingdom of God within us grows. God takes us on the journey of increase to greatness. We should never assist God in our growing process because as the 1st ground, fast is not necessary better. Again it speaks of a big tree that brings shelter and has vital signs of life.
c) The leaven and hidden treasure
Similar to the mustard seed, the Kingdom of God within us or the reality of it is worked in by God silently, yet gradual. Strong, yet without much fanfare. It’s a hidden treasure that must be sought after and owned by forsaking others
Mark 4: 26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.
d) Pearl of great price
The Kingdom of God is treasured, valued and not for ‘everyone’
Matt 7:6 “…… nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
2 Pet 2:22 …… and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire .
e) Dragnet
Separating the good from the bad after the catch means that the church, the net of the great Fisher of Man today is same as with the tares and the wheat.
Conclusion
The Kingdom of God is only given to those who hear and receive with genuine faith that is secretly and silently growing inside the faithful. A pilgrimage not be rushed but in accordance to God’s perfect timing. There will be both the good and the bad. The latter appear to be living the Kingdom life, but it’s in the end that separation will occur. May we live as God's children of promise and not be satisfied with sub-standard holy lives. May we be found faithful to the end.
Mat 24:12-13 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Matt 13:49 "So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, 50 "and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Thursday, May 10, 2007
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1Ti 6:10)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Bakker
History can repeat it self. Really sad to read about this man. I've seen Jim Bakkers programs as a student and even 'blessed' by this ministry. Today, this similar message that I've heard years ago is still being preached these days. Soloman says that there is nothing new under the sun. Guess what, deception and the deceiver himself never change. Tactics are still the same because man's deceitful heart is still the same.
Pls continue to pray for our pastors and full time workers (and ourselves) that the first and greatest commandment is our priority.... (Matt 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27) If we don't obey the first commandment, we will inevitably love ourselves and not others, thus breaking the second commandment also. Where then is effectual evangelism?
If 'blessings' surround increase of money or wealth or an improved earthly life, guess where we will head and our priority changes. Isn't the Kingdom of God more than gratification of the flesh (meat and drink) or even necessities of life but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). If we are saved from wrath into righteousness, what then should be our priorities.
A dear brother of ours, once very effective in the underground church, is today a professing homosexual. If he understands the first part of inheriting (God given gift) the Kingdom (righteousness), it would have been easier for him to leave his sinful passion (yes, it is, you should hear him speak about it). There is the loss of a healthy fear of God in his life.
It's no wonder the words Jesus spoke to the Loadicean church is still echoed today. Note that the Master's voice has a sorrowful yet loving tone. Do we still hear the Master's voice today..... verbatim?
My dear brothers and sisters, don't be deceived with which that bring many sorrows.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Bakker
History can repeat it self. Really sad to read about this man. I've seen Jim Bakkers programs as a student and even 'blessed' by this ministry. Today, this similar message that I've heard years ago is still being preached these days. Soloman says that there is nothing new under the sun. Guess what, deception and the deceiver himself never change. Tactics are still the same because man's deceitful heart is still the same.
Pls continue to pray for our pastors and full time workers (and ourselves) that the first and greatest commandment is our priority.... (Matt 22:37, Mark 12:30, Luke 10:27) If we don't obey the first commandment, we will inevitably love ourselves and not others, thus breaking the second commandment also. Where then is effectual evangelism?
If 'blessings' surround increase of money or wealth or an improved earthly life, guess where we will head and our priority changes. Isn't the Kingdom of God more than gratification of the flesh (meat and drink) or even necessities of life but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). If we are saved from wrath into righteousness, what then should be our priorities.
A dear brother of ours, once very effective in the underground church, is today a professing homosexual. If he understands the first part of inheriting (God given gift) the Kingdom (righteousness), it would have been easier for him to leave his sinful passion (yes, it is, you should hear him speak about it). There is the loss of a healthy fear of God in his life.
It's no wonder the words Jesus spoke to the Loadicean church is still echoed today. Note that the Master's voice has a sorrowful yet loving tone. Do we still hear the Master's voice today..... verbatim?
My dear brothers and sisters, don't be deceived with which that bring many sorrows.
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