Who Are the Pure in Heart?

Direction of Our Christian Walk

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

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

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

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

Consistency

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

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

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

Father’s Dealings on His Sons

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

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

No More Sacrifice for Willful Sin

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Heb 10:26-27)

How we value death of the Son of God on the Cross for our sins is reflected in our attitude towards sin and sins. Our actions of ‘sins’ is the result  of our ‘sin’ nature, the former dealt by the blood of the Lamb, and the sin nature can only be dealt by the cross (Rom 6:6). As much as a good tree bears good fruit so a bad tree will bear bad fruit, God is cannot be mocked as we will reap what we sow ( Gal 6:7). Having this knowledge of the truth, we know that the justified will certainly need to live by faith. We can determine not to sin as much as we can, but we will fail. It is not trying not to sin, but realizing that the ‘I’ will fail and therefore the greater our dependency on Christ.

Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (Heb 11:25)

The converse of having a clear conscience is a seared one. Searing of our conscience is the result of justifying sin and not wanting to deal with it. We will not be able to experience the greater joy of freedom from sin and having the choice not to sin if we allow a defeated mentality to rule. Our minds truly need renewal by His Word if we are trapped in this rut. There is no such thing as small and big sins, Christ would have us deal with both. There isn't a sin too big that He cannot forgive and cleanse us from (1 Tim 1:15), the Lord can give us the capacity to experience salvation from Sin to be a son of God if we only yield to Him (Matt 1:21).

Oneness in Intercession

And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. (Exo 14:15-16)

Jesus prayed in John 17 that His Body, the church to be one and to be in Christ as He was one with the Father. It is liken to a pickle immersed in the pickling solution, the pickle being in the solution and the pickle infused with the pickling solution; both are one in flavor and aroma. A nonabsorbent material can never be pickled no matter how long it stays in the solution; hence it lacks oneness.  Baptism in the Holy Spirit is essentially that the child of God is so deeply immersed in Christ and out of that immersion he or she has the mind, character qualities and outworking of Christ nature.

And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. (Exo 7:1)

Intercession is to stand on behalf of another as a priest before God. When we are one with the Lord Jesus in will and mind there are prayers that God want us to exercise in the same authority as He would.  He is looking for those who would be kings and priests, not in heaven but on the earth (Rev 5:10).  Jesus wants His church on earth to be Him to the lost and dying world (1 John 4:17).  Are willing to be cleansed, set apart, and molded according to His standards. Aaron’s priestly garments are made in one size only; it is for us to fit into the role not the role fit into us. 

The Cross and Love

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love… (Jer 31:3)

We shouldn't misinterpreted the love of God, as much as He has never changing so are His ways and His love towards His children. To reduce the love of God is to reduce Him, for God is love. The same love He loved us, is the same love we ought to love one another (1 John 3:16, 4:11). God’s love is Jesus laying down His life for us, hence we do likewise. God’s standard of love hasn't changed; therefore we shouldn't look at His love with human goose bump sentimentalism. God is not man.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith …. (2Pe 1:5)

We are indeed saved by grace through faith (Eph 2:8); there is no doubt about this truth. But the Apostle Peter beckons us not to stop at faith but continue to maturity and not barrenness and fruitlessness (2 Pet 1:8). The level of maturity, Peter tells us, is brotherly kindness which is above godliness (2 Pet 1:7). Most would think that Christ-likeness is the chief goal, but it is to love others. For God is love… to be godly is to love others. The love of God is laying down self for others, esteeming others above self. The cross of laying down self will take us to this position that loving self is negated and replaced with loving others. 

Test of Self Love, Counting the Cost of Discipleship

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)

We will fail to be a disciple of Jesus Christ if we stop at ’Jesus loves me this I know’. The context of what Jesus spoke on following Him concerns the issue of love, as with a woman forsaking all others and be betrothed to one and only. As much as we cannot serve two masters (Luke 6:13) we can only can call One Lord. Jesus hits the nailed on the issue of discipleship with regard to the first and great commandment (Matt 28:38). If we miscomprehend the context of ‘hate’ than the disciple will be deprived of joy of the Lord and in the process living life judging everything and everyone, picking the speck out of people’s eyes, joylessly murmuring ‘I am carrying my cross, where is yours?’ Carrying the cross involves having joy that we have a glorious hope that does not disappoint (Heb 12:2). Jesus is asking us if we counted the cost in being His disciple in relation to everything else especially that where self has a stake.

The next statement is about taking up the cross, the requirement of discipleship. Everything that doesn’t bear the cross carrying Christ nature must be laid down. The cross is firstly about God’s good and secondly the grace to esteem (hold in high regard) others above self (Php 2:3). True Godly love concerns others; the converse is to lust which revolves around self. There is always joy to build up and not tear down. The attitude is be filled with joy even if there is a need to suffer for His and others sake (Col 1:24). We know that we are carrying the cross when there is genuine self denying love for the Lord and others. Self will dies and His will is being worked out. This is how the early apostles lived, suffered and died, the same path the Master Himself took. Much today concerns self good, including self righteousness; ‘how I am better than my lesser brethren’. The cost need to be counted, self love and self will must be eradicated from the equation and His glorious and eternal will becomes manifested in and through His body, the church that we may attain to the resurrection from the dead (Php 3:11).

Carrying my Cross Daily

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Php 2:5)

The cross of Jesus Christ is not a beautiful ornament on walls or worn on chains. It is an offense (Gal 5:11). It is a daily reality that every believer is called to. As Dietrich Bonheoffer puts in, ‘When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die’. It is dying to one’s selfish expectations and the like that Christ will be done in and through us. It is never for the betterment of self, but a decreasing that Christ may increase.

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6:66)

The message of the cross is gravely lacking in churches because it carries the risk of losing crowds. Jesus wasn't interested in the majority, but the minority who will lay down their own lives to live out His will on earth. Jesus life exemplifies the cross, the apostle Paul was the articulator of the cross. Where are the messengers of the cross today? What has the pulpit become? Is it about self serving or God serving (Col 3:23)?

Jesus says ‘Follow Me’, not follow after our heart and its desires or dreams. Our first confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior starts us off with the world behind us and the cross before us. Discipleship will cost us, but is brings us into a deepening communion and transformation into His likeness. Are we ambassadors of Christ or ambassadors of self (1 Cor 5:20).

Handling the Word

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psa 119:105)

Wisdom is to receive the commandments of God as a lamp and the reproofs of instruction are the way of life (Prov 6:23). Let us not be slack concerning the Word of God which brings to us faith (Rom 10:17), growth and life (1 Pet 2:2). True Wisdom is the Word of God, any second hand presentation is but an interpretation; taking the Word from another man is liken to hearing how wonderful a particular meal is without tasting it firsthand. It is good to be taught, preached, but it is more noble to search out the matter for ourselves (Prov 25:2, Acts 17:11).

Give us this day our daily bread. (Mat 6:11)

The picture provided for us by the Psalmist is the need for each one to carry his or her lamp in order not to stumble in darkness. The lamp provides sufficient light for subsequent steps, we may not yet see the end of our journey. Each day passes and another comes, we continue our journey with our personal lamp filled and lighted. We cannot depend on others to light our path, God has given us the privilege access to His Word daily, not only that but the Word Himself will be nigh to us when we conscientiously walk the walk of faith.

How to be a Father

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Mal 4:6)

To be a father who turn my heart to my children, I must first turn my heart to the Father. The Father is seeking sons who would do so, so  He will father them and bring many sons to glory.

Below is a question in Chabad.org about being a father. 

Dear Rabbi,

I’m a father, and I have no idea how to bring up a Jewish boy. All I know is not to do as my father did. Although that’s generally exactly what I end up doing. I want my son to grow up strong in his Jewishness and confident about his own self.

A. Dad

Shalom Dad,

There’s only two short lines you need to know. It’s the first dialogue there is between a father and his son in the written Torah:

Then Isaac said to his father, “My father?”

And Abraham said, “Here I am, my son.”

There’s more, but we need to stop here first, so you can see the forest.

We’ve had those words before—only once before—at the beginning of this same tale. Abraham is answering his son with the same words he used earlier to answer G‑d:

So it was, after all these things, that G‑d tested Abraham, and He said to him, “Abraham!” and Abraham answered, “Here I am!”

And then G‑d asks Abraham to do something that goes against every cell of his body and soul: To harden his heart, turn off his mind, take his son and “raise him up for a sacrifice on one of the mountains I will show you.”

Men know the modality. Numbness. Gotta do what I gotta do. We do it when we go to war and when we go to work, when we fire an employee and when we discipline a child. There’s a small voice inside, screaming, This is not who I am! How can I do this? And we just tell it to shut up so we can get the job done.

We’ve all been there. You’ve got a deadline at work. A major meeting about a big contract. Nudniks to deal with, driving you nuts. Rush-hour traffic stuns your nerves. 7:30 AM the next morning, and you don’t want to go. Not a cell in your body wants to go. But you have to.

Okay, it’s not who you are; you’re a family man with family priorities. But to feed a family, a man’s got to make sacrifices. Don’t feel what you feel, don’t think what you think. To do so would be to drive yourself insane. Smother that voice inside. Be a man, as men have been ever since their feet met the cold, hard earth. Just do.

The dad inside gets turned off. And along with him, so do his kids.

“Dad?”

“Dad?”

“I’m busy now.”

“Dad?”

“Sorry, son, I’m busy. Go talk to Mom.”

That’s what this bizarre world can do to a man: on the way to provide for his family, he sacrifices them on their own altar.

So here is Abraham, in the midst of his greatest test. He can have only one focus: to do what he was told. And that’s where he is, 100 percent. After all, this isn’t just about making a living. This is about hearing G‑d’s voice. And so, Isaac calls out to him, not certain that his father is really there.

“My father?”

“Here I am, my son. All of me. For all of you. What’s up?”

Perhaps that was the whole test. Perhaps, with that alone, Abraham proved that he was fit to be the father of the nation that would bring G‑d’s compassion into the world.

Perhaps. But this I know for certain: With those words, Abraham passed on the torch to the next generation. Because when Isaac saw that his father was all there for him, in the same way and to the same degree as he was there for G‑d when G‑d spoke to him, then he was ready to be all there for his father and for his father’s G‑d.

Those words are all you need to know to be a real Jewish dad. The rest will follow.

“Here I am, my son. All of me.”

Allowing Correction

Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. (Pro 23:12)

There is a generation that is encouraged with unbridled expression, outlets of emotions and thoughts without the balanced disciplined inlet of instruction, which is chastisement, correction and rebuke, that can eventually lead to lack of self restrain. Wisdom beckons unto this generation to ‘come’, apply our heart to receive proper instruction, not just to apply instruction outwardly. Applying our heart, the seat of our source of action is to purpose and to yield to the One Who alone is wise (Jude 1:25). Outward actions and speech is the result of heart, in the other words the standards or measurements determined internally determines our behavior.  

What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. (Psa 25:12)

The fear or deep reverence of God, not just for God, is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. To fear God is also to walk in humility, love and serve Him with all our heart and the result is a humble and teachable son (Duet 10:12). There the heart is highlighted for our consideration to remind us that if our heart is in the right place before God, we live in the place of the loving and divine requirements of Father God.

Presenting Our Bodies

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. (1Co 6:13)

Generally all believers will agree that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has brought about the salvation of the spirit and soul. Jesus forgave sins, gave the freedom to sin no more and healed many sick bodies. Jesus came in the flesh to save mankind from sin and resurrected bodily to reveal the incorruptible body which we will soon receive at His second coming. Until the time we either return to the Lord or He returns for His church our bodies are still required for righteousness and execution of His will on the earth. Hence we shouldn't exclude the body from its spiritual connection. One is defiled, so is the other; similarly one is cleansed so must the other be as well such that both are sanctified or exclusive for the Lord (2 Cor 7:1).

What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. (1Co 6:16)

Paul used the context of marriage to talk about the great mystery concerning Christ and the church (Eph 5:32). The mystery is the oneness the church has with Christ as He is with the Father and it is the testimony to the world that Jesus was sent of the Father (John 17:21). If we, His Church is one with Christ, than there cannot be any other party involved in this supremely intricate and holy relationship. The joining of ourselves to any other entity except Christ would deem as harlotry, a charge which is not uncommonly used in Scripture. Harlotry is one that concerns both the act and the heart condition (Matt 5:28). God is concern with purity not innocence. The latter is denying that we have sinned and deceiving ourselves; the former is that the Blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed me and keep me in that exclusive position in Him. We therefore daily conscientiously present our bodies as a living, holy and acceptable, not dead, sacrifice to know or bring to realization His good, perfect and acceptable will (Rom 12:1, 2). We are not slaves to sin, but we through the Spirit mortify the deeds of sin of the body (Rom 8:13). Denying the outworking of salvation through our bodies is to deny the complete work of the Cross and the Church’s oneness with Christ as His body. 

Prayer, Our Spiritual Connection

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

Firstly, Jesus told us ‘when ye pray’, meaning that He expects us to pray. Prayer is the breathing out and breathing in for every child of God. Prayer keeps us from falling prey to temptation (Matt 26:41, Mark 14:38). We shouldn't be presumptuous to think that we will pray at the time of greatest need. It is a practice and way of life, ‘pray without ceasing’ is a realm that a child of God need to constantly remain (1 Th 5:17). This active spirit removes shallowness and builds depth into us and out of our depths we are able to connect with God’s depth (Psa 42:7). Too much knowledge no matter how pure and good, without praying truths into formation in us will remain at the mind to puff us up.

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; (Psa 63:1)

Even if we do pray, Jesus tells us that we can also take the same pathway as the heathen. Prayer is both seeking from God and seeking for God, sadly the latter is lacking in many Christians. The flesh and soul need to brought under the subjection and authority of the spirit in order to pray, it is an attitude that is humble enough to recognize that we do not know how to pray (Rom 8:26). The journey of prayer cannot be taught, but layered by experience. It is a relationship and spiritual connection with the Father. God is spirit; any relating to the Father in prayer has zero elements of flesh and soul. It is not about our concern, it is about His will. The Father has sovereignly given us the privilege to pray His will to be accomplished on earth as it is in Heaven.

What if we say ‘God already knows, why pray?’ Nobody will and can thwart His plans, it is in prayer that we are included into that which He has purposed. If we don’t pray, He will raise others and we can be forfeited of the joy of that inclusion.

How to Forgive

Corrie Ten Boom

Hating Evil

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Pro 8:13)

There are people who do not like the ‘fear of the LORD’ which can have narrow and negative view. It has sometimes been equated to a God full of wrath and looking for every opportunity to cause hurt.  Yet the Word is full of examples of God’s wrath only after He has sent prophets, multiple warnings and with long enduring patience and mercy. The fear of the LORD is not a ‘distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc’, but it calls for moral reverence of He Who upholds morality and is holy, separated or none in close comparison to.  The truth is the fear of the LORD tends to life and those who have this live lives that are fulfilled and contented (Pro 19:23).

Without the fear of the LORD we can end up with an attitude of constantly doing what is right in our own eyes, in the process condemning others. The person can end up going around with a judgmental spirit and passing personal judgment on others, picking the speck out of people’s eyes. The saddest part is that that person will not be able to see their own true inward condition. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. Proud and arrogant people rebel against the yoke or cross of Jesus and failed to learn of Christ meekness and humility.

When confronted with the issue of fearing God, our heart will be brought to light. What spews out of our mouths will reflect the heart. It is not a wonder that the proud and arrogant is connected to a forward mouth. Fearing God is not a bad thing, it keeps us in check by what proceeds from our speech shows our heart. ‘…..That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment’ (Matt 12:36). The Proverb has provided the definition of the evil the Lord hates; it is Godly wisdom to take heed.

Death Blow to Personal Depravity

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Mic 7:19)

Jesus told the parable of wedding feast and the end was a startling remark, ‘For many are called, but few are chosen’ (Matt 22:14). The grace of God extents to all and sundry, the first respond is faith to believe that the Father has sent the Son to save us from sin. The second respond is our responsibility to deal with sin (2 Cor 7:1), as much as faith without actions is dead.

Iniquity is the depravity of human rebellion against God, rejecting His will and living for our own desire. It is only God Who can put the death blow to our personal depravity and cast it into the sea, never to surface again. Faith is not trying not to sin, but believing that we have been endowed with Christ’s life that we don’t have to sin. It is also to believe that sin no longer has dominion over us (Rom 6:14). He will indeed again have compassion on us; it is whether we are willing to let Him do His sovereign work. When Jesus told the woman taken in adultery to ‘go, and sin no more’, it is not a futile suggestion but a command. The same authoritative speaking that commanded ‘Let there be light: and there was light’ (Gen 1:3).

Spiritual Responsibility

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. (Rom 12:1)

There is a certain point of our spiritual journey that we need to realize that spirituality requires responsibility. In the Jewish culture and boy or a girl reaching the age of 13 and 12 respectively where one will be responsible for their actions and to keep the commandments. The child is then recognized as a son or daughter of the covenant. Paul refers to those who lack going into this phase of spirituality as being carnal not able to progress into deeper truths (1 Cor 3:1, 2). It is not so much about cumulating head knowledge regarding spiritual matters but living and demonstrating God's truths in actions. Being carnal brings about envy, strife, divisions without any differentiation to unspiritual men and women (1 Cor 3:3). Carnality is the fleshly or base life of humanity living under the condemnation of the law (Rom 8:1). God’s divine plan is to save us that the law becomes the covenant and realization of the good, acceptable and perfect will of God to His children. 

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17)

The Lord wishes that we obey through His Spirit communicating to our spirit. He does not wish that we live according to our mind, will, emotions or out of our flesh. We are taught not to conform to the pattern of this world where another spirit works in the children of disobedience (Eph 2:2). In order to yield to the Spirit one has to walk humbly before their God in taking up the cross. Jesus said to be yoked to Him, take up His character of meekness and lowliness of heart, not self exaltation and insisting on our own way and rights. Being yoked to Christ is shalom or perfect peace and assurance (Matt 11:29). Being yoked to Christ means we walk where He walks and our will is to do His will. The Sermon on the Mount is no longer a burden but a joy because we have entered into the position of being a son of the covenant.

The Complete Work of the Lord

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Mat 1:21)

This is the message carried by an angel; hence it is an important if not the most important news for mankind. We cannot miss the Gospel that YHWH Saves (Jesus) us from sin and has come to accomplish the complete work of salvation through the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many would want Jesus to bless their family, turn around economic situations, heal sicknesses, bring peace into relationship, etc but we can miss the message from on high if we fail to allow Yehoshua or Yeshua Messiah to do His complete work in us. Blessings, healings, restoration and other benefits are not wrong by themselves, as a matter of fact, the Lord wants to undo what the devil has ravaged in lives. We cannot afford to miss the original heavenly intent and eternal purpose. Salvation from sin is by faith, let there be no doubt about that truth, however it is up to us to relinquish our right to the pleasure of sin (Heb 11:25) and allow complete cleansing to take its full course so that we might live through Him (1 John 4:9).

He Will Tear Us

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. (Hos 6:1)

There will be seasons when the unchanging God will chastise whom He loves, but not without mercy. If judgment does not begin in the house of God, the heathens will point their finger at God to accuse Him for injustice in reserving the unjust unto the Day of Judgment for punishment (2 Pet 2:9). He is not interested in our pain, but to bring many sons to glory. Tearing is painful; there is a cost of discipleship. The invitation to inherit the Kingdom of God does come with a price, namely the cost of laying down self.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Mat 11:28-29)

Jesus invitation is the same, ‘Come’. The result of coming to the Lord is to experience in every sense of the word His rest, perfect peace, Shalom. Coming requiring a laying down of the old in order to inherit the new. It is leaving the yoke of sin for the yoke of discipleship, which is the yoke of the cross. Tearing begins to take place one we have heeded  His call and decide to follow Him. God did not make us robots with a on-off switch, we have to decide. It is the decision to lay down our will and yield to His. The place of rest is the place of abiding in Christ hence Christ cannot have the world or sin embedded in. It is the question of black or white, never grey. He will tear only those who belong to Him in order that there will be a body of believers whose heart is only to love Him, an undivided heart that has the love of the Father in them (1 John 2:15).

What We Think Makes Us

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he….. (Pro 23:7)

The mind is the faculty of our being that has the ability to perceive and process spiritual messages. Strongholds can be formed in the area of the mind that prevents the experience of liberty from sin, fear, turmoil, depression, etc. It is in this part of our being that can potentially open as the gateway for the devil to deploy his evil to destroy and prevent us from the understanding and reality of the Kingdom of God. Our actions and behavior is the result of what our mind processes and if there isn’t any plumb line to separate between right and wrong we will make corresponding choices. In other words, the mind can form us. We need a God given sound mind to be over comers (1 Tim 1:7).

When our minds are futile or lack spiritual intuition the light of God’s life cannot come in, hence our walk or outworking has the element of spiritual darkness and sin (Eph 4:17-18). A futile mind can be a result of a passive mind when unguarded allows various kinds of unfiltered information to enter the mind, a spirit which is anti to Christ nature. Inability to guard our minds will result in being forfeited from experiencing the perfect peace of God (Isa 26:3).

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things …… think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Php 4:8-9)

Our outcome results from what we meditate and fill our minds with. It is unrealistic to blank our minds and think of nothing. We either take in what is good and of God or gather signals from other sources. As believers in Jesus Christ we have to believe that the only source of Life is from the Word Himself and from that receive and do (Jam 1:22). Be careful and selective, only what the Lord gives is spirit and life. We cannot be overly dependent or addicted on ideas, books and teaching, trust Him to give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation (Eph 1:7). Right thinking results in right being.

God's Calling

Mother Theresa

Born Again

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1Pet 1:23)

The Lord intents us to be born again to see the Kingdom of God, not merely renovated or even to have an extension to what we already are (John 3:3). The Gospel is not about saying ‘I am already good, kind, having good character and values, etc, but the missing the part about believing in Jesus’. Or perhaps carve away the bad, put on the good and believe on the Lord Jesus to be saved.

To be born again is to acknowledge that we are totally wretched, corruptible and there isn’t an ounce of anything worth considered of worth to God regardless of how good or bad we are. Salvation is not an addition, but doing away with everything (both the unclean and the clean) and He will give us new heart, put His Sprit and present us with the mind of Christ.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: (Heb 12:14)

Sadly, we hold on to what we consider good and equate spirituality as being useful to God. He is not looking usefulness lest there exist elements of self righteousness, but looking for His Son in us and we in Him (1 John 2:28). Interesting many would consider the Sermon on the Mount an unattainable Utopian ideal, but have the passion to serve God. Yes, it is impossible by any human estimation, here is where we learn to die and let the life of the Son of God come into us and quicken us to live through Him(1 John 4:9). In the balance, the Christian life is not passive (the danger falling into cheapening the Grace of God) to remain where we are but a relentless pursuit of Christ, the wise author of our salvation (1 Cor 1:30). Be still (at Shalom, not lazy nor striving) in our active pursuing and know that He is God and will do all that is necessary to bring many sons to Glory (Psa 46:10)

Truth vs. Reality

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psa 25:5)

Reality is the state of a situation or thing that actually exist and it is not an imagination. It can affect a person deeply and whereas others will not blink an eye. Reality can be a perception or even a world view formed by the sum total of one’s personal experience.  It can be a state that exists but there are those who are totally ignorant about it. Reality can make and break a person in the long run.

The Bible emphasizes Truth over Reality. Reality may be staring us in the face, but truth never changes. Reality can change because truth is the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ; the same from everlasting to everlasting. He never changes and He can alter reality according to His divine will and purpose. Though reality may stare at us in the face, we must hold on the His truth. Things may appear to be without hope; He is our hope and assurance. In simple faith believe Him for all things and trust His every Word. It will be in a crisis we will be know if we react on the reality confronted or respond in faith according to the truth. Truth forms the bedrock of our faith that keeps us in the perfect peace or Shalom of God because we know and know deep within that He will lead us through with His comforting rod and staff. Truth is not a theory, but the way that leads us in the transcending life of Jesus Christ. Purpose to know the truth in His Word and know the Truth Himself in relationship, because is it truth that will liberate us to live above and not at the base level of hopelessness (John 8:32).

Mistaken Justification

 …… in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2Pe 3:16)

David Pawson once said that a skeptic would read the Bible with a pair of scissors, discarding the portions they don’t like. Who was Peter writing to in his letter? Who would constitute the company that would wrest or strain and twist the Holy Word of God? Perhaps written to ignorant unbelievers? The letters from the Apostles addressed believers, not the unsaved.  There are unbelievers who quote Scripture for its valuable words of wisdom, but seldom to justify themselves.

But ye have not so learned Christ; (Eph 4:20)

Firstly the ‘unlearned’, not referring to mental knowledge but those deficient of spiritual understanding that transforms to right being, right thinking, right behavior, right speaking…. Intrinsically it is a life that demonstrates the inward working of Christ and the cross in us (Tit 2:11, 12). Lust transformed to love, worldliness to godliness, dead works to righteousness and the like. This working out of our salvation is not informational, but the Spirit revelational.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (Jas 1:8)

Many of us desire to live on earth and willing to go to be with Christ, however the normal Christian should live conversely (Phil 1:23, 24). We have to purpose and make a choice whom we will serve (Josh 24:15), not just physical idols but more so concerning ungodly gratification of the flesh and idolatry of the self (Col 3:5).  The opposite of instability or wavering is the state of shalom, being at peace with God and man.  This state of instability is easily often seen in constantly overcome by temptation, outburst of wrath, lacking self control and easily overwhelmed by emotions and the surrounding. The foundation is not Christ (Matt 7:24-27, Col 2:7). Peter warned that to distort the Word of God to self advantage spell self destruction. Allow the plumb line of His Word to judge us and be humble and meek to allow Him to work deeply in our lives. Be relentless with self and not look at the pain of chastisement, less we be disqualified (1 Cor 6: 9, 10).

Prayer, the Language of God’s Children

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (1Jn 5:14)

Lacking in prayer is to be is to be deficient in our communion with our Father. We cannot pray out of the flesh, because we bound to ask amiss with the intention of spending the answers to gratify the flesh (Jam 4:3). If we pray from the soul, the focus will inevitably concern self and nothing to do with God and His purposes as though the whole universe revolves around them. Praying the language of God’s children is in the spirit that He has made alive to Christ. It is a connection, communion that goes beyond words formed in the mind in order to pray as we ought (Rom 8:26). The spiritual language of prayer is a journey that begins with conceding we do not know how to. With that recognition, relinquish every form, thought and beautifully formed words, with or without emotional expression and start to humbly asking Jesus to teach us to pray (Luke 11:1). This Heavenly language is not one that is passive by depleting our mind of any thoughts, but rather approaching the Throne of the Most High God to petition with the language of dependence. Prayer is not meant to impress God nor man (Matt 6:5), but it can be groaning so deep that communicates volumes. Prayer is not some form of Gnosticism who pride themselves to its exclusivity and length (Matt 6:7)

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also….. (1Co 14:15)

Praying with understanding is important as the Holy Spirit put His thoughts and His will into us to verbalize what ought to be prayed in a given situation. Otherwise our prayers will amount to nothing but a foreign language to God’s hears. He wants us to participate in speaking into existence His will that is already done, on earth as it is in Heaven. He wants His children to articulate His will on earth. There is only one spiritual language that the Father responds to, because He is Spirit.

Don’t be intimidated to pray to the Most High God. Jesus Christ asked us to call Him Father. Prayer is a language of the Family. Pray is as simple as a child communication with his parent, don’t let people, the devil or anything deny us of this tremendous privilege.

The Words of Joel, Retold in Prose

Great destruction has come upon God’s land and the people are swallowed up by the enemy, who ruthlessly and violently strips and devours, frothing at its lips in hysterical sadistic pleasure.

The temple is desolate; the fields are a wasteland. There is no growth, no grain totend, thresh, or harvest for the nourishment of the children because the seeds shrivel out in the ground and dry out before they can begin to germinate. There are no grapes that blossom in season and to be treaded for the rejoicing of the people. There are no olives budding on the trees, no plucking and pressing of olives to make the fragrant oil. The herds of once flourishing cattle and sheep now starve for want of food in restless groaning. Everywhere you turn, you see broken-down barns, homes in ruins, the people restless, wandering, hungry, and bereaved.

It’s a sign from God. Everywhere that everyone goes, the message is there, from the farmer to the priest, from the vinedresser to the merchant, from the prophet to the mother at home – life has come to a dreadful standstill and the future is torn from their grasp.

“Sure joy has withered away from the sons of men”. (Joel 1:12c)

God has withheld even the offerings of the temple. The priests, the ministers, what ought they to do?

And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him: 'I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to Myself for a house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people; if My people, upon whom My name is called, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’ (2Ch 7:12-14 JPS)

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Inner Building, Outward Fruit

And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward: (Isa 37:31)

We cannot deny that the Lord is looking for fruit, not just fruit but good fruit (Matt 12:33). Fruition can only come about when there is a deep work of God done in secret on our knees. Busyness can be the enemy of the preliminary foundational work God wants to build into us. The Father’s business is not based on how much nor what we do, but times spent communing with Him. We need deep roots to be constant and stable lest His life get choked out of us and end up in the horror of fruitlessness (Mark 4:19).

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (Eph 3:16)

The inner man is not what man sees, for anyone can put up a façade to deceive others of the true and weak condition within. It is in communion that we see our lack, weakness and sin. It is in communion that we realize self has no place in the Kingdom of God. It is in communion that we experience the abiding in Christ and not in ourselves. It is in communion that there that unveiling and transformation takes place (2 Cor 3:18). God is Spirit and our spirit is where He can build in consistency and uprightness (Psa 51:10). Fruits can only be brought forth at the right time of maturity, not rushed (1 Tim 3:6). We underestimate the riches of His glory when we switch priorities and start off ‘above ground’, this is lacking faith. Faith is seeking that which is not seen by human eyes - 'below ground'. It is in communion that He shares the vision, provides the wisdom and supplies the means. If it is the Father’s business, He will ensure that the venture will never fail.

Deception of Dichotomy

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Mat 5:27-28)

Most would think it is alright to continue in a certain sin or misconduct as long as it is not exposed or found it. Their conscience may or may not be pricked. Either way God sees what is hidden from man’s eyes in the deep recesses of his soul, particularly the heart (1 Sam 16:7). The hardest and deadliest deception is not just from exterior sources but from within (Jer 17:9), do not yield to its wickedness. The heart is the court room where the mind and man’s will justify every means to condone sin. The propitiation of sin cannot be applied on this ground; it only takes its full effect and power when there is confession to expose the matter and of filth of the heart. There is another danger of justification to dwell in sin, it leads to dichotomy of the inner man and the outward conduct, transforming into a ‘spiritual schizophrenic’. The sinful self will quickly learn to put on a mask to deceive others of the inward filth, but sadly there is exist rot in the white washed sepulcher.

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (Gen 3:8)

It must break the Father’s heart to see His children whom He has redeemed by the blood of His only begotten Son sin under the sun as though He isn’t watching or care. He does care because His Beloved Son died that we may be redeemed. Even worst is the act of trying to conceal from Him. Who are we bluffing? Who is deceived? With that a hardening sets it, sin has won dominion. Don’t live in a lie and deception  (Heb 3:13).

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Rom 6:13)

When dealing with sin, regret and sincerity to get out of sin does not apply – it is faith that delivers. It takes confession for forgiveness and cleansing will come. If we do not, by faith, reckoned ourselves dead to sin, we will continue weave in and out of the same sin. Allow God to pierce our heart with His word by believing. Be in the position of desperation so much so to cut off everything pertaining to that sin (Matt 5:30). The devil has sinned from the beginning; don’t participate in his nature (1 Joun 3:8). The evidence of faith is when we ‘go, and sin no more’ (John 8:11).

The Cross

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

"The cross is laid on every Christian. It begins with the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ."