True Grace – Positional & Practical sanctification.

There has been lot of talk on the subject Grace recently. Grace is not only unmerited favor as many people quote but it is the Power of God which sanctified us and further enables us to live a consecrated life. It is the very controversial subject but more than that it is the darling attribute of God and the most precious Jewel of His Eternal Crown. I dare not pass my own interpretation here. I respect Grace of God and moreover I tremble to add or subtract to this most blessed and wonderful doctrine – Grace!

I am particularly going to speak from Romans 6. Paul’s wonderful passage on sanctification. To help you to understand the subject I want to divide this chapter into two major divisions. First division is about the positional sanctification (Romans 6:1-11) and second division is about practical sanctification (Romans 6:12-23). In the first division we see the finished work of Christ in the life of a believer and in the second division we see the how we must yield to this finished work by His grace. Christ finished the Work on the Cross but He hasn’t finished His work in the life of believers. Cheap Grace or hyper Grace Communities claim only on the finished work of Christ but they completely neglect the present work of Christ in the believer’s life in other words they preach only the positional sanctification but not practical sanctification.

Sanctification is that inward spiritual work which the Lord Jesus Christ works in a man by the Holy Spirit, when He calls him to be a true believer. He not only washes him from his sins in His own blood, but He also separates him from his natural love of sin and the world, puts a new principle in his heart, and makes him practically godly in life. The instrument by which the Spirit affects this work is generally the Word of God, though He sometimes uses afflictions and providential visitations “without the Word.”          (1 Peter iii. 1.) The subject of this work of Christ by His Spirit is called in Scripture a “sanctified” man.

He who supposes that Jesus Christ only lived and died and rose again in order to provide justification and forgiveness of sins for His people, has yet much to learn.

Whether he knows it or not, he is dishonoring our blessed Lord, and making Him only a half Savior. The Lord Jesus has undertaken everything that His people’s souls require; not only to deliver them from the guilt of their sins by His atoning death, but from the dominion of their sins, by placing in their hearts the Holy Spirit; not only to justify them, but also to sanctify them. He is, thus, not only their “righteousness,” but their “sanctification.” (1 Cor. i. 30.)

# Positional sanctification. Let us see what it means positional sanctification. Paul uses the word baptism and grafted to explain this doctrine. The first eleven verses explain the true meaning of the work of Christ on the cross. We see a man bathed in blood, nailed to the tree and crowned by thrones on His head. Why He need to suffer this much? Why He took such hostility and humiliation? Paul tells us the reason. He was the substitute for the sinners and identified himself on behalf of all sinners and united them in His death, burial and resurrection. He was the substitute Lamb without blemish to identify me on the Cross. He united me in His death by His Love, He united me in His burial by His mercy and He united me in His resurrection by His power and Grace. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as He was. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. We are no longer slaves to sin because our sinful nature has been crucified with Christ. By this finished work we are made holy that’s why we read in Ephesians 2:10 NLT For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. The synonym of masterpiece is ‘ the stroke of genius’. Yes! We are complete in Christ and we are the art of immortal Genius. Hebrews 10:14 NKJV For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. When we look at Christ by faith we are identified with Him on the Cross. The blood of Jesus not only removes the guilt of sin but it also breaks the power of sin. We are dead to sin but alive unto God by the Power of resurrection. Apostle says, we are joined with Christ in baptism. This is not the symbolic water baptism but it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor 12:13…but we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. No water in the world can join us into Christ and no water can cleanse us and make us complete but as it is said by John the Baptist “The One who comes after me will baptize you with fire and Holy Spirit”. We are baptized into Christ death. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. We are no longer slaves to sin because we are set free by Christ; our sinful nature has been crucified with Christ. The finished work restored us to the wholeness which God had it in mind before the foundation of the world… This is called positional sanctification

# Practical sanctification

No one can practice sanctification if he is not sanctified. I cannot tell the baby snake to fly because it is born to crawl on its belly but I can surely tell this to baby eagle because it is born with the potential to soar high. You got me right. It is impossible for sinners dead in sin to practice holiness. He may have a good moral outlook but in the eyes of God he is dead. Dead ones can do nothing. Only those who are raised from Christ can live a resurrected life and they only can practice sanctification. II Peter 1:3 By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We are sanctified by the divine power and it is by this power we can continue to live a sanctified life. This is the reason Paul exhort the believers in Rome “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have a new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Romans 6:12-13 you see we cannot urge this to someone who is dead in sins; only those who are Born of God could exercise this kind of life by God’s grace and faith in Jesus Christ. Let us go further; Reckon and yield are the two important words we will consider under practical sanctification. Reckon the truth of the cross and then yield to the truth by faith. The message of the cross is not just a theory or well fragmented story but it is something that happened in the history. It is the only solution for all our problems. Life and death is linked to the message of the Cross, the problem of sin is dealt by the cross, we have peace with God through the work of Cross and we are made whole by the work of Christ on the Cross. Cross is the divine channel of every spiritual blessing we have in heavenly places. If someone strives to live a sanctified life then he must reckon, pause and ponder on this truth daily. He must give himself to the work of the Cross because that is the only truth which sets us free from all the lies and schemes of the devil, all kinds of worldly lust, hypocrisy, evil and pride of life. It is the only truth that makes us more humble and thankful before God. Now it is possible for a person to consider this truth but not yield himself or surrender himself to this truth. He will live a life in the bondage if he does not surrender and practice this truth. Sin will put him in great delusion; devil will play over his life and make it worse than before. There are chances that a saved person can give himself to unrighteousness. Lot was saved but he never surrendered, Solomon was saved but he never surrendered, Demas was saved but he never surrendered. We have lot of examples of the people who reckon the truth but did not yield themselves to the truth. Brethren, we are not only told to consider the truth but also told to yield ourselves to the truth. Yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instrument of righteousness unto God. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. Yield your members as slaves (servants) of righteousness for holiness. Romans 6:13, 16 and 19. Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. 1 Corinthians 6:19 .Let me quote Bishop Ryle to explain the responsibility of a sanctified man. “Sanctification, again, is a thing for which every believer is responsible. In saying this I would not be mistaken. I hold as strongly as anyone that every man on earth is accountable to God and that all the lost will be speechless and without excuse at the last day. Every man has power to “lose his own soul.” (Matt. xvi. 26.) But while I hold this, I maintain that believers are eminently and peculiarly responsible, and under a special obligation to live holy lives. They are not as others, dead and blind and unrenewed: they are alive unto God, and have light and knowledge, and a new principle within them. Whose fault is it if they are not holy, but their own? On whom can they throw the blame if they are not sanctified, but themselves? God, who has given them grace and a new heart, and a new nature, has deprived them of all excuse if they do not live for His praise. This is a point which is far too much forgotten. A man who professes to be a true Christian, while he sits still, content with a very low degree of sanctification (if indeed he has any at all), and coolly tells you he “can do nothing,” is a very pitiable sight, and a very ignorant man. Against this delusion let us watch and be on our guard. The Word of God always addresses its precepts to believers as accountable and responsible beings. If the Savior of sinners gives us renewing grace, and calls us by His Spirit, we may be sure that He expects us to use our grace, and not to go to sleep. It is forgetfulness of this which causes many believers to “grieve the Holy Spirit,” and makes them very useless and uncomfortable Christians.

 

Sin can no more have dominion over those who are saved but if they do not reckon the truth and yield themselves as the servants of God…sin will surely rule them and the wages of sin is death. God and sin cannot be the master at the same time, Righteousness and unrighteousness cannot be the master at the same time, God and money cannot be the master at the same. We cannot have life and death at the same time. Light and darkness cannot stay together. We cannot be the servants of devil and servants of God at the same time. Do we have a responsibility here? Yes we do have. We have to reckon and yield ourselves to the truth and live like servants of righteousness because we are not slaves of sin. Christ has conquered the death!

 

Be Blessed

Blessen Babu Daniel

Look inside the Church

Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I have purposely said “Look inside the Church”. You may ask me, why? When we hear earthquakes, famines and wars we say the coming of the Lord is on the clouds and it is true we read in Mathew 25 and several other prophesies regarding the signs of end times but what we see outside is not only the signs of end times. Look inside the Church and see if it grieves your heart. Look inside the Church ! does it speak the mark of the coming of the Lord? When i say church i don’t mean a local church or a building but i am speaking about the universal Body of Christ.

Paul during his last days wrote two letters to Timothy, his true son in faith. And what he wanted to say personally to this young pastor? Many things but the sum of all things is this. Guard your life and Guard the sound doctrine. In this context, Paul warns the young man certain things which will occur after he will depart. There are three prophesies of Paul to the Church in the Letter to Timothy which i don’t want my readers to overlook. When you read each prophesy… Look inside the Church! if it grieves your heart then understand that it grieves the heart of God.

1. In the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their conscience are dead. (1 Timothy 4:1-2)

Apostasy is the mark of the coming of the Lord. Christ himself asked “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Some will turn from sound doctrine and follow deceptive spirits and teaching that come from demons. The wisdom that does not come from Above is earthly, natural and demonic. Demons will not come and teach the people but they will certainly take the hypocrites and liars within the church and will make them their agents. They will overturn the sound words by adding more water into the pure milk and sometimes poison. Any teaching that is contrary to the Word is purely demonic. I have heard many television preachers saying that they received the new revelation from the Spirit of God. Let God condemn such people who speak lies. Spirit of God will not teach us any new revelations. Whatever God wants to speak about the eternal plans and His Good will; He has already revealed through Prophets in Old Testament, through His Son, and His Apostles. Cursed is the one who adds and subtracts to the Word of God.

2. II Timothy 3:1-9 They will act godly, but they will reject the Power that could make them godly.

Paul says, in the end times. People will love themselves and their money. The person who loves money is an IDOLATER of himself. Let me say this with fear and trusting in God’s grace. We must flee from the love of money because this evil has entered in many of our leaders. Instead of looking after the flock of God they look at the pockets of the flock. As long as there is money we must keep examining ourselves, little leaven of this evil is enough to make us worst sinners. People will be boastful and proud. Where is money, positions and tittles people will boast and takes pride but Paul says, I boast in the Lord and His Cross!, they will be scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred, they will unloving and unforgiving, they will slander others and have no self control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. Now you may think, Oh! this is definitely not the situation inside the Church..if you think so just after this Paul says, they will act godly, but they will reject the Power that could make them godly. All this sins are commited by wearing the dress of Godliness. This is the disgrace of the Church. When the world see Christians ACT they dishonor the name of the Lord. God hates formality Christians. Their christian life is only on Sunday and Friday. They act something in the church but totally different after the church. I don’t believe the person is really saved who still holds double personality. Mask is required in the militants group but the Household of God people worship without mask.

3. For the time is coming when people will not longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myth. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

I will not stay longer in this point becuse the verse itself explains. People are not interested to hear the sound and wholesome teaching. How many churches teaches the Word of God? and if it has what is the attendance of the people? Some people shows interest to learn new things from the Bible but that’s is just an interest for swimming and piano class. We don’t want an interest to learn a new subject from the Bible but we must strive and pursue to walk like Jesus Christ on earth. There is an Old song. ” Come to my heart, Come to my life, Lord”. If Christ has come to our heart then He must come to our life too. Christ came to our heart by the Word and the Spirit and how does Christ come to our Life? by Word and Spirit. People want to hear new things according to their evil desires so this people creates teachers who are ready to feed according to their wants. Most of the false teachers arise because they saw the desires of the people inside the church. People want only prosperity, only miracles , only healing so the false teachers stood up on their feet and said we will give you only prosperity, only miracles and only healing! How is it?

C. H Spurgeon said, “Truth is a strong tower and never requires to be buttressed with error. Gods Word will stand against all mans devices.” Impostors and evil men will flourish in the end times but God is able to save His own, He is faithful to his promises.

Let me also join with Paul in one spirit and warn, exhort and encourage you brethren. Watch out dogs! Guard your life and the sound doctrine. Speak the truth, preach the Word and spend more time at the feet of the Master.

May God bless you with this message.

your brother in Christ
Blessen Daniel

Biblical Faith – Part 2

Let’s meditate on the part two of Biblical faith. Last week I conveyed three simple and basic points on the above topic. Now let’s move further to glean this wonderful gift of God. Allow me to paraphrase   Hebrew 11:1-2 (Now faith is not just the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen but working/functioning through it the elders obtained a good report). Bible states faith is not just passive but it is also active. It does not mean just believing from heart and confessing from mouth but it also means working from hands and obeying from heart. Did the elders obtain the good report without working out their faith? Never, Careful study on Hebrew 11 will answer that question. So last week we heard about the saving faith but today we are going to look at working faith. Let’s see what the Apostles have to say about the topic working faith.

Disciples of Christ must progress from Saving Faith to working faith.

I assume Hebrew Ch.11 should have been written in golden ink. It is the account of those saints that proved their faith by works. Through their works they obtained the good report from God. Old Testament saints had both saving faith and working faith.

 What does Apostle James says?

Careful study on James and Paul on Justification.

People have lot of bewilderment between the scriptures of Romans 4 and James 2. Paul says, Man is not justified by works but James says Man is justified by works. It may look like a contradiction but a detailed study is needed. In Romans, Paul makes it very clear that man is not justified by his works if it was so Abraham could have been justified by works.  Holy Scriptures says, Abraham believed God and it was counted righteousness to him. The difference between two scriptures is: Paul is talking about the acceptance of sinner and James is talking about the works of the believer. A sinner is accepted not because of his works but justified by Grace. However this saved sinner should not lead the life by his saving Faith alone but by the works that proves his true Faith. James on the other hand tells us this if you are truly justified by Grace then show it in your works. Abraham was accepted not because of his earlier works but on the works he proved after being called righteous by God. James gives us a practical application to prove his point. If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and any one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; not withstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Praying for people who are in need is good but keeping money in the pocket and not helping them to fulfill their needs cannot be called as righteous or sincere faith. A prayer without work is dead! James says, prayer might warm people’s heart but that alone cannot soothe their present problem. We should be a present help for the destitute. Providing food to the hunger and offering dress to the naked is a pure representation of faith. Aiding our dear ones is painless but Christ taught us to feed or satisfy the needs of the enemies. Through this work we prove our faith in God.

 What does Apostle Peter says on working faith?

 1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; THAT YE SHOULD SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH CALLED YOU out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Apostle Peter exhorts us to show the goodness of God to others. God was good to you that He took you from the deep darkness into His marvelous light. Now it’s our prior duty to go and testify to the world and show the goodness of God through our life. We are chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people these are all our position that we receive through Grace of Jesus Christ. However the world sees our life and not our status, they see our attitude not our calling. The world should find Christ in us. D.L Moody said, “Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian.” .Do you live according to your position in Christ? Do you dwell according to your calling? What does the world read through your life? Does the world blaspheme the name of God because of your conduct? Do you dishonor God by breaking the command? Analyze and examine yourself in the light of the Word. We have a duty to show forth the goodness of God to the world through our life continuously. If our saving faith is not shining like the light through our works then we need to repent and do the first work or else when Christ will come in His glory we will be ashamed!

 What does Apostle Paul says regarding working faith?

 Ephesians5:1-5 be ye therefore FOLLOWERS OF GOD, as dear children; And WALK IN LOVE.

How can a person follow God without having faith in Him? And what are the works of such followers?  Paul says they have to walk in love and shun all evil. We must endeavor our salvation daily with fear and awe. This helps us to walk in Love and offer our life as a living sacrifice to God. Not only shun ourselves from the works of flesh, and abstaining from unclean things but pursuing holiness of God, way of the Master, yielding the will in the hands of the Holy Spirit. Faith means believing God but it also means working with God to be His faithful follower. How can you walk with the belief and work together? For instance, my son walks with me but he gives his hands to hold. If you say you walk with Christ but did you hold his hand? We like to walk with God but we hesitate to give our hands to hold because we know if we give it is blessing but painful too. It hurts our will, our self-righteous, our pride, and our sinful desires.

Lastly, What Jesus spoke about Faith and works

Mathew 5:13-16 Christ never said “I will make you the light of the world and salt of the earth” but He said “You are the light of the world and Salt of the earth”. Everyone who is born of God is equipped and empowered with this property of Light and savory of salt. And as soon as he or she is saved their duty is clear! Look at early disciples, Andrew, John and Philip, woman at the well, Nicodemus, Peter and John. It’s our responsibility to shine before men who live in darkness but are we fulfilling our duty? Examine your heart. The main reason is ignorance, carelessness and laziness. They have either hid the light under bushel or lost the savor because of sin and worldliness.  They have professing faith but not working faith!

  What do we interpret from all these?

Faith alone is dead we need to have works that tells about our faith. Faith and works should go parallel.

1.  Works towards men – A careful study on the Epistle of James and the Sermon on the Mount will make us clear our works towards men. Let me sum up like this. The law says, “Love thy neighbor”. That’s our work towards men.

 

2. Works that praises God – A city on a hill cannot be hidden, a lamp on the lampstand gives light to all, and a salt gives savor. All this metaphors are used to teach us that everyone who is in Faith should have working faith to show the goodness of God to the world.

 

3. Works towards God – Be followers of God. Our salvation did not cost anything to us because Christ paid it all but Christian life thereafter will cost us. For that, we must work out our salvation daily. Taking up the cross daily, mortifying the deeds of flesh through the Power of Holy Spirit. Let me sum up the Law, it says “Love your God”. That’s our work towards God.

 

4. Works for our own Growth – If a Christian is not growing that means he is dead! When a sinner believes in Christ, He is justified by God and sanctified by the working of the Spirit. He cannot grow more in justification because that is his position before God through Christ but he must grow in grace, grow in sanctification, grow in faith, and increase in love. We must grow until we reach the stature of Jesus Christ our Lord.

At the Day of Judgment, God will divide two groups: A group of goats and a group of sheep’s. They are mainly divided because of their nature. As it is stated sinners cannot be partakers with saints or righteous. 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 hungered, 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. The sheep would say when did we do all these?? The Almighty God would answer assuredly; I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Though the group of goats and the sheep’s were separated because of their nature but both the groups were judged according to their works.

This article supports this conclusion by setting forth this biblical case on Faith ie.., saving Faith and Working Faith. These two should go parallel in our Christian life. This topic is vast as ocean and I just tried to scratch the surface. May this article reach your yearning heart and help you to grow in faith.

Let me end this page with the words of Apostle Paul.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the Power of the Holy Ghost – Romans 15:13

Biblical Faith – Part 1

1. Faith is looking unto God and trusting in Him completely

Now, I have purposely named the subject as Biblical faith because faith is the common factor which we can be seen in every religion, nation and among every people. Biblical faith however is distinct than the faith we see in the world. There is a lot of confusion regarding Faith among Christians too. What does the Scripture teaches us?  Faith is not looking within us but it is looking unto God, this is basic principle of faith. Many professing Christians when it comes to believing they look and weigh how much faith they have upon themselves. They think God performs according to the degree of faith level existing in them. But it’s a misleading thought among Christians. A sincere and childlike trust is what God search in us. Imagine you are walking on a bridge. Do you cross the bridge by your strong level of Faith or because the bridge was strong? Hope you got the point. We trust in the bridge and we walk courageously. Hence it is not the strong or weak level of our faith that helps the mountain to be cast out into sea but it is the Hand of the Almighty God who enables it. Look unto God completely and trust only Him and walk the Christian life.

Romans 4:17 KJV (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. See as bible states: Abraham did not glance upon himself but Scriptures simply says “Abraham believed God”…What does Abraham believed? God gives life to the dead .God is able to give life to Sarah’s womb and apt to call things out of nothing. Faith consists of three things: (Knowledge, Trust and commitment). Abraham had all these three components in his faith. He knew and believed God was capable .Thus He committed his faith completely on Him to perform. A Loud Amen.

Let us look at the second basic truth of Faith. I want to make it precise and clear for my readers.

2. Faith is seeing the unseen.

We may have a wrong concept that Abraham believed God to receive a blessing only for him. But we read in the scriptures God did not say I will make you ‘father of Isaac’ but Romans 4:17 say ‘I have made thee father of nations’. We detect Abraham’s body was weak and so was the Sarah. Now, here we have a great promise of God at one side and weak body and dead womb on the other side. In human point of view you need a strong body and a functioning womb to bear a child. During such circumstances how can you believe God’s word and see the unseen? Here we see Faith helped Abraham to see beyond his present condition.

Romans 4:18 KJV Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

Scriptures says, ’Against the odds of hope believed in Hope’ this is very important and I dare not to pass this without making it simple to you. I ask your attention. Abraham’s body and Sarah’s

womb was against hope in other words their present condition will not help them to achieve this promise so what did Abraham do?

He believed in Hope in other words the only Hope in this present condition was God himself and His blessed Promise. He knew God is able to raise the dead and call things out of nothing. Faith without knowledge is dead. Bible says, ‘Demons believes there is God and trembles’ why they tremble? Because they know God is the consuming fire! Even devils have faith with knowledge but we proud Christians have faith but lack knowledge.

Against all hope Abraham believed God in hope.  This gave him power for the present situation and strength for tomorrow.  Believe God but fully knowing Him. You will know Him through Scriptures, pray for the spirit of wisdom and knowledge, seek wisdom from God and believe Him and his word. True faith gives power to live today and strength to look the unseen.

We will see the next basic truth about faith from this chapter and that is

3. Faith does not mean denying the fact.

There is a wrong interpretation among Christian groups about this. Millions of Christians think if you have true faith you must deny the fact and when you keep on denying the fact God will perform. Never once we learn this kind of faith in the Scriptures. Just tell me how did you get saved? By denying the fact you are a sinner or by confessing you are a sinner? This is enough to prove my point. I have heard preachers telling people to deny you have a problem. This will lead to hypocrisy and blasphemy.

Let us see what Scripture says, Romans 4:19 NLT and Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead-and so was Sarah’s womb.

Abraham figured or acknowledged his body was as dead and so was Sarah’s womb. This mean he did not DENY the fact about the weakness of his body and deadness of Sarah’s womb. Did this help him? What happens when you acknowledge the fact? When Abraham knew he has nothing in him or in Sarah that can bear child he looked upon God more closely. Read the verse it says, Abraham’s faith was not weaken. Why? Because he acknowledges he is weak but confessed God is Able and Might and Living. He did not saw the FACT as a hindrance for God to perform in his life but rather the FACTS made him more humble and strong in faith.

What is your fact telling you? Are you confessing it today? Do not consider your fact more than God and His Word. There is a mountain before it’s a fact, confess it but also confess that you are weak to remove that mountain but God is Able! This will increase your faith. Hallelujah!

Conclusion, we saw today three important basic truth about Biblical faith. Faith is looking upon God, trusting Him and committing our Self to His Word, Faith is looking at things which are not yet seen through the evidences God provides us through His Word and Faith is accepting the Fact but believing the Truth spoken by God. May this article on Biblical faith reach your heart and serve as an eye opener.

Purpose of Spiritual Gift

Paul in his famous chapter 1 Corinthian 12:1 says, now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Why I strongly feel that many in the Christendom are ignorant about the spiritual gift? Some people stress only on fruit of the Holy Spirit and others on gifts of the Holy Spirit, even I heard people talking that Fruit is more important than the gift. What is the balance teaching on this subject? Let’s see Man Jesus Christ who was Perfect in Fruit of the Spirit and Gifts of the Spirit. Though we can never achieve that perfection while we are in the flesh but we can glean confidence through the life of Christ that as he was Man filled by God we can also be men filled by God and strive daily to that perfection. Paul says, I have not attained that perfection, none of the Apostles and Saints of Christ attained the perfection but all strived and groaned to be like Christ. Study the life of Saints! They not only had fruits but they had gifts. It is through the bearing of fruit, Father is glorified and it is through the gifts, we are established for His Glory. Now, talents and gift of the Holy Spirit is different. A talent is something which is in the blood when they are properly groomed they becomes professionals in it but Gifts is something different which is not inborn but receives from the Almighty by grace. Now God can take your talents and use it for your Glory also! Everyone who is born of Spirit who is saved by the grace has some gift. Do you think God will leave you void after giving you the greatest gift, your salvation? Your salvation is the greatest gift you have received through Christ. All born of the Spirit has some spiritual gift. It is the individual duty as he grows in Christ to seek the Lord and know what purpose he is called for and what he has been gifted with.

The church is the body of Christ and each member are compared to the physical body. Every member of the body has some function to do; it is made for that purpose. Though each members look different and function in a different way but all of them works for the betterment of the body. Our body is sound because in the unity among the members of the body.  Likewise, the soundness of the Church in the unity of the members. I like one verse from Romans 15:5-7 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: [6] That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. [7] Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. One in spirit, one in mind and in one mouth and then only we can accept each other even if they are different from us. Each and every member should understand where he or she is placed and for what they are placed.

1) Purpose of Gifts

To impart and not to withhold – Paul says, Romans 1:11 KJV
for I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; Gifts are not given for us but for others. We are the channel that carries the gift. The end or the purpose of this impartation of gift is to for the establishment of the people. It is to help others, edify and exhort others. It is not given to use for selfish reasons, evil motives or to bury under the earth. We cannot glorify on our gifts because it is through grace we have received. It is given to use it for God’s purpose, for His Name and His Glory. We are accountable to what we have received. Remember the parable on talents.

Impart to establish others – Paul says, Romans 1:13. That I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. The purpose of the impartation of the gift of the Holy Spirit is to produce the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I doubt how many of them impart the gift to see the fruit of the Holy Spirit in others’lives. It is to establish others in Christ and make them Christ like. When we use the gift according to the purpose of God we bring glory to the Giver of the gift. Ephesians 4:12-13, 1 Corinthians 12 speaks well on this. If a soldier is successful in destroying the enemy camp. He cannot feel himself very significant because he knows he could have not done that alone but could do it because he is the part of the strong army. If you are using your gift, use it to establish the Body which you belong. 1 Corinthians 12:19 But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn’t be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, “Get lost; I don’t need you”? Or, Head telling Foot, “You’re fired; your job has been phased out”? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way—the “lower” the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it’s a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn’t you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?

Impart with love – Gift without love is irritation because it makes great noise with no divine substance. Paul says Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; you cannot Long for someone if you don’t love them. Gift without love brings strife, envy and all sorts of confusion. The driving force behind the gift should be out of Love. Jesus had compassion on the people and that’s the way He performed great miracles, He wept before the tomb of Lazarus, Reader, I want you to notice one important thing here…People around the tomb of Lazarus witnessed the Love of Jesus towards the family and believed in the miracle He did. In other words, they said oh! He raised Lazarus because he loved him. Christ did not raise Lazarus just to show the world He is able! But because He loved the Family of Martha and Mary! We have whole chapter on love 1 Corinthians 13. Just after speaking on gifts on chapter 12 Paul shifts his gear towards Love! Now that does not reduce the importance of gifts. Paul mean here is we have use the gift in love. The driving force behind the impartation of the gifts is love.

I have put across some thoughtful insights to my reader from Romans Ch 1 to ponder upon this vast subject by proper reading of the Word of God. God bless you.

In Him,

Secret of prayer

Romans 1:9-12 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; [10] Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. [11] For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; [12] That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Paul was a man of prayer. The first time after his conversion we see him praying (Acts 9:11) and the prayer continued throughout his life. That’s the secret of his victorious and fruitful life in Christ. He knelt before God, all his life so he was thankful in everything, careful for nothing and prayerful in everything. Prayer is a softening agent which made him humble and poor in spirit. Void of prayer makes one hard, proud and unloving. A heart of a praying man is sensitive, vigilant and wise. The Preacher, who kneels before God, makes the sinners stand before God. Paul always had the message of God to the people because he carried them in his heart and prayed earnestly for them that’s why his prayers were answered. God may not necessarily answer all our prayers with a YES but sometimes with NO’s too. A grandfather never declines his grandson’s request but a father might sometimes, likewise we don’t have a grandfather in heaven but we have a Father in Heaven. There are always blessings in God’s Yes and No’s so do not be discouraged. Today let’s see the secret of Paul’s prayer.

Prayer from a sanctified heart – For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son. If a person can say, God is my witness then how confident is he with the Almighty. Having clear conscience with God can give such confidence. Before God could hear something from our mouth, He sees the flowing of those words from our heart. A heart ceased from impurity, a heart sensitive to sin, a heart beating for holiness, a heart willing to do His will, a heart of love towards God and people. Such a heart can touch the heart of God and the words which flow from such hearts are answered by God, according to His Will. The secret of Paul’s prayer was it came from the sanctified heart. A heart sanctified by God, by Christ, through the Spirit, through the Word. By Faith sinners are justified by God and in Christ they are sanctified but this is the positional sanctification which every born again believer possess. He needs to grow from this positional sanctification and workout daily in it. He needs to die daily! He needs to run daily! He needs to fight daily! He needs to focus daily! He needs to go through the Word daily and He needs to Pray daily. Sanctification is the process that is exercise daily through the Power of God. A prayer from this sanctified heart pleases God.

Prayer without ceasing – A little laziness in prayer will make us worst sinners. If we stop our personal prayer, we will fall in secret. The root cause of people falling in public is that they fall in secret prayer. Paul prayed without ceasing because it is Christ’s command that we always pray (Luke 18:1). It is very important that we should separate quality time for our prayers and also praying relentlessly. Paul did not pray when it was necessary. Infact, He prayed because it was necessary. Lift up your head and see, surely you will find reasons for prayer. The things around the world, inside the church and in the sinners will make your face fall at the feet of the Almighty. Generations who suppress the truth of God, children that do not believe in God, Churches that loves the world; sinners who are dead are entertained by religious toy. Let us not lose our heart by all this but take it to the Lord in prayer. A man who talks to God cannot live a life of boredom because he always will have something to do.

Making request in prayer – Notice the prayer of Paul was a request to God, not a command or a wish. It was a supplication or a plea to God Almighty. A heart full of pride cannot request, it will command, it wants what it likes. However, a humble heart will cry, it will request because it is poor. Remember, Christ taught this pattern. ‘Give us, our daily bread’ that’s the request of the heart which is humble in spirit. We have to see our spiritual bankruptcy then only our prayers will be requests. Lord, told us two parables on prayer in Luke 18. A parable of a widow and a friend. A Widow pleaded because there was no one to help her; a friend knocked at his friend’s house in the midnight and requested for some bread because he did not have any. See in both the cases, one was weak and one did not have any resources so their prayers were not a command but it was request. We should understand our helplessness to make a request.

Subject of prayer – Can you imagine throwing the dart without a dart board? Exactly the same way many of us throw around our prayers, with no subject in it. We don’t know what we are praying for. Paul had a subject, he wanted a prosperous journey by the will of God, to meet the people whom he prayed and loved in Christ. The Roman believers were his subject; His journey to Rome was the subject. What is your subject? Take that subject before God, seek his will on that subject, hear him and seek his counsel on that subject. My two year old son speaks out but without a subject so I ask him, what he requires? What are you asking for? Are you also like him? Never think that God will answer if we keep on repeating things in our prayers and by the use of more words He will answer. Prayer without subject is like a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. It will make a good noise but not directed to God’s ears.

Intention of prayer – I may have a subject but without substance in it. Some of you have prayer points but God sees the intention behind the subject, purpose behind the prayers. It should have substance that glorifies his Holy Name, His will and His Kingdom. It should not have things that bring confidence in flesh, and glorify man’s work. James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. What was the substance of Paul prayer? I may impart spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. Paul had a clear subject and valid substance to his subject. He was longing for spiritual fellowship. He was longing to impart spiritual gifts to the children of God so that they may be established and bear fruit for God. Not only the believers in Rome but also himself. He never taught like he attained everything but waited to receive the spiritual fruit from Roman believers too. Mutually growing in Christ. So Paul had a good reason for his subject. So what happened? God heard the prayer from a sanctified heart, which prayed without ceasing, made requests with proper subject and substance that glorifies his Holy name, His will and the establishment of His Kingdom. He answered the prayer of Paul by sending him to the Rome. It was God’s will.

Keep Praying!

May God bless you.

Christ was forsaken for you

My God, My God why have you forsaken me? Psalms 22:1

We have heard the messages on Christ was given for us but let us hear on Christ was forsaken for us. This verse is the fourth saying of our Lord on the cross after 3 hours of darkness. Jesus not only went through the pain, rejection, grief and insult but He went through our darkness too. A man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief, pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins, beaten, whipped and oppressed for our transgression. If you want to know what sin has done you? Just look at the suffering Christ on the Cross! There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to Him. He was representing us on the cross, a High priest before God for men. Perfect Lamb for sacrifice. Isaac asked his father “where is the Lamb for the burnt offering” and at the fullness of time John the Baptist replied “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”. Days before the trial Christ prayed to the Father “If it is your will take this cup away from me” not because He feared death but he knew at one moment Father will forsake Him. He don’t want to leave His Father but for our sake He prayed again “Not my will but let your will be done”. Dear Reader, it is to bring you back home and wash you from all impurities the Father left his only Son. This is a serious. Father loves you that’s why He was willing to give his Son. Rock of Ages! Cleft for me!

Why God forsook Jesus on the cross?

# Christ was forsaken to Deal with my sin – Adam tried to deal with his sins but utterly failed and we see the promise given that it is God who will ultimately deal with the sin. Man cannot come back by his own, He cannot deal with it. As sheep cannot come back by its own so too the man. Romans 8 say, He came in the likeness of sinful flesh. He was not sinful but He came in the likeness of it. Isaiah 53:4-5 our sins were laid on Him. Where did Father lay our sins? On Christ body that’s why He was forsaken by God and his Body was subjected to death. God is the righteous judge and so he should condemned sin but who is perfect here to take this condemnation? So Christ who is the perfect Lamb took our condemnation on his flesh. Romans 8: 3-4 explains this, For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did; sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, Christ fulfilled the requirements of the Law through His life and sacrifice and now when the sinner put his trust in Christ he too fulfills the demands of the Law in Christ. The wretched sinner is accepted by God through Christ! The righteousness of Christ is imputed in us by faith and not by our works. The Law was weak because of our sinful flesh. God fulfilled the requirement of the Law by sending Christ in the likeness of sinful flesh. The blood the Lamb cleanses us from all our sins; the sacrifice of Christ was perfect because He was perfect and that’s how He dealt my sin.

                   Not the labors of my hands, Can fulfill thy law’s demands,

Could my zeal no respite know, All for sin could not atone

Thou must save, and thou alone.

# Christ was forsaken to justify me – Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. The war is over. I am no more an enemy to God. Sin was the mountain between me and my God. It was my sin that separated me and my God but now God identifies me with Christ and sees me as if I have never done sin. This is called justification. Those who are justified rejoice in their spirit because the peace that transcends all understanding is their own. The richest man in the world is the one who has peace with God. Reader, Are you justified? Do you have peace with God? Romans 4:1-8 speaks clearly on what is justification. The righteousness of Christ is imputed on me and my sins upon Christ and that makes me right before God. Now Justification is purely by faith and not by works. God accepted Abraham even before he could do any good work. Bible says, “Abraham believed God and it was counted for him righteousness”. He received the seal of circumcision after the acceptance of God. That means, this acceptance or justification is not only for the Jews but for everyone since Abraham received it before getting circumcision. God will justify everyone who will have faith like Abraham. What we must believe? Where we have to put our faith? Faith in the complete work of Christ on the cross. Now when we trust this perfect work then God justify us because of what Christ did on the cross. He identifies us with Christ. Can we get acceptance of God through our works? No! It is purely by faith. Justification by faith.

Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the cross I cling;

Naked, come to thee for dress; Helpless, look to thee for grace;

Foul, I to the fountain fly; Wash me Saviour, or I die;

 Reader, will you accept the sweets from the leper? No! Not because of the fault in sweets but because of the leper. If the leper is cleaned then there is no problem in accepting the sweets. This is exactly how God sees our works. “Sweets in the hands of sinner”. God should wash you through Christ blood; He should dress your nakedness and give your grace to stand! Then only he accepts your works. Let us repeat these words “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling;”

# Christ was forsaken to adopt me – The Greek word for adoption (huiothesia) means to “place as a son” and is used only by Paul in the New Testament. Being adopted by God means that we are accepted into His family and brings a multitude of blessings and responsibilities. Being legally adopted by God means that we receive new rights   | Galatians 4:4-7 | Under Roman law, if you were an adopted son, you had identical legal rights to a son born naturally in the family. An adopted son had the right to the family name of the person who adopted him and the right to an inheritance of the father’s property. Being adopted by God means that He will care for us| Mathew 6:32 |The Father who adopts was also granted full rights and responsibilities of a natural father—he had complete authority over the adopted son and also had the legal role of caregiver. With full, loving authority over us, our Father has accepted His responsibility to care for us and He also has the right, and desire, to correct us when we are wrong and to discipline us when we step out of line. Our Father God is infinitely patient, wise and loving and the Bible tells us that the fact that God does discipline us is proof in itself that we have been adopted into His family. Being adopted by God means that many relationships will change.

Being adopted by God means we become the children of the Living God, God was judge for me but He is now my Father. Being adopted by God changes our relationship with Him entirely and affects all three Members of the Holy Trinity: With God the Father—He is no longer the Judge who must condemn us for our wrongdoings, but truly our loving Father; With God the Son—not only is He our Lord and Saviour, but He also becomes our Brother; With God the Holy Spirit—He not only calls us and sanctifies us, but also becomes the Spirit of Adoption within us. He witnesses to our own spirit within us that we are a child of God (listen to Him). The Holy Spirit becomes our guarantee and our Father’s initial down-payment of the divine inheritance we will receive and a seal upon our hearts that we belong to God. It is through the Holy Spirit that we can cry out to God, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15-17 NLT.

Our adoption by God also changes our relationship with every person in the world—both Christians and non-Christians. Our relationship to everyone else who has been adopted by God is changed, and no matter what the distance is between us—whether they live near or far, or whether they are alive today or have already fallen asleep and passed on from this life, they are all our brothers and sisters. Our relationship with non-believers has also changed, for they are still dead in their sins and we are no longer a part of their family. We have different interests from them now; our interests are no longer selfish and centered on the glorifying of ourselves or of other people, but we should only be concerned with bringing glory to God.

You can write 100 points on why God forsaken Christ. Here I have chosen only three and scratch the surface of this fundamental teaching of Christianity. May God bless you with this. Amen

 

1 Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee;

let the water and the blood, From thy wounded side which flowed,

be of sin the double cure; Save from wrath and make me pure.

2 Not the labors of my hands, can fulfill thy law’s demands;

could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,

all for sin could not atone; thou must save, and thou alone.

 

3 Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling;

naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace;

foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die.

4 While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death,

when I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.

Do you see this woman?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly places with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Luke 7:44-47 Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven- for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.

We are well aware about this incident about one woman who anointed Jesus Christ at the house of Simon, the Pharisee. Let us try to glean more with the help of Holy Spirit. One of the Pharisees invited Jesus Christ to his house for the dinner and Jesus went to his house without any hesitation. Jesus was available to all- even in the wedding of Cana, fishermen’s house, Leper’s house, Pharisees house etc. He was available to all. We know that Jesus was the image of God so we see the attributes of God here. He is available to all whoever you are and whatever you do. God is available to you…He is not hiding! Amen. Another thing we learn from Jesus is that anyone can approach God. This sinful woman would never go to Simon’s house but she came because Jesus was in his house. She cannot go anywhere and share her problems but she came to know Jesus is the right person where she can go boldly. We see many people doing this. Prophet Isaiah told King Hezekiah that he would die but the king turned his face towards the wall and prayed to God it means he turned to God for a private conversation. Whoever you are and whatever your problem might be…Bow down for a minute at the feet of Jesus and speak to Him! You will find rest in your souls! We find another great truth about God through this incident. Simon and his friends greatly misunderstood this woman but Jesus did not…that teaches us the whole world might misunderstand you but God will not! What a peace to hear that truth Eli mistook Hannah but God was the only One who understood her. Brothers of Jesus did not believe Him but that did not affect Jesus because He says, “…only the Father, knows the Son – Mathew 11:27”. If you know God and if God knows you it really does not count if the world does not understand you. Amen!

While everyone was at the table we see one woman who had lived a sinful life in that town came into the house with Alabaster Jar of perfume and as she stood behind Jesus feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them…Simon saw this and judged the woman by her past experience and outer appearance and not only that he even not understood Christ. Most of the time we do not understand people because of the lack of knowledge about God.If Simon could have known the savior then it was very easy for him to know why this woman is weeping so much at the feet of Jesus. We like to interfere on others matter like Peter was more interested to know what will happen to John but Jesus said “What is that to you? You must follow me.” Many have stopped following Christ because they are more interested on others! Simon could not see the inner transformation of this woman so Jesus corrected him and showed his ignorance. For that He told one story about two debtors who owed 50 denarius and 500 denarius each to the money lender but the money lender cancelled both of their debts because both of them could not pay it back. What do we understand by this story?

1) Both persons are debtors – It is the fact that one should give 50 and other should give 500 but still we call them debtors. By this Jesus was telling Simon that he is also a debtor like this woman. Simon taught himself higher in spiritual than this woman but for Jesus both Simon and this woman were same – debtors or sinners before God. All have sinned and fall from the glory of God!

2) Both of them cannot pay back their debts – whether it is 50 or 500 both Simon and the woman cannot pay to God. Simon thought he is standing right with God but Jesus proved him wrong. Truth both Simon and the woman cannot pay back to God for their sins and not only they but no one in the world can pay back the debt to God who gave His own Son who ransomed his life for our sin.

3) Both of  their debts are cancelled – This is the good news which Simon could not understand. God send his Son to cancel our debts but very few have received this gift. Jesus forgave many sins of the woman but is there anything called many sins and few sins? It is we who distinguish many sins and few sins but for God sin is a sin. Whether it is 50 or 500 it is the debt! Simon did the same mistake by counting himself righteous (less sin) and the sins of the woman is more…So Jesus replied to what Simon taught. Paul was also a Pharisee but he says “I am the chief of all sinners” was he really chief of all sinners? No! Then why did he say that? Because he did not compare with others. Simon compared himself with the woman that’s why he called the woman, a sinner while Jesus called her “the one who loved much”.

Why their debts were cancelled and why our debts are cancelled?

We see the grace and mercy of the money lender who bear the loss – Do we see love of God that flowed through Jesus? And the grace and mercy flowing from the Calvary? Secondly, both were unable to pay – all our righteous works are just filthy rags before God and the labors of our hands cannot meet God demands. Lastly so that both should love the One who cancelled their debts. Why Jesus Christ died for you? 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 explains it. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Colossians 2:13-15 13And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him. (HASB)

Since my subject is “Do you see this woman”? Let us see this woman for a while. What we understand and learn from her?

1) Her True Repentance – She came well prepared because she decided to repent from her home, it was not a sudden act at all. True repentance needs a prepared heart. I believe Father prepared her heart and gave a godly sorrow which convicted her to seek the Son. God prepared her heart for repentance through conviction. After conviction she decided to see Jesus Christ. See the work of God here! So beautiful and marvelous. Like the prodigal son who never taught about his father and his house but one day he was convicted. The conviction was so strong that he realized many thing which far to explain. Luke 15:17 says “When he came to his senses”. Why this woman lived a sinful life? Because she was not in her senses and did it ignorantly but when she was convicted she did not rebelled rather humbled herself before the savior and turned back from the idols towards God and believed in the Son. True repentance is turning from idols to God. Some repent but they don’t turn to God. Biblical repentance is not only turning from sin but it also turning to God. We see true repentance in this woman.

2) Her True Love – In verse 47 Jesus himself says “that she loved much”. What a testimony this is…she expressed her love through what she did for him. Jesus expected this from Simon but only the woman knew what Jesus wanted. Simon thought Jesus would be happy with his wellarranged dinner but he was wrong in that too. God wants us to love Him…not by giving something to Him or doing something to Him but true love understands the heart of God and knows what he requires.

3) Her True Faith – When there was still few people thinking about the authority of Christ to forgive sins here we see this woman did not doubt the authority of Jesus. She believed fully that Jesus will forgive her sins. She also believed that Christ will never cast her out or misunderstand her. Her faith in Jesus has saved her.

Be Vigilant!

Hope for the troubled heart

 John 14:18 I will not leave you desolate; I come unto you

Greetings to you all! …I pray that this message will help you to trust God.

What an awesome promise! I will not leave you desolate; I come unto you. This one word of our Lord is enough to strengthen our inner man at the times of troubles but then we not only need his Word but need his immeasurable Power that transcends all human understanding. Can you imagine even though the disciples heard all the awesome words of Jesus just before his crucifixion still they were scattered because of fear, doubted and backslidden. Oh! You would say how that can be? Well! We live in flesh so we need to be cloth by the Power of Almighty to be victorious. That’s why I don’t see any disciples feared and doubted after receiving the Power of the Holy Spirit in the day of Pentecost. They were all united and boldly preached the Word city after city. The Word spoken by Jesus became real in their life because the Spirit brought everything to their remembrance. He opened the eyes of unschooled and empowered them to make the world upside down. How important for all of us to receive this baptism of the Holy Spirit. Wait until you are cloth by the Power from above. It was necessary for Christ disciples, how much more we need to be cloth.

Christ knew his hour has come to depart from the world and the disciples will be in trouble. He told the truth that He is leaving, that’s what I like about Jesus. He did not hide thinking that the disciples will be upset. He spoke the truth but gave them great assurance of his coming. Now, we all that Christ has not yet come but He has already come unto his people by the Spirit. Though Christ was not there in his bodily form for some weeks but He came in the Spirit form in them as promised. I will never leave you desolate; I come unto you! Remember this promise of Jesus Christ. As we all are waiting for the Christ to come in the clouds but has He already come as a Spirit in us? That’s why I said earlier, Word of God and the Power of the Holy Spirit help us in our weaknesses. Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, it’s not physical but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If we are filled by the Spirit we will be filled by the hope, the true hope in Christ. Jesus said to his disciple, Believe God and believe in him also. Well, they are believers then why need this reminder? There are times in our life where we often need to reckon ourselves and keep trusting in the promise of God through the Power of Spirit. Why we need to trust in God and in Jesus as well? Because every promise of God is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Through Christ we receive it; He is the Way to the Father. He is the Head and in Him we move and have our being.

We see the Faith of Abraham, which is the real lesson in the times of troubles. Romans 4:17-21 (as it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee) before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were. Who in hope believed against hope to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, so shall thy seed be. And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb, yet looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able to also to perform.

Let us see Abraham secret of success. He not only believed God, but he took his Word seriously. Most of us believe God and even his Word. We have no problem till here but Abraham has something more to say, He not only believed God but He believed God was able. The problem with the Church today is this we believe in God and His words but we are not sure that He is able! Abraham was fully assured that what God had promised, He was able to also to perform. Next, Abraham considered there is nothing good left in his body and in the Sarah’s womb but He considered God can give life to his body and to his wife’s womb. Many of us know there is nothing in us but we don’t believe there is everything in God that He can do. Is your heart troubled today? Believe in God and in Jesus Christ, believe his words and promises, believe that He is Able to perform what He has promised.

While I was reading John 14, I came across one thing which strengthened my hope. Verse 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you…Which tells me, whatever Jesus has told us it is there. He has never told us anything which is not there. We are living in the generation were people adds and subtracts lot of things and deceives many so they fall in their prey but here One who says only the truth. That gives me hope and enough reason to trust in my Lord! He is the same yesterday, today and future

Pray to God to give light about your life. You cannot win the battle by your own because you are weak and helpless but God is not! He is Almighty and Powerful! Look unto Him and believe!

Be encouraged!

 

 

Life founded on the Word

Psalm 119:33-35 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. [34] Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. [35] Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight

There are two books that clearly speak about the everlasting power and divinity of God. It is the Nature and the Holy Bible. Natural man should come to the Word to know his creator. He do not receive and cannot obey God’s law by himself (Romans 8:7) until he is born of the Word (1 Peter 1:23, John 3:5).The manifested Word gives new life and on the written Word this new life should be built. What I mean is this Jesus Christ gives life and on the Word we should build our Christian life. We will never know the teaching of Christ without knowing Christ. God bless you with this message.

David is praying for the revelation of the Word and while he is doing that he is longing for it. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Psalms 1 speaks about two kinds of people…One is God centered man and other one is self-centered man. What is the quality of God centered man? He has received the revelation about his life that’s why he run from the way of ungodly and delights and meditates in the Law of God. Revelation comes from God himself that’s why psalmist prays ‘Teach me, O Lord’. How much spiritual and victorious we are it doesn’t mean we should stop learning from the Lord. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus Christ. Jesus was serving her but Martha was serving Jesus. Both services are equally important but the best is to be served by Jesus. Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42). The times spend with Christ and His word will always prosper us in all areas of life.

Let us break down this verse to understand the life founded in the Word of God.

1. Teach me thy statues so that I shall keep it unto the END–

That shows the commitment. It’s very important to see how we approach the Word of God. Do we study to teach others and preach? Of course! We have to teach and preach the Word of God but that’s not the priority. The first and foremost thing the Word is given to apply and then supply! David says; teach me so that I shall keep it! He don’t say, teach me so that I can teach others. In Psalms 51:12-13 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to you.David says, revive and restore me Lord, build me, empower me first then I will teach thy Way to the sinners and what happens to the life of sinners? They are converted! Word of God is not something that we should obey sometimes or only on certain days but all the days of our life. Remember, it is God’s word. Eternal and sealed forever. (Meaning of statues – engraved that never passes away)

2.Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law and I shall observe it with whole heart–This shows the Word of God is practiced –Mathew 7:24-25 “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock”. Who is the wise man? Not the one who finished his house quickly but the one who dug deep and founded his house upon the rock. Who is the wise man? Not the one who just hears but also practice everything what he hears. Our hearing and reading of the Word should lead us to good works. David says, I shall observe your Law with whole heart. Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law on the cross but that doesn’t nullify the Law. It’s true that we are not under the law but under grace. Grace does not nullify the Law infact we could come to the grace because of the Law. Law breaks us but Grace mends and enables us. Paul says, it is a school master that leads us to the Savior. Then how can we practice the Law daily in our lives? The whole Law can be summoned into two Love your God and Love thy neighbor. We have to obey and we can observe this with whole heart through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of Christ Jesus.

3.Make me to go in the path of thy commandments, for therein do I delight–

This shows the Word of God is Experienced. 1 John 1:1 that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. John says we have not only heard or seen Him but we have touched Him. I love this verse. Lord, take me through your truth and let me not just feel it but let it settle down in my spirit to experience it.That’s the spirit of this verse. Now that not only speaks about peace and joy because we all know Word of God brings peace and joy (Psalms 119:165) but do we know it brings rain, wind, floods and scorching heat? Mathew 13 and Mathew 7:24-25 teaches us this.2 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. [16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] that the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto all good works Even in the scorching heat and the winds that hits our life we experience the warmth of God through His matchless Word…If your life is truly founded in the Word then you will understand what I am talking.

Jesus told about the wise and the foolish builder but how in the world you know who is wise and who is foolish because both of them made a similar house. The Day will declare it and even some of the circumstances of this present life. When the wind beats the wall and floods runs deep then we will know who was wise and who was not. One of the marks to test if our life is really founded on the Word is this…we will be Committed to the Word daily and to the end of our life, we will Practice it by trusting in the grace of our Master and Experiencing everything it brings to our life with thankfulness.

Be vigilant!