To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Month: June 2010 Page 2 of 3

Mind over body – The need for Placebo Christians

Master Joe Schaefer, founder and owner of the Austin Shaolin-Do Kung Fu school, was expressing to me and another student, the power of the mind over the body and used the following illustration to demonstrate his thesis. He said, if I ask you to carry a 50 pound sandbag to the hospital that is about a mile away, you are mostly likely not going to be able to do it, but if I was to ask you to carry your son who needs medical attention to the hospital that is a mile away, you will do it. Medically, the power of the mind over the body has been demonstrated using placebo experiments such as inert tablets and sham surgeries. Commonly known as the placebo effect, believing that a medicine or procedure is therapeutic when in fact it is not, has been proven to show considerable improvement of the health in patients. So it is no surprise, that the mind has a major role to play in the well being of a person or the will of a person to accomplish an objective. We can apply the same principle in our Christian life/walk.

Jesus said, you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and MIND (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). It is interesting that when the people found the man from whom the legion of evil spirits had been exorcised by Jesus, sitting at the feet of Jesus, they found him clothed and with a right mind (Mark 5:15). When we believe in Jesus Christ, we are given a sound/right mind (2 Timothy 1:7), but the body (flesh) wars against the mind and when the mind wants to accomplish the objectives of God, the body often seeks otherwise. There is a constant battle between the mind and the body and apostle Paul succinctly expressed this warfare when he described that the things he did not want to do (that his mind told him not to), those things he did (because the body/flesh made him do so) and that which he wanted to do, he did not (Romans 7:15-25).  I can empathize and relate with apostle Paul and I recognize that we must put on the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5), who humbled himself and subjected his body to be broken as a sacrifice, once and for all (Hebrews 10:10). There is a need for placebo Christians; those who believe in the power of God and exercise the power of the mind (that God has created) over the body (that is to be offered as a living sacrifice to God). And to train our mind to have control over the body, we need to first wear the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17) and renew our mind with the things that are true, honest, just, pure, and of good report, virtue and praise (Philippians 4:8) so that we are transformed and not conformed to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2), which is in enmity with God (James 4:4).

Point(s) to ponder:
1. Are you/I a placebo Christian?
2. Philippians 4:8 states “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” What are you/I thinking about, in other words what is our mind dwelling on?

Romans 8:5-7 (KJV)
5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

An offering for an offering!

The writer to the Hebrews writes in chapter 10 verse 10 that Jesus Christ was offered bodily once for all. But why was Jesus an Offering? The answer is found in the text itself, Jesus was offered so that all can be sanctified. To be sanctified is to be set apart. To be set apart is to be renewed in our minds and refreshed in our heart to have allegiance unto none other than Jesus Christ. In other words, to be set apart is to offer ourselves (our bodies) as a living sacrifice.

Jesus offered Himself to the death sacrifice so that we can offer ourselves as a living sacrifice.
Jesus Christ offered his body and we are expected to do the same as well.

In other words, an offering for an offering. His offering warrants ours.

Hebrews 10:10 (KJV)
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1
I  beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The ultimate sacrifice

The following is a true story and it was published in the Fishing Chimes journal Volume 17, No 3 in July 1997.  It is the story of a boy who was an avid aquarist who got home a common Octopus.  The Octopus got used to its new home (aquarium) within a couple of days. The boy used to feed it small fish and other fish food and they developed a friendship. The Octopus would also allow him to feed it using a feeding stick, but one day, for no apparent reason, the Octopus stopped eating. The boy even tried to force feed it with a stick but the Octopus just refrained from eating. With its tentacles it would push the food away. He started to get worried and so he inspected the aquarium tank and found that in the tank, there was something that looked like a string of pearls. He first thought that it was some kind of dirt and tried to remove it but the Octopus would try and grab the pearly string back. Only then did it dawn on him that it could be the eggs of the Octopus.

The next day, he went to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute and spoke with the Scientist, one by name R. Sarvesan, who had done some work on Cephalopod biology in the late 1960s. The scientist advised him to record everything like water temperature, pH, the behavior of the Octopus, saying that it is very rare for an Octopus to lay eggs in captivity and little is known as to how an Octopus takes care of their eggs. He also mentioned that in the wild, the mother Octopus abstains from feeding when it lays its eggs until they hatch. The scientist knew something that he did not tell the boy, a truth that the boy will find out only after the eggs hatch.

Depending on the temperature of the water, the eggs could take anywhere from four weeks to four months to hatch. This boy watched patiently each day, hoping for the eggs to hatch. It took nearly a month (about 29 days) for the eggs to hatch and during that entire period the Octopus did not eat anything. On the day the eggs hatched the Octopus finally came out from under the shell (it used as its home in the tank) as if to see its tiny little Octopi babies swimming around. The boy noticed that his Octopus was now really lean, thin, weak and moving very slowly. He tried to feed it, but the Octopus did not even accept the food. It had taken care of its eggs and now they had hatched. Refusing to eat, it hobbled around in the tank and without warning, curled up its tentacles and dropped to the floor. It breathed its last and died that day, the day that new life had come into the tank. Later the boy realize that what the scientist had not told him, was that the highest degree of parental care is observed in Octopus and even in the wild, the mother Octopus dies the day the eggs hatch or shortly thereafter.

That day the boy, who is now grown and the author of this article, was sad while at the same time, awed at the extent of the sacrifice. Yes it was my Octopus friend and I learned about the extent of  True love between a mother and her babies. An ultimate sacrifice. Everytime I recount this true story, I can’t help but think of such a love, a great love that was demonstrated by God Himself, for all of mankind, his own – an ultimate sacrifice by Jesus of Himself, so that His children (you and me) can live. I lost an Octopus friend that day, but now know of a friend who can be yours too, who will always be there, whose name is Jesus Christ, the personification of love itself. Jesus said, I lay down my life for my sheep (John 10:11) and when God, THE JUST, warranted a sacrifice, Jesus the High Priest showed up to the sacrifice. He however showed up without the animal to be sacrificed; empty handed because He chose to offer Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, on account of us.

John 10:15 (KJV)
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 15:13-14 (KJV)
13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Images:
1 – Eggs of the Octopus as the string of pearls.
2 – Taken under a microsope, the three eggs show the developing young (visible eye spots) in different stages.

The sheep’s cry

When a sheep is lost, you would hear it bleat (cry) as it seeks to be found by the shepherd. The Psalmist expresses that this should be the cry of all who have gotten lost as stated in Psalm 119:176 which reads “I have  gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.”

Though we are like sheep gone astray and lost, the good news is that when we cry, Jesus Christ is not only a shepherd who seeks those who are lost (Luke 15) but that He is the good shepherd, one who is willing to give it all for us (His sheep), who will listen and respond. What should be the cry? Answer: Seek thy servant.

Is that your cry today? Is that my cry today?

Psalm 119:176 (KJV)
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

John 10:11 (KJV)
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Dwell with the King for his work …

1 Chronicles 4:23 records that the potters who dwelt among plants and hedges, dwelt with the king for his work.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. We as potters who are commissioned to plant the seed of the Gospel in others (Matthew 28:19), are we dwelling with the King Jesus?
  2. Are we dwelling with King Jesus for His work (not ours), which is to save all unto Himself.

1 Chronicles 4:23 (KJV)
23 These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.

Testimony turners …

Jesus when expressing the signs of His coming describes that in addition to natural disasters and man made wars, those who are faithful will be physically persecuted and imprisoned before principalities (kings and rulers) for His name sake (Luke 21:12). But why should the faithful be put into fiery trials and be persecuted? The answer is so that persecution can turn into preaching and trials into testimony (Luke 21:13).

The faithful shall be put into fiery trials so that we can shine out for Jesus; so that the name of Jesus for which we are persecuted would continue to be preached and given testimony of.
Turn to Jesus today and He will turn your trials into testimony.

Luke 21:12-13 (KJV)
12
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
13
And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

Lifted up to lift us up

In John 3:14, Jesus tells the learned Nicodemus that just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must [He], the Son of man be lifted up, basically speaking about the the manner of his crucifixion (lifted on the Cross).

But why did Jesus have to be lifted up? Jesus was lifted up so that He can lift us up; lift us out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay (Psalm 40:2); lift our souls out of the grave (Psalm 30:3); and most importantly Jesus was lifted up so that He could draw all men [and women] unto himself (John 12:32). Jesus was lifted up so He can lift us up. The question is are you drawn to and unto Jesus?

John 3:14 (KJV)
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

John 12:32 (KJV)
32 And I [Jesus], if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

Psalm 30:1,3 (KJV)
1
I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Doctrine – Perishable or Promotable

Some doctrines are meant to perish while there is ONE that persists which needs to be promoted. Colossians 2:22 states that all commandments and doctrines of men are to perish and Titus 2:10 states that one ought to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Interestingly, the Bible uses the word ‘doctrine’ in plural form for those that are of men, but in a singular form, for that which is of God. There is only one doctrine of God. What is it? Titus 2:11 gives us the answer. The doctrine of God is “the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men.” In other words, the doctrine of God is the Gospel; it is Jesus Christ.

The thesaurus lists ‘promotes’ as one of the synonyms that expresses ‘dignify’ for the word ‘adorn’. In other words, the doctrine of God is to be promoted (adorned/dignified) so that it is provocative to all who see us wear (adorn) it.

Doctrines of men perish, while the doctrine of God (Jesus Christ) is to be promoted.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. Are we (adorned) clothed with the doctrine of God i.e., Christ Jesus so that He is promoted or are we following and using perishable doctrines of men?

Colossians 2:21-22 (KJV)
21
(Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22
Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Titus 2:10 (KJV)
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

The Cry of the Heathen

As I read the poem “The Cry of the Heathen”, I wondered as to what the Cry is for. The Cry as you can read in the poem is an yearning for the Desire of every nation to come, lest they die. The Desire of every nation is the promised One of God as expressed through His prophet Haggai. Who is the Desire of every nation? The prophet Haggai records that the LORD of hosts will shake the nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and God will fill his temple with glory (Haggai 2:7). When the Desire of all nations comes, God will fill his house (temple) with glory. When Jesus entered into the temple at Jerusalem, he cleansed it and restored it to be the house of prayer. Following that, interestingly, the Bible records that the blind and the lame came to Him at the temple and He healed them (Matthew 21:13-14). Jesus does the same when he comes into our lives (for we are the temple of God). He cleanses us, and restores us to have communion (prayer dialog) with God and those who could not see (blind) or were unable to walk in the Spirit (lame) are healed to see Him, Jesus Christ, the Desire of all nations and walk in newness of life.

Sudden, before my inward, open vision,
Millions of faces crowded up to view;
Sad eyes that said, “For us is no provision;
Give us your Saviour, too
.”

Give us,” they cry, “your cup of consolation.
Never to our outstretching hands ’tis passed;
We long for the Desire of every nation,
And, O, we die so fast.”

Now to those of us who know Jesus Christ, the Desire of all nations, are we responding to the Cry of the Heathen; a Cry that is calling for our Savior, so they don’t die (spiritually without knowing Jesus Christ)?

Haggai 2:7 (KJV)
7And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

The Ambassador’s assignment

The Bible says that we are ambassadors for Jesus Christ. An ambassador is an alien in the country He is sent to on a mission. Likewise our citizenship is in heaven, and we are aliens on earth (Philippians 3:20), but what is our mission?

Elizabeth Cheney’s poem,  “There is a Man on the cross” best describes our calling and commission.

Whenever there is silence around me
by day or by night
I am startled by a cry.
It came down from the cross —
The first time I heard it.
I went out and searched —
and found a Man in the throes of crucifixion,
and I said, “I will take You down,”
and I tried to take the nails out of His feet.
But He said, “Let them be,
for I cannot be taken down
until every man, every woman and every child
come together to take Me down.”
And I said: “But I cannot hear you cry.
What can I do?”
And he said, “Go about the world —
Tell everyone that you meet —
There is a Man on the cross.

2 Corinthians 5:20 (KJV)
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 (KJV)
17
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

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