Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Month: October 2010 Page 2 of 3

Winning Wars :: Why fight?

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On October 15, 2010

In Christian, Winning Wars

There are many reasons as to why wars are fought; some are fought in the name of love, while others in the name of hate; some to subjugate and take over while others are fought in the stead of the weak who are subjugated. Ironically, many wars are fought in the name of religion when the very essence of that religion is an undercurrent based on love.

Christian life is likened to that of a soldier in which each Christian is to clothe themselves with the armor of God. As Christians, is there ever a reason for one to engage in battle, to fight a war? Yes, there is and that is to “Stand, Withstand and Show“. We must gird ourselves with the armor of God (belt of Truth, the breastplate or Righteousness, feet fitted with readiness of the gospel of Peace, shield of Faith,  helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit) so that we may STAND against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11,13,14); and WITHSTAND in the evil day (Ephesians 6:13). And while these are reasons to be prepared for war, what is the reason to fight in the war?

Why fight? We must fight so that we may ‘Show’ that there is a God who fights for us. This is especially needed in a world that is succumbing to atheism and unproven scientific hypotheses that attempts to disprove the existence of God. When David fought Goliath, He fought for this very reason as expressed in 1 Samuel 17: 46 –  “that all the earth may know that there is a God [in Israel].” Though Christians may be much smaller than the giant of the world which taunts us to succumb to its anti-theist fallacies, defying the living God, we must engage in battle and fight, so that the earth may know (in other words, so that we may show) that there is A God; the ONE TRUE God, Jesus Christ.

Are you/I engaged in a war? What is the reason for your/my fight?

Ephesians 6:11-14 (KJV)
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1 Samuel 17:46-47 (KJV)
46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.

Winning Wars :: Supernatural Vision

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On October 14, 2010

In Christian, Winning Wars

When David fought the giant Goliath, while the Israelite armies fretted seeing a  man, taunting and defying the armies of the Living God (1 Samuel 17:24), David saw the Creator God who had made him and the giant. This we can perceive from what he tells Goliath, that he came to battle in the name of the Lord of hosts and that on that very day, the LORD shall deliver Goliath into his hands whom he shall smite so that the earth may know that there is a God [in Israel] (1 Samuel 17:45-46). David trusted that the Lord who had promised to be with Israel when they went to war (Deuteronomy 20:1) was there on the battle field alongside him and is the One who prevails over all his enemies (Isaiah 42:13).

When the king of Syria went to war against Israel and sought God’s prophet Elisha, the king sent horses, chariots and an army that compassed around the city of Dothan in which Elisha was. When the servant of Elisha, saw the army with horses and chariots, he fearfully asked Elisha as to what they should do? Elisha assured him that those who were with them outnumbered those who were in the Syrian army and prayed that the Lord open the eyes of his servant so that he may see. When the Lord granted His prophet’s request, the servant’s eyes were opened and in supernatural vision, he saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha.

Winning the war is not about seeing what/whom we have to win over, but it is about seeing THE ONE with whom we are, who wins the war for us. We must pray that our eyes are opened so that we may see the armies of God fighting with and for us in our Spiritual warfare. The battle is in heavenly realms and as we partake in it, we must not be blind but have supernatural vision, i.e., vision that clearly sees the Supernatural God and his armies fighting for us.

2 Kings 6:8-17 (KJV)
8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Winning Wars :: Hold ‘Em Hands High

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On October 13, 2010

In Christian, Winning Wars

The book of Exodus in chapter 17 verses 8 to 13, records the war that the Israelites led by Joshua fought against Amalek. During the course of this war, Moses who had commanded Joshua to fight, goes on to the top a hill, along with his brother Aaron and Hur and he held his hand high [towards God in heaven] and as long as his hands were  held high, the Israelites prevailed and each time Moses let down his hands, the Amalekites prevailed. While this account may seems to be odd to some, there is a hidden treasure that we can learn from the gesture that is mentioned.

Holding up ones hands for a prolonged period of time is not a easy undertaking by any chance. The force of gravity will pull our hands down. You can try this yourself, hold both your hands high over your shoulders as if they are stretched out to touch the ceiling and count as to how long you can hold them high before gravity pulls them down.

For the Spiritual war to be won in our lives, we are to hold our hands high in praises of and in petition to the Almighty God and Creator. By doing so we demonstrate that we persevere against the elements that pull us down. Only when we let the forces of life pull our hands from adoring and appealing to God, the enemy can have victory over us. To win in the Spiritual warfare that we are engaged, we must lift up our hands  in appeal and adoration of the very one who made our hands.

Exodus 17:8-13 (KJV)
8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
9 And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.
10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13 And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Winning Wars :: Cry and Commit

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On October 12, 2010

In Christian, Winning Wars

The Bible in the first book of Chronicles records that the Israelites (sons of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh), went to war against the Hagarites and were successful in winning the war. These men were not only valiant but they were skillful in war (buckler, sword and bow) as well (1 Chronicles 5:19), but it was not their valiance or their skill that made them win the war. It was because the Lord intreated for the Israelites and fought their fight. But why did the Lord fight for the Israelites? The Lord fought for the Israelites, because they cried out to him and put their trust in Him (1 Chronicles 5:20). In other words, they cried to God for help and trusted that He will show up to fight for them. They committed their war cry to the Lord.

We are to do likewise as well, when it comes to fighting our Spiritual wars. Not only must we cry out to the Lord, but we must commit ourselves and our strategy, plans, ways, … to the Lord and trust in Him completely. This also affirms that our valiance and skill is not what is needed to win a war. When God fights our battles, one thing is certain, we will always win. Cry and commit to Him all things.

1 Chronicles 5:18-20 (KJV)
18 The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, and to shoot with bow, and skilful in war, were four and forty thousand seven hundred and threescore, that went out to the war.
19 And they made war with the Hagarites, with Jetur, and Nephish, and Nodab.
20 And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and he was intreated of them; because they put their trust in him.

Winning Wars :: Lamp and Trumpet

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On October 11, 2010

In Christian, Winning Wars

The book of Judges, in chapter 7, records a fascinating account of the Lord leading an army of 300 men with Gideon as their leader, against the Midianite army whose number is likened to be like that of the sands of the sea (Judges 7:7,12). Interestingly, instead of arming the men with weapons of warfare, Gideon gives to each man, to hold in his hand a pitcher with a lamp within and a trumpet. Upon reaching the vicinity of the enemy camp, the trumpets are sounded, the pitchers are broken and each man holds in his left hand a lamp and in his right the trumpet to blow proclaiming, the sword of the Lord, and victory in won.

As an earthern vessel (pitcher) (2 Corinthians 4:7), we have in us, the Light (lamp) of the world, Jesus Christ (John 9:5). Just as the pitchers were broken, we must be broken (put on the mind of humility) so that the Light of the world, shall shine forth over the darkness of sin and death. We must also take in our hands, the trumpet to sound and proclaim the sword of the Lord, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). In other words, we must be vocal of our faith in Jesus Christ.

For victory in the war that happens in heavenly realms, we must have Jesus Christ (lamp) in us (pitchers) and not be afraid to proclaim Him with booming (trumpet) sound.

Pre-requisite to Preaching

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On October 8, 2010

In Christian

Apostle Paul is renowned to be an effective, if not the most effective disciple of Jesus Christ, but before he started on his commission of preaching and proving that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 9:20,22), the Bible records that, after Saul encountered the Lord Jesus Christ, he abstained from any food or water (Acts 9:9) and he prayed (Acts 9:11).

While growing up, I remember reading the following phrase on a plaque, “The best exercise to the soul is to get down on your knees”. Recently,  my beloved wife, Sangeetha Johnson shared with her friends, the following quote “Send Jesus a Knee-mail and He will love it”. All these reflect the fact that Prayer is crucially important. Jesus has the words of eternal life (John 6:68) and unless we pray and talk to him, (abstaining from all the temporary satisfaction of their live), how can we get those words to pass on.

Prayer is a pre-requisite to preaching and proving that Jesus is the Lord.

Acts 9:11 (KJV)
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

The commission is NOT optional

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On October 7, 2010

In Christian, On Damascus Road

Upon the recognition of the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, Saul, immediately questioned the Lord “What will thou have me to do?”, but did you notice, how the the Lord responded. The Lord’s response was, “Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” First, he was asked to Arise, then He was commissioned to Go and then he was advised to wait for the Lord’s instructions that was to come to him, which he MUST follow. Saul asked for God’s will but the Lord did not respond by saying, “I will that you would or should or could do what you are told.” Instead, the Lord responded by saying that Saul MUST do what he will be told. Saul’s commission was not optional, neither is ours.

In the same manner, when we seek to do God’s will and we encounter the Lord Jesus Christ, He first want us to “arise” from our fallen state. He wants us to be on our feet and not knocked down by the devil or his schemes or by our own selfish sinful desires. Then he commissions us to “go” in His Name. But when we go, obeying, we need not be anxious of what is to transpire, because the Lord’s instructions will be sent to us at its appointed time. Jesus said, “give no thought to how or what you should answer when you stand before men for my Name, for the words that you must speak will be given to you, when needed, by the Holy Spirit of God” (Luke 12:11-34)). But we must recognize  that when the Lord’s instructions of what we must do is received, it is not optional but that it MUST be done.

His will is our MUST. When Jesus prayed in agony in the garden of Gethsemane, just before he was to be crucified, he asked God the Father to take the suffering that was to be, but in that same breath he expressed that, it not be His will, but that God’s will be done. In other words, when Jesus expressed that God’s will be done and not His own, He was surrendering totally to the will of God and in a sense asking God “What will thou have me to do?” and God’s response was “you MUST suffer and become sin so that the sinful can be made blameless and righteous in my Name.”

If you have asked the Lord, “Lord, what will thou have me to do?”, the next step is to take time to wait patiently for Him and when He sends His instructions, remember it is not optional. It is something that we MUST do, be it shame, suffering or sacrifice.

The Question to ask Jesus after Salvation

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On October 6, 2010

In Christian, On Damascus Road

When Saul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he first asked, Who are you, Lord? Then upon hearing the response from that Lord and recognizing that it was Jesus whom he had encountered, He asks the Lord another question stating “Lord, what will you have me to do?” Note, how the first time, Saul, asks a question and then addresses the one questioned as Lord. But the second time, Saul, starts his question by addressing the one questioned first as Lord.

The Salvation, from eternal damnation, experience is comprised of not just identifying who Jesus is, but identifying with Jesus (believing in Him) and accepting His Lordship over our lives. But then, what must one do? We must ask the same question that Saul asked Jesus after He addressed Him as Lord. We must ask “Lord, what will you have me to do?” The doing (works) follows the believing (faith) for we are saved by Grace (alone) by faith, called unto (to do) [Godly and] good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). Faith without work is dead! (James 2:17).

This is THE Question to ask after we believe in Jesus. It is also important to recognize that the converted Saul asked for what the will of God was (What wilt thou have me to do?). In other words, he was seeking to do the works that were in the will of God. Many a times, I find myself telling God what I think I should be doing, instead of asking Him as to what His will is and accepting it (without question) to do it as commissioned. Let us not forget to ask God for His will, which should be our work. Have you/I asked THE Question after our Salvation experience, to the Lord?

Acts 9:4-6 (KJV)
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

James 2:17 (KJV)
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Persecuting Jesus

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On October 5, 2010

In Christian, On Damascus Road

The question that Apostle Paul (then Saul), hears from heaven, when he encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus was “Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me?”. One of the definitions for the word “Persecute” according to the Merriam-Websters dictionary is “to harass or punish in a manner designed to injure, grieve, or afflict; specifically : to cause to suffer because of belief”. Though this may seem like a question that is solely directed to Saul, closer introspection of the text surfaces that it is applicable to each one of us, who are believers in Christ as well.

The same question can be turned and asked of each one of us, “Saint, Saint, Why do you trample the Son of God?“. When sinners believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they are removed from the power and penalty of sin, and turned to saints, but when a saint backslides willingly, the Scriptures likens such willful disobedience to be the same as trampling the Son of God under foot, grieving Him and His Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:26-29).

Many a times, I have been found guilty of willingly disobeying God and now with this insight that I can persecute (grieve) Jesus with my willful disobedience, I pray for his forgiveness and seek to submit totally to His Lordship. I don’t want to have Jesus ask me “Mano, Mano, Why do you trample me, the Son of God? Why do you persecute me?” How about you? If you encounter Christ Jesus today, what is the question that He has for you?

Hebrews 10:26-29 (KJV)
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Ephesians 4:30 (KJV)
30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Take time to be blind

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On October 4, 2010

In Christian

Many of us are familiar with or have heard of the conversion of Saul to Apostle Paul on his road to Damascus, but closer introspection of the Scripture reveals, certain hidden treasures that can be cursorily overlooked. Saul (before his conversion to Paul) in his encounter with Jesus Christ, on the road to Damascus, was surrounded by a light from heaven. He fell down and he heard a voice, asking him “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”. Saul questions, “Who are you, Lord?” to which the Lord replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting”. In response with trembling and astonishment, Saul asks another question, “Lord, what will thou have me to do?”. Saul is informed to go into the city and wait until further instructions are sent to him. Interestingly, the Scripture then records, that when Saul rose up, he opened his eyes and he saw no man (was blind). It also records that those who were with him were speechless, for they heard the voice, but did not see any man.

Note how the Scripture says, Saul opened his eyes and was blind. This would imply that prior to his opening of his eyes, his eyes were closed. But then when his eyes were closed, how is it that he questions, who are you, Lord? One may think that he asked that question in response to that voice that he heard from heaven. But the Scripture also tells us that the others who were with him, heard the voice, but did not see any man. Wonder, why Saul is excluded from this list of others? Logically, this would mean that Saul was the only one who saw someone and the one who was seen by Saul, identified Himself to be Jesus, the one from heaven (John 6:32,38), The Light of the world (John 8:12). But herein lies the issues that may seem contradictory. First we established that Saul’s eyes were closed and now we see that Saul saw Jesus.

The Bible states that the light shined around Saul. It makes no mention of the light shining around those who were with Saul and we learn that they did not see any man but merely heard the voice. There are many in the world with open eyes, who can hear the voice of God, but they don’t see him. Those on whom the Light of the World (Jesus Christ) from heaven shines are those who can see Jesus, when their eyes are shut from seeing anything or anyone else.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. What are some of the things in our life, in this world, that is keeping our eyes (focus) away from Christ Jesus? Is it our families/homes, jobs/work, pleasures/hobbies, sins, etc.?
2. We must take time to be blind (close our eyes) so that the attractions and pleasures of this world does not distract us; and that we see no one else but Jesus and be enlightened by Him.

Look ye blind, that ye may see (Isaiah 42:18)

Acts 9: 1-8 (KJV)
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

John 9:39-41 (KJV)
39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

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