Month: July 2011 Page 2 of 3

On July 14, 2011

Do you want to live forever? If so, you have to taste; taste the grace of God (1 Peter 2:2-4): blessed is the man that trusts in him (Psalm 34:8). To taste is to experience by consumption. Food that is tasty and palatable to the mind is consumed and assimilated into one’s being. The most delicious food cannot be enjoyed if it simply sits on the table. One cannot enjoy its goodness until they have taken it into their mouth and tasted it. The same is true of Jesus Christ. Until one trust in Him and accepts Him, they cannot experience His goodness or His grace (1 Peter 2:2-4). The grace of God is that Jesus tasted death once and for all (Hebrews 2:9) and so those who taste (accept) him, will not have to taste death (Matthew 16:27-28). When Christ is taken in and assimilated into one’s life, He becomes part of that person, and He dwells in that person.

And for those of us who have tasted Christ, we ought to make known the goodness of that taste to those who have not yet tasted (experienced) him. Job questions, can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt (Job 6:6). If food is bland, then it is not very palatable. Seasonings and salt add to the flavor of food that makes it palatable. In the same manner, if the lives of those who are believers of Christ is not seasoned and unsalted, then others will not be attracted to experience Christ. Jesus said, we are the salt of the earth and we cannot lose our saltiness (Matthew 5:13) lest we make Christ Jesus unpalatable to those who observe our lives.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. Have you tasted Christ? If you have, is the life you live, one that make Christ palatable to those who haven’t?

Hebrews 2:9 (KJV)
⁹ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Romans 8:10-11 (KJV)¹⁰And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

John 11:25-26 (KJV)
²⁵ Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Christian Senses :: To Smell

On July 13, 2011

The Bible talks about two kinds of smell, namely the stench of death and the aroma of life (2 Corinthians 2:16). Apostle Paul writes that as ministers of the New Covenant (i.e., followers of Christ), we are a sweet savour (aroma) of Christ unto God and the aroma of life unto those who have life, but the smell of death to those who are dying (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). In other words, as Christians we must smell. Yes you read that right! We must smell.

But what must we smell like?

To God, we must be the sweet-smelling savor of Christ. What is this savour of Christ? It is the aroma of A sacrifice. Jesus gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor (Ephesians 5:2). Likewise, our lives must be an offering and a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2), with an aroma that is sweet-smelling to God.

Now to men, what kind of a smell are we, when we bring the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ? If you liken the good news to a rose and it is presented to someone, some would smell the fragrance of the rose and enjoy it while others may complain about the thorns that can prick them. The same is true when we present the Rose of Sharon (Jesus Christ) to others. Those who are in Christ, will perceive him to be the aroma of life while others who are have not believed in Him or who outrightly reject/deny Him will perceive such knowledge to be the smell of death, when it pricks their conscience. Irrespective of what one perceives, we are to present Jesus Christ and live a life of service unto God and man, so that we are a sweetsmelling aroma to God.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. If God was to smell you/me today, what would we smell like? Stench or Aroma?
2. Are/I you willing to present the Rose of Sharon, Jesus Christ, to those around us?

Ephesians 5:2 (KJV)
² And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (KJV)
¹⁴ Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
¹⁵ For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
¹⁶To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Christian Senses :: To Hear

On July 12, 2011

After Jesus read the portion from Isaiah, that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him, because he was anointed to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (captive) and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19), Jesus said that this scripture was now fulfilled in their ears. His words were “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” implying that in the hearing of Jesus, as the Salvation of mankind is the fulfillment of the scripture (Luke 4:21).

Faith (Salvation) comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). What is this word? Prophet Isaiah tells us that the word of the Lord that was revealed to him in his ears, by the LORD of hosts, is that his iniquity (sins) shall not be purged until he dies (Isaiah 22:14). The word of God is that we must die; die to self and die to sin. In other words, we must be righteous and holy. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (Romans 4:8) but righteousness. To be righteous, we must be imputed righteousness, which is possible only by believing in Jesus. For when we believe in Jesus Christ, His righteousness is imputed on us (Romans 4:24).

He who has an ear, let him hear, what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.

Point(s) to ponder:
Have you/I heard the word of God? In Christ Jesus alone, is the scripture fulfilled (in our ears).

Luke 4:17-21 (KJV)¹⁷And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
¹⁸The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
¹⁹To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
²⁰And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
²¹And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Isaiah 22:14 (KJV)
¹⁴ And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Christian Senses :: To See

On July 11, 2011

The lyrics of one of the songs, I learned in my childhood days was “O be careful little eyes what you see, for there is a Father up above and He is looking down with love, so be careful little eyes what you see.” But what is such a simple truth, instilled in us, when when we were children, is still extremely relevant, even today, to all ages. We must be careful with our eyes, what we see.

The Bible records that when satan beguiled Eve, she saw the fruit of the tree and it was good and pleasant to her eye, and desiring to gain wisdom, she took it and ate it (Genesis 3:6), directly disobeying God. With the seeing and partaking of what was forbidden by God, did mankind lose their relationship with God. But interestingly, it is with the seeing and partaking of the ONE who was forsaken by God, does mankind gain their relationship back with God. Jesus was the one forsaken of God (Matthew 27:46) so that God did not have to forsake us and only those who partake of Jesus can one be reconciled back to God. To partake of Jesus is to believe in him. Only those who have believed in Jesus are sanctified and made pure by the blood that He shed on the Cross, by which there is remission of sin (Matthew 26:28) and when one is made pure in heart, they can see God (Matthew 5:8).

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus tells us that the rich man saw from hell, what was transpiring above in the heaven, but it was too late for him (Luke 16:23). If we choose not to see Jesus, while we are on earth, as our Lord and Savior; as our Salvation, it will be too late for us, to see Jesus as our Savior, from hell. Only after the seeing of the Lord Jesus as one’s Salvation can one truly depart (from this world) in peace (Luke 2:25-30).

Points to ponder:
With our eyes we can choose to see the lust and lures of this world or we can choose to see the Lord God, the Salvation. Choose ye, this day what/whom you shall see, but as for me and my house, we will see the Salvation of the Lord (Luke 2:30).

Luke 2:25-32 (KJV)²⁵ And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
²⁶ And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
³²A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Luke 16:22-24 (KJV)²²And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
²³And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
²⁴And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

Independence Series :: Liberty not License

On July 8, 2011

Unfortunately, today, many take the grace of God and trample it under foot, by willful disobedience and a lifestyle that displeases God. I will be the first to admit, that I have been guilty of the same. Often we hear sermons, on the grace of God and the fact that there is no condemnation in Christ, but seldom are we told that the suffix to the “no condemnation in Christ” assurance, is that one ought to walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. But sadly, the Liberty we experience in Christ, becomes a license to sin. We get churned into a wheel of sin – ask forgiveness – sin – ask forgiveness – ad infinitum. Although everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial (1 Corinthians 10: 23) and the Liberty we have in Christ is one that must be exercised with restraint, especially if it could end up becoming a stumbling block to someone else.

Point(s) to ponder:
We may be free in Christ, but we are not at liberty to do what we please, even if it is permissible, when it hampers (becomes a stumbling block) another person’s ability to experience that same freedom in Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:9 (KJV)
⁹ But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Hebrews 10:26-29 (KJV)
²⁶For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
²⁷But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
²⁸He 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?

Independence Series :: The Spirit of Freedom

On July 7, 2011

The Bible states that the Spirit of the Lord is given as a gift to all who believe in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). The Bible also states that “we are the temple of the living God and the Spirit of God dwells in us (1 Corinthians 3:16)”. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). In other words, freedom is in us, if we believe; freedom from law, from the wages of sin, from condemnation. This is true independence.

Points to ponder:
Are you/I free? In other words, does the Spirit of the Lord dwell in you/me? Has our temple been cleaned by the blood of Jesus Christ, or does he have to take a whip to set things right before God? Only in a cleaned temple will the Spirit of the Lord dwell.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV)
¹⁷ Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Independence Series :: Freedom to serve

On July 6, 2011

Interestingly, though many a times,freedom wars are fought so that one nation need not be in servitude of another, in Christianity, freedom (liberty) that is given, when one believes in Jesus Christ, is not so that one need not serve anymore, but in fact it is given freely so that one does serve. Liberty in Jesus Christ is given so that we will be obedient and willing servants of the Most High God. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we are made free from being slaves to sin to being servants of righteousness.

Points to ponder:
“Are you/I free?” In other words, that same question can be asked, “Are you/I a servant of God?”

1 Peter 2:15-16 (KJV)
¹⁵ For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
¹⁶As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

1 Corinthians 7:22 (KJV)
²² For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

Independence Series :: From yoking

On July 5, 2011

As Christ Jesus’ followers, we are not to be conformed to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, for we are set apart (sanctified) by the Holy Spirit of God (Romans 12:2, 1 peter 1:2). We are expected to be independent of the world, though we inhabit it, even if it is only for a short while, for all those who are friends of this world (system) are enemies of God (James 4:4). So on one hand, we are not to be yoked with the world. On the other hand, Jesus said, that His burden was light and His yoke was easy (Matthew 11:30). This implies that we are to be yoked with Jesus Christ and bear His burden (Matthew 11:29), which is the Salvation of all mankind, for God does not want anyone to perish, but that all must come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

In summary, our independence from the world must result in us being in dependence of Jesus Christ, i.e., our freedom comes from being freed from yoking to the world and from being yoked to Christ.

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
²⁸Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Independence Series :: True Freedom

On July 4, 2011