Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Month: March 2013 Page 1 of 3

Total Surrender :: Father, into thy hands, I commend my spirit

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On March 31, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ seventh saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle Luke in chapter 23 verse 46. It reads, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

Jesus’ body and blood was given for mankind (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). Jesus’ Holy Spirit was presented to God for approval (which is what commend means) and upon God’s acceptance and approval of Jesus’ sacrifice, of which the Holy Spirit who was surrendered is a witness (Hebrews 10:14-15), God could now send the Holy Spirit of Jesus to dwell within men for we are now the temple of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Points to ponder:
Jesus totally surrendered his life and spirit for you and me. He totally surrendered his living Spirit to God so that the living Spirit of God could be sent to dwell within our lives, when we totally surrender ourselves to God. Have you told God, “Father, into your hands, I commend my spirit” as I totally surrender? Have you totally surrendered?

Luke 23:46 (KJV)
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of [received from] God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

No more, Nothing more :: It is finished

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On March 30, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ sixth saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle John in chapter 19 verse 30. It reads, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

Jesus said, “It is finished” to not only imply but also affirm that, that which was needed was indeed completed. The price that was necessary to redeem mankind from the power of sin and its wages, which is death, was paid in full. There is no more debt remaining. This also meant that there is nothing more necessary to save one’s soul because Jesus’ willing sacrifice was pleasing to God and was accepted by God, once and for all (Hebrews 10:12).

Points to ponder:
It is finished means there is no more debt; it means there is nothing more needed. In other words, it means it is all grace and no works that is necessary to save mankind (Ephesians 2:8-9). All works and no grace will keep the state of man’s soul unredeemed. All grace and no works will redeem the soul of man. We can confidently sing “Jesus paid it all” because he victoriously declared “It is finished.”

John 19:30 (KJV)
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (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.

Quenched :: I thirst

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On March 29, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ fifth saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle John in chapter 19 verse 28. It reads, “After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.”

While some have exposited on this saying of Christ, “I thirst” as a literal expression of Jesus’ physical human thirst, others have expressed this as a symbolic expression of his spiritual thirst longing for the many souls he came to redeem; both of which are certainly plausible. Furthermore, some have pressed on to state that this is an expression of his longing for his reunion with God his Father, from whom he had felt forsaken which he expressed in his question to God in his fourth saying from the Cross.

Yet as I pondered over this saying, I felt led by the Holy Spirit, that another revelation of his living Word convicts me to believe that the God who thirsted on the Cross, thirsted so that you and I would not have to thirst anymore. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that whoever drinks of the water that he shall give shall never thirst; but the water that he shall give, shall be in that person a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14).

Points to ponder:
Jesus thirsted so that you and I need not thirst anymore. Are you thirsty or are you quenched? If you are thirsty, come to Jesus who thirsted for you and me. Come and receive the living water that he gives – so that we may never thirst again. If you have already come and are quenched, then let the refreshing and rejuvenating water of the Holy Spirit within renew your heart and become in you a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 19:28 (KJV)
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

John 4:19 (KJV)
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Why :: Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani (My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?)

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On March 28, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ fourth saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle Matthew in chapter 27 verse 46. It reads, Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

To an omnipotent God this question may be rhetorical but this question warrants an answer, for even the angels desires to know the mystery of Salvation found in Jesus Christ, which is revealed unto man by the revelation and power of the Holy Ghost (1 Peter 1:12).

Question: Why was Jesus forsaken?
Answer: You
Answer: Me

Points to ponder:
God (the Father) forsook God (the Son) so that he did not have to forsake us. Jesus cried from the Cross, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” and today he is crying, “My child, my child, why have you forsaken me?” If you (and I) are forsaking God with our selfish and sinful lifestyle, let us forsake our own life (as Jesus willingly did) to gain it from the One who is Life personified.

Matthew 27:46 (KJV)
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

1 Peter 1:12 (KJV)
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Behold :: Woman, Behold thy Son! … Behold thy Mother!

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On March 27, 2013

In Christian, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ third saying from the Cross was addressed to Mary his mother and to the disciple whom he loved and it is recorded in the gospel according to the apostle John in chapter 19 verses 26 and 27. In this saying, Jesus tells Mary and the disciple standing beside the Cross,  to look (behold) at each other, and from that hour, the disciple takes her to be part of his own home (family).

Jesus addresses his mother as ‘Woman’. The very first time the word ‘Woman’ is used in the Bible, it is used in the context of establishing a family, when Adam (the first man) calls Eve (his wife) ‘woman’ as he recite the first love poem of her being the bone of his bones and the flesh of his flesh (Genesis 2:23). From the Cross again, Jesus is using the same word ‘Woman’, to address his mother, here in the context of establishing a family for her.

Also, did you notice that Jesus tells his mother and his disciple to look at each other. Just as it was in the garden of Eden, God is interested in establishing familial relationships from the Cross.

Points to ponder:
The world is attempting to redefine what constitutes a family, many a times, violating the plan that God has planned since the first family between a man and a woman, in the garden of Eden. God wants us to look (behold) at the family and accept the widows, orphans, and others who have no one for them, as our own family. After all the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross beckons us to look at (behold) God as he takes us, the Church which is the bride (woman) of Jesus Christ, to be adopted into his family. Church, Behold the Family! Behold!

John 19:26-27 (KJV)
26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Today, You (with) Me :: Today shalt thou be with me in paradise

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On March 26, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ second saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to apostle Luke in chapter 23 verse 43. It reads “Verily, I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” This was said to a penitent sinner who was condemned by man to die alongside Jesus on his cross, when the malefactor recognized Jesus as Lord and King and asked to be remembered (Luke 23:42).

While on one hand, these words are words of assurance that grant access to the very throne of God, for anyone who repents and recognizes the Lordship and Kingship of Jesus, these words also have much truth hidden in it which close scrutiny reveals with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus was born, he was to be called “Emmanuel” which being interpreted is God with us (men/women) (Matthew 1:23). Now in his second saying from the Cross, Jesus was living up to his name, ironically by his death, whereby he made it possible for man to be with God.

In Jesus’ birth, it is God with man.
In Jesus’ death, it is man with God (in paradise).

Points to ponder:
Jesus said, “Verily, I say unto you. Today, shalt thou be with me in paradise.” to a repentant sinner. Now, can he say that of you? In other words, have you believed in him, repented and accepted him to your Lord and King? “Today, You (with) Me” says God. What is your response?

Luke 23:39-43 (KJV)
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

They know not :: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do

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On March 25, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ first saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to the apostle Luke in chapters 23 verse 34. It reads “Father, forgive them;  for they know not what they do.” referring to the parties that were responsible for his crucifixion at that present time, and all who preceded and succeeded them.

Jesus’ reasoning to God, his Father was that the people did not know. What is it that the people did not know? They did not know, that knowing God and Jesus, whom God had sent was eternal life (John 17:3). In other words, they did not know what eternal life is. They did not know that in killing Jesus, the One who is life personified, they were players in God’s grand plan of being gifted eternal life, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin and the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 6:23; John 3:16).

They did not know that the verdict of their guilty act of murdering Jesus was not death, but life; life eternal.

Points to ponder:
Do you know God the Father and Jesus whom he has sent, for only in knowing God the Father, and his Only begotten son, through the revelation of God’s Holy Spirit, are you assured of eternal life. If we know, and our verdict is life instead of the death which we deserve, are we living as if we have been gifted eternal life, or are we living our lives without Christ Jesus being the Lord and Master of our lives. In other words. would Jesus have to request to God the Father, today, for him to forgive us and give God the reason – They know not? Think about that.

Luke 23:33-34 (KJV)
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

All the world’s a herbivore, until …

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On March 22, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When God created man, after he had blessed him and commanded him to be fruitful and multiply, God gave every seed bearing herb and seed bearing tree as provisions of sustenance to man. It is important to recognize that seed bearing herbs and trees have the ability to reproduce and so they would not go extinct upon consumption.  To every living thing that was in the earth or the air, God gave every green herb as food. In other words, there were no carnivores. Everyone and everything were herbivorous according to God’s plan. Everyone and everything (including man and animal) was at peace before the fall of man, which led to sin and increased wickedness that provoked God to send the flood. It is only after the flood, does God give man every living thing that moves, as food, to man (Genesis 9:3-4).  Why would God add meat as food for man? Since the flood killed all living things including plants, except Noah and his family, one plausible explanation is that after the flood, the amount of trees and herbs was scarce and God wanted to make sure that his most prized possessions (i.e., man) had the means to continue and sustain life.

Points to ponder:
God is a provider. His plan is to provide with peace and to provide peace. Man’s sinful life brings a flood of issues including death. Only in Jesus Christ is found the peace that passeth all understanding and when we are in Christ, the floods of sin and death can’t drown us. God is THE provider for our life to continue. He has been since creation … Are you in Jesus Christ?

Genesis 1:29-31 (KJV)
29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 9:3-4 (KJV)
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all thin
4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

Blessings and Fruitfulness

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On March 21, 2013

In Genesis, Through the Bible

After God created man in his own image, the first thing that God does is, he blesses them and after God blessed them, the first command God gave them was to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 1:28).

Points to ponder:
How are you and I doing in the first command of God? Are we fruitful?  If we are, what kind of fruit are we bearing – good or evil fruit? Jesus said, “A tree that does not bear good fruit is fit only to be cut and burned.” (Matthew 7:19-20). The (good) fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance and against such there is no law (Galatians 5:22). Is this fruit evident in our lives? With the blessings of God comes his command to be fruitful. How are we faring in this command?

Genesis 1:28 (KJV)
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

After God’s kind

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On March 20, 2013

In Genesis, Ittai, Reuben and Ittai, Through the Bible

Ittai A. PaulOur second born much loved Son, Ittai A. Paul, turned one today (March 20, 2013) and as we ponder on God’s goodness and faithfulness to us, my beloved wife Sangeetha and I, are ever so grateful to God for having loaned us two precious boys to cherish while we pilgrim on earth.

The Bible records that on the fifth and sixth day, God created the animals that live in the water, the birds that fly in the air, living creatures that live on the earth, every creeping thing, every cattle, and every beast of the earth, each after their own kind (Genesis 1:21, Genesis 1:25). Then on the sixth day, the Triune God in one decided to make man in his image, after the likeness of God the Father, his Holy Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God. (Genesis 1:26). So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

In other words, while every other creature that has life was created after their own kind, only us (man) is not made after our own kind, but created after God’s kind. When man took his first breath,  he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7) to live according to the Spirit of God (and not according to the flesh) for God is Spirit (John 4:24). The world glorifies celebrities with physical beauty and charming bodies, and seldom are most celebrities who do not know Jesus Christ celebrated for their soul (living soul).

Points to ponder:
Are you living by the flesh or by God’s Spirit? What are you and I celebrated for?

Our precious second son Ittai, our firstborn Reuben, You and I are all fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Psalm 139:4). We are made after God’s own kind and are wonderful – and that gives us every reason to praise God.

Genesis 1:20-27 (KJV)
20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Psalm 139:14 (KJV)
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

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