Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Category: Christian Page 11 of 169

Peace amongst enemies

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On May 2, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:26-31 records to account of the peace treaty that is established between Isaac and Abimelech, the king of Gerar. Isaac had been sent away from the land of Gerar, as the servants of Abimelech quarreled with the servants of Isaac, over the wells that were dug by Abraham. Now after some time, we see Abimelech the king himself, along with one of his friends Ahuzzath,  and the chief captain of his army Phichol come to Isaac, seeking a covenant of peace (verse 26, 28). Isaac who had felt that he was being hated by the king for having been sent away questions the reason as to why Abimelech has come to see him (verse 27). The king’s response is noteworthy. This pagan king recognized that the Lord was with Isaac (verse 28) and that Isaac was blessed of the Lord (verse 29) and sought a covenant of peace with Isaac. Isaac obliges overlooking his feelings and responds with hospitality, making his visitors a feast and letting them rest at his place. The next morning they swore one to another and the prior enemies leave the presence of Isaac in peace (as friends) (verses 29-31).

Points to ponder:
When the Lord is with us and we are blessed of the Lord, even the pagans (enemies) around us, seek to live in peace with us, when they recognize the sovereignty of God over our lives. When they do, despite the hurt that they may have caused us, as followers of Jesus, we ought to forgive and treat them with hospitality, seeking to live in peace amongst enemies. Why, because, this emulates the love of God – for while we were still sinners (i.e., enemies of God), God demonstrated his love for us and gave us his Only begotten Son, who died for our sins (Romans 5:8). For God has turned us, prior enemies of his, into friends of his, by the peace treaty between God and man, signed by the blood of his Son Jesus Christ, that was shed on the Cross, and we must do so likewise.

Let us seek to live in peace with all, even our enemies – and when our enemies seek to live in peace with us, then rejoice for they see how the Lord is with us and how blessed we are. Do your enemies seek to live in peace with you?

Genesis 26:26-31 (KJV)
26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.
27 And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?
28 And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;
29 That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace: thou art now the blessed of the Lord.
30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.
31 And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

Altar-native

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On April 29, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When the Lord God appeared and assured Isaac of his blessings, because of his faithfulness to Isaac’s faithful father, Isaac built an altar there and called upon the name of the Lord, pitching his tent there and Isaac’s servants digged a well there.

The right response when the Lord God appears in our life and assures to bless us for his faithfulness extends to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9), we must worship (call on the name of) the Lord God, and build in our hearts his altar and pitch our tent there – becoming natives of the altar. We must dig into our life, as an altar-native, so that living waters (Holy Spirit) may flow out of our lives.

Points to ponder:
Are you an altar-native? In the presence and promises of the Lord God, there should be no other alternative for us except us being an altar-native. Are you an altar-native?

Genesis 26:24-25 (KJV)
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.
25 And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac’s servants digged a well.

The Lord’s perpetuity, presence and promise

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On April 27, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When the Lord appeared to Isaac at Beersheba, he assured Isaac of:
– his perpetuity (I am the God of Abraham thy father),
– his presence (I am with thee), and
– his promise (I will bless thee and multiply thy seed).

Points to ponder:
Jesus said that before Abraham was he is (John 8:58) and that Abraham saw his day and rejoiced (John 8:56). Jesus also established that he and the Father God are one (John 10:30). Jesus is everlasting chosen from even before the foundations of the world (1 Peter 1:20). Jesus is perpetual.
Jesus said that he is with his followers, always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). Jesus is with all who open their lives to him (Revelation 3:20), believing in him and have receiving him as their Savior, Master and Lord (Revelation 3:20).
In Jesus Christ, we are blessed in heavenly places with spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3-6).

If you think your life is short, come to Jesus who is perpetual and in whom is eternal life.
If you think that you are all alone, be assured the Jesus has promised to be with you always.
If you think that your life is a curse, in Christ Jesus, you are blessed with spiritual blessings (chosen by God, cleansed by God, adopted as a child of God, credited into the Lamb of God’s book of life) in heavenly places.
The question that remains is: Are you blessed with spiritual blessings in heavenly places, by a perpetual, ever-present, promise keeping God? In other words, are you in Christ, having believed in him as Savior, Lord and Master of your life? The contrary is a dire situation. Are you blessed in Christ Jesus?

Genesis 26:24-25 (KJV)
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

Ephesians 1:3-6 (KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

For my servant’s sake

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On April 26, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 26:24 records an interesting phrase – “For my servant Abraham’s sake.”

In this account, we see that Isaac, the son of Abraham, is assured of God’s blessings because of Abraham. Not only does this signify the faithfulness of God in keeping the covenant, God made with Abraham (Genesis 22:16-19) in the same place (Beersheba) where Isaac was now (Genesis 26:23), but it also assures that God blesses others for the sake of those who serve him. Isaac was not blessed on account of his own merit, but because of God’s faithfulness to Abraham, who was faithful in serving God.

Points to ponder:
Jesus, the Son of God, who was prophesied as the Servant of the Lord (Zechariah 3:8; Isaiah 42:1), took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7) and demonstrated that we ought to serve one another just as he served – in action and not just words (John 13:14-15; Matthew 20:28).

For the sake of Abraham, Isaac (and subsequently the nation of Israel) was blessed.
For the sake of Jesus, the Servant Son of God, all of the nations (Matthew 12:21; Colossians 1:27) are blessed.

Remember, the greatest accolade that one can receive is the title of a ‘good and faithful servant.’ Let us live our lives in a manner looking forward to the greatest honor we can receive, when we face Jesus face to face, when he says “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matthew 25:23).

The questions we need to ask ourselves then are:
– Are we servants of the Lord?
– Are others around us (especially our family – both natural and spiritual/church) blessed for our sake by the Lord?

In other words, can God say “I will bless so and so for your sake, because you are my (good and faithful) servant?” Now don’t leave this question unanswered.

Genesis 26:24 (KJV)
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

Fear Not – what does that mean?

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On April 25, 2016

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Grammy Award winning singer, Chris Tomlin beautifully expressed this motif, that if God is with us, then there is nothing or no one that we need to be afraid of, in his song, Whom Shall I fear? (The God of Angel Armies). Now hold that thought.

Genesis 26:24 gives the account of the Lord appearing to Isaac, on the very same night, that he had moved up to Beersheba and the Lord first identifies himself to be the God of Abraham, Isaac’s father. Then the Lord says that he will bless and multiply Isaac, for the sake of Abraham, but before this reassurance is given, the Lord starts out by telling Isaac to Fear Not. Why? Because the Lord says that he was with Isaac.

Isaac was in a foreign land. His servants had just been in contention with the servants of the king Abimelech of Gerar. And while these events could have given him the sense that he was alone in battling the circumstances and life issues, the Lord comes through with the assurance that he was with Isaac and so Isaac had no reason to fear. There was nothing Isaac had to be afraid of because God was with him.

Points to ponder:
When fear seems to grip your heart and you feel that you are all alone, battling the issues of life, you can call on to the Lord and when he is with you, you have nothing to fear. No matter what the situation is and how dire things seem, when you have the God of angel armies with you, fear not.

Jesus’ name was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah and proclaimed by the angel Gabriel to Mary that he shall be called “Emmanuel” meaning God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). And Jesus promised that he is with those who love him and obey his commands, following him, always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

The question that remains is “Are you afraid?”. In other words, that can be translated into “Is the Lord with you?” Now take note, if the God of angel armies, the Lord is not with you – then that is a dreadful thing!

Genesis 26:24 (KJV)
24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

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

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On March 25, 2016

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ seventh and final saying on the Cross before he gave up the ghost was “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” which was addressed to God, his Holy Father. In this saying, we see Jesus’ total surrender to God, into God’s holy hands – from which no man can pluck (John 10:29).

Points to ponder:
Jesus totally surrendered  himself at the Cross. Today, he expects the same from you and me. Can we look at him today, and totally surrender over selves into his hands. Can we say, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.

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.

Belonging On the Cross :: It is Finished

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On March 25, 2016

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ sixth saying on the Cross was “It is finished.” which is not particularly directed to anyone specifically, but was a profound declaration of the all of creation, the new state of affairs – the world forever changed – as the devil, the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) and his power over man, which is death (Hebrews 2:14), was finished. The words, “It is finished” comes from the Greek word “Tetelastai” which means paid in full.

When we owe a mortgage on a property, until that property is paid off in full, we cannot claim total ownership of that property. The moment we pay the loan in full, the rights of ownership is transferred along with the title of that paid property to us.

Points to ponder:
Jesus declared that it is finished. In other words, he was saying that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), but those wages have been paid in full – there is no more payment needed for those who have receive him and who believe in him. Jesus bought us with his own life and now he holds the title of ownership of our life in his hands. We belong on the cross, but because of Jesus taking our place, we now belong to him, if we believe in him. Where would you like to belong – on the Cross or in the hands of Christ? Considering the fact, that it (the work of Salvation) was finished, this should be a easy question to answer.

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.

Craving on the Cross :: I thirst

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On March 25, 2016

In Christian, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ fifth saying from the Cross, which is “I thirst” has often been expanded as one which was the result of his physical needs for being quenched due to dehydration or metaphorically as one in which Jesus thirsted for the souls of those lost and those who had not yet placed their trust in him.

Points to ponder:
The dictionary defines the word “thirst” as a strong or eager desire or craving. How could the one who is the very source of living waters thirst? I would like to believe that Jesus strongly desired or craved for the restoration of mankind unto God, which was the mission he had come to accomplish and having known that all things he had come to accomplish was accomplished, in order to fulfill the scripture, he cried out, I thirst (John 19:28). In other words, Jesus strongly craved for your and me on the Cross.

In a world that is lonely and desolate, we can take solace in the fact, that Jesus craves and desires to be in a relationship with us. The question that begs to be answered to then is “Do you have a strong and eager desire to be in relationship with God?” “Do you crave for Jesus?”

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

It gets personal on the Cross :: Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?

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On March 24, 2016

In Christian, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ fourth saying from the Cross, as he lived up to His Name, which was to save His people from their sins, was a question directed, not to any man but, to God. It is the only question in the seven sayings of Christ from the Cross and it was Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being translated, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:33-34; Matthew 27:46)

In the past, from both the pulpit as well as in articles (posts), servants of God, including I, have exposited on the plausible reasons as to the reason for Jesus questioning God as to why he had been forsaken. While we may never fully comprehend the extent to Jesus’ cry to God, we can see that in this saying, Jesus used the first person personal pronoun, ‘my’ in his address of his Father as God – not once, but twice. The word ‘my’ implies possession. When Jesus addressed God as ‘My God, My God’, he was making a personal address.

Points to ponder:
It gets personal on the Cross. In like manner, today, God is seeking you and me to have a personal Father-child relationship and to all who receive Jesus and who believe in his name, he has given them the power to be called the children of God (John 1:12). If you are yet to accept Jesus as your Savior, Lord and King, come to the Cross and make it personal today. It got personal on the Cross, the day they crucified Jesus. Today, get personal with God so that you can address God as “My” God, “My” God.

Mark 15:34 (KJV)
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Family Relationship :: Woman, behold thy son! … Behold thy mother!

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On March 23, 2016

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ third saying from the Cross was directed to his mother and to his beloved disciple who was standing by her. To her, he said, “Woman, behold thy son!” and to him, he said, “Behold thy mother!” In this saying, Jesus takes two people who are unrelated and establishes a family relationship (mother – son) between them.

Points to ponder:
To all who receive Jesus and who believe in his name, he gave them the power to be called the sons of God (John 1:12) and Jesus expressed that whoever does the will of God his Father, is his brother and sister and mother (Matthew 12:50). In other words, Jesus relates those who are unrelated into a family – the very family of God. On the Cross, Jesus established a family relationship. Today, he seeks to establish your relationship and mine with God himself. Have you tasted the joy of God’s salvation? O taste and see (behold) that the Lord God is good (Psalm 34:8) wanting you to become part of his family. Do you believe? 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.

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