Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

On July 26, 2012

The “book of life” is mentioned eight times in the New Testament, once in the epistle to the Philippian Church (Philippians 4:3) and seven times in Revelation (Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12; 20:15; 21:27; and 22:19). Twice, it is specifically referred to as the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 13:8; and 21:27). Jesus Christ is the Agnus Dei, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). So the book of life belonging to the Lamb is infact Jesus’ book of life. Whosoever’s name is not written in the book of life is cast into the lake of fire, which is second death (Revelation 20:14-15), but those who have believed in Jesus Christ have eternal life (John 3:16), and he that overcomes, because the Son of God, Jesus comes over them, when they believe, will not be hurt by second death and his/her name will not be erased from the book of life (Revelation 3:5); Jesus’ book of life, of which He is The Bookkeeper.

Points to ponder:
When Jesus is The Bookkeeper, there is no possibility of any man cooking the books to gain his salvation by any of his works. Salvation and eternal life (getting your name recorded in the Lamb’s book of life) is only possible when we believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior and allow him to be our Lord. Jesus said, rejoice for your names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). Can you rejoice, with Jesus The Bookkeeper? You can, if he has recorded your name in his book. Has he?

Revelation 21:27 (KJV)
²⁷And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Luke 10:20 (KJV)
²⁰Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Professional Speaking :: Jesus The Architect

On July 25, 2012

The book “The Jesus Discovery” revisits the New Testament in the Greek and portrays that the earthly father of Jesus, Joseph, was a successful middle class architect and not necessarily a carpenter as is often understood. What is of importance is not what the profession of Joseph was, but what the profession of Jesus is? Is Jesus an architect? Absolutely. By him were all things created, that are in heaven and in earth, the visible and the invisible, whether they are thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and for him and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus is The Architect.

Points to ponder:
Is Jesus your Architect? The Bible affirms that if any one is in Christ Jesus (i.e. if any one believes in Jesus), they are made a new creation; old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Are you a new creation, architected by The Architect, Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:12-23 (KJV)
¹²Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
¹³Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
¹⁴In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
¹⁵Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
¹⁶For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
¹⁷And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
¹⁹For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
²⁰And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
²¹And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
²²In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
²³If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Professional Speaking :: Jesus The Accountant

On July 24, 2012

1 Peter 4:5 establishes that we must no longer live according to the ways of the lusts of the flesh, as we were before the knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ (eternal life), for we must all give an account to Jesus Christ, the judge of the living and the dead. Romans 14:12 also establishes the same, for every knee will bow and every tongue confess to God.

Jesus Christ is The Accountant, the one to whom all of us would need to give an account.

Points to ponder:
If today, our soul is required of us (Luke 12:20), what is the account you would give Jesus, The Accountant? Abraham, believed in God and it was accounted to him as righteousness (Galatians 3:6). Jesus said, you believe in God, believe also in me (John 14:1). Have you believed in Jesus Christ? If not, you will fail the accountant’s test!

1 Peter 4:1-5 (KJV)
¹Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
²That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
³For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
⁴Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
⁵Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

Romans 14:11-12 (KJV)
¹¹For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
¹²So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Professional Speaking :: Jesus The Advocate

On July 23, 2012

Luke 10:25-37 records the conversation that transpired between a certain lawyer and Jesus. The lawyer addressed Jesus as “Teacher” and asked “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”, Interestingly, Jesus did not respond with an answer but instead sought the answer out of the questioner himself by cross-questioning as to “What was written in the law?” and “What was the lawyer’s understanding of it?”. The lawyer responded that “One must love God totally and love his fellow men/women (neighbors) as himself.” Jesus affirmed that the answer given was right and asked the lawyer to go and do likewise.

Close scrutiny of this account reveals to us that Jesus, the Teacher teaches us a valuable lesson. When someone questions as to “What they must do to inherit eternal life?”, it is important that we respond in the language that the questioner understands. Jesus knew the law and the lawyer had studied the law. Jesus used the opportunity to speak in the professional language that the lawyer would be familiar with. Jesus is the best professional lawyer you can have on your side. He is The Advocate who has never lost a case and who never will. The Bible actually teaches us that he is the righteous Advocate who represents us with God the Father (1 John 2:1) and he is faithful to preserve and present us blameless by totally sanctifying our whole spirit and soul and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Points to ponder:
Is Jesus your Advocate/lawyer? Have you believed in him, so that he can represent you with God the Father?

1 John 2:1-3 (KJV)
¹My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
²And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
³And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (KJV)
²³And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
²⁴Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Be ye Steadfast :: In your mind until death

On July 20, 2012

The Bible counsels us to be steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58). Ruth 1 records the account of Naomi, asking her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth to return to their own people (the Moabites) when their husbands, the sons of Naomi, died. Orpah obliges but Ruth asks Naomi to not intreat her to return. She tells Naomi, wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people will be my people and your God will be my God, and wherever you die, I will die and be buried there. What is interesting to note, is that when Naomi noticed how stedfast Ruth was in her mind to go with her, she stopped asking Ruth to return.

Points to ponder:
Ruth was steadfast in her mind, to no only go with Naomi, but to stay (lodge) with her. She was steadfast in her mind to not only accept Naomi’s people but Naomi’s God as well as her own. She was steadfast in her mind to go with Naomi until death.
Are we steadfast (in our mind until death) like Ruth, to be the followers of Jesus Christ?

Ruth 1:16-18 (KJV)
¹⁶And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
¹⁷Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
¹⁸When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

Be ye Steadfast :: In perceiving faith

On July 19, 2012

The Bible counsels us to be steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58). Acts 14:8-9 records the incident of the healing of a lame man, who was crippled from birth. This man was in Lystra, where Paul and Barnabas has fled, to escape the assault of the Jews in Iconium. He had never walked since birth. But what is of note is that Paul steadfastly looked at this man, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” and the man leaped and walked. One one hand, it was the man’s faith that he would be healed that healed him, but on the other hand, it was the steadfast look of Paul on that man, by which he perceived the faith that was in him, that made this miracle happen.

Points to ponder:
Do you and I take the time to steadfastly look at those around us? And when we look, are we merely glancing at those around us or are we steadfastly looking at them and perceiving the faith in them; faith to be saved and be made upright; to walk in the newness of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:4). Let us be steadfast in perceiving the (saving) faith of those we look at and let us boldly proclaim for them to be saved by pointing them to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of their faith and ours!

John 14:8-10 (KJV)
⁸And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:
⁹The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
¹⁰Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Be ye Steadfast :: In your faith

On July 18, 2012

The Bible counsels us to be steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58); steadfast in our faith when resisting the devil (1 Peter 5:9). The devil is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). He wants us to lower the shield of faith and leave our guard down, so that his fiery darts can penetrate through (Ephesians 6:16). Jesus said that in the end days, many will turn away from the faith (Matthew 24:10) but only those who stands firm till the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). Those who will abandon their faith in the latter times will give heed to seducing spirits and to the doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1) and not to the doctrine of God found in Christ, thereby losing the relationship they have with God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ (2 John 1:9-10). As the days of transgressions abound, we need to fight the good fight of faith, finishing the race, and keeping our faith (2 Timothy 4:7), laying hold onto eternal life, whereunto we are called (1 Timothy 6:12).

Points to ponder:
Let us submit ourselves to God first and resist the devil, steadfastly in the faith, holding up the shield of faith, by which we can quench the fiery darts of the devil, who seeks to devour us. Let us fight the good fight of faith, never abandoning our faith but always holding on to eternal life, whereunto we are called. Are you/I steadfast in our faith; steadfastly resisting the devil in the faith?

1 Peter 5:8-9 (KJV)
⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
⁹Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Be ye Steadfast :: In your focus

On July 17, 2012

The Bible counsels us to be steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58) and to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

When all those who sat in the council looked steadfastly on Stephen, a man full of the Holy Spirit of God, they saw his face, as if it had been of an angel (Acts 6:15). Some of the Jews that disputed with Stephen, unable to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke, lied against Stephen and accused him of blasphemy against Moses and God and sought his death before this council. Even when Stephen’s life was on death row, he used the opportunity to witness about Jesus Christ, the Just One, who justifies all who believe in Him by His blood (Romans 5:9). But those who heard him, resisted the conviction of the Holy Spirit’s that Jesus, spoken of by the prophets (whose voice they did not hear as well) is the Just One, whom they have now betrayed and murdered. This made those who heard Stephen furious and they gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God (Acts 7:55) and when he expressed this, the people who were furious cast him out of the city and stoned him to death.

Points to ponder:
When the people steadfastly looked at Stephen, who was full of the Holy Spirit of God, they saw his face to be like that of an angel. If the world was to steadfastly look at you and me, will they find our face angelic because of the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God in us?

On the other hand, Stephen’s focus was not on the people, who for all practical purposes had his life in their hands, but his focus was on God, in whose hands, he knew his life was. His focus was on life and not on impending death. He focus was on the Solver and not on the problems of life. His focus was steadfast (unwavering) into heaven, where he saw the glory of God and Jesus, the author and finisher of his faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross, despising its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). But did you note, that Stephen sees Jesus standing at the right hand of God and not seated down; as if, Jesus was giving Stephen a standing ovation for his unwavering faith and steadfast focus. Is your focus and mine, like that of Stephen’s; steadfast on Jesus?

Acts 6:15 (KJV)
¹⁵And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Acts 7:55 (KJV)
⁵⁵But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God

Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)
²Looking unto Jesus [steadfastly] the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Be ye Steadfast :: In your belief in God

On July 16, 2012