Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

The Nobel Peace prize rightfully belongs to Jesus Christ

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On March 9, 2012

In Christian

Since 1901 till date, some 101 individuals and 20 organizations have been selected to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Some of these Nobel laureates include Theodore Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Desmond Mpilo Tutu, The 14th Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso), Aung San Suu Kyi, and Nelson Mandela.

Sadly however, amongst these Nobel Peace Prize laureates, you would not find the name of Jesus Christ as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, although he rightfully deserves it year after year.
Why should Jesus be the winner of the Noble Peace Prize? The short answer is “Because, He is the Greatest Peacemaker of all”.

How can we be so sure?
In the Past, before Jesus’ Birth – In Prophesy, Jesus is referred to as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)
At Jesus’ Birth – Peace was announced by an angelic choir to be on earth (Luke 2:14)
In Jesus’ Death – He made Peace through the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:20)
After Jesus’ Resurrection –  His very first words, when he meets with his disciples are “Peace be unto you” (John 20:19)
In the Present, Today – He is our Peace (Ephesians 2:14)
In the Future, His covenant of peace shall not be removed (Isaiah 54:10)

I rest my case. Jesus Christ should be the Nobel Peace Prize winner year after year and He keeps those whose minds are stayed (focussed) on him in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3)

Points to ponder:
Do you have the PERFECT peace of God flood your life?  Is your mind stayed (focussed) on Jesus Christ?

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

Luke 2:14 (KJV)
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

Colossians 1:20 (KJV)
20 And, 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.

John 20:19 (KJV)
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Ephesians 2:13-15 (KJV)
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

Isaiah 54:10 (KJV)
10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. 

Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 

Jesus Christ appearing

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On March 8, 2012

In Christian

Jesus Christ first appeared as the Sacrifice that was acceptable and pleasing to God.
Jesus Christ now appears as the Savior of all who believe in him, being their advocate to God.
Jesus Christ shall appear as the Sovereign of sovereigns; as the King of kings and the Lord of lords accompanying the Glory of God.

Points to ponder:
Have you seen Christ Jesus appear in your life? He who was sinless was made sin so that his appearance as the Sacrifice would be acceptable to God and because of that selfless act of Jesus Christ, we need to ask him to first appear to us as our Savior and then allow him to be the  Sovereign ruler to reign over our life.

Hebrews 9:24-28 (KJV)
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The M.O of ‘How to get Saved and then what?’

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On March 7, 2012

In Christian

The King James Version rendition of Psalm 40:1-3 reads as follows: 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Though on the surface, this verse may seem as a testament of God’s deliverance in the natural, closer scrutiny reveals that the undercurrent in the spiritual dimension is far stronger. ‘I waited patiently for the Lord’ is indicative of the Sinner’s Pause. Instead of trying to go through life and self-save, the sinner must first take a moment to pause and patiently wait on the LORD. But the waiting must not be a passive downtime experience, it must be active which we see from the second part of the verse, ‘and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry’. To cry out to the Lord is indicative of the Sinner’s Prayer. ‘He brought me up’  gives us insight, that it is not our power, but it is the Lord’s doing. This is indicative of the Savior’s Power. ‘Out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay’ is indicative of the Sinner’s Place before he is saved, but once the LORD inclines his ear to the sinner’s prayer of repentance, the Saint’s Place is no longer the horrible pit and miry clay, but it is on a solid Rock which we get from ‘and set my feet upon a rock’. From ‘and established my goings.’, we learn about the Savior’s Provision for the sinner-turned-saint; to all those who have trusted in the Lord. But once we are saved and our pause turns to praise, because of our prayer and God power, then what? From ‘And he hath put a new song in my mouth,’  we gain insight into the Saint’s Proclamation of the goodness of God and ‘even praise unto our God:’ tells us of the Saint’s Praise which is the output from having been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Our proclamation and praise is to be seen by many, who shall fear, and shall trust in the LORD. In other words, those who are saved must proclaim the good news and praise the Lord, for that will be observed by others in our life and they will themselves turn from sinners to saints, by fearing and trusting in the Lord. This is the modus operandi (M.O) of Salvation and that cycle continues.

Points to ponder:
If you have not believed in Jesus Christ yet, pause and pray for by God’s power, he will save and pick you up out of the horrible pit and miry pit and place you on a rock and become your provider.
If you have already believed in Jesus Christ, then proclaim and praise for by that others can see and turn to God from their sinful ways, trusting in him.

Psalm 40:1-3 (KJV)
1 I waited patiently [Sinner’s Pause] for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry [Sinner’s Prayer].
2 He brought me up [Savior’s Power] also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay [Sinner’s Place], and set my feet upon a rock [Saint’s Place], and established my goings [Savior’s Provision]. 
3 And he hath put a new song [Saint’s Proclamation] in my mouth, even praise unto our God [Saint’s Praise]: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD [Sinner-to-Saint Process].

The best gift that I can give my love

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On March 6, 2012

In Christian, Poetic Prompts

As my wife’s birthday approached
anxiety, my heart, encroached
for I wondered, as to the gift that would aptly my love, display
to make her birthday, a very special day.

To be the ideal husband, I desired
and many a search engines, I inquired.
Their suggestions, I felt, fell short
for jewelry and gadgets are ephemeral, not heart!

And then I realized that, I ought not to be husband ‘ideal’
but a ‘loving’ one, for that is what is real.
Rather than buy something to fulfill a duty,
I ought to give her something that truly adores her beauty.

You can give without loving
but you cannot love without giving;
So what can I give that shows my love
and reflect the love of my God above?

God demonstrated his love by giving us his Son
who loved us so greatly that he gave us his life
And in like manner, to give my time, my all and my life
is the best gift that I can give my dear wife.

To give myself sacrificially even when it hurts
is what I earnestly pray, lest I revert
to the selfish and self-centered man, I tend to be
and forget that as one in Christ, it is not just me, but He, she and me.

And now each time as my wife celebrates her birthday
I know that to give my time, my all, my life is the best way
and the best gift to aptly my love, display
and make her feel loved, on that very special day.

John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Proverbs 5:18 (KJV)
18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

Sinking Sand Christianity

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On March 5, 2012

In Christian

When watching an episode of Man vs. Wild, Bear Grylls, an ex-Special Air Service agent and one of the youngest ever to climb, Mount Everest, was demonstrating survival techniques when you are get trapped in sinking sand. To get out of sinking sand, one needs to stay calm and hold on to something that is fixed and trust their weight completely on the object that they are holding on to. The more you struggle the deeper you will sink. From that episode, it was implicitly evident that it is a pitiful state to be caught in the mire and not have a foothold.

When it comes to the sinking sand of sin, it is no different. To get out of the mire of sin, we need to stay calm and get a hold on to Christ Jesus, the one who is the same yesterday, today and forever (fixed in his love and mercy for the world). We must not rely on our own strength but rely and trust Christ Jesus completely, because every attempt to work our way out of sin to salvation is futile and it would merely sink us deeper. The Psalmist says, in Psalm 40:2, that it is the LORD who brings us out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay and it is he who sets our feet upon a rock, establishing our goings.

Points to ponder:
When you don’t have your life set on the stronghold Rock of Salvation (Jesus Christ) and you continue to be in the pit of sin is a pitiful state. Have you believed and trusted completely on Jesus Christ to pull you out of the miry pit of sin or are you still trapped in sin, struggling to work your way to salvation, which is futile. It is by no man’s work, but solely by Grace through faith in Christ Jesus that we can be saved and thanks be to God for that.

Psalm 40:2 (KJV)
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 

The result of meeting with God

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On March 2, 2012

In Christian

During our corporate meetings, there is often action items that are assigned to us by the manager or team lead and follow up meetings scheduled to determine progress and completion of those action items. However, when it comes to our meeting with God during our quiet time and/or Bible study, we usually assign action items to God (the manager) and expect him to have them completed before we get to meet with him again. The Bible however gives us a protocol as to how our meeting with God should be and the outcome that should result from our meeting with God. This is recorded in Mark 1:35-39.

Jesus arose early in the morning (a great while before day) and went to a solitary part and there he met with God in prayer (Mark 1:35). When his disciples came and told him that “All men seek him” (Mark 1:36-37), he told them, “Lets go to the next towns: that I may preach there also” which speaks about the ministry (to go) and the mission (to preach) that comes from prayer (Mark 1:38). The following verse tells us that Jesus preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and cast out devils (Mark 1:39). In other words, with the ministry and the mission, also came the manifestation of God’s power (to cast out devils).

Points to ponder:
Next time, we meet with God in prayer, let us not give him a “to-do” list, but instead, let us pray earnestly so that the result of the meeting with God would be ministry, mission and manifestation of God’s power to break down strongholds and bondages, in and through our life.

(Mark 1:35-39 (KJV)
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

The first man Adam and the last Adam

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On March 1, 2012

In Christian

The first man Adam refers to the one who was fashioned from the dust of the earth by the very hands of God and into whom the breath of life was breathed by God (Genesis 2:7). The last Adam is Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten (not created) son (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:45) who was made a quickening spirit.

There are similarities and differences between the first Adam and the last Adam.

Similarities:
The first Adam was given a will to obey (not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; Genesis 2:17). The last Adam (Jesus) was given a will to obey (and it was the will of God the Father, that he should be the lamb of God to take away the sins of the world;  Isaiah 53:10)
The first Adam was given a work to do (to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it; Genesis 1:28). The last Adam (Jesus) was given a work to do (which was to lay down his life for the salvation of all mankind and on the Cross he affirmed that his work was completed, when he cried “It is finished.”; John 19:30)
The first Adam was given a woman to love (Eve was her name; Genesis 2:20-25). The last Adam (Jesus) is given a woman to love (The Church is her name; Revelation 19).

Differences:
The first Adam was shameful when he sinned and he needed to be clothed (Genesis 3:10). The last Adam (Jesus) was shamed (Hebrews 12:2) when he was made sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) and they stripped him of his clothes (John 19:23)
The first Adam lost the presence of God as flaming swords were placed to prevent him from re-entering the garden and have access to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24), where he communed with God. The last Adam (Jesus) restored the presence of God to all men as the veil that separated the Holy of holies was torn into two, from top to bottom, and access to commune with God was now made possible (Mark 15:38).
The first Adam had to labor on the land which was cursed to bring forth thorns and thistles (Genesis 3:18). The last Adam took the curse upon himself, and thorns were place on his head (John 19:2).

Points to ponder:
The first Adam brought death. The last Adam (Jesus) brings life and all who believe in Jesus Christ, shall have life, eternal and abundant. Have you believed?

1 Corinthians 15:45-47 (KJV)
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

One small step for a man/woman; one giant leap for God

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On February 29, 2012

In Christian, Quotable Quotes

It is leap year and I wondered what I could write about the word “leap” and the very famous line of Neil Armstrong, that was spoken on July 20, 1969, 10:56 p.m. EDT, came to mind. Neil Armstrong uttered the following words, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”, when he became the first human to step onto the moon.
But then it got me thinking, a far greater and gigantic step was taken by the maker of mankind and the moon itself; by the creator God, himself, Jesus Christ, when he left the riches of heaven and the glory of God to be born of a virgin, in a manger, making himself of no reputation, so that he could reconcile man to God by his life, death and resurrection.

Points to ponder:
Christmas that we celebrate is indeed, “One giant leap for God” which mandates “one small step for each man/woman” to take and that is to believe in Jesus Christ. Have you taken that small step. Remember, God took a giant leap for you.

Philippians 2:5-11 (KJV)
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The two fold calling of God – Salvation & Servanthood

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On February 28, 2012

In Christian

When God calls, he calls with intent. He calls you unto Salvation and to Servanthood. In other words, he calls us to be believe in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, which brings about Salvation (2 Corinthians 5:20), but he also calls us so that once you have Jesus, the Light of the World in our life, we would not hide Christ under a bushel but serve God by showcasing this glorious Light that brings Salvation to the people around us. We are Saved to Serve.

Points to ponder:
Some of us have not yet responded to the call of Salvation, meaning we have not believed in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Some of us have responded to the call of Salvation, but not responded to God’s call of servanthood. We have believed in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior, but our lives don’t transmit Him to those around us.
Some of us have responded to both the call of Salvation and to Servanthood and are eagerly looking forward to the day, when Christ Jesus shall meet us face to to face and we would be given the highest accolade – “Well done, my good and faithful servant”
Which one are you/I?
If you are in the first category, I beseech you as God did beseech (call) you by us, to believe in Jesus Christ and be reconciled to God.
If you are in the second category, I pray that you would act on the words of God for wise is the man who hears the word of God and puts it into action.
If you are in the third category, be strong and stand firm and endure till the end, for great will be your reward.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (KJV)
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Hebrews 9:14 (KJV)
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 

High to Low so Low to High

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On February 27, 2012

In Christian

In a world where one aspires to reach the highest echelons, the following one liner is a sobering reminder of where our position is and where it ought to have been.
“The God Most High (Psalm 83:18) became God most low (Philippains 2:7) so that man most low (made from dust; Genesis 3:19) can become man most high (as heirs with Christ Jesus; Romans 8:17)”

Why? Love; God’s love. Behold what manner of love the Father (God) has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God (1 John 3:1). Think about it.

Psalm 83:18 (KJV)
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Philippians 2:7 (KJV)
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Genesis 3:19 (KJV)
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Romans 8:14-17 (KJV)
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

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