Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: Experiencing God

Lift up your eyes and look

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On December 9, 2014

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Genesis 18 begins with the verses – “And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him:”

While the identity of two of the three men is not explicitly stated in this account, from Genesis 19:1 we can learn that these two were as angels (messengers of God with a mission) and the other first person was the Lord himself.

Close scrutiny of this encounter (experience) reveals a couple of hidden treasures in these two verses. First, the Lord appeared to Abraham (Theophany to Abraham), who sat at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Second, Abraham had to lift up his eyes and look to see three men standing by.

Points to Ponder:
The Lord appears to his people, to you and me, as we search the Bible daily (Acts 17:11) to see glimpses of his infallible, loving and just nature, in the person of Jesus Christ. Many of us are beaten down by the heat of the day i.e., the harsh elements of life itself and our most likely posture is that our faces are down as our spirit is downcast. What we need to do is to lift up our eyes (of understanding – Ephesians 1:18) and look up at the Lord, from whom our help comes from (Psalms 121:1-2)
Are you lifting up your eyes and looking at the Lord? Lift up your eyes and look. Tarry no further!

Genesis 18:1-2a (KJV)
1 And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him:

It is good for us to be here … said the disciple

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On November 6, 2012

In Christian

The Bible records in the gospel according to Dr. Luke, the account of the transfiguration of Jesus, wherein he was glorified and affirmed of his sonship by God (Luke 9:28-36). But what is often missed are the action and words of Peter and the other disciples, which is of significance, during Jesus’ transfiguration. First, the disciples of Jesus, Peter, James and John, awoke from their sleep. Second, they saw the glorified Jesus and his servants, Moses and Elias. Third, Peter responded by saying to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make you and your servants tabernacles.”

Many continue to be heavy in sleep, even as Jesus is being transfigured in all of his glory in this world. We must first awake, but awaking alone is not sufficient. We must seek to see and see Jesus in all of his glory that is implicit in his creation and explicit through his character as revealed and evident in the Holy Bible. Third, we must recognize Jesus to be our Master. In other words, we must recognize our place as faithful servants of his, ready to serve him at his call and command. Fourth, only when we experience and enjoy his communion and fellowship with us, we can say “It is good for us to be here (in his presence)”. Finally, we must be zealous about building in ourselves first and then in others, the tabernacle for Jesus to reside.

Points to ponder:
Are you/Am I sleeping or awake?
Are you/Am I seeing Jesus in all of his glory or have we been blinded by the devil, lest we see the glorious truth of the gospel in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4)?
Are you/Am I recognizing that Jesus is the Master and that we ought to be his faithful servants?
Are you/Am I experiencing God’s presence with us in the person of Jesus Christ, so much so that we can truly tell him, “Master, It is good for us (not anyone else) to be here.”?
Are you/Am I zealous about letting Jesus tabernacle in our hearts?

As disciples of Jesus, we must be able to say to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here”, but what is more important is, can Jesus, our Master and Savior, who tabernacles within us (for we are the temple of the Holy God – 1 Corinthians 3:17, 2 Corinthians 4:7) say of you and me, “Servant, It is good for us* to be here (in you).”
* = The Triune God in One; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Luke 9:28-36 (KJV)
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

Christian Senses :: To Taste

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On July 14, 2011

In Christian, Christian Senses

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)
10 And 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?

Experiencing God

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On February 18, 2011

In Christian

The Bible refers to Jesus Christ in 1 John 1:1, as The One who was from the beginning, who was heard, who was seen and looked upon and whom hands handled. While hearing, seeing, looking is about external senses, handling (touching) is about experiencing (feeling).

When the woman who was sick for twelve years reached out and touched the garment of Jesus Christ, she experienced healing and was made whole (Mark 5:25-34). Experiencing God is about reaching out and touching Christ Jesus; the God who reached out and touched man. When asked by the socially outcast leper, if Jesus would be willing to make him clean, Jesus responded being filled with compassion, that He was.  Jesus reached out and touched the socially outcast leper making him clean (Mark 1:40-42). Salvation is about being made whole/clean.  Jesus’ touch makes those who are plagued with the leprosy of sin, whole/clean.

Point(s) to ponder:

  • Have you reached out and touched Jesus?
  • Have you asked Jesus to reach out and touch you?
  • Have you experienced God?

Mark 1:40-42 (KJV)
40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

1 John 1:1-4 (KJV)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

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