(Message by Philip Joseph on March 28, 2010)
Two weeks ago, we heard a message from the first half of Romans 12. My burden today is to share with you from the second half of Romans 12.
Romans 12:9-21 lists 27 spiritual qualities. I would like to share 8 of these qualities with you from Romans 12:11-13.
1. Not lagging behind in diligence
Don’t trail behind, as some in a race (I Cor 9:24). Run the race to win the prize! Don’t be a back-bencher, but move ahead in the things of God.
Don’t be Lazy. God has put wisdom in a tiny ant to be hardworking. So as the Scriptures say in Proverbs 6:6-9 “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?”
Be Diligent, as the Word says in Hebrews 6:11,12 “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end…be imitators of those who through faith & patience inherit the promises.” Let talk less & work more, as the Scriptures says in Proverbs 14:23 “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
2. Keep Your Spiritual Fervour
Maintain Your Cutting Edge. Be zealous. As it was said about our Lord that “zeal for His house would consume Him”(John 2:17), we too need to be zealous. Even at the tender age of 12, the boy Jesus was deeply involved “in the things of His Father”(Luke 2:49)
We must be all the more careful, since we are living in the Laodicean age, in which love for God would be lukewarm. (Rev 3:15). Our Lord warned us in Matthew 24:12 “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of many will grow cold”.
We all know that to keep our spiritual fervor, we need to engage in the following spiritual exercises :
Prayer & worship
Reading the Word
Faith & Obedience
Fellowship
Utilizing our gifting
3. Serving the Lord
Even today, as in the time of Isaiah, God is looking for people to serve Him. (Isaiah 6:8). He is looking for our availability not ability. As we are available for His service, He can & will give us the ability to serve Him.
We need to ascertain our spiritual gift & utilize our spiritual gifting (I Pet 4:10). We must passionately serve the Lord, and not men (Eph 6:7)
4. Rejoicing in hope
We believers ought to be the happiest people on earth. We need to “rejoice that our names are recorded in heaven”(Luke 10:20). We have a wonderful hope of eternal bliss! This is why Paul encouraged people to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4)
5. Persevering in trial
We need to persevere till the end (Mt 24:13). Never give up! We need to be assured that trial is never beyond our ability (I Cor 10:13). In every trial, ”His Grace is always sufficient” (2 Cor 12:9)
6. Devoted to prayer
We need to pray & “keep alert with an attitude of thanksgiving”(Col 4:2). We can pray at any time & at any place. Scripture exhorts us to “Pray without ceasing” (I Thess 5:17)
We need to “keep asking, seeking & knocking”, knowing that we shall certainly receive (Mt 7:7)
We need to pray also for the needs of others & become an Intercessor (I Tim 2:1). This is something that all of us can do.
7. Contributing to the needs of the saints
God desires that we should be compassionate (Mt 9:13)
Our Love for God leads us to love His family (I John 5:21)
We need to do good to all people, especially believers (Gal 6:10)
8. Practicing hospitality
Apostle Peter exhorts us to “be hospitable without complaining” (I Pet 4:9). God desires that we do not neglect to do good & share & show hospitality (Heb 13:1,2,16)
In conclusion, let us practice these 8 spiritual qualities :
Do not lag behind in diligence
Be fervent in spirit
Serve the Lord
Rejoice in hope
Persevere in trial
Devote to prayer
Contribute to the needs of the saints
Practice hospitality
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Practical outworking
(Message by Philip Joseph on 21st March, 2010)
Some time ago at the local bank, the bank teller did not accept a Rs.500 note from a customer because it was fake. I had also seen the note from a distance & it looked very much like the genuine note. Only on close examination, one could notice that the note was fake. The Apostle James in his letter warned about being deceived (James 1:16,22,26) & clearly distinguishes the true from the fake. He tells us about true religion vs fake religion, true faith vs fake faith & true wisdom vs fake wisdom. His letter hardly contains any doctrinal expositions but mainly focuses on the practical outworking of the true Christian beliefs.
1. TRUE RELIGION
“If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his {own} heart, this man's religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of {our} God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, {and} to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:26,27)
i. Tongue : We need to bridle our tongues & keep it under our control. We are exhorted not to “curse our fellow-man” (James 3:10), not slander (James 4:11) & not swear (James 5:12). We are to always speak the truth…our yes should be yes.
ii. Unstained by the world : Though we are “in the world, we are not of the world.”(John 17:15,16). We are not to be “conformed to this world” in our thoughts, words or deeds. God wants us to be exclusively His. (James 4:5)
iii. Compassion : God desires that we have a passion for Him & a compassion for people. He desires that we have show compassion for “orphans and widows in their distress”. Our Lord told the Pharisees to go & learn what it means to have compassion.
2. TRUE FAITH
“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14)
i. Works of obedience : True faith expresses itself in works of obedience. Abraham was a man of great faith, but James says that his “faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected” (James 2:22). We are exhorted “not be merely hearers of the word, but doers” (James 1:22)
ii. Purpose of trials : True faith recognizes that trials & difficulties in life help to make us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:4)
iii. Persevere in trials : “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which {the Lord} has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12). True faith enables us to persevere in our trials
3. TRUE WISDOM :
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and {so} lie against the truth.
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.” (James 3:14,15)
The earthly wisdom leads us to be jealous & have selfish ambition & further our own ends by manipulating others. Earthly wisdom teaches us to love things & use people. But heavenly wisdom leads us to love people & use things. The purpose of the book of Proverbs is to acquire wisdom. “Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars” (Proverbs 9:1). These seven pillars of wisdom are enumerated in James 3:17 - “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”
May God help us to distinguish the true from the fake & enable us by His Spirit to increase in the practical outworkings of true religion, true faith & true wisdom. Amen
Some time ago at the local bank, the bank teller did not accept a Rs.500 note from a customer because it was fake. I had also seen the note from a distance & it looked very much like the genuine note. Only on close examination, one could notice that the note was fake. The Apostle James in his letter warned about being deceived (James 1:16,22,26) & clearly distinguishes the true from the fake. He tells us about true religion vs fake religion, true faith vs fake faith & true wisdom vs fake wisdom. His letter hardly contains any doctrinal expositions but mainly focuses on the practical outworking of the true Christian beliefs.
1. TRUE RELIGION
“If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his {own} heart, this man's religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of {our} God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, {and} to keep oneself unstained by the world.” (James 1:26,27)
i. Tongue : We need to bridle our tongues & keep it under our control. We are exhorted not to “curse our fellow-man” (James 3:10), not slander (James 4:11) & not swear (James 5:12). We are to always speak the truth…our yes should be yes.
ii. Unstained by the world : Though we are “in the world, we are not of the world.”(John 17:15,16). We are not to be “conformed to this world” in our thoughts, words or deeds. God wants us to be exclusively His. (James 4:5)
iii. Compassion : God desires that we have a passion for Him & a compassion for people. He desires that we have show compassion for “orphans and widows in their distress”. Our Lord told the Pharisees to go & learn what it means to have compassion.
2. TRUE FAITH
“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14)
i. Works of obedience : True faith expresses itself in works of obedience. Abraham was a man of great faith, but James says that his “faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected” (James 2:22). We are exhorted “not be merely hearers of the word, but doers” (James 1:22)
ii. Purpose of trials : True faith recognizes that trials & difficulties in life help to make us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:4)
iii. Persevere in trials : “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which {the Lord} has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12). True faith enables us to persevere in our trials
3. TRUE WISDOM :
“But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and {so} lie against the truth.
This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.” (James 3:14,15)
The earthly wisdom leads us to be jealous & have selfish ambition & further our own ends by manipulating others. Earthly wisdom teaches us to love things & use people. But heavenly wisdom leads us to love people & use things. The purpose of the book of Proverbs is to acquire wisdom. “Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars” (Proverbs 9:1). These seven pillars of wisdom are enumerated in James 3:17 - “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”
May God help us to distinguish the true from the fake & enable us by His Spirit to increase in the practical outworkings of true religion, true faith & true wisdom. Amen
Thursday, March 18, 2010
God Has A Plan For You
Labels:
God's plan
(Message by Pastor Joseph, Founder and Chairman, New Life Fellowship. Reproduced from notes...better be there than look here; but yes, as best as I can. Happy reading!)
We’re thankful to God for His faithfulness in our lives-from generation to generation! David made this observation: I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendents begging bread. (Psalm 37:25). If we walk in His principles, we are bound to be blessed with a future and a hope. God, the Holy Spirit is with us, leading us to God the Son-Jesus Christ that God the Father might be glorified.
All right! My subject for today is that God has a plan for you. Yes…each one of us has a plan; God is the Planner. Look at Jeremiah 29:7, And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
God has a plan for you, whether you belong to this city, or you have come here as a migrant; whether Mumbai or Navi Mumbai. Remember, Jeremiah is writing to the captives that they had a responsibility – to pray for the city’s peace! It is the same now, PRAY for peace of the city where you are right now, for in its peace, you will have peace. It is like water – if you want water, you ask the Lord, water for the city. When the city has water, you will have water too!
It’s a privilege that we can pray to God the Father! See, there are only three nations – a Gentile nation, a Jewish nation and a Holy nation. We, who belong to the Holy nation, have this privilege-we can call out to God. Jesus says in John 16:24, “Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full”. That is why it is written: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and ALL THESE THINGS- the practical life requirements of food, clothing and shelter, will be added unto you (Matt 6:33). Do not worry over them, for worrying belongs to the Gentile nation…
You can pray and sing 'change me'; but do you know the secret to success? Success is everyday and every moment making a choice to live for Him and not live for your-self. God is not going to change you until you change yourself! Hallelujah!
Change is by your own choice, by the decisions you make every day and every moment. And God is interested to see change in His people before there is change in the city. God’s plan is found in Jer. 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God’s thoughts are not our thoughts…it is much higher; And God says here, Look, My child, I’m thinking about you to give you a future and a hope.
Since God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, we must learn not to lean on our own understanding! In all our ways we are going to acknowledge Him! We understand He is the author of our blessed hope and a bright future!
Now, how do you FIT-in to God’s plan? When you DO fit in to His plan, there are so many promises found in the old and new covenant that is faith-marked for your benefit. But if you don’t FIT in, then there is no future and no hope. You may as well look up to fate and sing “What will be, will be…the future is not ours to see…” You find such people everywhere; submerged in problems and more problems…whenever you meet them, they tell you it is a hopeless problem. I can well understand these situations…for I too was at the end of myself when God met me; Yes, God meets you when you are at the END of your SELF…
Recently I was chatting with an IT engineer and asked him whether he was interested in the IPL matches going on. He said he was more interested in chess and this made me quip that in chess, once the game is over the king and the pawn go to the same box. Now, do you know your destination? Life is a journey and you need direction going towards your destination! Otherwise you may as well book a burial spot and wait to die – whether king or pawn will make no difference. You see, God’s plan is not going to change – you can receive it or reject it!
Romans 11:33 says “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” And v36 that says, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” Therefore, not democracy, not autocracy, but theocracy is the way of the Holy nation. We are subject to the Kingdom authority, where our Father is the King. There are four ways in which we can fit in to God’s plan for us.
1. Constantly be RELATED TO THE KING
Our relation to the King is through Jesus Christ and by His Spirit. Romans 12:1 show us some practical ways of constantly maintaining our relation with the King. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
We are called to be a ‘living’ sacrifice’. You know in the old covenant, the sacrifices comprised of animals that were ‘dead’. But now, we are to unconditionally surrender our bodies as a ‘living’ sacrifice…which means we no longer live for our selves. We reckon that once Jesus was put on the cross, our desires too were put on the cross; once Jesus died, we too died to our sinful nature; once Jesus was buried, we too were buried and once He rose again, we too have risen to a new life. Therefore present your bodies…to fit into God’s plan.
2. Constantly be RENEWED IN YOUR MIND
Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this word, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” There is a world system and a spiritual system. We are called to resist and not allow ourselves to be conformed to the world system, but rather embrace the transformation. We did once belong to the natural but now are born-again to the spiritual… See, being born-again implies spiritual babies. And if you don’t grow up, you are still carnal and are likely being conformed to the world system; but it's growing up that leads to transformation.
Now, transformation is vividly visualized in the growth, from a crawling caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. If we are not willing to renew our mind, we can live all our lives as a caterpillar and die as a caterpillar. On the other hand, transformation leads to three proofs; the good, the acceptable and the perfect will of God. This can be imagined as the fruit or harvest of 30-fold, 60-fold and 100 fold respectively. When we change, our priorities change…and JOY is the result of putting Jesus first, Others next and Yourself last.
3. RECOGNISE YOUR CALLING and
4. RELEASE YOUR GIFT
Romans 12: 3-7 says, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophecy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
The first thing we understand is there is GRACE given to us; GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense… and a MEASURE of FAITH that we may think of ourselves not highly, not lowly - but soberly. Grace and a measure of faith is the potent combination of your calling! It’s time to recognize your calling… there are problems in the body of Christ, because a ‘hand’ wants to be an ‘eye’ and the ‘foot’ wants to be the ‘mouth’… and there are members who want to be functionally the BE ALL and DO ALL part. But, success is not of being ‘Jack of all trades-master of none’. Instead, you can choose to be the master in just one function…
And about releasing the gifts, each one of us is called to be useful in the body of Christ. There is none who are ‘spare-part’ here… Yes, some members are visible in their functions and some are not; but all are useful. I remember a brother who sounded dejected saying that he was the ‘kidney’ in his church; that nobody sees him, but he does the work of cleaning… I assured him that the purification function of 'kidney' was essential anyway, and he should be cheerful to use his gifts.
Also, it is for you to develop the gifts that you have received by using them…then you will fit into God’s plan for your life and have a future and a hope. Otherwise, you will be back in the carnal side of the coin sooner than later… Over the years, I have seen members dance & sing in the church and then get offended and go on a BREAK, backsliding to the carnal nature…I’ve met people who I’ve counseled 40 years back and still reporting similar kind of problems, problems and more problems… Problems from the womb to the tomb!
Yes, the kingdom of God has its set of problems against the enemy; but we are peaceful and secure in God and in the centre of God’s will. As you continue being renewed in your mind and being transformed, as you minister to others, you will find God ministering to you…Yes, it’s true, the favor of God will be upon you and God opens the door that no one can close…
Remember these words – Relate yourself to the King, renew the mind and be transformed, recognize your calling and release the gifts in the body of Christ. We are on course for the take-off to 30-fold, 60-fold and 100-fold growth if we will prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God in our own lives. Amen.
We’re thankful to God for His faithfulness in our lives-from generation to generation! David made this observation: I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendents begging bread. (Psalm 37:25). If we walk in His principles, we are bound to be blessed with a future and a hope. God, the Holy Spirit is with us, leading us to God the Son-Jesus Christ that God the Father might be glorified.
All right! My subject for today is that God has a plan for you. Yes…each one of us has a plan; God is the Planner. Look at Jeremiah 29:7, And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
God has a plan for you, whether you belong to this city, or you have come here as a migrant; whether Mumbai or Navi Mumbai. Remember, Jeremiah is writing to the captives that they had a responsibility – to pray for the city’s peace! It is the same now, PRAY for peace of the city where you are right now, for in its peace, you will have peace. It is like water – if you want water, you ask the Lord, water for the city. When the city has water, you will have water too!
It’s a privilege that we can pray to God the Father! See, there are only three nations – a Gentile nation, a Jewish nation and a Holy nation. We, who belong to the Holy nation, have this privilege-we can call out to God. Jesus says in John 16:24, “Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full”. That is why it is written: Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and ALL THESE THINGS- the practical life requirements of food, clothing and shelter, will be added unto you (Matt 6:33). Do not worry over them, for worrying belongs to the Gentile nation…
You can pray and sing 'change me'; but do you know the secret to success? Success is everyday and every moment making a choice to live for Him and not live for your-self. God is not going to change you until you change yourself! Hallelujah!
Change is by your own choice, by the decisions you make every day and every moment. And God is interested to see change in His people before there is change in the city. God’s plan is found in Jer. 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God’s thoughts are not our thoughts…it is much higher; And God says here, Look, My child, I’m thinking about you to give you a future and a hope.
Since God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, we must learn not to lean on our own understanding! In all our ways we are going to acknowledge Him! We understand He is the author of our blessed hope and a bright future!
Now, how do you FIT-in to God’s plan? When you DO fit in to His plan, there are so many promises found in the old and new covenant that is faith-marked for your benefit. But if you don’t FIT in, then there is no future and no hope. You may as well look up to fate and sing “What will be, will be…the future is not ours to see…” You find such people everywhere; submerged in problems and more problems…whenever you meet them, they tell you it is a hopeless problem. I can well understand these situations…for I too was at the end of myself when God met me; Yes, God meets you when you are at the END of your SELF…
Recently I was chatting with an IT engineer and asked him whether he was interested in the IPL matches going on. He said he was more interested in chess and this made me quip that in chess, once the game is over the king and the pawn go to the same box. Now, do you know your destination? Life is a journey and you need direction going towards your destination! Otherwise you may as well book a burial spot and wait to die – whether king or pawn will make no difference. You see, God’s plan is not going to change – you can receive it or reject it!
Romans 11:33 says “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” And v36 that says, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” Therefore, not democracy, not autocracy, but theocracy is the way of the Holy nation. We are subject to the Kingdom authority, where our Father is the King. There are four ways in which we can fit in to God’s plan for us.
1. Constantly be RELATED TO THE KING
Our relation to the King is through Jesus Christ and by His Spirit. Romans 12:1 show us some practical ways of constantly maintaining our relation with the King. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”
We are called to be a ‘living’ sacrifice’. You know in the old covenant, the sacrifices comprised of animals that were ‘dead’. But now, we are to unconditionally surrender our bodies as a ‘living’ sacrifice…which means we no longer live for our selves. We reckon that once Jesus was put on the cross, our desires too were put on the cross; once Jesus died, we too died to our sinful nature; once Jesus was buried, we too were buried and once He rose again, we too have risen to a new life. Therefore present your bodies…to fit into God’s plan.
2. Constantly be RENEWED IN YOUR MIND
Romans 12:2 says, “And do not be conformed to this word, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” There is a world system and a spiritual system. We are called to resist and not allow ourselves to be conformed to the world system, but rather embrace the transformation. We did once belong to the natural but now are born-again to the spiritual… See, being born-again implies spiritual babies. And if you don’t grow up, you are still carnal and are likely being conformed to the world system; but it's growing up that leads to transformation.
Now, transformation is vividly visualized in the growth, from a crawling caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly. If we are not willing to renew our mind, we can live all our lives as a caterpillar and die as a caterpillar. On the other hand, transformation leads to three proofs; the good, the acceptable and the perfect will of God. This can be imagined as the fruit or harvest of 30-fold, 60-fold and 100 fold respectively. When we change, our priorities change…and JOY is the result of putting Jesus first, Others next and Yourself last.
3. RECOGNISE YOUR CALLING and
4. RELEASE YOUR GIFT
Romans 12: 3-7 says, “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophecy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
The first thing we understand is there is GRACE given to us; GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense… and a MEASURE of FAITH that we may think of ourselves not highly, not lowly - but soberly. Grace and a measure of faith is the potent combination of your calling! It’s time to recognize your calling… there are problems in the body of Christ, because a ‘hand’ wants to be an ‘eye’ and the ‘foot’ wants to be the ‘mouth’… and there are members who want to be functionally the BE ALL and DO ALL part. But, success is not of being ‘Jack of all trades-master of none’. Instead, you can choose to be the master in just one function…
And about releasing the gifts, each one of us is called to be useful in the body of Christ. There is none who are ‘spare-part’ here… Yes, some members are visible in their functions and some are not; but all are useful. I remember a brother who sounded dejected saying that he was the ‘kidney’ in his church; that nobody sees him, but he does the work of cleaning… I assured him that the purification function of 'kidney' was essential anyway, and he should be cheerful to use his gifts.
Also, it is for you to develop the gifts that you have received by using them…then you will fit into God’s plan for your life and have a future and a hope. Otherwise, you will be back in the carnal side of the coin sooner than later… Over the years, I have seen members dance & sing in the church and then get offended and go on a BREAK, backsliding to the carnal nature…I’ve met people who I’ve counseled 40 years back and still reporting similar kind of problems, problems and more problems… Problems from the womb to the tomb!
Yes, the kingdom of God has its set of problems against the enemy; but we are peaceful and secure in God and in the centre of God’s will. As you continue being renewed in your mind and being transformed, as you minister to others, you will find God ministering to you…Yes, it’s true, the favor of God will be upon you and God opens the door that no one can close…
Remember these words – Relate yourself to the King, renew the mind and be transformed, recognize your calling and release the gifts in the body of Christ. We are on course for the take-off to 30-fold, 60-fold and 100-fold growth if we will prove the good, acceptable and perfect will of God in our own lives. Amen.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Rest
Labels:
rest
(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph on March 7, 2010 at NLF Vashi. Here’s hoping I haven't missed much. Happy reading!)
Reading
We know from this passage, that there are three parts to a human being – the spirit, soul and the body. We also understand that this is the established order – first the spirit, then the soul and lastly the body. God looks first at the spirit! This is in quite a contrast to what people of this world generally see: first the body…
We, as spiritually renewed people, conclude that it is essential to give due importance to matters concerning our spirit. Today let me share about the need for rest in our lives…Rest in our spirit, soul and body.
Bodily rest is easy to understand and follow…lie down, go to sleep; everyone knows this. But, how can we experience spiritual rest and also the rest for our souls…and no, I'm not talking about entering eternal rest; it’s my burden today to share how we can have rest in our spirit and find rest for our souls, while we are still alive and well, here on earth.
A well-known passage from the Bible is Matt. , 29; Jesus said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Verse 28 is all about the spiritual rest. Yoked by sin and heavy laden with guilt, there is but one recourse to get rest in your spirit: Come to Jesus. There is simply no other way for your burdens to be lifted. And there is no price to pay, no work to do: you cannot earn it, you cannot attain it with penance and pilgrimage… Come to Him…that is all; the work is already done by Him–Christ Jesus, for our spiritual awakening. Rest is found in Him alone, the Author of salvation .
In John 5:40, Jesus spoke to the Jews, “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” If we read the verses before, Jesus reasons with the Jews, that there is a fourfold witness-John the Baptist, the works Jesus did, the Father Himself and the Holy Scriptures-that testify that He indeed is the long-awaited Messiah. But the Jews did not believe…
But if you believe, and come to Him, in a moment you will find your burdens lifted… ‘that sinking feeling’ was never meant to be a part of your life anyway. Sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus; the guilt and condemnation is wiped away…this is the rest for your spirit.
The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8, 9). God is not going to push you; it is of your own will, you come. (Look at Jesus' anguish over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37). Willingly if we come, we can enter His rest. Hebrews 4:3 says, “For we who have believed do enter that rest…”
Look at Jesus, gaze upon Him; thank God for the simplicity of the gospel…and so easy to understand, whether an intellectual or an illiterate, whether poor or rich, whether black or white or brown skinned…all can enter His rest, if only we would come to Jesus!
When I speak in the church, I know most of us have entered His rest in our spirit when we have willingly come to Jesus, taken His promise and exchanged our death for His life! But continuing with the theme of rest, now how do you find rest for your souls?
You see, the mind or intellect, will and emotions constitute the soul of a person. Is your soul in turmoil or has it found rest? Do you find yourself always questioning the ways of God? Are you now and again struggling with your emotional self? Now, the rest for your soul is not a given…nor is it quick to attain. Jesus says in Matt. 11:29, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart…”
You know in those days, when they have to train a new bullock for pulling the cart, it is yoked together with an experienced bullock…this is a good illustration of what Jesus is calling us to do! He has gone before us…He is gentle, and lowly of heart; He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant…He humbled Himself and became obedient… (Phil. 2:7, 8).
That brings us to this: rest for the soul is a learning process! There are no short-cuts! Jesus is calling us to learn from Him…to keep in step with Him and obey just as He obeyed, walk day-by-day looking at Him, and yes, we will FIND rest for our souls! There are just two things to learn-meekness (or gentleness) and humility (or lowliness of heart).
Meekness in our relationship with God and with men…That's what we learn from Jesus. When He came, there was no place in the inn and He was born in a manger so lowly; yes, He accepted God's ways and will from the cradle in the cattle-stall at His birth, to the cross among criminals at His death…yes, even His early days as carpenter to His ministry days with no room to lay His head! Meekness toward God is acceptance of God's will in our lives.
Meekness toward God is also, accepting God's discipline in our lives. Hebrews says that God our Father chastens us for our profit…because it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. As we walk with Jesus, we will find truly His gentleness has made us great (Psalm ).
James calls us to receive God's word with meekness…the implanted word, which is able to save our souls. We are spirit beings-first of all, when we are reconciled with God. Therefore, we are people who live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Every trial has a word from God for you…He sent His word and healed my disease…even if we die we live!
Meekness also includes our relation with fellow human beings. Matthew 5:5, during the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” For a worldly person, this may not make sense, for we have been taught that we ought to fight for our rights, to be in the rat-race, push forward and make demands… but really it is the meek who shall inherit the earth! Also, there is no place for revenge-eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth, but we can learn from Jesus, who when insulted, did not insult in return. Galatians 5 assures us, the Holy Spirit working within us WILL produce meekness-the fruit of the Spirit.
The other thing to learn is humility…then we WILL find rest for our souls. Humility is not an outward display of lowly state…it is in essence, an internal quality of contentment. It is not about thinking lowly about yourself and losing your self-esteem, but rather giving a higher regard to others. Yes, we need to have right thoughts-about ourselves and how God sees us…but humility is more about unity and harmony-in church fellowships and at home. 1 Peter 3:8, 9 talks about inheriting a blessing because of our compassion, and love, and being tenderhearted and courteous.
God's word concludes, everyone who humbles himself shall be exalted…Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him… (Phil. 2:8, 9).
Do you want rest for your souls? As you learn, from Jesus, meekness and humility, all your questions, struggles and turmoil will disappear and you will find rest for your soul. Jeremiah says, Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk in it.” It is not God's will for you to struggle in your souls, gripe and grovel. The Lord is calling you to find rest for your spirit and your soul. What will be your response?
We have His word; we have His example…there is no dearth of knowledge of what we must do; but are you willing to apply that knowledge and put into practice-patience, meekness and humility. Spirituality is not learnt in a Bible college…it is in the day-by-day walk with the Lord. Everyone does have ample opportunities to apply these principles everyday…are you REALLY interested in a harmonious relationship with other fellow believers and those at home? Would you find rest for your soul as with your spirit?
We have His word; we have His example…there is no dearth of knowledge of what we must do; but are you willing to apply that knowledge and put into practice-patience, meekness and humility. Spirituality is not learnt in a Bible college…it is in the day-by-day walk with the Lord. Everyone does have ample opportunities to apply these principles everyday…are you REALLY interested in a harmonious relationship with other fellow believers and those at home? Would you find rest for your soul as with your spirit?
May God grant you His grace. Amen.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Know God
Let’s turn to 2 Timothy 1:11, which says: For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Paul writes these words while in prison, near the end of his life; not only has he his own suffering, but he has also heard that there were persecutions among the believers and some of them were turning away from the Lord. Amidst despair and difficult times, Paul has this confession “I know whom I have believed…”
Do you KNOW whom you have believed? In times of difficulties, it is essential to KNOW God and be fully convinced of what He is able to do. In Daniel 11:32, the Angel says to Daniel: …but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. Yes! If you know your God, you will display strength. Otherwise, in times of crisis, there will be panic, in times of persecution there will be fear, in times of difficulties there will be confusion. And it is our privilege that we – ALL of us, from the least to the greatest, can know our God. We can know Him whom we have believed; and we can display strength during difficult times because we know Him.
Philippians 4:12, 13 (Paul says): “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
I know, therefore I can...this is my burden today-to share about the need to know God. So many people in the Bible confess, I know…, I know…, I know….And how great a privilege we have in our times to know God-a God who is near; and who is with us and will be in us. Would you fix your eyes on Him to KNOW who God is?
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I do not change…”
Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End and no change in-between! That is our God! The world changes, circumstances change, people change…some that were friendly earlier, may not be now… But it gives us a great assurance that in the midst of changing world, we can know and put our trust in One who does not change.
When Samuel confronts Saul on his transgression, this is what he says: “..the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” (1 Samuel 15:29). God is not a man that He should change His mind. He will not call back His words (Isaiah 31:2). We look up to a God who keeps His word. We serve a God who keeps His promises.
For example, God promised Abraham, that his descendants will be a special people, a prized possession…many generations later, the descendants of Abraham rejected Jesus, God’s own Son and crucified Him! But God has not retracted His words and promises to the children of Abraham…Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable”. God’s mercies extend even now to the disobedient children…that the children of Israel may even now choose Christ and turn back to Him. God does not change His mind.
Look at James 1:17. It says, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. When we see the sun and its brightness, we find variation from morning to noon-time and noon-time to evening; but with the Father of lights, there is no variation. His mercies endure forever. He is always good and His gifts are always good and perfect.
Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He is always faithful. Whatever be the situation, we can ALWAYS bank on God’s faithfulness. In the Book of Weeping, amidst gloomy circumstances, Jeremiah writes this: This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21-23). Every morning you can wake up to God’s new mercies! Everyday you can count on His faithfulness! Let me share with you how God’s faithfulness affects your personal life.
(i) Forgiveness: 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Because God is faithful, we can experience forgiveness. Because of what Jesus finished on the cross, His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness when we confess our sins. It does not matter how bad you see yourself; it does not matter how bad others see you; what REALLY matters is that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. And we need not carry the guilt anymore-no more shame, and no more pain.
(ii) Fellowship with Christ: 1 Corinthians 1: 8, 9 “who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Because of God’s forgiveness, we can be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now God’s faithfulness extends even further…in calling us into the fellowship of Jesus Christ Himself. You can have an unshakeable hope now of what is certain in the future, because God is faithful…Hebrews 10:23 expound this: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Our fellowship with Jesus is one thing that can secure our future…a future of eternal bliss in His presence.
(iii) Guard against the evil one: 2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
Our Lord is our tower, dependable and strong. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler (Psalm 91:4). Therefore we need not fear. Though we walk through the valley of shadow of death, we will fear no evil. For the Lord is with us.
(iv) Grace for the test: 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
God has promised us His grace that will be sufficient for us. Therefore no trial or temptation will be beyond our capacity. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the fire scorch you. (Isaiah 43:2).
Deuteronomy 32:3, 4 says, “…Ascribe greatness to our God, He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”
Our God is utterly faithful. He is a God of truth and justice. He is a God full of compassion and mercy. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. (Psalm 94:19). He is faithful to forgive our sins, faithful to guarantee a fellowship with Christ Jesus, faithful to guard us against the evil one and faithful to disallow temptation and trial beyond what we are able.
Our God is the Rock of ages. He is the Rock of our salvation. He is Rock on which we stand. When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter to me, a strong tower from the enemy (Psalm 61:2, 3).
Our God is unchanging. He does not take back of what He has said. He is not man that He should change His mind. He has promised I will never leave you nor will I forsake you.
What a wonderful God we serve! Gaze upon Him and know whom you have believed. Have you fed on His faithfulness today? Do you KNOW in whom you have believed? Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good?
In closing, let us read from Psalm 37:3, 4, 5 “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”
Lord we come-to commit our anxieties into Your hands; we cast our cares and burdens and we pray for Your rest. I pray for every brother and sister here who is struggling, Lord confirm Your word in their spirit, may them experience your rest-In Jesus name. Amen
Paul writes these words while in prison, near the end of his life; not only has he his own suffering, but he has also heard that there were persecutions among the believers and some of them were turning away from the Lord. Amidst despair and difficult times, Paul has this confession “I know whom I have believed…”
Do you KNOW whom you have believed? In times of difficulties, it is essential to KNOW God and be fully convinced of what He is able to do. In Daniel 11:32, the Angel says to Daniel: …but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. Yes! If you know your God, you will display strength. Otherwise, in times of crisis, there will be panic, in times of persecution there will be fear, in times of difficulties there will be confusion. And it is our privilege that we – ALL of us, from the least to the greatest, can know our God. We can know Him whom we have believed; and we can display strength during difficult times because we know Him.
Philippians 4:12, 13 (Paul says): “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
I know, therefore I can...this is my burden today-to share about the need to know God. So many people in the Bible confess, I know…, I know…, I know….And how great a privilege we have in our times to know God-a God who is near; and who is with us and will be in us. Would you fix your eyes on Him to KNOW who God is?
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I do not change…”
Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End and no change in-between! That is our God! The world changes, circumstances change, people change…some that were friendly earlier, may not be now… But it gives us a great assurance that in the midst of changing world, we can know and put our trust in One who does not change.
When Samuel confronts Saul on his transgression, this is what he says: “..the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” (1 Samuel 15:29). God is not a man that He should change His mind. He will not call back His words (Isaiah 31:2). We look up to a God who keeps His word. We serve a God who keeps His promises.
For example, God promised Abraham, that his descendants will be a special people, a prized possession…many generations later, the descendants of Abraham rejected Jesus, God’s own Son and crucified Him! But God has not retracted His words and promises to the children of Abraham…Romans 11:29 says, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable”. God’s mercies extend even now to the disobedient children…that the children of Israel may even now choose Christ and turn back to Him. God does not change His mind.
Look at James 1:17. It says, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. When we see the sun and its brightness, we find variation from morning to noon-time and noon-time to evening; but with the Father of lights, there is no variation. His mercies endure forever. He is always good and His gifts are always good and perfect.
Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He is always faithful. Whatever be the situation, we can ALWAYS bank on God’s faithfulness. In the Book of Weeping, amidst gloomy circumstances, Jeremiah writes this: This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21-23). Every morning you can wake up to God’s new mercies! Everyday you can count on His faithfulness! Let me share with you how God’s faithfulness affects your personal life.
(i) Forgiveness: 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Because God is faithful, we can experience forgiveness. Because of what Jesus finished on the cross, His blood cleanses us from all unrighteousness when we confess our sins. It does not matter how bad you see yourself; it does not matter how bad others see you; what REALLY matters is that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. And we need not carry the guilt anymore-no more shame, and no more pain.
(ii) Fellowship with Christ: 1 Corinthians 1: 8, 9 “who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Because of God’s forgiveness, we can be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now God’s faithfulness extends even further…in calling us into the fellowship of Jesus Christ Himself. You can have an unshakeable hope now of what is certain in the future, because God is faithful…Hebrews 10:23 expound this: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Our fellowship with Jesus is one thing that can secure our future…a future of eternal bliss in His presence.
(iii) Guard against the evil one: 2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
Our Lord is our tower, dependable and strong. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler (Psalm 91:4). Therefore we need not fear. Though we walk through the valley of shadow of death, we will fear no evil. For the Lord is with us.
(iv) Grace for the test: 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
God has promised us His grace that will be sufficient for us. Therefore no trial or temptation will be beyond our capacity. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the fire scorch you. (Isaiah 43:2).
Deuteronomy 32:3, 4 says, “…Ascribe greatness to our God, He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”
Our God is utterly faithful. He is a God of truth and justice. He is a God full of compassion and mercy. In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. (Psalm 94:19). He is faithful to forgive our sins, faithful to guarantee a fellowship with Christ Jesus, faithful to guard us against the evil one and faithful to disallow temptation and trial beyond what we are able.
Our God is the Rock of ages. He is the Rock of our salvation. He is Rock on which we stand. When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For You have been a shelter to me, a strong tower from the enemy (Psalm 61:2, 3).
Our God is unchanging. He does not take back of what He has said. He is not man that He should change His mind. He has promised I will never leave you nor will I forsake you.
What a wonderful God we serve! Gaze upon Him and know whom you have believed. Have you fed on His faithfulness today? Do you KNOW in whom you have believed? Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is good?
In closing, let us read from Psalm 37:3, 4, 5 “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”
Lord we come-to commit our anxieties into Your hands; we cast our cares and burdens and we pray for Your rest. I pray for every brother and sister here who is struggling, Lord confirm Your word in their spirit, may them experience your rest-In Jesus name. Amen
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)