Grow in Grace, Gift and Glory



Grow in the grace (2 Peter 3:18)

(Message by Pastor Joseph, Founder NLMI. Happy growing!)
It’s a privilege to be in God’s house to worship Him in the beauty of holiness. Didn’t we sing that song today – “… the Darling of heaven crucified, Worthy is the Lamb!” This is one of the song that touches my heart, when we sing it. Do you want to be one of the ‘darlings’ in heaven? Be ready to be crucified! Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;” [Gal. 2:20].

If the Lord tarries, we have to be with Him. Are you ready? The doors of heaven open to welcome us. We know Jesus as the great Advocate- sitting at the right hand of the Father. But do you know that Jesus stood up to welcome Stephen home? And so the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and Himself for me.

In her biography Daughter of Destiny, Kathryn Kuhlman says “… from the platform to the pulpit, I die a thousand deaths”. This is what we learn- to die daily. I say this also because, from my seat to the pulpit as I come, the matters that I must talk about sometimes changes radically. I say we must prepare and come, but also wait for God to minister through us. It’s 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration. As you are filled inside with God’s word, it bubbles in you so much that the ‘Rhema’ word comes forth from God. That is why I say, you must read God’s word; study God’s word; meditate God’s word; memorize God’s word; and obey God’s word. There are no shortcuts to nearness to God. And if you do these you will be like the tree planted by the rivers of water that will bring forth its fruit in season, whose leaves will not wither and whatever you do shall prosper.

I am here today, because I have been invited to speak. And today our son- Philip, completes 48 years. And especially during this time, my memories go back to the time of his birth. And when I heard the news of his birth there was gladness, as well as sadness; gladness- because a son was born, and sadness- because he was born pre-mature and weighing just 4½ pounds. Of course, there were a lot of people praying for him, and now as we see him here, there is no trace of pre-maturity. And our hearts abound with thanksgiving as we see him in God’s service. And this is what we teach- to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things- these basic necessities of food, clothes and shelter, will be added (and I mean really ADDED) to you. David made this observation when he was ‘old’- I have been young and now am old; but I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his children begging bread.

Solomon, on completion of the temple glorified God in the words found in 2 Chr. 6:10. And this is the promise I want to give to Philip: “So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke, and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised; and I have built the temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel.”

John 1:14 says: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Now glory is ALL that GOD IS and ALL that GOD has REVEALED to us. In John 17, Jesus says “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” And in the Mount of Transfiguration, there was the glory cloud covering Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets) and Jesus (representing the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets). Now where is this glory? It is not found in creation; it is not in the created, but it is the redemption glory- the mystery of Christ in you, the hope of glory. How can it be increased or brought out? 2 Cor. 3:18 says: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Tabernacle (from http://www.the-tabernacle-place.com)

Do you realise that there are many today, even among the believers, still having their faces veiled? The veil is taken away only when we turn towards Jesus. This is by choice- to look at Jesus, who is full of grace and truth. And we walk in His light, in the light of His glory, and our veil is taken away! If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land [Isa. 1:19]. Remember, we started with the ‘darlings’ of heaven- then love your enemies. Someone said that we have to bring our friends closer; but our enemies closest! Apart from John, remember who was closest to Jesus? Judas Iscariot- the betrayer. Jesus entrusted him with responsibility (hey, he was the treasurer) knowing fully well, he was going to steal the money and finally betray Him!

Growth in the Christian life is not automatic- it is by choice each day! It is to die to the world and live to the Spirit one day after another. Otherwise, it is possible to see some people remain in the same level even after 20y, 30y or 40 years- or they would have become worse too! We must learn to progress from grace, to gift, to glory (or from consecration, to character, to communion; or from body, to soul to the spirit living); just as the model of the tabernacle, where the progress is from outer courts to the Holy place and then to the Holy of Holies.

In the outer courts, there is a sacrifice to be made- do you imagine that the animal to be sacrificed willing comes to the altar and lays itself down? It is the place of judgment, where, because of the sacrifice we are brought near to God by grace. It is surrender of our body. And in the Holy Place, there is the show bread, the golden altar of incense and the candle-sticks. This place represents our soul part- the bread representing our mind (or intellect), the golden altar of incense- our will, and the candle-sticks- our emotions. We are brought near by the renewing of our mind- the building up of our character. Paul says in Phil. 4 “whatever things are true, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things” (Phil. 4:8).

We progress further into the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies), because the veil is torn in Jesus Christ and we have direct access to the glory of God. This is a place of communion with God. By position, we are already in this place; but practically, we must learn to die daily and go on from outer courts into the Most Holy place. This is a spiritual exercise we must do! Rev. 12:11 says: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” If you want to be an overcomer, all these three parts are essential- the blood of the Lamb, the word of your testimony, and not loving your lives to the death!

Somebody told me that there are 2 kinds of believers- one, who wants to give, give and forgive; the other who wants to get, get and forget! Where do you find yourself in your relationship with Christ and His church? Do you want to give… or..?

Growth is from grace, to gift and to glory. Romans 12:1-8 gives the details of our spiritual growth-path.

1. Reasonable service is to present your bodies- a living sacrifice
2. Renew your mind and be transformed, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3. Recognize your gifting and your place in the body of Christ (each one has a measure of faith) and
4. Responsibly use the gifting in the house of God (verses 6, 7 and 8).