Integrity of God’s Word

Message by Bro. Vijay Awale. Happy scattering! 

The time you spend meditating on God’s word is a reflection of the joy in you and it gives meaning to what we experience in ourselves. You will find that God’s word is pure, true, dependable and perfect. Let me continue with a parable of Jesus from Mark 4:26-29 (also given in Matt. 13 and Luke 8). Jesus is talking about the growth of His kingdom, and about sowing the seed. It is clear that Jesus is dwelling on the theme of God’s word as seed, as we see in Mark 4:14 “The sower sows the word.” So, the parable prompts us to learn spiritual truths from natural things.

And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

No know how

“…the seed should sprout and grow-he himself does not know how” – these words are significant, I believe. We have been meditating on change verses in the Bible in this year 2012. Change is so linked to the seed-the word of God. If you ask me how the word of God (or the Bible) can change any person, I’ll answer I do not know. (he himself does not know how). But if you ask me, whether the word of God can bring change in any person, I’ll say it does-100 %. Just like the seed producing fruit. Yes, the word of God brings about change; It works-that is all I know.

As we dwell on God’s word, we find, our perceptions, attitudes and our entire character taking shape in a new way. I do not know how, but I know IT WORKS.

No fleshly role

“…for the earth yields crops by itself.” – again look at these words. Think about the change in you, since you became a follower of Jesus Christ. What role have you played in shaping your own character? Nothing. Just as the earth is designed to connect with seed and make it grow, the word of God is designed to connect with your heart, and make you grow spiritually. Just as the seed sprout and grow in the earth, the word of God grows inside of you, bringing about changes in your very soul. You may do nothing to your soul, but IT WORKS.

Know the right place

The right place to receive God’s word is your heart; just as the earth yields crop for the seed. If we receive God’s word only in our ears, is it any wonder spiritual growth becomes stunted? And I have also come across those who keep Bible in their living room book-shelves, and think that it will bring some change to the house. And those ones crazy and scared-to-death of ghosts, keeping the Bible under the pillow! I tell you, this is not the right place; and it hardly helps your faith.

But, put the word of God in your heart and it WORKS.

Know that there are stages of growth

“first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head…”

Why should anyone imagine the moment they are born-again, that they will have a huge and grand ministry like Benny Hinn or Joyce Meyer? They watch on TV the miracles and signs and wonders, and the huge crowds, and then think it is just one step to that kind of ministry. I tell you, this is to do with your own fleshly thoughts more than anything else. I sure believe there is a calling for each one of us, and each one’s calling is unique and important in the body of Christ. But, to attain to spiritual maturity, God has designed stages of growth, just as in the case of the seed. First the blade, then the head and then the grain…

To run the spiritual race, first start the race (as children of God), then add hope (of things to come), then faith (through triumph in trials) and then you will have the crown (of glory)-the harvest has come!

Know that there is Testing for every Teaching

In continuation of Jesus teaching, we must also read Mark 4:35-40. Jesus had taught these things to His disciples, all day speaking in parables. He spoke about 10 parables in a single day, relating them to the kingdom of God and His ways. And He explained all these parables to His disciples (v34).

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

This was God’s word to the disciples: we will cross over to the other side. And it was left to them to take it into their hearts or to hear and just go on.

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

I can easily imagine myself, in that boat with Jesus and His disciples. And I can also identify with their question: “Do you not care, God?” How many times have we asked the same question to God, in the windstorms of our own life? I can also imagine Jesus get up, and hearing Him speak to the storm: “Peace, be still!” Oh, yes, my heart is thrilled. But then, I cringe somewhat, when He turns and say, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

But deep in my heart, I know He is the Truth; and that He is speaking the truth. I know, many don’t like it when the truth is spoken-and especially when it hurts. Others may say, it is the truth, but the timing is wrong. But God’s word encourages us to always speak the truth (Eph. 4:25). The disciples got it all wrong when they questioned Jesus, “Do you not care that we are perishing?” Probably they expected Him, as their Leader, to help them somehow, and also give an explanation why He was asleep! But, you don’t expect Jesus to say, “ah! Sorry, fellas. It was just that the preaching all day got to me and I was tired; I went to sleep. I’ll take better care of you, next time!” – NO!

Jesus had done all that He had to, perfectly. His part was to TEACH; and theirs-to PRACTICE. My friends, I tell you, God has already done all that is needed, and He has given to you all that you’ve ever needed-all His wonderful promises, and His own presence. But the things that He has taught you all along, is in the SEED-FORM: it is for you to take it, and scatter those seed in your heart, allow it to WORK DEEP-and then IT WORKS. You can be sure of that-it works!

Heaven and earth will pass away, but the words of Jesus, by no means shall pass away. The word of God, scattered, will move the mountains. The word of God, in your heart, will sprout and grow: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain on the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come! Happy graining!

The Important Responsibility

(Message by Bro. Samuel Cherian. Happy reading!)

Continuing from where we left last time, I want to emphasize the truth how we, although born of the corruptible seed, can experience a 180 degree shift, when we are born of the incorruptible Seed- Jesus Christ. He, our LORD, the only begotten Son of God, has made provision that we-of the human race, can become sons of God, and partakers of the heavenly kingdom. We become part of His family, and not only that, but we are heirs and co-heirs with Christ reigning with Him.

I had also mentioned last time that we, as the receiver of that Incorruptible Seed, have a responsibility toward that Seed. It will be foolish on the part of the farmer, if he does nothing after sowing of the seed!

In order that he sees a bountiful harvest, a wise farmer would invest his time and effort to nourish and protect the seed. In the same way, the bountiful riches of God’s promises are found in that incorruptible Seed-Jesus Christ; but WE, as believers, have our responsibility as well.

Just as a plant needs a habitat, the nutrients of the soil, the water and air, for it to grow, so also the (Spirit) seed within us require a willing soul and a surrendered body, for it to grow and function to its full potential.

We know the life-story of the hen, and her chicks-she sits on those delicate eggs for a full 21 days for it to hatch. And she can become very protective, before the egg hatches and also after the chicks come out. Similarly, the human baby, in the womb of a mother, is protected and nourished for a full term of 280 days, before it arrives to see the world. Therefore we must understand that the holy, incorruptible seed will not remain in just any environment that you provide it with; and it cannot function well unless it grows within you.

The wise Solomon, after building the temple, dedicated it saying, “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!” (2 Chr. 6: 18). But look at the paradox in Ex. 25: 8, God saying: “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Indeed, God dwells among His children.

The place where God dwelt-the sanctuary, had God’s specifications “…according to all the pattern…” (Ex. 25:40): it had specific measurements, specific materials and specific men of skill to make it. Everything about the sanctuary reflected the glory of God. 

Do you know God’s specifications for your life here on earth? Let it reflect the glory of God. The prophet Isaiah declared the coming of John the Baptist, who had a specific assignment: To prepare the way of the Lord. He had this ministry of repentance from sin; and John the Baptist fulfilled it just at the coming of Jesus. Jesus came for specific purposes: Jesus' name meant salvation and He fulfilled it.

(i)                  Heart Habitat – Faith

The LORD of heaven and earth, took the form of a man, came down to be born of a virgin, and in lowly manger. In the spiritual realm, what this means to us is: Jesus is born to save those who simply, humbly believe! Yes, all that is required to become a citizen of heaven is to have a heart of faith, and a soul of repentance from sin. 

Repentance is turning away from sin and turning toward God. This is the time you believe in God’s Son-Jesus Christ, and receive the forgiveness of your sins. This is the time you are born-again into the family of God and become His children. This is the time you receive that Incorruptible Seed. The gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes… For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Rom. 1: 16, 17)

Now faith is dynamic and grows, as it says, from faith to faith. This is the faith that pleases God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him… (Heb. 11:6)

We have seen examples of how faith can grow- from no faith to little faith (O ye of little faith); from little faith to just faith (your faith has made you well); from just faith to great faith ( O woman, great is your faith)…  This dynamic faith is the right habitat we give to the Incorruptible Seed within us. As Paul says in Phi. 2: 12, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. And Holy Spirit helping us, we must develop this habitat of faith in our heart.

(ii)                Heart Soil – Singleness of mind toward God

Secondly, the soil of the heart matters for the seed to grow. This I will describe as the singleness of mind and purpose toward God. Once you have become a child of God, there is really only one way to go – His way! If you still harbor the options between your way and His way, then you are the captain of your own soul (and no better than a slave). 

Jeremiah prophesies hope to the backslidden and ravaged Israel; God saying thus: They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. [Jer. 32: 38, 39]

One heart-one way! Remember this in your days filled with many issues from morning till evening- relationships, work, food, business, rest, travel- so many issues that can grab our attention and hold us captive. In all these, know that a singleness of mind toward God is of utmost importance. Otherwise, it is easy to get distracted in our daily chores, so much so, that we pause and listen to the Tempter whispering those similar words: Has God really said….? You shall not surely die (it is not going to kill you)…; and then that fatal lie, ‘you shall be like God!’

We know the instance when Peter walked on water. There was a gathering storm around them; all his peers were safe in the boat. And then there was Jesus, as calm as He is, walking on the water. The disciples’ emotions ran high with fear (of a ghost) to wonder and awe (knowing that it was Jesus walking on the water). But then Peter too, took a step out of the boat at Jesus word ‘Come’ and began walking on the water. As long as his eyes were focused on Jesus, he continued walking on the water; but once he got distracted by the storm and the rushing waves, he began to sink! (Matt. 14: 29) That is why it is important to focus-fix our eyes on our Lord Jesus Christ- the author and finisher of our faith.

The singleness of our mind toward God must reflect in our everyday life, and our attitudes. And sometimes it may involve a waiting period, and that maybe painful for some. We know the story of Job, how he confessed: The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1: 21) Job had lost everything about and around him-his children, wealth and his own health. And the situation is worsened by some ‘miserable’ company of friends who condemn Job; and this goes on for the next 36 chapters of the book Job. But the situation is entirely reversed when you come to the 42^nd chapter of Job. Isaiah writes about this waiting period too: But those who wait on the LORD (in union with God) shall renew their strength… (Isa. 40: 31)

The theme (promise) of the year (from 2 Cor 3: 18) is about change. And this too involves waiting period from glory to glory, in a life transformation (metamorphosis). 2 Peter 1: 4 reaffirms that we are partakers of the divine nature, because of the change. WE NEED CHANGE! As long as we are human and alive here on earth, there must be some change happening on the inside of us. 

Our desires need change; our prayers need change; our thinking needs change; our thinking on change needs change; our attitudes need change.

Beloved, let us therefore know that we are partakers of the divine nature, because of the incorruptible Seed within us, and we have a responsibility to keep our heart with all diligence-in faith and in a singleness of mind toward God. Amen.

The Incorruptible Seed

(Message by Bro. Samuel Cherian. Happy reading!)

Today, I want to share on the Incorruptible Seed-Jesus Christ, dwelling in our hearts. From our experience of being born-again, we know of Jesus as our personal Savior-and Him dwelling in our hearts. From His promise, we also know that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts, and that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Reading through the Scriptures, this verse from John caught my spirit’s attention; “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” [1 John 3:9] Now what is that “seed” remaining in us?

From the Parable of the Sower in Matt. 13, we also know that the seed is the word of God. And there the heart of man is typified as the soil. And reading from the first chapter of John’s gospel, John 1:1 says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And verse John 1:14 continues: 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.

The word ‘seed’ appears many times in the New Testament; and in more than 95% of these cases, the word ‘seed’ means a physical seed that a farmer takes up to sow.  But in 1 John 3:9, the word ‘seed’ derives from the root word ‘sperma’ (meaning sperm) and pertaining to biological life; with all the DNA characteristics of the originator that influences and defines the receiver-whether it be his looks, character, health and even thinking.

In the plan of God, man was created in the image of God. Adam and Eve, with all the in-built characteristics of God’s perfection, were deceived by the Devil, and could not keep that one command given to them. And the seed in them became corrupted. And that corruption was transferred from generation to generation, through the seed, and continues even today. God, who made everything beautiful and saw and said that it was good, was sorry that He had made man on the earth (Gen. 6: 6). 

But the good news is that God’s promise preceded his grieving! In Gen. 3:15, long before the corruption of the seed was complete, we find God’s blue-print of correction through another Seed-that of a woman, even our Lord Jesus Christ.

And though we have inherited characteristics of the corrupted seed, the incorruptible Seed is sure to triumph, for it says: He (the Incorruptible Seed) shall bruise your head (of corrupted seed). Luke 1 lists the genealogy of Jesus Christ-42 generations of the corrupted seed; some were heroes of faith, but there were others ignoble and then others with a bad reputation. But the conclusion of the matter is found in Luke 1:35-Jesus is born by the power of the Highest and of the Holy Spirit; He is the Holy One, the Son of God. “For with God nothing will be impossible.” (v37)

The natural genealogy of the flesh and of the corrupted seed is now up against the spiritual genealogy of those who would believe in Jesus, receive Jesus as that incorruptible Seed, and become the children of God (John 1: 12) through faith. And to those who have trusted in Jesus, suddenly, the natural genealogy ceases to matter, whether it is good or bad. The expectation of a ‘good’ life in the flesh, through the corrupt seed, is no more a priority-as we focus on that incorruptible inheritance, because of the spiritual Seed within us. (1 Peter 1: 4).

What a great privilege for us! Not only do we have an incorruptible heritage (as children of God), an incorruptible inheritance (with a citizenship in heaven-Phil. 3:20), but we also have an inherited name from God-belonging to Christ (Eph. 3: 14, 15).

I remember during my younger days singing along this old Hindi film song: ‘Jeena yahan, marna yahan; iske siva jaana kahan’ (we live here, we die here (on earth); where else do we go?) The song had a catchy tune and I found no harm then; but now I realize that’s really a big joke from the Mera Naam Joker!). What a deceit of the enemy in this world song that we sing! The word song says something quite different: Behind the blue skies, we go to a place, where my Jesus stays! Yes, we do not belong here on earth; our citizenship is of heaven.

A citizenship in heaven is not granted according to one’s royal pedigree or high qualifications; it is not granted based on sporting skill or technical competence; it is not even given for any usefulness of whatever the corrupted seed can throw up. But a citizenship in heaven is open to one and all; by the grace of God and His gift of faith. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” [Matt. 16:26] Anyone can know Him-from the least to the greatest; Mary Magdalene knew Him, Simon the leper knew Him, the thief on the cross knew Him-yes, the despised of this world had a turnabout when they met Him.

But there is also a responsibility on our part, when we receive the incorruptible Seed. If you let the seed lie dormant within you, it will remain as it is. But as the good ground (and soil) of your heart, nurture the seed and see it grow. But I will talk about this responsibility on our part, when I share the word again.

But today, let the Incorruptible Seed-our Lord Jesus Christ grant you to know the incorruptible heritage, incorruptible inheritance and the inherited eternal name that we have in Him. God Bless you. Amen.