Discipline in the Church

 “to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is teaching discipline in the Church by putting out a man indulging in incest and to release this man over to satan for the destruction of his rebellious flesh, in hope that his spirit may be rescued and restored in the day of the Lord.  When a person is put out of the fellowship of the Church family, satan the accuser has access to harass and oppress.  The local church has the authority to discipline erring believers who persist in sin.  Under the old covenant that discipline was physical (execution by stoning), but under the new covenant, church discipline is spiritual.  It is not a light thing to be handed over to satan.  The accuser’s accusations consume the flesh of the erring person, until the light of the day, the revelation of Jesus Christ rises for him or her again to rescue the person from the deceit of the sin he or she have indulged in.  We do not give satan any platform to operate from and not allow our mindset to be fallen.  We are not ignorant of satan’s designs.  Let’s walk in the victory of the Cross of Christ.  Amen!

The Spirit of Wisdom

 “I said, Days should speak, And multitude of years should teach wisdom.  But there is a spirit in man: And the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭32‬:‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

‘The longer you live, the wiser you become.’ But I see I was wrong—it’s God’s Spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty One, that makes wise human insight possible.  Elihu suddenly makes an appearance, a descendant of Abraham’s brother Nahor’s son Buz.  Elihu starts by saying quite rightly that wisdom doesn’t come with age, but the Spirit of God gives understanding of true wisdom.  In the old covenant, God Almighty chose to give the Spirit of wisdom to the children of Israel whom He had chosen out of all the people in the world.  Moses and Joshua were notable in operating in the Spirit of Wisdom.  Through the new covenant, God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, has given to us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of our understanding being enlightened; that we may know our inheritance and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.  Hallelujah!

Included in Christ’s Death & Resurrection by Faith

 “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul teaches, “So resist the temptation to pronounce premature judgment on anything before the appointed time when all will be fully revealed. Instead, wait until the Lord makes His appearance, for He will bring all that is hidden in darkness to light and unveil every secret motive of everyone’s heart. Then, when the whole truth is known, each will receive praise from God.”  Any judgment prior to the Cross of Christ is out of context!  The days of performance based judgment are over.  His coming brings to light all the hidden mysteries concerning mankind’s inclusion in the death and resurrection of Christ, and unveils the deepest desire of a person.  In His appearing, through the proclamation of the Gospel, shall everyone be commended by God.  Christ is the Desire of all nations.  All nations long for the redemption of their true identity and their true innocence.  We voice the word of wisdom that was hidden in silence for timeless ages - a mystery upholding God’s awesome plan where He would redeem His glory in man!  Hallelujah to our Redeemer!

Nailing Sin to the Cross of Christ

 “If I covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: Did I fear a great multitude, Or did the contempt of families terrify me, That I kept silence, and went not out of the door? Oh that one would hear me! Behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, And that mine adversary had written a book.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭31‬:‭33‬-‭35‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job starts ending his speech, “Did I hide my sin the way Adam did, or conceal my guilt behind closed doors Because I was afraid what people would say, fearing the gossip of the neighbors so much that I turned myself into a recluse? You know good and well that I didn’t. Oh, if only someone would give me a hearing! I’ve signed my name to my defense—let the Almighty One answer! I want to see my indictment in writing”. Job was not hiding his sin but the law had not yet been given to expose sin. In fact, the law was introduced into God’s plan to bring the reality of human sinfulness out of hiding. And yet, wherever sin increased, there was more than enough of God’s grace to triumph all the more!  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the sin of mankind and took the punishment of our sin, thank God!  Our old man is crucified with Christ, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Hallelujah!

Doing God’s Work in God’s Way

 “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The quality of materials used by anyone building on this foundation will soon be made apparent, whether it has been built with gold, silver, and costly stones, or wood, hay, and straw. Their work will soon become evident, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by blazing fire! Fire will test and prove the workmanship of each builder.  Solomon’s temple was built using gold, silver and costly stones.  The Church is God’s true temple.  Wisdom will build her house with divine substance (gold), redemption’s fruit (silver), and transformed lives (costly stones).  Wood, hay and straw are the works of the flesh, the building materials of men, not of God.  They grow up from the ground, which God cursed.  It is both quality and durability that God commends.  Fire will cause the better material to glow brighter, but the inferior material will be consumed.  How we build and what we build, matters to God.  It is possible to build on the true foundation of Christ but with wrong materials.  We need God’s work done in God’s way.  Amen!

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

 “I am a brother to dragons, And a companion to owls. My skin is black upon me, And my bones are burned with heat. My harp also is turned to mourning, And my organ into the voice of them that weep.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭30‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“I howl with the jackals, I hoot with the owls. I’m black-and-blue all over, burning up with fever. My fiddle plays nothing but the blues; my mouth harp wails laments.”  Job was in the throes of depression unable to stop speaking, as he compared the old days with his present circumstances.  The psalmist echoed Job’s voice: “Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don't turn away from me, or I will die”.  It was only when Christ came that He gave this wonderful invitation “Come to Me, all you who labour 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. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  On the Cross, Christ took the whole world’s depression and exchanged it for His love.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen!

Having the Mind of Christ

 “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

For who has ever intimately known the mind of the Lord Yahweh well enough to become His counselor? Christ has, and we possess Christ’s perceptions.  Believers who possess the Holy Spirit are revealed the thoughts and purposes of Christ.  The revelation of the Kingdom of God that Jesus preached was not understood by the intellect of man but by those who welcomed this truth.  Humanly speaking, no one can understand the mysteries of God without the Holy Spirit.  Those who have the Holy Spirit now possess the perceptions of Christ’s mind and can implement His purposes on the earth.  This is our responsibility to co-labour with our Lord and Master and bring His will on earth as it is in heaven.  His Kingdom come.  Amen!

Receive Christ’s Righteousness by Faith Every Moment

 “Oh that I were as in months past, As in the days when God preserved me; When his candle shined upon my head, And when by his light I walked through darkness;”

‭‭Job‬ ‭29‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job says: “Oh, how I long for the good old days, when God took such very good care of me. He always held a lamp before me and I walked through the dark by its light”.   Job had known and walked in the blessings of the LORD and enjoyed His favour.  Though he knew the righteousness of God on his life, it shifted to self righteousness which is like filthy rags before God as the prophet said later.  Many believers today, slip into this mindset of justifying their own righteousness before God.  Jesus’ Cross has demolished self righteousness which produced death. Death once held us in its grip, and by the blunder of one man, death reigned as king over humanity. But now, we are held in the grip of grace and continue reigning as kings in life, enjoying our regal freedom through the gift of perfect righteousness in the One and Only Jesus, the Messiah!  It’s Christ’s gift of perfect righteousness that causes us to reign in life.  Let’s come out of every form of self righteousness and each moment humbly receive Christ’s gift of perfect righteousness by faith.  Amen!

Fellowship with Christ Passionately

 “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul teaches, “God is forever faithful and can be trusted to do this in you, for He has invited you to co-share the life of His Son, Jesus, the Anointed One, our King!”  This is the co-participation, communion and fellowship with the Son.  All believers who have identified with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, are called to share in the sonship of Jesus.  By God’s grace, we will share in the Son’s standing and position before the Father.  We are not only blameless, but made holy by the co-sharing of the life of God’s Son.  We are surnamed by God - this is our true lineage.  He is faithful and fully persuaded about our co-participation in the fellowship of sonship.  We are included in everything that our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father enjoy.  God’s faithfulness is the basis of this union.  Let’s trust in God’s faithfulness and co-participate with God’s Son passionately.  Amen!

Wisdom of God in Christ

 “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭28‬:‭28‬ ‭KJV‬

Job struggled to make sense of his predicament and then concludes, “God alone knows the way to Wisdom, He knows the exact place to find it. He knows where everything is on earth, but the Fear-of-the-Lord—that’s Wisdom, and Insight means shunning evil.’”  The psalmist, much later proclaims that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments.  The wise king said, “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.”  We cannot cease thanking God for Jesus and all who believe in the risen Christ for He is our God-given wisdom, our virtue, our holiness, and our redemption, forever.  For us who are the called, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.  Hallelujah!

Joyful Resurrection Day

 “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Who then is left to condemn us? Certainly not Jesus, the Anointed One! For He gave His Life for us, and even more than that, He has conquered death and is now risen, exalted, and enthroned by God at His right hand. So how could He possibly condemn us since He is continually praying for our triumph?  What further ground can there possibly be to condemn mankind?  In His death, He faced our judgment; in His Resurrection He reveals our righteousness; the implications cannot be undone!  Jesus Christ now occupies the highest seat of authority as the Executive of our Redemption in the Throne Room of God.  Hallelujah!

Helping One Another

 “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: that ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul writes, “Now, let me introduce to you our dear and beloved sister in the faith, Phoebe, a shining minister of the church in Cenchrea. I am sending her with this letter and ask that you shower her with your hospitality when she arrives. Embrace her with honor, as is fitting for one who belongs to the Lord and is set apart for Him. So provide her whatever she may need, for she’s been a great leader and champion for many—I know, for she’s been that for even me! Give my love to Prisca and Aquila, my partners in ministry serving the Anointed One, Jesus”.  Phoebe was considered a leader of a high position in the Church and she carried this important letter containing the wealth of our faith in God.  Priscilla and Aquila originally came from Rome and they returned here to strengthen the Church with a strong team of believers to scatter several home-fellowships throughout the city.  Paul asks for warm hospitality and practical help from the Church in Rome for Phoebe, Priscilla and Aquila. Thank God for the Body of Christ that helps one another.  Amen!

Christ - Our Passover Lamb

 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭4-6 KJV‬‬

Yet He was the one who carried our sicknesses and endured the torment of our sufferings. We viewed Him as one who was being punished for something He Himself had done, as one who was struck down by God and brought low. But it was because of our rebellious deeds that He was pierced and because of our sins that He was crushed. He endured the punishment that made us completely whole, and in His wounding we found our healing. Yahweh laid the guilt of our every sin upon Him. But it was our sins that did that to Him, that ripped and tore and crushed Him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through His bruises we get healed.  And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong, on Him.  He was beaten, He was tortured, but He didn’t say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, He took it all in silence.  His sinless Blood made Christ our Passover Lamb!  Amen!

Only Christ’s Blood

 “The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: He openeth his eyes, and he is not.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭27‬:‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job says of the rich, “They go to bed wealthy and wake up poor”.  The Lord Jesus Christ said that it is next to impossible for those who trust in their riches to find their way into God’s Kingdom.  As the psalmist said, “They trust in their treasures and boast in their riches, yet not one could rescue his own brother from the guilt of his sins. No one could give God the ransom price for the soul of another, let alone for himself. A soul’s redemption is too costly and precious for anyone to pay with earthly wealth. The price to pay is never enough to purchase eternal life for even one, to keep them out of hell. The brightest and best, along with the foolish and senseless, God sees that they all will die one day, leaving their houses and wealth to others. Even though they name streets and lands after themselves, hoping to have their memory endure beyond the grave, becoming legends in their own minds, their home address is now the cemetery! The honor of man is short-lived and fleeting. There’s little difference between man and beast, for both will one day perish. Such is the path of foolish men and those who quote everything they say, for they are here today and gone tomorrow!”  Thank God for the redemption we have in Christ Jesus.  Amen!

Being Likeminded Toward Each Other in Christ

 “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now may God, the source of great endurance and comfort, grace you with unity among yourselves, which flows from your relationship with Jesus, the Anointed One.  Paul explains that in the Body of Christ, we may value one another equally in Jesus, our Messiah.  God’s patience and reflection of who we really are transmits in us like-mindedness toward one another according to the pattern of Christ Jesus.  Too often in Church and among believers, there is back-biting and critical condemnation, which is definitely not according to our Lord Jesus. Or else, we have people-pleasers who desire the acceptance of other people  rather than being God-pleasers who choose to obey His Word above all else.  Jesus always encouraged the weak in faith to believe and receive.  The ones He rebuked were those who were self righteous and hardened of heart, desiring the admiration of others.  In our relationship with our Lord, let’s learn to receive the love of Christ for our own personal selves and then to show that love to others, being like-minded with others just as Christ is.  Amen!

The Word of God - Our Treasure

 “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, And hangeth the earth upon nothing.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭26‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job continues replying to his friends, “He spreads the skies over unformed space, hangs the earth out in empty space.”  This is our awe-inspiring Creator God, Who has power and control over the universe.  God has filled the vast and empty heavens with stars and galaxies.  The earth is suspended in space, seemingly unsupported, yet held securely by God’s power.  God is sovereign over creation and maintains the universe in its place, even though it seems to hang precariously in space.  God’s Word is true and everlasting.  When we meditate on the depth of God’s Word, we find that science discovers it eventually because for many years it was believed that the earth was flat!  The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  When we meditate on the Word of God day and night and observe to do according to all that is written in it, then we make our way prosperous, and then we have good success.  Amen!

God is No Respector of Persons

 “Let not then your good be evil spoken of:”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭14‬:‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

So don’t give people the opportunity to slander what you know to be good.  Even today in many cultures of the world, there are two things that cause divisions and spark debates among religious people - the observance of special days and dietary restrictions.  In every culture there are religious traditions that are observed in varying degrees, and they can divide us.  As believers, disciples, followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, our one tradition must be to love and not offend by deliberate actions that demonstrate insensitivity to others.  We are obligated to walk in love and not put our preferences above love’s calling to honour others.  These principles are to be applied in every cultural distinction in the Body of Christ.  Let’s not bring shame on Christ in any way.  Amen!

Christ Never Condemned the World but Saved It

 “How then can man be justified with God? Or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?”

‭‭Job‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Bildad the Shuhite again held Job to account, though he asked a pertinent question, “How can a mere mortal presume to stand up to God? How can an ordinary person pretend to be guiltless?”  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that all mankind is without excuse to know that God is the righteous and true God.  No one can justify or be self righteous before holy God.  However Bildad was accusing Job and hypocritically judging and condemning Job; for in passing judgment on another person, he was condemning himself, because those who judge from a position of arrogance or self-righteousness are habitually practicing the very same things which they denounce.  That is why all humanity must thank God for He did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. For God made Jesus Christ Who  knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Hallelujah!

The Christ Life in Us

 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Night’s darkness is dissolving away as a new day of destiny dawns. So we must once and for all strip away what is done in the shadows of darkness, removing it like filthy clothes. And once and for all we clothe ourselves with the radiance of light as our weapon. We must live honorably, surrounded by the light of this new day, not in the darkness of drunkenness and debauchery, not in promiscuity and sensuality, not being argumentative or jealous of others. Instead fully immerse yourselves into the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, and don’t waste even a moment’s thought on your former identity to awaken its selfish desires. The darkness is disappearing and the True Light which is Jesus Christ our Lord, is already blazing.  Let’s be fully immersed in the Christ-life in us.  Amen!

The World is Passing Away but God’s Kingdom is Forever

 “They are exalted for a little while, but are gone And brought low; they are taken out of the way as all other, And cut off as the tops of the ears of corn. And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, And make my speech nothing worth?”

Job 24:24-25 KJV

Job denounces Eliphaz’s and his other two friends’ accusations, “They may have an illusion of security, but God has His eye on them. They may get their brief successes, but then it’s over, nothing to show for it. Like yesterday’s newspaper, they’re used to wrap up the garbage. You’re free to try to prove me a liar, but you won’t be able to do it.”  Job says that God sees the wicked and their deeds, and they will get their just desserts, but the deeds that Job’s friends are attributing to him, they will find it difficult to prove.  Many times we judge and criticise people.  We are all held to account when we break the laws of our nation.  Through His crucifixion, Jesus took the punishment for all humanity and destroyed sin’s dominion over us, so that all will come into the Kingdom of God.  This world is passing away but as the psalmist said, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your Kingdom is a scepter of uprightness”.  That’s why Jesus said that God so loves the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Christ our Redeemer.  Amen!

Heaping Coals of Fire on our Enemies

 “Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

If your enemy is hungry, buy him lunch! Win him over with kindness. For your surprising generosity will awaken his conscience, and God will reward you with favor.  These acts of kindness will be like heaping coals of fire on his head and certainly rid him of the dross in his mind and win him as a friend.    A refiner would melt metal in a crucible and intensify the process by heaping coals of fire on it.  This is good strategy, to be sensitive to the needs of our enemies.  God sees gold in every person.  Hostility cannot hide our true value.  Christ won us while we were yet hostile towards Him.  His kindness led us to the radical awakening of our minds.  Let’s desire riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, for it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.  Amen!

Sterling Core of God’s Faith in Us Who Believe

 “But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭23‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now Job responds and tells of his relationship with God, “But He knows where I am and what I’ve done. He can cross-examine me all He wants, and I’ll pass the test with honours”.  Job had established his relationship with God and knew His voice.  But now he can’t experience God’s Presence like he used to.  Yet one must commend his faith as he confesses that when God has tried him, he’ll come forth as gold.  Now that God has given us His faith by the new covenant, through these trials will reveal the sterling core of our faith, which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Our authentic God kind of faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed.  That’s why we count it all joy when we fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  Amen!

Know and Experience God as the Only True God

 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Who could ever wrap their minds around the riches of God, the depth of His wisdom, and the marvel of His perfect knowledge? Who could ever explain the wonder of His decisions or search out the mysterious way He carries out His plans?  As the prophet said, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it”.  God coming in the flesh as Jesus Christ, is the key to understanding God’s thoughts and His ways.  The mystery of Eternal life means to know and experience God as the only true God, and to know and experience Jesus Christ, as the Son Whom God has sent.  Amen!

Bless Those Who Wringfully Accuse You

 “Thou hast sent widows away empty, And the arms of the fatherless have been broken. Therefore snares are round about thee, And sudden fear troubleth thee;”

‭‭Job‬ ‭22‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Now comes Eliphaz the Temanite to accuse Job once again, “You turned poor widows away from your door; heartless, you crushed orphans. Now you’re the one trapped in terror, paralyzed by fear”.  Job is amazed that those he calls his friends should so wrongfully accuse and revile him.  What does one do when you are reviled?  Now consider Jesus, for Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.  May we follow Jesus in all our behaviour and attitude.  Amen!

Running Victoriously with the Gospel

 “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul quoting from Isaiah and Nahum, talks about good news carriers or Gospel givers, “And how can the message be proclaimed if messengers have yet to be sent? That’s why the Scriptures say: How welcome is the arrival of those proclaiming the joyful news of peace and of good things to come!”  What gives someone the urgency to declare these things - How lovely on the mountains, where the watchmen were stationed to witness the outcome of war, are the feet of them leaping with the exciting news of victory!  Christ has soundly defeated satan, for He has destroyed all the works of the enemy.  For us who have the eyewitness encounter of Christ’s victory in our lives, we are qualified to run with the Gospel of peace, and announce the consequent glad tidings of good things that will benefit everyone.  Let’s run victoriously with the Gospel.  Amen!

To See As God Sees

 “Suffer me that I may speak; And after that I have spoken, mock on. As for me, is my complaint to man? And if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?”

‭‭Job‬ ‭21‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job replied: “It’s not you I’m complaining to—it’s God. Is it any wonder I’m getting fed up with His silence? Take a good look at me. Aren’t you appalled by what’s happened?”  All Job wants is sympathy and compassion and all Job’s friends do is criticise and condemn him.  We see life through negative lens and open our mouth and spew it out!  God is calling us to be the design that He has created us to be! We are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image and likeness and when we lost our identity through sin, Christ redeemed us and sealed us with the precious Blood of Jesus.  God is loving, compassionate, merciful, kind, tenderhearted, righteous and holy just as much as He is just, wise, perfect, powerful, almighty, majestic and full of glory!  Let’s see as God sees, as Jesus said, “I speak to you eternal truth. The Son is unable to do anything from Himself or through His own initiative. I only do the works that I see the Father doing, for the Son does the same works as His Father.”  Amen!

Steadfastly Standing on the Rock

 “as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: And whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭9‬:‭33‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah: “Be careful! I am setting in Zion a stone that will cause people to stumble, a rock of offense that will make them fall, but believers in him will not experience shame.”  The conclusion of the prophetic reference, points towards the Rock as the spiritual identity of human life.  In Christ, God has placed His testimony of mankind’s identity in front of their eyes, in Zion, the centre of their religious focus, yet blinded by their own efforts to justify themselves, they tripped over Him.  But those who recognise Him by faith, as the Rock from which they were hewn, are freed from the shame of their sense of failure and inferiority.  When you stand in the Rock, steadfast in faith, even if the promise is delayed, you will not be disheartened.  May that be our testimony.  Amen!

Our Responsibility to Intercede for Others

 “The increase of his house shall depart, And his goods shall flow away in the day of his wrath. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the heritage appointed unto him by God.”

‭‭Job‬ ‭20‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job’s friend Zophar the Namaathite took it upon himself to speak against the wicked as he called Job, “God will strip them of their sin-soaked clothes and hang their dirty laundry out for all to see. Life is a complete wipeout for them, nothing surviving God’s wrath. There! That’s God’s blueprint for the wicked— what they have to look forward to.”  Instead of interceding for his friend, Zophar was accusing Job.  The prophet Daniel was a true intercessor who knew to intercede appropriately, ““O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger and Your fury be turned away..”  Jesus prayed for those crucifying for Him, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  Our great High Priest Jesus, is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.  May we agree with our Intercessor.  Amen!

The Holy Spirit Sees & Celebrates Perfection

 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

In a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don’t even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words.  Earlier it was the creation which groans for the glorious freedom of God’s children.  We also groan for the fullness of our status as God’s children.  The Holy Spirit groans for our complete destiny to be fulfilled.  He sighs within us with words too deep for articulation, assisting us in our prayers when we struggle to know how to pray properly.  When we feel restricted in our flesh, He supersedes our clumsy efforts and hits bulls-eye every time!  He only sees and celebrates perfection.  Let’s agree with Him.  Amen!

Our Redeemer Lives

 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, Yet in my flesh shall I see God:”

‭‭Job‬ ‭19‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Job laments that his loved ones, friends and servants have given up on him, “Still, I know that God lives—the One Who gives me back my life— and eventually He’ll take His stand on earth. And I’ll see Him—even though I get skinned alive!— see God myself, with my very own eyes. Oh, how I long for that day!”  Being rejected in the greatest trial of his life by his loved ones, friends and servants, Job still made this confession that he knew his Redeemer lives and that he would see him.  What faith, and that too in the old covenant!  But now, our Redeemer came in the flesh, was crucified and rose again and we see Him by the Holy Spirit, in our relationship with Him and through His Word.  Jesus said “I promise that I will never leave you helpless or abandon you as orphans—I will come back to you! Soon I will leave this world and they will see Me no longer, but you will see Me, because I will live again, and you will come alive too.”  What an awesome promise, let’s believe it.  Amen!