Being in Christ is Being Beloved

 “I cried unto the LORD with my voice; With my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭142‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David prayed this psalm from hiding in the cave, “God, I’m crying out to You! I lift up my voice boldly to beg for Your mercy. I spill out my heart to You and tell You all my troubles.”  David knew this secret of focusing on Yahweh in the midst of being overwhelmed by his troubles.  He was confident that when he came to God for mercy he would receive it.  David means “beloved” and he had that intimacy with Yahweh where he knew that his requests to God would be answered and dealt with.  The Son of David, our Lord Jesus, was transfigured on the mount and there was a cloud that overshadowed Him with Peter, James & John; and a Voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Beloved Son: hear Him.”  The Son of the beloved is the Beloved Son of God, Who through His shed Blood has made a way for all mankind to have an intimate relationship and has called them beloved.  He has sent us His Holy Spirit Who comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.  God hears and answers us even today and calls us beloved because we are in Christ, the Beloved Son of God.  Amen!

Obedience Precedes Authority in Christ

 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, Then Jesus came close to them and said, “All authority of the universe has been given to Me. Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you. And never forget that I Am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”  There is this sentence missing but is there in the Aramaic, “As My Father has sent Me, so I send you.”  Jesus showed by example that authority is preceded by obedience from a free will.  God never compelled Adam and Eve to obey when the snake deceived them.  But they lost the righteousness, authority and dominion God had given them.  It took Jesus’s obedience to God by dying on the Cross for mankind’s disobedience to restore that righteousness, authority and dominion back to us.  Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell everyone everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His Name.  Let’s know our authority in Christ by obeying Him, and bringing glory to His Name.  Amen!

Humbly Take Correction & Pray for Them

 “Let the righteous smite me; It shall be a kindness: And let him reprove me; It shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: For yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. When their judges are overthrown in stony places, They shall hear my words; for they are sweet.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭141‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this poetic psalm, “When one of your godly ones corrects me or one of your faithful ones rebukes me, I will accept it like an honor I cannot refuse. It will be as healing medicine that I swallow without an offended heart. Even if they are mistaken, I will continue to pray. When the leaders and judges are condemned, falling upon the rocks of justice, then they’ll know my words to them were true!”  This was David, the king of Israel, willing to take correction without taking offence.  But the King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, took our punishment on the Cross so that by faith we would be set free.  He did this with joy in His heart, knowing that His creation - all of mankind - would be liberated.  After His resurrection, He sent His Holy Spirit, to convict us and make us more like our Lord Jesus.  The Holy Spirit, through the five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, equips all believers for works of service, to build the Body of Christ, the Church.  Together, these ministries help in growth and maturity so that every member of the Body of Christ discovers and operates in their own God-given gifts by working in harmony and unity to help the Church fulfil its mission and become more like Christ.  Let’s be humble to take correction and pray for others even when they’re wrong or unkind, just as David did.  Amen!

God the Saviour Bled to Death for You

 “and set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew wrote the Gospel in Hebrew but Hebrew ceased to be the spoken language of the Jews on their return from exile in Babylon around 450 BC. “Above His head they placed a sign that read, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, King of Israel.” Two criminals were also crucified with Jesus, one on each side of Him.”  This sign was written in Aramaic (the language of the common people), Latin (the official language of the Roman Empire), and in Greek (the language of the visiting Alexandrian Jews).  The first letter of each of the four words written were Y-H-W-H (Y’shua Hanozri Wumelech a Yehudim).  To write these letters YHWH (also known as the Tetragrammaton), was the Hebrew form of writing the sacred Name “Yahweh”.  No wonder the chief priests were so offended by this sign and insisted that Pilate change it.  This was a sign given to Israel, for over Jesus’s head on the Cross was written “Y-H-W-H!  God the Saviour bled to death for you.”  The prophet had said, “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”  That’s our God Who bled to death for us who were transgressors and set us free, dead to sin and alive to righteousness.  Amen!

Relationships are Important to God

 “I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, And the right of the poor. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭140‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm when he was hiding from king Saul.  “For I know, Lord, that You will be the hero of all those they persecute, and You will secure justice for the poor. Your godly ones will thank You no matter what happens. For they choose and cherish Your  Presence above everything else!”  We learn from David how to cope with jealousy, which is to turn to God and trust Him through the tough times, without the ill-will that results from it.  Our Lord had to face this too from the religious establishment.  Even Pilate knew that it was because of jealousy that the chief priests and elders had handed Jesus over to him.  Instead of allowing the negativity of being jealous, we can of our own free will turn it to being jealous for the Lord’s Presence.  That’s the godly jealousy that Paul talked about when he said “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”  Instead of gossiping, denigrating, creating an ill-will scenario, or even being self-righteous, self-centred, proud, and inflating the ego, let’s change the negativity to building up people so that they too can enjoy God’s Presence like we do.  Relationships are important to God and we co-labour with Him to build people up to have a relationship with Him.  Amen!

Union & Communion

 “for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “For this is the blood that seals the new covenant. It will be poured out for many for the complete forgiveness of sins. The next time we drink this, I will be with you and we will drink it together with a new understanding in the Kingdom realm of My Father.”  This was the renewed covenant which had been earlier prophesied.  After each disciple took the cup and drank from it, they passed it to the next one.  This was a love covenant between Jesus and each of His disciples, and it sealed the affection they had for one another.  We are now in the realm of the Kingdom of God.  The Holy Spirit brings us into the Body of Christ and into the reality of the Kingdom of God.  It is growing and increasing in scope, and every time believers drink of the cup of communion, Jesus is present with us.  It is the Lord’s table, not ours.  This was a prophecy of what would happen in just a matter of days from then, as believers would break bread together in remembrance of what Jesus did for them.  Jesus now drinks with us in a new way, and not just once a year at Passover, but every time we worship Him by taking communion.  Amen!

The Wonderful Knowledge of God’s Power

 “Thou hast beset me behind and before, And laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David wrote this psalm, “You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness You follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. You have laid Your hand on me! This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible! Your understanding of me brings me wonder and strength.”  David calls the Yahweh as all-knowing and omniscient, Who besieged him before and behind.  David knew the experience of God protecting him from what may come in the future and what has happened in the past.  Our God is powerful and it was His power that raised Jesus from the dead and has given us this same resurrection power for eternity.  Jesus says: "My grace is all you need, for My power is greatest when you are weak." In order to feel the protection of Christ's power which is in His shed Blood, let’s depend on His grace.  In all our weakness it is the leading of the Holy Spirit that reveals Christ’s power in our weakness.  The knowledge of God is too wonderful but it is through Christ’s grace and Holy Spirit leading that we can lead victorious life in spite of our weakness.  Amen!

Our Highest Place is at Christ’s Feet

 “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded when Jesus gave this parable on the judgment of the multitudes, “When the Son of Man appears in His majestic glory, with all His angels by His side, He will take His seat on His throne of splendor, and all the nations will be gathered together before Him. And like a shepherd who separates the sheep from the goats, He will separate all the people.”  Jesus gave the fulfilment of the prophet Daniel’s vision which will happen at the second coming of Jesus.  ““I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a Kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His Kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.”  This is the reality that every individual human being from the first to the last, from kings to servants, from the most to the least, will come before Him in the final judgment.  Those who believed in Him and His work on the Cross, who followed Him, will become part of His Kingdom.  Those who did not, will be turned away into eternal torment.  We rejoice that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  Hallelujah!

All Will Rise Before the Lamb of God to Praise Him

 “All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, When they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: For great is the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: But the proud he knoweth afar off.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭138‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A psalm attributed to David, “One day all the kings of the earth will rise to give You thanks when they hear the living words that I have heard You speak. They too will sing of Your  wonderful ways, for Your ineffable glory is great! For though You are lofty and exalted, You stoop to embrace the lowly. Yet You keep Your distance from those filled with pride.”  That day is coming soon, as David said, when all kings and leaders of the earth will rise to give God thanks in the midst of His glorious Presence.  Scripture tells us that the enemies of God shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.  He is all powerful and all shall rise in His Presence and give glory to Him.  But those who are proud and who scorn the Word of God, treating it as a myth or fairy tale, will spend eternity in torment, sadly.  But David experienced the Living Word of God in his relationship with Him, so he could prophesy.  We, who have the Living Word in us and have a confident relationship with the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, overcome and proclaim the victory we have in Christ.  Amen!

Enduring to the End

 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “There will be such an increase of the sin of lawlessness that those whose hearts once burned with passion for God and others will grow cold. But hold your hope firmly to the end and you will experience life and deliverance. “Yet through it all, the good news of heaven’s kingdom will be proclaimed all over the world, providing every nation with a demonstration of the reality of God. And after that the end of this age will arrive.”  The disciples asked Jesus when the end of the age will come and He gave them many signs.  He told of the lawlessness when people do what is right in their own eyes, disregarding rules, values, principles and the laws to govern peacefully.  This is beginning to happen even now and the life of compromise is being followed even in many churches.  For those of us who believe, we are to have an intimate relationship with our God Who forgave our sin to have a relationship with Him; also to dwell and abide in the Word of God, meditating on it day and night and obeying it; and being taught, guided, led by the mighty Holy Spirit dwelling in us.  This will protect us from the deception that is coming into the world in a greater measure now than ever before.  The other important point that Jesus made was to preach and witness to all even to the ends of the earth the glorious Gospel of the Kingdom and eagerly await for the coming of our King of kings - our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen!

Zion - Where God Dwells with Us

 “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, When we remembered Zion.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭137‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV

This psalm was written by an unknown after Jerusalem was destroyed during the Babylonian captivity or it may be attributed to Jeremiah.  “Along the banks of Babylon’s rivers we sat as exiles, mourning our captivity, and wept with great love for Zion.”  The Jews in captivity yearned for the majestic temple that Solomon built where the Ark of the Covenant was in the Holy of Holies signifying the Presence of God.  Inspite of that, the Jews turned to false gods and even turned the temple a place of worship to idols and the Presence of God left the temple.  That is why God used Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to destroy the temple and the Jews taken into captivity.  Later, it was rebuilt and when Jesus came in the flesh, He was presented at the temple and later referred to it as His Father’s house.  During one Passover, Jesus cleansed the temple of money-changers and merchants selling sacrificial animals.  He used it as a place of teaching and once while talking to Pharisees and scribes, Jesus prophesied that the physical temple would be destroyed and that His body would be destroyed to make a new temple in three days, which will be the Presence of God.  That was fulfilled at the death and resurrection of Jesus.  When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and disciples were filled, God’s Presence filled their bodies.  Today, all disciples who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and invite the Holy Spirit in them, carry the Presence of God.  Paul reminds us, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”  Amen!

A Relationship with Christ Without Pretensions

 “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, ““Great sorrow awaits you religious scholars and Pharisees—frauds and pretenders! For you are obsessed with peripheral issues, like insisting on paying meticulous tithes on the smallest herbs that grow in your gardens. These matters are fine, yet you ignore the most important duties of all: to walk in the love of God, to display mercy to others, and to live with integrity. Readjust your values and place first things first. What blind guides! Nitpickers! You will spoon out a gnat from your drink, yet at the same time you’ve gulped down a camel without realizing it!”  The law of Moses only obligated tithing on grain, wine and oil.  The religious scholars added to the law their interpretation, which added vegetables and herbs to their list of what should be tithed.  Justice, grace which is loving kindnesses and faith and truth is what Jesus talked about.  The Aramaic for gnat and camel is similar and gnat becomes a metaphor for what is least and insignificant - swallowing a gnat will not hurt you.  But the camel becomes a picture of self-righteousness. To swallow a camel would indeed kill you.  Let’s not focus on insignificant things in our relationship with Christ but remove the huge block of those hindrances that stop us from being effective and fruitful.  Amen!

Sound Wisdom Found in God’s Mercy Endures Forever

 “To him who alone doeth great wonders: For his mercy endureth for ever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: For his mercy endureth for ever.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭136‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV‬

This psalm is traditionally attributed to king David and was sung at the dedication of Solomon’s temple and also by the armies of king Jehoshaphat.  “Give thanks to the only miracle-working God! His tender love for us continues on forever! Give thanks to the Creator Who made the heavens with wisdom! His tender love for us continues on forever!”  It tells of our God of mercy and wisdom.  Job prophesied the secrets of the two sides of God’s sound wisdom found in His mercy and justice in creation.  It was made visible in the new creation when Christ died in the flesh and rose again - victorious over sin and death.  The secret is of God’s wisdom found in His mercy and justice by becoming sin for humanity and giving us His righteousness in exchange, reconciling us to the holy God Who is our Father.  What mercy!  What grace!  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  Let’s give thanks to our miracle working Creator God Who in His mercy, wisdom and justice, erases our sin to make us a new creation in Christ.  Thank You, Jesus!

Change Into the Garment of Righteousness

 “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “Now, when the king entered the banquet hall, he looked with glee over all his guests. But then he noticed a guest who was not wearing the wedding robe provided for him.”  This was the parable of the wedding feast which Jesus gave.  This explains that God is the King Who prepares His Kingdom feast for His Son, Jesus Christ.  The servants who invited guests to the wedding are the prophets God sends to summon the people to enter into the love feast of Jesus, the wedding of the Lamb to the Bride of Christ.  Those invited to come from the streets had no opportunity to buy wedding clothes.  This wedding robe is a picture of the garment of righteousness that grace provides for us.  The man without the wedding garment had one provided, but he didn’t want to change into new clothes.  A change is necessary, for our King provides garments of white linen for us to wear, our wedding garments.  As the prophet said, “Wake up! Open your eyes! Beautiful Zion, put on your majestic strength! Jerusalem, the sacred city, put on your glory garments! Never again will the unclean enter your gates!”  As John the beloved disciple saw, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready!”  Amen!

True Worship of the True God

 “The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭135‬:‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is a psalm written after the Babylonian exile.  “The unbelieving nations worship what they make. They worship their wealth and their work. They idolize what they own and what they do.”  Worshipping what is made by man is a deception.  True worship is of the true God, Who loves us so much that He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ to remove our sins and blessed all who believe in Him and set us free to worship Him.  Worship involves thanksgiving as a deliberate act even when we don’t “feel” like it in a challenging situation, and is about thanking God in advance, a sacrifice of thanksgiving!  With profound gratitude we lift our hands in worship making a public acknowledgment of God’s character and deeds and at times kneeling and blessing Him.  At times loudly raising our voice in loud adoration and sometimes with instruments of music; at other times boasting about our God with dancing and swaying, sometimes spontaneously making outbursts of joy with a total lack of self-consciousness.  True worship is our devotion to God based on a personal relationship with Him, loving and adoring Him.  Therefore, in view of the mercies of God, let’s present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is our true worship.  Let’s worship God with all our heart, soul and body for He alone is worthy of all our worship.  Amen!

Victory Comes After Resurrection

 “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “Jesus rode in the center of the procession—crowds going before Him and crowds coming behind Him, and they all shouted, “Bring the victory, Lord, Son of David! He is the blessed One sent from the Lord Yahweh! We celebrate with praises to God in the highest!”  This was taken from a psalm attributed to David, “Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.”  Hosanna, an Aramaic word which means “O save, bring the victory, O Lord!”  The crowds recognised Jesus as Yahweh’s Messiah.  By shouting out, “Son of David,” they were clearly expecting Jesus to immediately overthrow the Roman oppression and set the nation free.  Many want victory before the Cross, but true victory comes after resurrection!  Jesus was crucified in the flesh and when we, who are born again and new creatures in Christ, crucify our flesh, that is our old man, we become stronger and stronger. When our old man is crucified with Christ, the body of sin is destroyed, and we come out victorious. Amen!

Night Time Worship

 “Behold, bless ye the LORD, All ye servants of the LORD, Which by night stand in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the LORD. The LORD that made heaven and earth Bless thee out of Zion.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭134‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Traditionally this psalm is attributed to king David when he appointed Levites as the Ark was brought to Zion for bringing worship for the night watch duties and it is the final song of ascent.  “All His loving priests who serve and sing, come and sing your song of blessing to God. Come and stand before Him in the house of God throughout the night watch, lifting up your hands in holy worship; come and bless the Lord! May the Lord, Whom you worship, the mighty Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion’s glory!”  There is always a blessing from Yahweh when we worship by night.  Great miracles happen when we worship in the night time.  This is what happened to Paul and Silas, beaten mercilessly and imprisoned in stocks.  Yet, undaunted, they prayed in the middle of the night and sang songs of praise to God, while all the other prisoners listened to their worship.  Suddenly, a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. All at once every prison door flung open and the chains of all the prisoners came loose. Startled, the jailer awoke and saw every cell door standing open. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself when Paul shouted in the darkness, “Stop! Don’t hurt yourself. We’re all still here.” The jailer called for a light. When he saw that they were still in their cells, he rushed in and fell trembling at their feet. Then he led Paul and Silas outside and asked, “What must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved—you and all your family.” Then they prophesied the word of the Lord over him and all his family.  The worst case scenario changes into victory when we worship and sing praises to God even at night.  Amen!

Selfless Humility

 “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20‬:‭25‬-‭28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Matthew wrote, “Jesus, knowing their thoughts, called them to His side and said, “Kings and those with great authority in this world rule oppressively over their subjects, like tyrants. But this is not your calling. You will lead by a completely different model. The greatest one among you will live as the one who is called to serve others, because the greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one with the heart of a servant. For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served but to serve and give his life in exchange for the salvation of many.”  This happened after James and John, because of their personal ambition asked to be enthroned with Jesus on His right and left in the hereafter.  Jesus told them that self promotion and ambition for power leads to jealousy, competition and oppression, which is quite the opposite of the Kingdom of God pattern.  It is a servant’s heart that God appreciates and showed it by example.  That’s why Paul, once the Pharisee of Pharisees, said, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”  Let this same attitude be in us which was in Christ Jesus of selfless humility.  Amen!

Unity in the Body of Christ

 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

A psalm by king David, “How truly wonderful and delightful it is to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity!”  Jesus prayed just before He endured the Cross, for this unity in the Body of Christ, the Church. “Holy Father, keep them safe by the power of Your Name, the Name that You gave Me, so that their unity may be like Ours.”  This is the purpose of our God that all who believe in Him will come to the unity.  We endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. God’s purpose is that we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.  Let’s enjoy this unity that God desires and be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm our cherished unity.  We don’t allow self-promotion to hide in our hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than ourselves. Let’s put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  This is good and pleasant for our God - let’s be happy in unity with our God.  Amen!

Be God’s Friend Rather Than His Enemy

 “The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Moses recorded, “The Pharisees were intent on putting Jesus to the test with difficult questions, so they approached Him and asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?” “Haven’t you read the Scriptures about creation?” Jesus replied. “The Creator made us male and female from the very beginning, and ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and live with his wife. And the two will become one flesh.’ From then on, they are no longer two, but united as one. So what God unites let no one divide!”  This was a clever test by the Pharisees as Jesus was in Judea and under Herod Antipas’ jurisdiction who had beheaded John for challenging his divorce. The Pharisees wanted Jesus beheaded too.  In a fallen world, divorce had been permitted by Mosaic law for adulterous immorality which breaks the bond of marriage.  Jesus reminded them the real reason for marriage as God had said at the creation of mankind even highlighting gender difference in the context of marriage.  The counterculture of the world today is against God.  Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Let’s be a friend of God instead.  Amen!

Zion - God’s Chosen Dwelling Place

 “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: Here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation: And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭132‬:‭13‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This is one of the psalms that the priests sang as they ascended the fifteen steps leading worshippers into the entrance into the temple.     “Lord, you have chosen Zion as Your dwelling place, for Your pleasure is fulfilled in making it Your home. I hear You say, “I will make this place My eternal dwelling, for I have loved and desired it as My very own! I will make Zion prosper and satisfy her poor with My provision. I will cover My priests with salvation’s power, and all My righteous ones will shout for joy!”  Zion was a Jebusite fortress which King David captured and came to be called the city of David.  In David’s time mount Zion had the Ark of the Covenant which in the old covenant was the Presence of Yahweh.  That’s why the psalmist prophesied that Yahweh has chosen Zion for His habitation.  This was the fulfilment of prophecy as God made the new covenant with all who follow Him in this same place during the last supper.  Zion was also fulfilment of prophecy as Pentecost happened here when the Holy Spirit came down with fire.  Zion is the place where Yahweh dwells as God the Father where the Ark of the Covenant was; as God the Son when He made the new covenant with all who follow Him; and as God the Holy Spirit when the power of God first came upon the disciples.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever!  Zion is a foreshadow of God’s dwelling place with His people in heaven - that’s the forever Zion.  Amen!

The Power of Agreement in Prayer

 “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “Receive this truth: Whatever you forbid on earth will be considered to be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be considered to be released in heaven. Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer, My heavenly Father will do it for you. For wherever two or three come together in honor of My Name, I Am right there with them!”  This is the authority God has given us, that whatever we permit on earth must be that which is already permitted in heaven.  But before that, we have to come into agreement with each other and agreement with Christ in the midst of us through His Word.  It is a perfect symphony of agreement bound with God’s Word.  If we are not in agreement then we are not ready for it because we haven’t come into perfect unity.  Unbelief, doubt, double mindedness spoils that perfect unity.  Let’s trust God and His promises being “Yes” and “Amen”.  Let the words of our mouth and the thoughts and intents of our heart be in perfect agreement with God’s Word to fulfil heaven on earth. Amen!

See the Humility of the Lord Jesus Christ

 “LORD, my heart is not haughty, Nor mine eyes lofty: Neither do I exercise myself in Great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, As a child that is weaned of his mother: My soul is even as a weaned child.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭131‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭KJV‬‬

King David wrote this psalm, “Lord, my heart is meek before You. I don’t consider myself better than others. I’m content to not pursue matters that are over my head— such as Your  complex mysteries and wonders— that I’m not yet ready to understand. I am humbled and quieted in Your presence. Like a contented child who rests on its mother’s lap, I’m Your resting child and my soul is content in You.”  What the Lord loved about David was his humility.  He opened his heart to the Lord with all humility, hiding nothing.  David remembered where he came from and where God placed him - from a shepherd boy to the king of Israel.  That is because God Himself is humble and David knew that.  Jesus, God’s Son, came not to do His own will but the Father’s.  Just see His humility - He was born in a humble manger and He had nowhere to lay His head because He came not for His own comfort; He came to serve and not to be served; He said He is gentle and lowly; He rode on a humble donkey; He washed His disciples feet; though rich, He became poor for our sake.  At the Cross, Christ emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in human likeness, and humbling Himself to death, even the death of a criminal.  Where can man’s ego and pride stand before our God.  It is humility that attracts God’s grace to us - let’s remember that.  Amen!

God Always Keeps His Word

 “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As Matthew recorded, “But so that we don’t offend them, go to the lake and throw out your hook, and the first fish that rises up will have a coin in its mouth. It will be the exact amount you need to pay the temple tax for both of us.”  This miracle is a picture of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.  The depth of the sea speaks to us of the depth of suffering Jesus passed through for us on the Cross.  The fish rose to the surface on its own and wasn’t “caught”.  In the mouth of our Lord Jesus is the full price of our sin debt, for He has declared the work of redemption finished, and our “tax” has been paid in full.  Now we have the same message in our mouth!  Peter had presumptuously told the tax collectors that Jesus would pay the temple tax, without asking Jesus first.  But Jesus backed up Peter’s word and performed a miracle to pay the tax.  Jesus got Peter “off the hook” by having him hook a fish with the exact amount of the tax for both Jesus and Peter!  Today we realise that God always keeps His Word - He has made us holy as His inner sanctuary for we are the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Amen!

Forgiveness of Sins through Christ Alone

 “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared. Let Israel hope in the LORD: For with the LORD there is mercy, And with him is plenteous redemption.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭130‬:‭3‬-‭4‬, ‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This psalm is attributed to David, “Lord, if You measured us and marked us with our sins, who would ever have their prayers answered? But Your forgiving love is what makes you so wonderful. No wonder You are loved and worshiped! He Himself will redeem you; He will ransom you from the cruel slavery of your sins!”  This was the cry of humanity in the old covenant.  The reason why Jesus had to be born as a Man, was because God’s wrath and judgment against mankind came upon Jesus.  God’s justice and righteousness never changed as only Jesus could be at the receiving end of God’s wrath at the Cross.  Who can stand before a holy God covered with sin?  Only Jesus, for He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.  There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only One Name to Whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the Name of Jesus.  In Christ alone we have redemption through His Blood, even the forgiveness of sins.  Amen!