With Free-Will We Surrender To God’s Will

 ”And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

David did exactly what God told him. He routed the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.  This was the second time the Philistines came against Israel, after David had sought God’s counsel and defeated them.  Again David asked God, took instructions, and won against them yet again.  The secret that David knew was depending on God and doing exactly what God told him.  God has created all mankind with the gift of free will.  When we, out of our own free will, choose God’s will, He does much more than what we have asked.  Such is the nature of God that out of His love for mankind, He sent His Son to die in our place.  Just think what God’s life-giving gift of salvation, poured through Jesus Christ, has done for us!  Can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, absolute life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one Man Jesus Christ provides? Only because He rose from the dead and defeated death.  Thank God for the gift of free-will so that we choose Him.  Thank God for His Resurrection Life in us who chose Him.  Hallelujah!

Wisdom to Win Souls for Christ

 ”For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:“

‭‭Titus‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul tells Titus, ”There are many wayward people, smooth talkers, and deceivers—especially the converts from Judaism”.  Paul is pointing to three groups of people who will refute and argue with church leaders: the rebels, the empty talkers, and the deceivers.  There are many who engage in worthless debates about their Jewish sentiments and playing mind-games in order to snare new believers into legalism.  The elders and leaders in the church must be faithful to the Scriptures in order to correct them and set them in order.  Through the Word, the leaders will instruct with competency and accuracy, to entreat and convince those who oppose the Gospel message.  Let’s abide in the Word and receive from the Holy Spirit, all the wisdom we need to bring people to Christ.  Amen!

Reigning in Righteousness

 ”how much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭4:11 KJV

“And now you show up—evil men who killed an innocent man in cold blood, a man asleep in his own house! Don’t think I won’t find you guilty of murder and rid the country of you!”  David dealt with Israel’s king Ishbosheth’s murderers with justice when they thought that David would happily snatch the crown and be crowned king of all Israel in this devious way.  But David became king of all Israel in a righteous way, even burying Ishbosheth honourably.  Jesus showed the higher way, 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.  The highest way that Jesus showed was taking the sin of all humanity and nailing it to the Cross.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  For believers in the finished work of the Cross of Christ, we have the help of the Holy Spirit to guard our faith by surrendering our will to Him Who judges righteously.  Therefore we humble ourselves under the mighty Hand of God, that He exalts us in due time.  This is how we reign in righteousness, when God exalts us at the right time.  Amen!

Crowned with Righteousness

 ”I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.“

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul’s boldly declared as he awaited in prison his death, “I have fought an excellent fight. I have finished my full course with all my might and I’ve kept my heart full of faith. There’s a crown of righteousness waiting in heaven for me, and I know that my Lord will reward me on His day of righteous judgment. And this crown is not only waiting for me, but for all who love and long for His unveiling”.  Paul overcame the flesh as he lived in the Spirit and declared that like a champion he ran the race and completed the course, carefully guarding his faith.  Paul was confident that his wreath of righteousness awaited him as a testimony to the Lord’s righteous judgment.  The Lord Jesus crowned Paul on that day, the moment he stepped out of his body.  Not only Paul, but everyone who loves the brilliance of Christ by his appearing, will be jointly crowned with a wreath of honour.  Let’s have faith in the magnitude of what awaits us, who are in Christ.  Amen!

Anointed In Our Union with Christ

 ”And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭3‬:‭36‬ ‭KJV‬‬

They all came then to David, trying to get him to eat something before dark. But David solemnly swore, “I’ll not so much as taste a piece of bread, or anything else for that matter, before sunset, so help me God!” Everyone at the funeral took notice—and liked what they saw. In fact everything the king did was applauded by the people. It was clear to everyone that day, including all Israel, that the king had nothing to do with the death of Abner son of Ner, whom Joab had killed.  As David honoured the anointing of God, grace and favour of God was on him. When Jesus came up out of the baptismal waters, the skies opened up and John the Baptist saw God’s Spirit—it looked like a dove—descending and landing on Jesus. And along with the Spirit, a voice: “This is My Son, chosen and marked by My love, delight of My life.”  Jesus always honoured God and only said and did what He saw God do and say.  Through Jesus’s resurrection, this anointing has come on all who believe in Christ Jesus.  In the new covenant, we live our life empowered by God’s free-flowing grace, which is our true strength, found in the anointing of Jesus and our union with Him!  Hallelujah!

Abide in the WORD

 ”This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.“

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭KJV

Paul warns Timothy of the last days, “But you need to be aware that in the final days the culture of society will become extremely fierce. People are self-centered lovers of themselves and obsessed with money. They boast of great things as they strut around in their arrogant pride and mock all that is right. They ignore their own families, be ungrateful and ungodly; become addicted to hateful and malicious slander. Slaves to their desires, they are ferocious, belligerent haters of what is good and right. With brutal treachery, they act without restraint, bigoted and wrapped in clouds of their conceit. They find their delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of the loving God.  Stay away from people like these!“  We are living in such times so let’s abide more in the Word and be led by the mighty Holy Spirit.  Amen!

Seek God’s Will Always

 ”And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV

After all this, David prayed. He asked God, “Shall I move to one of the cities of Judah?” God said, “Yes, move.” “And to which city?” “To Hebron.”  David knew the secret of success with the LORD.  It was to seek and enquire God’s will for the situations he was in.  Jesus taught clearly, “God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, and to ”Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.“ Then He said, ”And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.“  In the new covenant God the Holy Spirit is in us, who believe in Jesus, His Blood Sacrifice and fulfilling His Word at the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost.  That’s why we enquire of the Holy Spirit in prayer and never make a mistake.  Amen!

Gentle Conduct of God’s Servants

 ”And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.“

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul instructs Timothy, “For a true servant of our Lord Jesus will not be argumentative but gentle toward all and skilled in helping others see the truth, having great patience toward the immature. Then with meekness you’ll be able to carefully enlighten those who argue with you so they can see God’s gracious gift of repentance and be brought to the truth. This will cause them to rediscover themselves and escape from the snare of satan who caught them in his trap so that they would carry out his purposes”.  In our position as someone completely dedicated to the Lord, there’s no virtue in winning the argument but losing the person!  Let’s exhibit a sensitive courtesy towards all people; skilfully educating them and keeping our cool under pressure.  When we gently instruct those who oppose us, we will inevitably lead them to see what God believes concerning them and give them the best possible chance to acknowledge the truth. Let gentleness be our conduct.  Amen!

Anointing - the Empowerment from God

 ”And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?“

‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When the Amalekite, who was an enemy of the Israelites, told David that he had slain King Saul, David asked him, “Do you mean to say, that you weren’t afraid to up and kill God’s anointed king?” David understood the anointing that came from God, and that anyone who destroyed it was under judgment of death.  Anointing is the empowerment from God in our flesh to do the things the flesh cannot do.  In the new covenant, the anointing has freely been given to us through the death, burial and resurrection of the Anointed One, Christ Jesus our Lord.  That’s why we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.  The Holy Spirit activates the anointing of Christ in us.  We can be assured that if we believe in Jesus, He Who has all power in heaven and earth, has anointed us and given us power. To be anointed is to be covered in consecrated oil, which is spiritual and not of the flesh. Let’s by faith move in the anointing to destroy the yoke of the enemy of our soul.  Amen!

Don’t Tolerate Inferior Thoughts

 ”For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.“

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Paul is encouraging Timothy to overcome fear.  “For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit Who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control”.  God doesn’t want us to be shy with His gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.  Let’s become fully acquainted with His gift in us, there is nothing timid about it; the dynamic of a mind liberated in the spirit of love is fearless and unstoppable.  Our saved mind is free from tolerating inferior thoughts.  ”“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.”  Hallelujah!