The Spiritual Hope

A professing Christian who engages in such behaviour is obviously violating all the mentioned points which pertain to the actual walk of a Christian.

Points of Fact

•    Peter teaches  that Christians have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2Pet 1:3-4).
•   Paul teaches that Christian’s have crucified their flesh with the passions and desires (Gal 5:24) 
•  James teaches that men are drawn into sin by the lusts of their flesh (Jam 1:14-15).
•  Peter teaches that those who suffer with Christ have ceased from sin and that they no longer walk according to the lusts of men (1Pet 4:1-2) 
• Paul teaches that if we walk after flesh we will die but if we, through the Spirit, put to death the deeds of the body then we will live (Rom 8:13).

Jesus did clearly state that if you sin you are a slave to sin (Joh 8:34). Jesus did also say that He came to set people free indeed (Joh 8:36) from their sin.

Can one be free indeed if they are still yielding to the lusts of their flesh and sinning? The plain statements of Jesus clearly refute such a position.

Paul was in perfect agreement with Jesus on this matter for he taught that we are slaves to whom we obey whether sin unto death or obedience unto righteousness (Rom 6:16). There was no third option presented where the two somehow mix, yet most people sincerely believe that the two do mix.

Immediately after teaching that we are slaves to whom we obey Paul taught in the very next verse that obedience from the heart (Rom 6:17) was the method by which people had been set free from serving sin and had thus become slaves of righteousness (Rom 6:18).

There are many people today, who will read the above and deny it because of the implications it brings in regards to their own theology. Instead of addressing the very specific and simple points made they will, instead, brush it off with rhetoric and appeal to other isolated portions of scripture in an attempt to dismiss what the Bible plainly teaches.

I have found through experience that many will portray the theme expounded above and imply that somehow it translates to “saving oneself.” The fallacy here is that the dynamic of yielding to God is no more the saving of oneself than Noah was saving himself when he yielded to God’s instruction and built the ark.

There are many today who sincerely believe that God “makes” you do everything and that to imply that YOU have to actually do something is an infringement on the sovereignty and glory of God. Such a position is pure nonsense. Ask yourself as to whether Noah was glorying in himself by yielding to God through the action of building the ark? Of course he was not, and neither is a Christian who willingly walks after the Spirit in humble obedience to their Creator.

A vast system of error has completely overtaken what is nominally called Christianity today

The plain and simple teachings of Jesus have been supplanted by a vast system of theology which removes all human responsibility along with any fear of judgment.

The  doctrine of Christ is according to godliness (1Ti6:3) and whoever sins and does not abide in this doctrine does not have God (2 Joh 1:9). One must abide in this doctrine to have the Father and the Son (2Joh 1:9) and this is why Jesus would teach the following…

Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Joh 15:8  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Joh 15:9  As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Joh 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

Joh 15:11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Joh 15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have love you.

Notwithstanding that the notion of “an honest and good heart” destroys the false doctrine of “birth depravity” (inability doctrine), but it reveals to us that the Word of God can only take root in those whom have honest and good hearts. Those by the wayside, those upon the rocks, those among the thorns are all representative of those whom have a deceptive and evil heart. Fruit is brought forth by those with an honest and good heart.

Therefore it would be prudent to consider how does one obtain an honest and good heart? It is very simple. We just have to be completely honest with ourselves and let the root of conviction wrought by our conscience take hold. If we do that then we can do this…

Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

An honest and good heart brings forth the desire to abide in the truth. An honest and good heart necessitates the forsaking of all unrighteousness and a recieving of the truth within. Hence we are to lay aside all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and recieve meekly the word within which is what saves our souls. We open our hearts to God who then indwells us with His Spirit and energises us to walk in love and purity before Him. This is the new birth and this is real salvation.

The seed, which is the word, can only take root within those who wholeheartedly recieve it. Without a wholehearted reception of the word within it is only a matter of time before either doubt, temptation, or the cares of this world draw us away from God.

This is why Satan attacks the repentance message. This is why all the false religious sects and denominations and the false theological framework which underpins them attack the repentance message. The good and honest heart is a fruit of genuine repentance, a repentance wrought through a godly sorrow which brings such a crisis, such conviction to the soul, wrought through complete honesty as to one’s selfishness before God, an honesty to the true evil of what one has done (to
thesmselves, to others and to God) and how foolish one has been in allowing themselves to be decieved into such a state.

This conviction wrought understanding brings with it a motivation for righteousness, a true purging of iniquity from the heart, bringing with it the possibility to wholeheartedly yield to the grace of God in recieving the word within. This conviction brings us into possession of the good and honest heart, the fertile soul in which the seed of God can grow.

Deceptive theology will always compromise the notion of the honest and good heart, and in so doing an individual can be subtly deceived into a state of assurance whilst they lay by the wayside, upon the rocks, or among the thorns. We have to make sure that we are rooted in both the understanding and possession of an honest and good heart and that we remain diligent that we remain rooted in such. If we do this we will not only live but live abundantly.

Psalm 23:5 (WEB)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.

In today’s Scripture reference, King David declares that the Lord not only prepares a banquet for him in the presence of his enemies, but God also anoints his head with oil so his cup overflows. What a picture of abundance. Right in the midst of his enemies, David says that there are overflowing blessings.

I believe that the anointing that God wants to pour out over our lives today will cause us to live a life of fullness, where others will be able to benefit from the spillover of the anointing of God in our lives. In many Christian circles, the focus is on what we can do for God. How hard we can work, how we can demonstrate our love for Him.

While all these things can be good in themselves, if we do them to somehow earn His love, we are missing the point. In 1 John 1:19, the Apostle Johns says, “We love because He first loved us”. God initiates, we receive. I believe that the key to living a life from a full cup is coming to the place where we learn to be good receivers from God.

The more love we can receive from Him, the more love will overflow in our lives. The more anointing that He pours in us, the more it can be spilled over to others. My prayer today is that we would all learn to become better receivers of the goodness and graciousness of our God and Father so that we might live our lives from a full cup that is continually overflowing.

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him 1 Peter 2:24

‘Dead to sin” in 1 Peter 2:24 harmonises with ”dead to sin” in Romans 6.

1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Jesus ”’bearing our sin” (1Pe 2:24) is clearly associated with the individual being ”dead to sin,” hence the context is a new fresh start, not retributive, governmental or public justice as is taught under substitution (debt paid) theology..

Salvation MUST be approached in the context and attitude of entering into a covenant with God ”once and for all” with a repentance not to be repeated. This is why the trust and receive message is so dangerous wherein the implication in reality is a mere confession of being sinful and then waiting for some magic to occur, a doctrine whereby the service of sin NEVER actually ceases.

The true Gospel message preached by Jesus of Nazareth and the early apostles wrought a radical and total transformation within those whom truly believed (ie. active application as opposed to mere mental assent). The result being…

1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1Jn 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

“When I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night. “
Psalms 63:6

What is most difficult to control is our thought; we think about many things:- they are either good or bad thought, thought which is either helpful and beneficial or evil and harmful. As a result, it is essential for us to guard our thoughts as well as diligently rid our mind of garbages.

Nowadays, we can install application in our smart phone to remind us of any application which is outdated, not being used and is using up unnecessary memory. If we do not clean up, it is going to make our phone work very slowly. Similarly, our mind may be storing up thoughts which are useless and unproductive to the extent our mind is blocked from absorbing new and useful thoughts. Metaphorically, our thought is like a parasite that feeds on drops of water and if we do not take well care of the plant and get rid of such a parasite, the plant will be deprived of nutrients and eventually withers.

Before we go to bed, it is good to ponder and cleanse our mind from all unhealthy thoughts and when we wake up, sow the seeds of good thoughts to start the day; thought which is going to unleash our full potential as a person, thought which is positive and full of vigor. We can think one thing at a time, so if we think bad, what is good will take a backseat, vice versa.

David before going to bed, left behind all his troubles and had his mind focused on God. He left everything in the hands of God and meditated upon His word, reminding himself of God’s grace, mercy and love. He trusted God would refresh and grant him strength to face a new day. The choice is with us to put what kind of thought in our mind. Christians should choose what represents good thought, thought which is constructive and think about God before a good night’s rest. Let us begin the day with God as our focus and ends the day with our mind occupied with the thought of God.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:36-39

In perspective, a Christian who lives a purposeful life is motivated by “love” rather than being driven by a set of rules and regulations. Jesus Christ summarized that our Christian living is three-dimensional, all of which center on love.

Firstly, love God. Our relationship with God is bound by love rather than fear. We worship, serve and get involved in missions because of our love for God that springs from within. God does not intend that we do it because we fear Him and look upon worship or involvement in religious affairs such as offering simply as a duty or do it because we harbor certain ulterior motive. We do it because of love.

Secondly, love our neighbors and our fellow human beings. Human beings are from the same origin in Adam and Eve, the first couple created by God. Our society and the world at large will be peaceful and in harmony if we love each other. With love there will be forbearance, mercy, compassion and unity. People will be helpful, be forgiving and patient with each other. By loving one another, there will be joy and happiness in the family; with a strong institution in family, our community will be a safe place to live in.

Thirdly, love ourselves. Does it sound conflicting if we mention that Christians should learn to love their own selves? Should Christians not be denying themselves and also crucifying themselves like Christ? The word “self” takes a different meaning from the physical body and is not the way of life as controlled by the lowly self. The word “self” is noble, is about human value, self-respect and dignity. The word human connotes one who is kind hearted and virtuous. As a result, we should not hate, inflict injury or even belittling ourselves. Instead, we should have self-respect and be proud of ourselves. Through self-respect, we learn to respect others and see the value in human race.

Let love be the focus of our relationship with God, our neighbors, even with our own selves. Pray that God will bestow unto us patience as regards our love for one another. Indeed, in love, we make His world a better place.

“I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:31

In our some of our previous reading, we spoke about habit, that our fate is decided by our habit; we are either going to fail or be successful depends on our conduct, behavior and habit.
In this competitive world that we live in, many are focusing on self development which emphasizes increase in knowledge and skill set.

That said, if any effort in self development does not include building character, training in acquiring good and healthy habit, then it is indeed a lop-sided, imperfect development. We can envisage these kind of people although can be very smart, they probably have questionable character. More often than not, we hear of such people using their intelligence for personal gain and becoming swindlers.

We do not wish to be one-sided:- Being smart but having lousy character or being a very good person but unfortunately not very intelligent. In perspective, it is better to be a good, not so intelligent person. A good person lands on his feet, and conscience and thoughtfulness are essential for building character. Humans are born to be virtuous and failing to be good is synonymous with failing to uphold human dignity. Apart from being conscientious to becoming a good person, we have to be resolute in getting rid of bad habit.

As Christians, we crucify our old self; we die to our old habit just like Christ who died when He was crucified on the cross. Through the resurrection of Christ, we inherit a new life. The old has passed and the new has come; we rid ourselves of old habit and behavior such as covetousness, worldliness, self-centeredness and are able to defeat our lowly self. In place of which is the fruit of the spirit and the love of God; in God’s love, we will love our neighbors as ourselves.

Character building takes time and there is no shortcut. But if we have the determination, we shall succeed. The new habit will eventually take control of us as we endeavor to achieve Christlikeness. Hopefully, on that day when judgement arrives, we shall all be able to claim, “I am now complete in Christ!” instead of feeling sorry for having done nothing . In Christ, we go through the process of being made anew, to replace the old self.

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me…..For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:7-10

God’s words of encouragement came on Paul at that time when he could not understand why “a thorn was given him in the flesh” meaning he was suffering, even though he had been doing good, was fervent in doing God’s work and had been living righteously.

Nobody knew what was the “thorn” that Paul was referring to. He only mentioned that he could not take it out even though he pleaded to God by praying three times. So, what actually is the thorn? Some suggested it was physical illness, some said it was persecution and some guessed it was his conscience feeling guilty the way he treated Christians in the past.

God finally answered his prayer but not in a manner which he would like, which was to remove the thorn from him. God gave this answer, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God is speaking to us today, telling us that He knows our every weakness.

For those who profess that they love God very much but when they become very successful and are so comfortable with their life until they forget about God, God will probably plant a thorn in us, reminding us that what we have comes from Him. God says, “Do not puff up with pride when we become successful with people heaping praises on us.” Be conscientious that what we have is because of God’s grace, not because of our own merit. Indeed, His grace and mercy are sufficient for each and everyone of us.

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5

Those who prosper in life are those who have worked hard for it; it is impossible for a person who is lazy to be in abundance. Every religion teaches us to work hard and be diligent, so that over time, we reap what we sow. On the other hand, one who is wasting his time and does nothing will never have a fruitful life.
A lazy man will always find excuse for not doing things for he has no sense of urgency, is inactive and will have a tendency to run away from his responsibility.

Nowadays, we have to be aware of one who preaches that we do not have to work hard because God will provide. By comparing us to the newborn little birds in the nest, he is telling us we do not have to work, just wait for the time when the mother bird will come and feed us. This is indeed wrong teaching because God provides for those who work hard, who go out and try to make a living for themselves.

There is a difference between working hard and doing things in a rush. A person who does things hastily is unlikely to be meticulous, may not have given it a good thought and therefore make mistakes easily. The more important an issue is, the more time we need to spend on it and make sure we cover all angles before making a decision. As a result, we should not be afraid to spend more time to ponder over an issue, especially if it is one of life and death.

That said, the basis of living a successful life is to work hard and be smart; similar to knowledge going hand-in-hand with wisdom. If we work hard on a wrong issue and at the wrong time, we may not be able to enjoy the fruit of our labour. We therefore pray for God’s wisdom and understanding to be upon us as we work hard so that we can live a purposeful and fruitful life.

“And is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24

Christians believe that there is a god. Therefore, Christian living is not only about living a life according to the teaching of God but is also about having a relationship and close fellowship with Him. The centre of Christian living is to worship God. In worshiping, we give reverence and respect to God by lifting His name above all else. The verse indicates the way we should worship God and we also get to know His desire to seek such worshippers.

The Samaritan woman was confused which was more sacred as a worship place, Samaria or Jerusalem? The debate focused on the place of worship rather than worshiping the one and true God. But she realized that the essence of worship was not about being ceremonially religious but was about worshiping God in spirit and in truth. The Samaritan woman also learnt that God sought those who worshiped Him in earnest.

Whilst it is desirable to have a sanctuary with proper proceeding in worshiping, it does not mean that without these elements, we cannot conduct any worship. Worship is not dictated by place and substance prevails over form. In Romans 12:1-2, “I appeal to you therefore…to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

Worshiping God is about being submissive to His will. As a result, what matters is what comes out of our heart. Indeed, worship can be in various forms; some have very strict proceeding and some can be very liberal but if we miss the essence of worship, that is to have a contrite heart and subject ourselves to His sovereignty, we are not the kind of worshipers whom God is seeking.

Today is the day of worship. Let us sing praises unto Him and praise His holy name. “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness”. (Psalms 29:2) Ask ourselves if we are one of the worshippers whom God is seeking!