This is something we say all the time. In moments of difficulties and troubles we say our lives are in the hands of God. But most of those who say this don’t understand who God is. As time goes by we must refine our knowledge about God.
Who God is not
We are constantly claiming that we know God but we don’t really know Him. There are many misconceptions about God.
God is not the Bible, the Bible is not God. The Bible is the word of God. We get to know God as we read the Bible. There are many people who think that by place a Bible in their rooms or on their beds means God is with them. This is deception.
There are people who think God is a man. God is not a man. Man is a creation of God. Even though man is made in the image of God, man cannot be God. The Bible says “cursed is the one who puts his trust in a man.” If you have made any man your God, revise your stance.
There are people who think the man of God is God. They think the so called prophets, evangelists, pastors, etc. are God. They are not God. Because of this belief, a lot of people have gone out into the world to deceive vulnerable people. They want to let you believe that what they say is God’s voice. God is not a man; whether a ‘man of God’ or a man of the devil.
Who God is
We get to understand God when we look at the encounter between Moses and God. We hear God present Himself in Exodus 34: 6 – 7.
The name of the God we worship is YHWH – I am who I am. What this mean is that only God knows who He is. No man knows God to the full. We don’t know what God can do. We have seen and heard what He has done before. But we cannot say for certain what God will do. God is God.
God is merciful, he is gracious, abundantly good, and extremely patient. That is why it is better for those who trust in God to fall in the hands of God than to fall in any other hands. When David was given the choice of suffering in God’s hands or in the enemies hands, he chose God.
But God does not let sin go. He punishes sin. Those who take God for granted must understand this. He says to the third and fourth generation of children who hates him.That means this topic means different things for lovers of God and haters of God. For one group it is a pleasant thing to be in the hands of God; for the other it is a dreadful thing. It is better to die in the hands of God than to live in the hands of the devil.
Our life
The question is what kind of life is it that we are living? The lives of men are like fish caught in a net. There are good one’s there are bad ones; there are edible fish and poisonous fish. There are some lives that deserve destruction; there are some that deserve heaven.
Our life is in the hand of God.
In Romans 8: 29 says God knows us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows why we are in this this world. He knows the purpose for which you are in the world. Before you can to this world, he had charted a path that only you can walk for you. There is nothing you can do to change that path. You are in His hand.
Because of this, he directs your desires so that you can pray for the right things. Those who are walking in the will of God never pray amiss because their prayer is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8: 26 – 27 says we don’t know what to pray for but the Spirit Himself makes intercessions for us.
We are in the hands of God so we will lack nothing vrs32. God is so good to die for us in order to give us life; he will give us all that we need. That is why David says “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”
But there are times we face a lot of trouble and difficulties. There are storms in the life of everyone. But even in those storms you are in the hands of God.
What can separate us from the love of God?
Sometimes we think those who falsely accuse us can turn the love of God from us. It is a lie they cannot. People think they can accuse God’s people wrongly so that people will hate us. But the more people hate us unjustly, the more God loves us justly. If you are in God’s right hand, accusations cannot take you out.
Threats of death cannot take us out of God’s hands. Our lives are hidden in Christ who is hidden in God. Even real death cannot take us out of God’s hands.
Demons cannot harm you when you are in the hands of God. Charms, witchcrafts and powers of darkness cannot harm you. Your life is in God’s hands.
There is no enemy who can harm you, men, demons, and situations, whatever. You are safe. (Rom 8:38 - 39) 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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
In all the troubles that the enemy will bring our way, we are more than conquerors.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Do Not Worry
Gen 22: 1 - 14; Rom 6: 12 - 23; Matt 10: 40 - 42
You must go through tests and trials as a Christian. If this happens, know that: 1) you are not the first person going through trials, 2) you are not the only person going through it today, 3) God is not far away from you. You must therefore not worry. (1Pe 4:12) Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though a strange thing happened to you. Sometimes when we go through trials we cry, yes trials are painful so we cry. But even as we cry we must not worry. (Jas 1:2) My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations. Therefore we must be ready to go through trials.
Temptations by the Devil
There are two kinds of trials which those who love God go through. We go through temptations when the devil is the architect of the test we go through. Though God allows this, it is never His will for us to fail. God’s intention is to see how we are able to overcome sin. That is why in Romans 6:12 we are told not to allow sin to reign in our bodies. We must overcome sin so that even if we find ourselves in very sinful situations we not fall short.
The second reading talks about how we are slaves of sin when allow sin to rule us. The only way God can be sure that we are overcoming sin in our lives is to allow the devil to tempt us. That was what happens to Job. God took away Job’s protection just to see if Job’s righteousness is real or not. At the end of the tests that the devil took him through, Job proved that he is a slave to righteousness and not to sin.
Our bodies can easily be influenced by the devil who tries to use all the means available to him to make us fall back, or at least remain where we are. But if we have a spirit and a soul controlled by the Holy Spirit, the spirit will subdue the flesh and make it resist. In such temptations, we will not worry because we know we are controlled, not by the flesh, but by the Spirit.
Trials by God
Other times God Himself is the main architect of the tests we go through. His intention is to see whether we love him or not. He wants to know whether we are ready to follow Him truly. When God tests you, then you must know that he is about to lift you up. That is why when you are going through trials by God, you must not worry. The story of Abraham throws more light on trials. These are lessons we need to know and be aware of.
God will test you when he is about to release his full blessing.
The verse 1 of Gen 22 says “it happened after these things” that god tested Abraham. Abraham had gone through several difficulties of life. He left his father’s house and lands to go after God to a country he does not know. He was childless for all his life. His nephew who he brought up as his own child started fighting with him. Abraham let things go to make peace. God promised him a child that was not coming. He was old and his wife realized it was not possible for them to give birth. The wife advised him to do as all other men do: take a second wife (which was not wrong at that time) so that that second woman will give him a child. That came to pass but God says Abraham must send that child away. Abraham obliged. Then finally the promised child came. Abraham and the wife went through the trouble of looking after a child in old age. The child grew up and was about being ready to take over Abraham’s business so that old Abraham can have some pension.
Abraham could now look into the future with hope. Then all of a sudden, this same God, who is aware of how Abraham got this son and what this son means to him, asked him to go and sacrifice the only son to him. What a “wicked God”. That is what we humans will say. How can he be so wicked? This God does not deserve following. We will go back. That is what happens to us. If the church that prays for us to be blessed is saying we should bring the whole blessing, then let the church be. We are better off without the Church. Bur Abraham did not leave the church. He did not leave God. He did not worry. He knew his miracle is on the way.
God gives you time to obey him
When God is trying you, he will give you time to choose to obey or not to obey. He will not put pressure on you to do his will. God asked Abraham to go to and sacrifice his some on a mountain at Moriah. It took three days of walk from where Abraham was settled to the location. God allowed him the time to consider very well. The devil will not give you time to obey him. He puts pressure on you to sin. God want you to do what you must by your own will. If you want to obey God, your will and His will must be one. Abraham did not argue with God. He said yes.
God test you with the best things you have
Isaac is the best of Abraham’s possession. That boy was his soul. His whole being lived in him so much so that he would give everything he had to save him. He will sacrifice all his animals to save his son. Abraham was able to let Ishmael go because Ishmael did not mean much to him. But Isaac was more than his own life. He was ready to die for Isaac. But God did not want the cows, the bull, the rams, the goats and all that. God did not ask Abraham to sacrifice one of his servants. God did not ask Abraham to look for Ishmael and sacrifice him. God wanted Isaac. That was what happened to Jacob when he was to give up Benjamin. Benjamin was the best of Jacob at the time.
That tells you that when God is asking for your best, he is about to bless you beyond measure. Don’t worry about losing your best for the sake of God. When you give anything to God you get a reward for it. That is why Matt 10: 40 – 42 is saying that when you lose anything for the sake of a prophet, you will get a prophet’s reward.
God’s tests are stressful
Let us not assume that tests are pleasant. Sometimes the way Bible narratives are makes people to take things lightly. Abraham went to a lot of trouble when trying to do this will of God. He first of all has to find a way of getting Isaac to the place. He must face the wife about the issue. I don’t believe he told the wife. The boy will hear it and run away. At the final moment, Isaac asked him where the lamb for the sacrifice was. He could not say the truth. He did not want to lie.
Abraham went through the pain of not only seeing his son die, he must be the killer. This he must do in solemn worship, ceremoniously. That is a very difficult thing. Which father will do that? Abraham went through the agony of seeing his own son plead to him for mercy.
God has a plan to be revealed at the end
God has a plan for you and he sets that plan in motion when you decide to obey. At the place of the sacrifice God caused a ram to be caught in a thicket as a replacement for Isaac. But this is revealed only after Abraham had fully offered his son on the altar. There is a replacement for whatever God decide to take from you in sacrifice. When you do something good to the Lord he makes sure he replaces whatever you lost in many folds. But your obedience must be complete first.
When we read verse 23 of Gen 22 we hear the name of Rebekah for the first time. God’s plan to extend the generations of Abraham was already in place. Your future is secure with God if you obey him. Obedience reveals the plan of God for your life.
At the end of the test here is what God said:
Gen 22: 15 – 18. The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me."
One important lesson we learn from Abraham’s test is this: Be careful what you say when you go through trials. When Isaac asked Abraham where the Lamb for the sacrifice was, it was a difficult moment for him (Abraham). He could not tell his son he was the Lamb. He spoke out frustration, yet he spoke with faith. In moments of trial, let your faith rise up. Speak with faith trusting that God is capable of doing everything well. That is the only way you can assure victory.
Don’t worry
You must go through tests and trials as a Christian. If this happens, know that: 1) you are not the first person going through trials, 2) you are not the only person going through it today, 3) God is not far away from you. You must therefore not worry. (1Pe 4:12) Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though a strange thing happened to you. Sometimes when we go through trials we cry, yes trials are painful so we cry. But even as we cry we must not worry. (Jas 1:2) My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations. Therefore we must be ready to go through trials.
Temptations by the Devil
There are two kinds of trials which those who love God go through. We go through temptations when the devil is the architect of the test we go through. Though God allows this, it is never His will for us to fail. God’s intention is to see how we are able to overcome sin. That is why in Romans 6:12 we are told not to allow sin to reign in our bodies. We must overcome sin so that even if we find ourselves in very sinful situations we not fall short.
The second reading talks about how we are slaves of sin when allow sin to rule us. The only way God can be sure that we are overcoming sin in our lives is to allow the devil to tempt us. That was what happens to Job. God took away Job’s protection just to see if Job’s righteousness is real or not. At the end of the tests that the devil took him through, Job proved that he is a slave to righteousness and not to sin.
Our bodies can easily be influenced by the devil who tries to use all the means available to him to make us fall back, or at least remain where we are. But if we have a spirit and a soul controlled by the Holy Spirit, the spirit will subdue the flesh and make it resist. In such temptations, we will not worry because we know we are controlled, not by the flesh, but by the Spirit.
Trials by God
Other times God Himself is the main architect of the tests we go through. His intention is to see whether we love him or not. He wants to know whether we are ready to follow Him truly. When God tests you, then you must know that he is about to lift you up. That is why when you are going through trials by God, you must not worry. The story of Abraham throws more light on trials. These are lessons we need to know and be aware of.
God will test you when he is about to release his full blessing.
The verse 1 of Gen 22 says “it happened after these things” that god tested Abraham. Abraham had gone through several difficulties of life. He left his father’s house and lands to go after God to a country he does not know. He was childless for all his life. His nephew who he brought up as his own child started fighting with him. Abraham let things go to make peace. God promised him a child that was not coming. He was old and his wife realized it was not possible for them to give birth. The wife advised him to do as all other men do: take a second wife (which was not wrong at that time) so that that second woman will give him a child. That came to pass but God says Abraham must send that child away. Abraham obliged. Then finally the promised child came. Abraham and the wife went through the trouble of looking after a child in old age. The child grew up and was about being ready to take over Abraham’s business so that old Abraham can have some pension.
Abraham could now look into the future with hope. Then all of a sudden, this same God, who is aware of how Abraham got this son and what this son means to him, asked him to go and sacrifice the only son to him. What a “wicked God”. That is what we humans will say. How can he be so wicked? This God does not deserve following. We will go back. That is what happens to us. If the church that prays for us to be blessed is saying we should bring the whole blessing, then let the church be. We are better off without the Church. Bur Abraham did not leave the church. He did not leave God. He did not worry. He knew his miracle is on the way.
God gives you time to obey him
When God is trying you, he will give you time to choose to obey or not to obey. He will not put pressure on you to do his will. God asked Abraham to go to and sacrifice his some on a mountain at Moriah. It took three days of walk from where Abraham was settled to the location. God allowed him the time to consider very well. The devil will not give you time to obey him. He puts pressure on you to sin. God want you to do what you must by your own will. If you want to obey God, your will and His will must be one. Abraham did not argue with God. He said yes.
God test you with the best things you have
Isaac is the best of Abraham’s possession. That boy was his soul. His whole being lived in him so much so that he would give everything he had to save him. He will sacrifice all his animals to save his son. Abraham was able to let Ishmael go because Ishmael did not mean much to him. But Isaac was more than his own life. He was ready to die for Isaac. But God did not want the cows, the bull, the rams, the goats and all that. God did not ask Abraham to sacrifice one of his servants. God did not ask Abraham to look for Ishmael and sacrifice him. God wanted Isaac. That was what happened to Jacob when he was to give up Benjamin. Benjamin was the best of Jacob at the time.
That tells you that when God is asking for your best, he is about to bless you beyond measure. Don’t worry about losing your best for the sake of God. When you give anything to God you get a reward for it. That is why Matt 10: 40 – 42 is saying that when you lose anything for the sake of a prophet, you will get a prophet’s reward.
God’s tests are stressful
Let us not assume that tests are pleasant. Sometimes the way Bible narratives are makes people to take things lightly. Abraham went to a lot of trouble when trying to do this will of God. He first of all has to find a way of getting Isaac to the place. He must face the wife about the issue. I don’t believe he told the wife. The boy will hear it and run away. At the final moment, Isaac asked him where the lamb for the sacrifice was. He could not say the truth. He did not want to lie.
Abraham went through the pain of not only seeing his son die, he must be the killer. This he must do in solemn worship, ceremoniously. That is a very difficult thing. Which father will do that? Abraham went through the agony of seeing his own son plead to him for mercy.
God has a plan to be revealed at the end
God has a plan for you and he sets that plan in motion when you decide to obey. At the place of the sacrifice God caused a ram to be caught in a thicket as a replacement for Isaac. But this is revealed only after Abraham had fully offered his son on the altar. There is a replacement for whatever God decide to take from you in sacrifice. When you do something good to the Lord he makes sure he replaces whatever you lost in many folds. But your obedience must be complete first.
When we read verse 23 of Gen 22 we hear the name of Rebekah for the first time. God’s plan to extend the generations of Abraham was already in place. Your future is secure with God if you obey him. Obedience reveals the plan of God for your life.
At the end of the test here is what God said:
Gen 22: 15 – 18. The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time16 and said, "I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me."
One important lesson we learn from Abraham’s test is this: Be careful what you say when you go through trials. When Isaac asked Abraham where the Lamb for the sacrifice was, it was a difficult moment for him (Abraham). He could not tell his son he was the Lamb. He spoke out frustration, yet he spoke with faith. In moments of trial, let your faith rise up. Speak with faith trusting that God is capable of doing everything well. That is the only way you can assure victory.
Don’t worry
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Your Identity in Christ
There were three important positions in Israel of old. These are Kings (Royal), Priests (Priesthood) and Prophets. The royals and the priests own these positions by birth and no one could deny them these positions. But the prophets are chosen by God from among the people. Anybody could become a prophet: royals can be made prophets, priests could be made prophets and ordinary people could become prophets. But it was not possible for royals to become priests or priests to become royals.
The division was in function too. The King cannot perform the role of the Priest; and the Priest dare not do the work of the King. The consequences of such actions were disastrous. This continued until after the Exile when, during Greek and Roman Rule, the main Davidic line was lost and Priest became rulers of the people.
It is only in Jesus that these two separate institutions became unified and we are the benefactors. So you are a Priest and a King/Queen.
Today’s topic is pointing us first and foremost to our identity in Christ.
Who are you in Christ?
The true identity of a person can be seen in three major ways: where they come (are coming) from, where they are now, and where they are going to. The identity we are talking about here is spiritual and not physical.
Where you came from
1 Peter 2:9 says we have been called from darkness. You have been living in the darkness before you came to know Christ. We lived a life of darkness. We did devilish things. We were not friends of God. We were murderers, thieves, drunkards, liars, idol worshipers, witches, wizards, adulterers, fornicators, etc. Our lives were dark. That is where we were. And it was by the grace of God that we were saved. Christ shed his blood for us and we were saved. Imagine where you will have been, had it not been for Christ.
Christ has brought us out of darkness, out of disgrace, out of shame, out of poverty, out sickness and disease.
That is why you must be grateful to God today, no matter your situation. He has given you what money cannot buy: Salvation which comes with hope. The hope we have in Christ makes everything certain. God has brought you from the most difficult situation, and so He is able to do what you desire.
Where are you now?
You are a member of the royal priesthood of Christ. You have been brought into light. This light is the light of God. In this light there is freedom. We are no longer living lives of bondage where we are bound by many things: demons, alcohol, womanising, (manising), stealing, etc. We are not bound by idols to whom we must make sacrifices regularly. We are not bound by death so that we are in constant fear. We know that even in death there is victory for us. That is why Stephen was not perturbed even when he was being stoned to death.
You were once a lifeless stone. Nothing entered you. The word of God had no effect on you. The spirit of God was far from you. But today you have become a living stone, being built together with other living stones into a glorious edifice. This means your tomorrow will be better than what you are today. (My tomorrow will be better than what you see today.)
Where are you going?
When Christ rescued you from darkness and brought you into light, He also changed your destiny. He changed your ultimate destination. You were on the road to destruction, to hell. But now you are on the way to heaven. Your heaven starts from here. You were on the road of death, but now you are moved to the road of life.
Jesus says he is preparing a place for us in heaven. Once we are in him, we know that we will be in heaven with him. We are not afraid of the world coming to an end. Whether it happens today, even now, once you are in Christ, there is no difference. Our destination is heaven.
Our duty
Now that you know who you are, a royal a priest, a living stone, you must know the purpose for which God has called you and is still keeping you alive.
The King is called to provide leadership for the people of God. He wages war against evil nations. You must wage a war against the powers of darkness. You must defend the people and the kingdom of God. This could be physical and spiritual, but we must know that the warfare we are involved in is not physical. We use spiritual weapons of prayer and testimony to defeat the enemy.
As a Priest, you are called to a life of worship. The priest in the days of Israel does nothing but be involved in the things of God. In like manner, we must dedicate our lives, and our work to the worship of God. Whatever you do, do it as unto God. Worship God with whatever you have and do.
You are called as a priest to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. The sacrifices we are to offer must be living. We must offer our lives as sacrifice, a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. God knows that, that is why you are a living stone. A stone cannot die. No matter how much you sacrifice, you will not die. You are a living stone. Nothing can harm you.
You must provide leadership in doing what is good. Stand for the truth. When they are looking for a good person, you must be one of them.
The division was in function too. The King cannot perform the role of the Priest; and the Priest dare not do the work of the King. The consequences of such actions were disastrous. This continued until after the Exile when, during Greek and Roman Rule, the main Davidic line was lost and Priest became rulers of the people.
It is only in Jesus that these two separate institutions became unified and we are the benefactors. So you are a Priest and a King/Queen.
Today’s topic is pointing us first and foremost to our identity in Christ.
Who are you in Christ?
The true identity of a person can be seen in three major ways: where they come (are coming) from, where they are now, and where they are going to. The identity we are talking about here is spiritual and not physical.
Where you came from
1 Peter 2:9 says we have been called from darkness. You have been living in the darkness before you came to know Christ. We lived a life of darkness. We did devilish things. We were not friends of God. We were murderers, thieves, drunkards, liars, idol worshipers, witches, wizards, adulterers, fornicators, etc. Our lives were dark. That is where we were. And it was by the grace of God that we were saved. Christ shed his blood for us and we were saved. Imagine where you will have been, had it not been for Christ.
Christ has brought us out of darkness, out of disgrace, out of shame, out of poverty, out sickness and disease.
That is why you must be grateful to God today, no matter your situation. He has given you what money cannot buy: Salvation which comes with hope. The hope we have in Christ makes everything certain. God has brought you from the most difficult situation, and so He is able to do what you desire.
Where are you now?
You are a member of the royal priesthood of Christ. You have been brought into light. This light is the light of God. In this light there is freedom. We are no longer living lives of bondage where we are bound by many things: demons, alcohol, womanising, (manising), stealing, etc. We are not bound by idols to whom we must make sacrifices regularly. We are not bound by death so that we are in constant fear. We know that even in death there is victory for us. That is why Stephen was not perturbed even when he was being stoned to death.
You were once a lifeless stone. Nothing entered you. The word of God had no effect on you. The spirit of God was far from you. But today you have become a living stone, being built together with other living stones into a glorious edifice. This means your tomorrow will be better than what you are today. (My tomorrow will be better than what you see today.)
Where are you going?
When Christ rescued you from darkness and brought you into light, He also changed your destiny. He changed your ultimate destination. You were on the road to destruction, to hell. But now you are on the way to heaven. Your heaven starts from here. You were on the road of death, but now you are moved to the road of life.
Jesus says he is preparing a place for us in heaven. Once we are in him, we know that we will be in heaven with him. We are not afraid of the world coming to an end. Whether it happens today, even now, once you are in Christ, there is no difference. Our destination is heaven.
Our duty
Now that you know who you are, a royal a priest, a living stone, you must know the purpose for which God has called you and is still keeping you alive.
The King is called to provide leadership for the people of God. He wages war against evil nations. You must wage a war against the powers of darkness. You must defend the people and the kingdom of God. This could be physical and spiritual, but we must know that the warfare we are involved in is not physical. We use spiritual weapons of prayer and testimony to defeat the enemy.
As a Priest, you are called to a life of worship. The priest in the days of Israel does nothing but be involved in the things of God. In like manner, we must dedicate our lives, and our work to the worship of God. Whatever you do, do it as unto God. Worship God with whatever you have and do.
You are called as a priest to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. The sacrifices we are to offer must be living. We must offer our lives as sacrifice, a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. God knows that, that is why you are a living stone. A stone cannot die. No matter how much you sacrifice, you will not die. You are a living stone. Nothing can harm you.
You must provide leadership in doing what is good. Stand for the truth. When they are looking for a good person, you must be one of them.
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