One of the mysteries of God is the mystery of death. If it is a mystery then neither you nor I know much about it. Therefore, this message is no more than an exercise in Bible study and I am not in any way trying to establish a doctrine. Nevertheless, I think this is interesting if we take time to seach out what has be revealed.
The Scripture reveals two ways of looking at death.
1. Death as the cessation of life
The common way is to look at death as a state or condition. It is the cessation of life, the experience which results in the separation of the spirit from the body. Since the Fall everyone experiences spiritual as well a physical death.
At his physical death, man's spirit is released from the body and returns to God (Eccl. 12:7). But, there were only two persons, both recorded in the Old Testament who "did not experience death". They were translated from earth to heaven directly without experiencing death. One was Enoch (Hebrews 11:5). the reason given in the Scripture is - "he pleased God". The other person was Elijah. He "went up by whirlwind into heaven" (2 Kings 2:11). We are faced with many unanswered questions. Why only these two persons? Surely there were more people in the Old Testament time who also pleased God? Why no recorded examples in the New Testament? Another problem is, the Bible does not give clear details as to what will be the ultimate experience of these two men. I believe this is one of the "secret things belong to the Lord our God" (Deu. 29:29).
Let us see what we can make out of some of "those things which are revealed" (Deu. 29:29).
The Bible says death is Christ's enemy and our enemy.
Paul said, "But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel" (2 Tim. 1:10, emphasis added).
Clearly, the purpose of Christ's first coming is to abolish spiritual death, His enemy.
Let us see what happens at the close of Christ's earthly Millennium reign of one thousand years.
This is how Paul sees it:
"Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death" (1 Cor. 15:24,25,26, NKJV. emphasis added).
"Then comes the end" means, at the end of which God the Father will have brought all Christ's enemies into subjection to Him. The last of these enemies will be death.
2. Death as a person
The true nature of Death and Hades as persons is revealed in John's vision of the fourth horseman in the Book of Revelation:
"And I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him" (Rev. 6:8).
It is obvious from this account that both Death and Hades are persons. Only a person could sit on a horse, and only another person could follow along with the first one.
The final resurrection of the dead as depicted by John is:
"The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:13,14).
Notice that the Greek word "Hades" corresponds to the Hebrew word "Sheol" used in the Old Testament. Hades or Sheol is a place of temporary confinement for departed spirit, prior to their final resurrection and judgement by God. After the final resurrection and judgement, all the unrighteous are consigned to the lake of fire.
I believe both Death and Hades are dark angels, ministers of Satan, but they have different "ministries". Death claims the spirit of every unrighteous person that is separated from his body when he dies. Hades receives them from Death and conducts them to the realm of departed spirit from which he receives his name - that is Hades. Notice that the lake of fire is not Sheol or Hades but comes from the Hebrew word "Gehenna". It is a place of final, unending punishment to which is consigned, after resurrection, the total personality of every unrighteous person -spirit, soul and body together.
It is interesting to note what Jesus says:
"Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death" (John 8:51, NKJV, emphasis added).
I think the Amplified Bible is more vivid:
"I assure you, most solemnly I tell, if any one observes My teaching - lives in accordance with My message, keeps My word - he will by no means ever see and experience death".
In other words, the condition of not seeing and experiencing death is to observe and keep Christ's teaching at all time. This calls for a believer to be a doer of His Word (not hearer only) and a follower of all the commands of Christ. I think this is a solemn warning to preachers who are in the habit of compromissing God's Word to make God's Word "more acceptable".
Notice that Jesus does not say here that the believer will not experience physical death. He says that the believer will not "see death". He is not referring to the physical condition of death results from the separation of the spirit from the body. When He says "seeing death", He is referring to seeing the person of the dark angel whose name is Death, and to the other dark angel, his companion, whose name is Hades.
As I understand it, according to Jesus, the spirit of the true believe (who keeps His Word), on departing from the body, will never come under the dominion of these two dark angels - Death and Hades. Rather, like Lazarus the beggar (Luke 16:19 - 31) whose departed spirit was met by God's angels (the angels of light) and by them escorted to Paradise.
In fact, in his physical death, the destiny of the spirit of the truly born again believer is ushered into the presence of Jesus and God immediately - without seeing Death.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
The Elijah Ministry
No. I am not talking about the ministry of the Old Testament prophet Elijah. If you like there are many books written about the ministry of Elijah. But, I am led by the Spriit of God to share with you the urgent need of the restoration of the "Elijah Ministry" to the Church of Jesus Christ. Strangely enough, I have not heard any preaching of this important message anywhere.
I believe the last words of the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, the last Words of Jesus Christ or any writer, have great significance to the Church. Usually the last words of anyone, in any situation are the most important words. They contain "hidden" last messages to individuals and to the Church. The Lord willing, I intend to to study in some details all the "last words" in the Bible. But, at this time let us study the last two verses of the Old Testament:
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I com and strike the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:5,6, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, the reason God sent Elijah in the last days (before the Day of the Lord) is to minister to the fathers and to remind them to repent and to reconcile with their children.
Notice that "turn the hearts" suggests that the "Elijah Ministry" is a ministry of repentance, reconciliation and restoration. It is not a coincidence that the ministry of John the baptist in the beginning of the New Testament was also the ministry of repentance. The angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias that John the baptist would do the work of another Elijah:
"And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. he will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:16,17, emphasis added).
John the baptist, come with the spirit and power of Elijah. In other words, he is a type of Elijah.
In my opinion, "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children" is the most important agenda for all christian father. This is the end-time message for all fathers.
If christian fathers fail in their duties to take their God given role as the heads of their families, they and their families will be under a curse.
"You shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for they shall go into captivity" (Deu. 28:41).
Surely no father likes to see their sons and daughters taken captive by a rebellious subculture devoted to drugs, sex, satanic music, and every form of occult. Malachi (the last two verses of the Old Testament) depicts an evil force at work, alienating parents from their children and producing a breakdown of family relationship. Unless God intervenes, this curse that is destroying family life will be extended to all countries of the world. I believe this is one of Satan's agendas in the last days.
As the head of his family, the father has to be the priest, prophet and king to his family. As priest he prays for his family, as prophet he is the oracle of God for his family and as king he rules his family. In this message, we examine the important role of the father as the priest of the family.
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children" (Hosea 4:6,emphasis added).
Strong words from God! If the fathers are disobedient, even his prayer will not be heard or answered, and God will reject the children! Fathers cannot afford to reject knowledge.
An important facet of the Elijah ministry is the restoration of headship of man in the family. In 1 Kings 18 we read about the Elijah's confrantation with king Ahab and Zezebel. The Zezebel spirit is the witchcraft spirit and Ahab was under the dominion of this spirit. I believe any family with the mother as the head of the family is also under a curse. God forbids any woman to take the role of priest, prophet and king in any family.
I hope this is a timely message for all fathers in this Chinese New Year reunion season. It is time for fathers to remember and pray for their children.
I believe the last words of the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, the last Words of Jesus Christ or any writer, have great significance to the Church. Usually the last words of anyone, in any situation are the most important words. They contain "hidden" last messages to individuals and to the Church. The Lord willing, I intend to to study in some details all the "last words" in the Bible. But, at this time let us study the last two verses of the Old Testament:
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I com and strike the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:5,6, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, the reason God sent Elijah in the last days (before the Day of the Lord) is to minister to the fathers and to remind them to repent and to reconcile with their children.
Notice that "turn the hearts" suggests that the "Elijah Ministry" is a ministry of repentance, reconciliation and restoration. It is not a coincidence that the ministry of John the baptist in the beginning of the New Testament was also the ministry of repentance. The angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias that John the baptist would do the work of another Elijah:
"And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. he will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:16,17, emphasis added).
John the baptist, come with the spirit and power of Elijah. In other words, he is a type of Elijah.
In my opinion, "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children" is the most important agenda for all christian father. This is the end-time message for all fathers.
If christian fathers fail in their duties to take their God given role as the heads of their families, they and their families will be under a curse.
"You shall beget sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours; for they shall go into captivity" (Deu. 28:41).
Surely no father likes to see their sons and daughters taken captive by a rebellious subculture devoted to drugs, sex, satanic music, and every form of occult. Malachi (the last two verses of the Old Testament) depicts an evil force at work, alienating parents from their children and producing a breakdown of family relationship. Unless God intervenes, this curse that is destroying family life will be extended to all countries of the world. I believe this is one of Satan's agendas in the last days.
As the head of his family, the father has to be the priest, prophet and king to his family. As priest he prays for his family, as prophet he is the oracle of God for his family and as king he rules his family. In this message, we examine the important role of the father as the priest of the family.
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children" (Hosea 4:6,emphasis added).
Strong words from God! If the fathers are disobedient, even his prayer will not be heard or answered, and God will reject the children! Fathers cannot afford to reject knowledge.
An important facet of the Elijah ministry is the restoration of headship of man in the family. In 1 Kings 18 we read about the Elijah's confrantation with king Ahab and Zezebel. The Zezebel spirit is the witchcraft spirit and Ahab was under the dominion of this spirit. I believe any family with the mother as the head of the family is also under a curse. God forbids any woman to take the role of priest, prophet and king in any family.
I hope this is a timely message for all fathers in this Chinese New Year reunion season. It is time for fathers to remember and pray for their children.
Divine Authority and Headship
In a way this message is related to the message that I posted yesterday regarding the "Elijah Ministry".
The last verse of the last Book of the Old testament says:
"And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:6, NKJV, emphasis added).
Notice that the above verse does not say "the hearts of the mothers to the children". It is because of the authority and headship of God's family units is vested in the fathers and not in the mothers. I believe in the last days God is using the Spirit of Elijah to restore the proper divine authority and headship to his people and the Church. It is the interest of every christian family to be sensitive to what God is saying to His people. We are living in the last of the last days, and it is easy to see many christian families are broken down because there is a curse working if fathers refuse to take their God given role as the head of the families.
The source of all authority is God the Father. The authority of fatherhood in the christian family is closely related to the eternal Fatherhood of God.
This truth is made clear by Paul:
"For this reason, I bow my knees before the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named - from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name" (Eph. 3:14,15, The Amplified Bible, emphasis added).
In other words, every other fatherhood in creation is derived from the eternal Fatherhood of God. The fatherhood in the christian family is the projection of the Fatherhood of God in heaven. The authority of the father in relation to his wife and children is a type of Authority of God the Father in relation to Christ (God the Son).
The authority and headship of the father in the christian family is also made known through the eternal Authority and Headship of God the Father.
This truth is also made clear by Paul:
"But I want you to know and realize that Christ is the head of every man, the head of woman is her husband, and Head of Christ is God" (1 Cor.11:3).
Here we see the pattern of divine authority working under the Headship of God. We all have authority by taking our place of right relationship in this chain of authority. In a home, proper divine authority is exercised when the husband is subject to Christ, and the wife is subject to her husband. If either of these relationships in broken down, the authority in the home is broken down and there will be confusion and chaos in the home and children will inevitably suffer. If the husband is not subject to Christ he does not have the authority that he should have. If the wife is not subject to the husband she does not have the authority that she should have. The nature and principles of authority is illustrated by the conversation between Jesus and a certain centurion (Luke 7:8). A person has authority if and only if he is under a higher authority. And the highest authority is God the Father.
There is a parallel truth in the Local Church concerning divine authority and headship:
"For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything" (Eph. 5:23,24).
Paul wrote to Timothy concerning the role of women in the local church:
"Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence" (1 Tim. 2:11,12, NKJV, emphasis added).
The last verse of the last Book of the Old testament says:
"And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:6, NKJV, emphasis added).
Notice that the above verse does not say "the hearts of the mothers to the children". It is because of the authority and headship of God's family units is vested in the fathers and not in the mothers. I believe in the last days God is using the Spirit of Elijah to restore the proper divine authority and headship to his people and the Church. It is the interest of every christian family to be sensitive to what God is saying to His people. We are living in the last of the last days, and it is easy to see many christian families are broken down because there is a curse working if fathers refuse to take their God given role as the head of the families.
The source of all authority is God the Father. The authority of fatherhood in the christian family is closely related to the eternal Fatherhood of God.
This truth is made clear by Paul:
"For this reason, I bow my knees before the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named - from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name" (Eph. 3:14,15, The Amplified Bible, emphasis added).
In other words, every other fatherhood in creation is derived from the eternal Fatherhood of God. The fatherhood in the christian family is the projection of the Fatherhood of God in heaven. The authority of the father in relation to his wife and children is a type of Authority of God the Father in relation to Christ (God the Son).
The authority and headship of the father in the christian family is also made known through the eternal Authority and Headship of God the Father.
This truth is also made clear by Paul:
"But I want you to know and realize that Christ is the head of every man, the head of woman is her husband, and Head of Christ is God" (1 Cor.11:3).
Here we see the pattern of divine authority working under the Headship of God. We all have authority by taking our place of right relationship in this chain of authority. In a home, proper divine authority is exercised when the husband is subject to Christ, and the wife is subject to her husband. If either of these relationships in broken down, the authority in the home is broken down and there will be confusion and chaos in the home and children will inevitably suffer. If the husband is not subject to Christ he does not have the authority that he should have. If the wife is not subject to the husband she does not have the authority that she should have. The nature and principles of authority is illustrated by the conversation between Jesus and a certain centurion (Luke 7:8). A person has authority if and only if he is under a higher authority. And the highest authority is God the Father.
There is a parallel truth in the Local Church concerning divine authority and headship:
"For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything" (Eph. 5:23,24).
Paul wrote to Timothy concerning the role of women in the local church:
"Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence" (1 Tim. 2:11,12, NKJV, emphasis added).
Monday, February 28, 2005
The Three Types of Man
The Bible reveals that there are three types of man - the natural man, the carnal man and the spiritual man.
In order to understand the differences between these three types, we must first understand that the whole personality of a man consists of three parts - spirit, soul and body. The degree of dominion of any of these three part, over the whole personality of man, determines which type of man he is - whether he is a natural man, a carnal man or a spiritual man. Through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, this truth came to me recently. Through personal experience I also discovered that there are many born-again christians including Church leaders cannot understand the differences between soul and spirit.
The writer of Hebrews said, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, the differences between soul and spirit can only be revealed by the Word of God. Therefore, any christian who says that there is no differences between the soul and spirit, then, he is either careless or he cannot understand or discern the Scripture accurately. Furthermore, this truth is made known by Paul in 1 Thess. 5:23. If there is no difference between soul and spirit, Paul would not mention "... your whole spirit, soul, and body ...".
The Natural Man
"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14, emphasis added).
In other words, the natural man does not have the Holy Spirit in him to help him to receive the things of the Spirit of God. Therefore, the natural man is an unregenerated person. He is not born-again and his spirit is dead. Spiritual things of God have no meaning to Him. He is motivated by the flesh, his unredeemed soul - his will, intellect and emotion - and the physical senses of his body. In other words, he is led by his "soul life" which is corrupted. Sense knowledge, natural human knowledge, are all that the natural man possesses. He has no "revelation knowledge" at all. In my opinion, many (with some exceptions) professional philosophers, psychologists, and psychiatrists, including theologians are natural man. Many of them have natural soulish wisdom instead of divine wisdom that can only be imparted through the Holy Spirit. Their teaching or preaching may sound spiritual but they are not led by the Spirit of God but "led" by human or soulish wisdom (compare with Paul's preaching - 1 Cor. 2:4,5) and based on reasoning, statistical measurement and what their mind can make known to them.
The soul part takes dominion of the life of the natural man. Notice that the soul part is created by God and is necessary and is certainly not evil. But, when the soul of a man takes control of his unregenerated and unquicken spirit, then he is likely to do evil things even without knowing it. This is because the natural man is born with the sinful Adamic nature.
Notice that if the unregenerated man is called the natural man, then the other two types of man must be called supernatural man. This is true because salvation is a supernatural experience. A christian is essentially a supernatural man.
The Carrnal Man
In order to understand the differences between these three types, we must first understand that the whole personality of a man consists of three parts - spirit, soul and body. The degree of dominion of any of these three part, over the whole personality of man, determines which type of man he is - whether he is a natural man, a carnal man or a spiritual man. Through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, this truth came to me recently. Through personal experience I also discovered that there are many born-again christians including Church leaders cannot understand the differences between soul and spirit.
The writer of Hebrews said, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, the differences between soul and spirit can only be revealed by the Word of God. Therefore, any christian who says that there is no differences between the soul and spirit, then, he is either careless or he cannot understand or discern the Scripture accurately. Furthermore, this truth is made known by Paul in 1 Thess. 5:23. If there is no difference between soul and spirit, Paul would not mention "... your whole spirit, soul, and body ...".
The Natural Man
"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14, emphasis added).
In other words, the natural man does not have the Holy Spirit in him to help him to receive the things of the Spirit of God. Therefore, the natural man is an unregenerated person. He is not born-again and his spirit is dead. Spiritual things of God have no meaning to Him. He is motivated by the flesh, his unredeemed soul - his will, intellect and emotion - and the physical senses of his body. In other words, he is led by his "soul life" which is corrupted. Sense knowledge, natural human knowledge, are all that the natural man possesses. He has no "revelation knowledge" at all. In my opinion, many (with some exceptions) professional philosophers, psychologists, and psychiatrists, including theologians are natural man. Many of them have natural soulish wisdom instead of divine wisdom that can only be imparted through the Holy Spirit. Their teaching or preaching may sound spiritual but they are not led by the Spirit of God but "led" by human or soulish wisdom (compare with Paul's preaching - 1 Cor. 2:4,5) and based on reasoning, statistical measurement and what their mind can make known to them.
The soul part takes dominion of the life of the natural man. Notice that the soul part is created by God and is necessary and is certainly not evil. But, when the soul of a man takes control of his unregenerated and unquicken spirit, then he is likely to do evil things even without knowing it. This is because the natural man is born with the sinful Adamic nature.
Notice that if the unregenerated man is called the natural man, then the other two types of man must be called supernatural man. This is true because salvation is a supernatural experience. A christian is essentially a supernatural man.
The Carrnal Man
The carnal man is a born-again christian, may or may not have baptised in the Holy Spirit. But, he is a babe in Christ. He allows his soul to take dominion or take control over his spirit instead of being led by the Holy Spirit.
Paul said, "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food, for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" (1 Cor. 3:1,2,3, emphasis).
Notice that in these verses, Paul mentions all three types of people, spiritual, carnal and "mere men", meaning "natural men" (The Amplified Bible says, "unchanged men"). The writer of Hebrew said almost the same thing - Hebrews 5:12,13.
Paul's letters to the Corinthians are written to born-again, Spirit-filled believers, even to a Church which has all the gifts of the Spirit operating (1 Cor. 1:7). The amazing thing is that even carnal christians have the abiblity to exercise Spiritual gifts! Paul reminds christians that anyone who exercises spiritual gifts does not mean he is spirtual. In fact, Paul said a Church with carnal christians is divided by envy and strife (1 Cor. 3:3).
Peter, just like Paul wants christians to grow out of carnality:
"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).
So, we see the only way to grow out of carnality is by the Word. Therefore, christians must live the Word, walk the Word, eat the Word, sleep the Word, teach the Word and be doers of the Word. In fact, any christian who loves divine life must love the Word because God and His Word is the only source of life!
Jesus says, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).
God is the only source of life. He gives life through His Son (His Word) to the spirit of of man. In turn, the spirit of man gives life to his soul and to his body in this divine order.
The Spiritual Man
The spiritual man is a genuinely redeemed person. He is born-again by the Spirit of God and is baptised in the Holy Spirit. The full effect and evidence of the new birth is manifested in him.
1. God's Spirit imparts new life to his spirit. His spirit is born-again and therefore no longer dead.
2. His spirit is restored so that he can relate to God directly just like Adam and Eve before the Fall.
3. God' Spirit releases his soul from Satan's control. Notice that Satan can only control the soul of man and not his spirit.
4. God's purpose for the functions of the sprit, soul and body of man is completely restored. That is, God's Spirit from above directs his spirit. His spirit directs his soul (the will, intellect, and emotion). His soul directs his body (his five senses), in this divine order. Satan's purpose is to reverse the divine order!
In conclusion, I believe there are two important things only a spiritual man can do effectively:
1. He can worship God the way God wants to be worshipped
In worship, the spirit of man is in direct union with God's Spirit. Paul said, "But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him" (1 Cor. 6:17). Furthermore, what Jesus says in John 4:23,24 indicates that God only accepts worship in spirit and in truth. Any other way of worship is soulish and cannot be accepted by God.
2. He can speak and pray in tongue
In speaking in tongues, our spirit relates directly to our body (our tongue) and gives utterance to the tongue without the hindrance of our soul (mind and reasoning). Paul said, "For if I pray in tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful" (1 Cor. 14:14). In other words, when Paul prays in tongue his soul (understanding) does not contribute anything. His spirit prays directly to the Spirit of God. Therefore, we cannot pray a wrong prayer (or soulish prayer) when we pray in the Spirit.
God's Choice and God's Calling
Any christian who thinks his salvation solely depends on exercising his freewill and makes the right choice in his response to the message of the Gospel knows very little about the God of the Bible. It is better for him to revolutionize his understanding of the Scripture. My conviction is that theological terms like "Calvinism", "Arminianism", "Reformed-view" and "Nonreformed-view" have no Scriptural basis. They originated from man's ideas and only serves to divide christianity.
Christians must try to understand and acknowledge that God is the Initiator of all things and all things begin with God. Our salvation and calling depend on God's choice. Any decision which we make (such as reponse to the "altar-call" or "sinner's prayer") is merely a response to the choice and decision which God has already made (for individual person) before He created the world. If we fail to exercise our freewill to accept God's calling for salvation then we will not be saved.
To those who are in doubt of this truth, I suggest they study Romans 8:28,29,30 carefully. God's plan for all who are saved now or in times to come, follow this divine order - His foreknowledge, His predestination, His calling, His justification and His glorification. The fact that there are so many different views, indicates that not many preachers or Bible teachers are capable of fully understanding the sovereignty of God.
I think the above Scripture is very clear. If God in his foreknowledge, has predistined a person to be saved, then the rest of the of the process of salvation follows until that person is glorified with Him. On the other hand, if He has not predestined that person to be saved, then he will not be saved - no evangelical effort can bring this person to his knees before God.
I am not saying evangelical or mission works are not necessary. The Gospel needs to be preached because it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). What I say is, only those who are chosen (predestined and called) by God will have their hearts (spirits) quicken by the message of the Cross and accept the salvation of God. The natural instinct of an unsaved person in the lost condition will not exercise his freewill to choose God. His natural instinct is to run away from God. We must always preach the Gospel and leave the salvation of souls to God - Salvation belongs to the Lord! Nevertheless, the basis of our salvation is the foreknowledge of God. He knows from eternity whether anyone will response to His call for salvation or not.
Let us look at God's specific calling for individual believers.
"(For it is He - God) Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness - that is, to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness; (He did it) not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began - eternal ages ago" (1 Tim. 1:9, The amplified Bible).
The above speaks of the following:
1. The main purpose of our salvation is to fulfill our calling decided by God before the world began. In other words, we cannot separate our salvation from our calling - being called is part of our salvation. It is never the intention of God to save us and let us sit in the pews every Sunday until we breathe our last breath!
2. Our calling which is the sovereign choice of God is holy, leading to holiness in a life of consecration through sanctification. We Cannot do as we please but set apart to do God's will. If we think we are called and our calling is not holy and leading to holiness then we are not in the will of God, and this "calling" does not come from God.
3. Our calling do not depend on our works. This means it has nothing to do with our education (secular or seminary), our talent, our effort, our ability or our social status. Our calling is by grace alone. It is God's specific gift for us individually. Furthermore, if we follow His calling faithfully then we will succeed:
"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:24).
4. Our calling is God's choice and God has worked out His calling for us before time began.
Paul said God created and called us in Christ to do good works:
"For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
In other words, if we think we are called and the result of this calling is not to do good work then we can be sure that this "calling" does not come from God.
The result of obeying the calling of God
I believe one of the most misquoted and misunderstood passages of Scripture is:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, NKJV, emphasis added).
The are two conditions to fulfill if we desire "all things work together for good" in our walk with God.
1. We must love God.
2. We must faithfully follow the calling of God according to His will and purpose.
In other words, a christian who loves God and faithfully follows the calling of God, whatever happens to him and in whatever circumstances, God will be faithful to him and all things will work together for good so that God's purpose will be accomplished.
This important spiritual truth is worked out in the calling of the apostle Paul.
Paul's calling is revealed in 2 Tim. 1:11,12. He was called to be a preacher, and apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Also, according to Galatians 2:7, God had committed to Paul the responsibility of bringing the Gospel to the "uncircumcised" - the whole Gentile world. God's purpose was to establish a centre in the city of Rome for the purpose of spreading the Gospel to the whole through the channels of commerce and social intercourse. God chose Paul, in a special calling to travel to Rome for this purpose. Read Acts 27 and 28.
Because of the significance of Paul's journey to Rome, he encountered tremendous spiritual opposition from Satan on his journey there. Paul was travelling on a freight ship as a prisoner in chains. He suffered storm and shipwreck and later bitten by a viper. But God preserved him for His purpose.
I believe the secret of Paul's victory over satan and his opposing forces is explained in 2 Tim 1:12:
"For this reason (called to preach to the Gentile) I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (emphasis added).
Paul was committed to obey God's calling to the very end!
Christians must try to understand and acknowledge that God is the Initiator of all things and all things begin with God. Our salvation and calling depend on God's choice. Any decision which we make (such as reponse to the "altar-call" or "sinner's prayer") is merely a response to the choice and decision which God has already made (for individual person) before He created the world. If we fail to exercise our freewill to accept God's calling for salvation then we will not be saved.
To those who are in doubt of this truth, I suggest they study Romans 8:28,29,30 carefully. God's plan for all who are saved now or in times to come, follow this divine order - His foreknowledge, His predestination, His calling, His justification and His glorification. The fact that there are so many different views, indicates that not many preachers or Bible teachers are capable of fully understanding the sovereignty of God.
I think the above Scripture is very clear. If God in his foreknowledge, has predistined a person to be saved, then the rest of the of the process of salvation follows until that person is glorified with Him. On the other hand, if He has not predestined that person to be saved, then he will not be saved - no evangelical effort can bring this person to his knees before God.
I am not saying evangelical or mission works are not necessary. The Gospel needs to be preached because it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). What I say is, only those who are chosen (predestined and called) by God will have their hearts (spirits) quicken by the message of the Cross and accept the salvation of God. The natural instinct of an unsaved person in the lost condition will not exercise his freewill to choose God. His natural instinct is to run away from God. We must always preach the Gospel and leave the salvation of souls to God - Salvation belongs to the Lord! Nevertheless, the basis of our salvation is the foreknowledge of God. He knows from eternity whether anyone will response to His call for salvation or not.
Let us look at God's specific calling for individual believers.
"(For it is He - God) Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness - that is, to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness; (He did it) not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began - eternal ages ago" (1 Tim. 1:9, The amplified Bible).
The above speaks of the following:
1. The main purpose of our salvation is to fulfill our calling decided by God before the world began. In other words, we cannot separate our salvation from our calling - being called is part of our salvation. It is never the intention of God to save us and let us sit in the pews every Sunday until we breathe our last breath!
2. Our calling which is the sovereign choice of God is holy, leading to holiness in a life of consecration through sanctification. We Cannot do as we please but set apart to do God's will. If we think we are called and our calling is not holy and leading to holiness then we are not in the will of God, and this "calling" does not come from God.
3. Our calling do not depend on our works. This means it has nothing to do with our education (secular or seminary), our talent, our effort, our ability or our social status. Our calling is by grace alone. It is God's specific gift for us individually. Furthermore, if we follow His calling faithfully then we will succeed:
"He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it" (1 Thess. 5:24).
4. Our calling is God's choice and God has worked out His calling for us before time began.
Paul said God created and called us in Christ to do good works:
"For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).
In other words, if we think we are called and the result of this calling is not to do good work then we can be sure that this "calling" does not come from God.
The result of obeying the calling of God
I believe one of the most misquoted and misunderstood passages of Scripture is:
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, NKJV, emphasis added).
The are two conditions to fulfill if we desire "all things work together for good" in our walk with God.
1. We must love God.
2. We must faithfully follow the calling of God according to His will and purpose.
In other words, a christian who loves God and faithfully follows the calling of God, whatever happens to him and in whatever circumstances, God will be faithful to him and all things will work together for good so that God's purpose will be accomplished.
This important spiritual truth is worked out in the calling of the apostle Paul.
Paul's calling is revealed in 2 Tim. 1:11,12. He was called to be a preacher, and apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Also, according to Galatians 2:7, God had committed to Paul the responsibility of bringing the Gospel to the "uncircumcised" - the whole Gentile world. God's purpose was to establish a centre in the city of Rome for the purpose of spreading the Gospel to the whole through the channels of commerce and social intercourse. God chose Paul, in a special calling to travel to Rome for this purpose. Read Acts 27 and 28.
Because of the significance of Paul's journey to Rome, he encountered tremendous spiritual opposition from Satan on his journey there. Paul was travelling on a freight ship as a prisoner in chains. He suffered storm and shipwreck and later bitten by a viper. But God preserved him for His purpose.
I believe the secret of Paul's victory over satan and his opposing forces is explained in 2 Tim 1:12:
"For this reason (called to preach to the Gentile) I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day" (emphasis added).
Paul was committed to obey God's calling to the very end!
Sunday, February 27, 2005
The Primary Divine Purpose of the Cross
Most christians understand the true meaning and general purpose of the Cross. In fact, it is doubtful anyone can be saved without a measure of understanding of the message of the Cross, the central message of the Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:6).
It is beyond the scope of this message to give full details concerning the divine exchange Jesus made on the Cross for all mankind. Briefly, from the study of Isaiah 53:4,5 and 1 Peter 2:24 we understand that on the cross Jesus fulfilled all spiritual and physical needs of mankind.
On the physical plane, Jesus bore our sicknesses and pains that we, through His wounds might be healed. Jesus was wounded that we might be healed.
On the spiritual plane, Jesus received the punishment due to our transgressions and iniquities that we, in turn, might be forgiven and so have peace with God. Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven.
The truth of the completed divine exchange is revealed in the following Scripture:
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV).
In other words, Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness that we might become righteous with His Righteousness.
Having said the above, I believe some christians may ask why must Jesus died on the Cross for our redemption? And why not death by some other means?
Most Bible scholars or theologians would probably say that the crucifixion on the cross was the usual way for the Roman goverment to carry out executions. In fact, according to historians the cross was the only way to torture and execute Roman slaves and non-Roman criminals. However, the Roman citizen was exempt from this form of death - for example, in the case of the apostle Paul. Therefore, in the eyes of the Romans, Jesus was considered both a slave and a criminal!
I believe God has a primary divine purpose for Jesus to die on the Corss to "purchase" blessings for Israel. The "problem" was Moses Law. God made His Law through Mosses for all Isrealites to obey. The Law of Moses was given to all the Israelites who came out of Egypt and all generations following before Jesus came. Anyone found breaking any part of the Law was automatically under a curse. it is a fact that no one had kept the Law and therefore all Israel were under a curse. Jesus came to fulfill the Law (Matt. 5:17), and so He must become a curse for all who were under the Law of Moses to release them from the curse. Jesus fulfilled Deu. 21:23 which says a person executed by hanging on a "tree" (a wooden form of the cross) came under the curse of God.
What about the Gentiles who were not under the Law?
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we migh receive the promise of the spirit through faith" (Gal. 3:13,14).
Galation was written to christians (Gal. 1:2), Notice that Jesus also redeemed us (Gentile believers) from all curses listed by Moses in Deuteronomy. In other words, Jesus became a curse that we might receive the blessing. A was was made for all or us to be released from all thoses curses listed in Deuteronomy 28.
Bur, if we fail to "obey the voice of the Lord and to observe all His commandments" (Deut. 28:15) we have unknowingly denied what Jesus had done for us on the Cross!
It is beyond the scope of this message to give full details concerning the divine exchange Jesus made on the Cross for all mankind. Briefly, from the study of Isaiah 53:4,5 and 1 Peter 2:24 we understand that on the cross Jesus fulfilled all spiritual and physical needs of mankind.
On the physical plane, Jesus bore our sicknesses and pains that we, through His wounds might be healed. Jesus was wounded that we might be healed.
On the spiritual plane, Jesus received the punishment due to our transgressions and iniquities that we, in turn, might be forgiven and so have peace with God. Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven.
The truth of the completed divine exchange is revealed in the following Scripture:
"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV).
In other words, Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness that we might become righteous with His Righteousness.
Having said the above, I believe some christians may ask why must Jesus died on the Cross for our redemption? And why not death by some other means?
Most Bible scholars or theologians would probably say that the crucifixion on the cross was the usual way for the Roman goverment to carry out executions. In fact, according to historians the cross was the only way to torture and execute Roman slaves and non-Roman criminals. However, the Roman citizen was exempt from this form of death - for example, in the case of the apostle Paul. Therefore, in the eyes of the Romans, Jesus was considered both a slave and a criminal!
I believe God has a primary divine purpose for Jesus to die on the Corss to "purchase" blessings for Israel. The "problem" was Moses Law. God made His Law through Mosses for all Isrealites to obey. The Law of Moses was given to all the Israelites who came out of Egypt and all generations following before Jesus came. Anyone found breaking any part of the Law was automatically under a curse. it is a fact that no one had kept the Law and therefore all Israel were under a curse. Jesus came to fulfill the Law (Matt. 5:17), and so He must become a curse for all who were under the Law of Moses to release them from the curse. Jesus fulfilled Deu. 21:23 which says a person executed by hanging on a "tree" (a wooden form of the cross) came under the curse of God.
What about the Gentiles who were not under the Law?
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we migh receive the promise of the spirit through faith" (Gal. 3:13,14).
Galation was written to christians (Gal. 1:2), Notice that Jesus also redeemed us (Gentile believers) from all curses listed by Moses in Deuteronomy. In other words, Jesus became a curse that we might receive the blessing. A was was made for all or us to be released from all thoses curses listed in Deuteronomy 28.
Bur, if we fail to "obey the voice of the Lord and to observe all His commandments" (Deut. 28:15) we have unknowingly denied what Jesus had done for us on the Cross!
The Importance of Righteous Judgment
Many christians believe christians are not allowed to judge other christians and must leave all judgments to God. The only judgment they know is the judgment referred to by Jesus in Matthew 7:1,2.
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you used, it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:1,2, NIV).
The Scripture revealed that there are two types of judgments, the rightious judgment and the unrighteous judgment. Needless to say that all christians are called to make righteous judgment and forbidden to make unrighteous judgment.
Unrighteous Judgment
Let us look carefully what Jesus meant with reference to the Amplified Bible:
"Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticised and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you deal out to others it will be dealt out again to you" (Matthew 7:1,2, emphasis added).
Clearly, the type of judgment in Matthew 7:1,2 means also to criticise and to condemn the action and motive of other people.
According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon this type of judgment is "forming an opinion concerning what is right or wrong" or "subjective decision made in accusation or condemnation". In fact there is a wide range of meaning for the Greek words "krino" and "krisis" for "judge" and "judgment" respectively.
When a person makes a subjective or presumptuous judgment he is judging another person's action, motive or situation merely by his senses and emotion which is a soulish way of judging. I think this is precisely what Jesus said:
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24, NKJV).
Clearly, Jesus said His disciples must judge with with righteous judgment and not to judge according to appearance, or what appears to be true. The amplified Bible says, "do not judgment superficially at a glance".
Another example of making subjective or presumptuous judgment is made clear by James:
"Do not speak evil of another brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge" (James 4:11, NKJV).
"Evil" referred to speaking against another person's motive, manner of living and behavior or attitude. Again, this form of "judgment" is merely subjective. Furthemore, the "motive" of a person comes from his heart which is only known by God. Therefore, any judgment made against a person's heart, thoughts or motive are unrighteous judgment.
Righteous Judgment
Righteous judgment is judgment based on the truth and authority of God's Word. Righteous judgment comes from the spirit of man led by the Spirit of God. As I mentioned before, we relate to God with our spirit. In other words, we know God and His Word through our spirit. In fact, only God has the authority to make righteous judgment and He uses God fearing christians who have intimate relationship with Him to institute His judgment.
Here is an example of righteous judgment instituted by Paul:
When it was reported that there was sexual immorality in the Church at Corinth Paul passed judgment to the guilty Church member.
"Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in Spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present ...." (1 Cor 5:3,4, NIV).
Paul said in other words, when christians gathered in the Name of Jesus as a Church, should pass judgment on the offender by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
Any elder or pastor fails to exercise righeous judgment fails in his calling as a shepherd of God's flock in at least two counts:
1. He fails in his duty as a shepherd in the Local Church. God expects him to rule and to exercise discipline and chastisement for the purpose of providing education, instuctions and corrective guidance (2 Tim. 2:25) to Church members.
2. He fails to understand the Scripture and the purpose of the Scripture:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16, NKJV, emphasis added).
In my opnion, if righteous judgment (like example in 1 Cor. 5) has been strictly exercised in the contemprorary Local Church, unrepentant polygamists will not be allowed to be Church members. "Laughing rivival" and other unbiblical phenomena will not be accepted. Properity and othe false "gospels" will also be rejected.
The Church must judge doctrine. If leaders fails to judge doctrine, it is tantamount to rejecting Biblical truth, and God will send the Church a strong delusion.
"And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:11,12).
This is happening now!
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you used, it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:1,2, NIV).
The Scripture revealed that there are two types of judgments, the rightious judgment and the unrighteous judgment. Needless to say that all christians are called to make righteous judgment and forbidden to make unrighteous judgment.
Unrighteous Judgment
Let us look carefully what Jesus meant with reference to the Amplified Bible:
"Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticised and condemned yourselves. For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you deal out to others it will be dealt out again to you" (Matthew 7:1,2, emphasis added).
Clearly, the type of judgment in Matthew 7:1,2 means also to criticise and to condemn the action and motive of other people.
According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon this type of judgment is "forming an opinion concerning what is right or wrong" or "subjective decision made in accusation or condemnation". In fact there is a wide range of meaning for the Greek words "krino" and "krisis" for "judge" and "judgment" respectively.
When a person makes a subjective or presumptuous judgment he is judging another person's action, motive or situation merely by his senses and emotion which is a soulish way of judging. I think this is precisely what Jesus said:
"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (John 7:24, NKJV).
Clearly, Jesus said His disciples must judge with with righteous judgment and not to judge according to appearance, or what appears to be true. The amplified Bible says, "do not judgment superficially at a glance".
Another example of making subjective or presumptuous judgment is made clear by James:
"Do not speak evil of another brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge" (James 4:11, NKJV).
"Evil" referred to speaking against another person's motive, manner of living and behavior or attitude. Again, this form of "judgment" is merely subjective. Furthemore, the "motive" of a person comes from his heart which is only known by God. Therefore, any judgment made against a person's heart, thoughts or motive are unrighteous judgment.
Righteous Judgment
Righteous judgment is judgment based on the truth and authority of God's Word. Righteous judgment comes from the spirit of man led by the Spirit of God. As I mentioned before, we relate to God with our spirit. In other words, we know God and His Word through our spirit. In fact, only God has the authority to make righteous judgment and He uses God fearing christians who have intimate relationship with Him to institute His judgment.
Here is an example of righteous judgment instituted by Paul:
When it was reported that there was sexual immorality in the Church at Corinth Paul passed judgment to the guilty Church member.
"Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in Spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present ...." (1 Cor 5:3,4, NIV).
Paul said in other words, when christians gathered in the Name of Jesus as a Church, should pass judgment on the offender by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
Any elder or pastor fails to exercise righeous judgment fails in his calling as a shepherd of God's flock in at least two counts:
1. He fails in his duty as a shepherd in the Local Church. God expects him to rule and to exercise discipline and chastisement for the purpose of providing education, instuctions and corrective guidance (2 Tim. 2:25) to Church members.
2. He fails to understand the Scripture and the purpose of the Scripture:
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16, NKJV, emphasis added).
In my opnion, if righteous judgment (like example in 1 Cor. 5) has been strictly exercised in the contemprorary Local Church, unrepentant polygamists will not be allowed to be Church members. "Laughing rivival" and other unbiblical phenomena will not be accepted. Properity and othe false "gospels" will also be rejected.
The Church must judge doctrine. If leaders fails to judge doctrine, it is tantamount to rejecting Biblical truth, and God will send the Church a strong delusion.
"And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness" (2 Thess. 2:11,12).
This is happening now!
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Seeking God
This is the follow-up of my previous posting of "Who Seeks God?"
We have seen that the unbeliever or non-christian will not seek God. The natural pattern for man is to run from Him and to hide from Him. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He is the Seeker and the natural man is the one who is running. In man's sinful state he may look for answers to life's puzzles, but he does not seek God.
The seeking of God begins at conversion. The irony is this - once we have "found" Christ (more accurately to say, found by Christ) it is not the end of our seeking, but the beginning. The christian life begins at conversion; it does not end where it begins. It grows, it moves from faith to faith, from grace to grace, from strength to strength, from day to day. The movement of the christian growth is the product of continual seeking after God. If a christian does not grow, he backslides.
Jesus said to His disciples, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).
Notice that "all these things" are things that unsaved Gentiles seek after (verses 31 and 32). Notice also that, Jesus said His disciples must seek after two things, the Kingdom of God and Righteousness of God. But, the Gentiles would not seek God and Righteousness. Seek the Kingdom of God, seek righteousness are the priorities of the Christian life. These are the things we seek first in our christian walk. The promise is that when we seek these two things, even what the Gentiles seek after will be given to us!
Seeking the Kingdom of God
I believe to seek God's kingdom is to fulfill the last command of Jesus - "... you shall be witnesses to Me ..." (Acts 1:8). We are called to seek the Kingdom by bearing witness to the Kingdom. If a believer fails to seek for himself the Kingdom of God first, how is it possible for him to bear witness to the Kingdom?
Seeking the Kingdom of God is the crucial petition of the Lord' Prayer: "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:8). In other words, Jesus links the coming the kingdom with the doing of the will of God. The kingdom comes on earth where God's will is done on earth.
Seeking Righteousness of God
The futile "righteousness" of the unsaved is made clear by the following verses of Scripture.
"But we are all like an unclean thing. And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).
Paul said, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3).
Believers receive the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). In fact, believers are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). But, the questions is, if we truely have faith in Christ we possess His righteousness and so why do we still have to seek after the rigthteousness of God?
I believe we are actually called to seek after the fruit of righteousness.
Jesus said to His disciples, "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20).
In other words, the fruit of our righteousness must exceed the pretense of righteousness displayed by the scribes and Pharisees. If we do not seek the righteousness of God there is no way our righteousness can exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees.
True righteousness is doing what is right in the sight of God. The demands of true righteousness are so great and so many that none of us ever in this world achieves it perfectly. It involves following the whole counsel of God.
An example of true righteousness of God can be found in the Book of Micah, a much neglected Book of the Old Testament.
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).
The fruit of righteousness demanded by God is justice, kindness and humility.
Another example of true righteousness, this time from Jesus is, "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise (Luke 6:31). This is called the "Golden Rule" by some Bible teachers.
In conclusion, if a believer constantly seeks to obey all other commands of Christ he will bear the fruit of righteousness of God.
We have seen that the unbeliever or non-christian will not seek God. The natural pattern for man is to run from Him and to hide from Him. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). He is the Seeker and the natural man is the one who is running. In man's sinful state he may look for answers to life's puzzles, but he does not seek God.
The seeking of God begins at conversion. The irony is this - once we have "found" Christ (more accurately to say, found by Christ) it is not the end of our seeking, but the beginning. The christian life begins at conversion; it does not end where it begins. It grows, it moves from faith to faith, from grace to grace, from strength to strength, from day to day. The movement of the christian growth is the product of continual seeking after God. If a christian does not grow, he backslides.
Jesus said to His disciples, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).
Notice that "all these things" are things that unsaved Gentiles seek after (verses 31 and 32). Notice also that, Jesus said His disciples must seek after two things, the Kingdom of God and Righteousness of God. But, the Gentiles would not seek God and Righteousness. Seek the Kingdom of God, seek righteousness are the priorities of the Christian life. These are the things we seek first in our christian walk. The promise is that when we seek these two things, even what the Gentiles seek after will be given to us!
Seeking the Kingdom of God
I believe to seek God's kingdom is to fulfill the last command of Jesus - "... you shall be witnesses to Me ..." (Acts 1:8). We are called to seek the Kingdom by bearing witness to the Kingdom. If a believer fails to seek for himself the Kingdom of God first, how is it possible for him to bear witness to the Kingdom?
Seeking the Kingdom of God is the crucial petition of the Lord' Prayer: "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:8). In other words, Jesus links the coming the kingdom with the doing of the will of God. The kingdom comes on earth where God's will is done on earth.
Seeking Righteousness of God
The futile "righteousness" of the unsaved is made clear by the following verses of Scripture.
"But we are all like an unclean thing. And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).
Paul said, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3).
Believers receive the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22). In fact, believers are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). But, the questions is, if we truely have faith in Christ we possess His righteousness and so why do we still have to seek after the rigthteousness of God?
I believe we are actually called to seek after the fruit of righteousness.
Jesus said to His disciples, "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20).
In other words, the fruit of our righteousness must exceed the pretense of righteousness displayed by the scribes and Pharisees. If we do not seek the righteousness of God there is no way our righteousness can exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees.
True righteousness is doing what is right in the sight of God. The demands of true righteousness are so great and so many that none of us ever in this world achieves it perfectly. It involves following the whole counsel of God.
An example of true righteousness of God can be found in the Book of Micah, a much neglected Book of the Old Testament.
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).
The fruit of righteousness demanded by God is justice, kindness and humility.
Another example of true righteousness, this time from Jesus is, "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise (Luke 6:31). This is called the "Golden Rule" by some Bible teachers.
In conclusion, if a believer constantly seeks to obey all other commands of Christ he will bear the fruit of righteousness of God.
In the Will of God
I believe every christian wants to do things according to the will of God. Books have been written by teachers of the Word regarding the many ways God reveals His will for every individual christian. I have heard Bible teachers saying that there are 7 or 8 ways of discerning God's Will. The problem is, much of these teachings could be correct and biblical, but in actual practice knowing all these ways would not help much. I personally lived with this problem for quite some time and finally come to the understanding that the apostle Paul revealed in his Epistle to the Romans what must a christian do in order to discern the will of God in all areas of his life. In other words, there must be conditions to be fulfilled before we can discern God's will correctly and effectively. This is what I proposed to share with you.
An importand area of Paul's ministries is to teach christians the whole counsel of God. He spoke to the elders of Ephesus,
"I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:20,27, NKJV).
If the full counsel of God is available in Paul's teaching, surely I must be able to learn from him so as to understand how to discern God's will. I found the answer in Romans 12:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of you mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1,2, NIV).
Please take note of the following:
1. I have shared with you in another message regarding our true worship to God. Here, Paul said that spiritual worship includes our bodies - with our bodies presenting to God as living sacrifices. God is unlikely to receive any act of our worship without having our bodies submitted to Him as living sacrifices first. This is quite contrary to what an average born again christian's understanding of true worship to God.
2. God's will is "good", "pleasing" (or "acceptable" in KJ or NJKV) and "perfect". I believe these three phases represent three phases in our perception of the will of God. When we first begin to perceive God's will, we discover that it is good. Then, we learn that His will is pleasing or acceptable. The more we perceive it, the more we desire to follow it. Finally, as we move on in the perception and the application of God's will, we realize it is perfect or complete. I do not believe there is such a thing as "permissible will of God" as many Bible teachers said. I cannot find any example in the Scripture. God's will is always perfect even if we are not aware of it in the beginning. It is either we are in the will of God or out of the will of God in our christian walk. I believe the whole, complete will of God covers all areas of our lives - our walk with Him, our callings and the use of our financial resourses, etc.
3. The two essential steps to finding God's will are, firstly, surrender ourselves without reservation to God. That is, to place our bodies on God's altar as "living sacrifices". Secondly, learn to think God's way. Paul called it being renewed in our minds. I believe this means, changing our whole outlooks, including the way we think, our values, our standards and our priorities. Only as our minds are renewed, can we discern and perceive what is God's will for our lives.
4. Being a "living sacrifice" means a christian needs to release all claims on his own life, and be submitted wholely to God, to be disposed of at His will. The "living sacrifice" we offered to God must be "holy and pleasing to God" which means without blemish or defect. In other words, the christian must be at all times, above reproach and blameless before God and men.
In summary, God's conditions for us to dicern His will are firstly, present our bodies as living sacrifice and secondly, by the renewing of our minds. Jesus is a perfect example in doing the Will of the Father by fulfilling these conditions in a place called the Garden of Gethsemane. I believe these conditions apply to the Local Church as well as individual christians. The whole Body of Christ needs the Gethesemane experience!
Please take note of a very important spiritual truth. Paul was writing to born again christians in the Roman Church. He said a christian needs a "renewed mind" and not a "renewed spirit" or a "renewed heart" in order to discern God's will. Why? The answer is, all born again christians have a renewed heart (Ezekiel 18:31 and 36:26). When a person is born again, he is born again by the Spirit of God and God gave him a new spirit. His spirit is born again by the Spirit of God. A person's spirit is the inner man, his heart. If a person does not have a new heart, he is not born again. The mind of a person is part of his soul. With a renewed mind, the christian will not "conform to the pattern of the world". He will be able to discern the will of God.
An importand area of Paul's ministries is to teach christians the whole counsel of God. He spoke to the elders of Ephesus,
"I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:20,27, NKJV).
If the full counsel of God is available in Paul's teaching, surely I must be able to learn from him so as to understand how to discern God's will. I found the answer in Romans 12:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of you mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1,2, NIV).
Please take note of the following:
1. I have shared with you in another message regarding our true worship to God. Here, Paul said that spiritual worship includes our bodies - with our bodies presenting to God as living sacrifices. God is unlikely to receive any act of our worship without having our bodies submitted to Him as living sacrifices first. This is quite contrary to what an average born again christian's understanding of true worship to God.
2. God's will is "good", "pleasing" (or "acceptable" in KJ or NJKV) and "perfect". I believe these three phases represent three phases in our perception of the will of God. When we first begin to perceive God's will, we discover that it is good. Then, we learn that His will is pleasing or acceptable. The more we perceive it, the more we desire to follow it. Finally, as we move on in the perception and the application of God's will, we realize it is perfect or complete. I do not believe there is such a thing as "permissible will of God" as many Bible teachers said. I cannot find any example in the Scripture. God's will is always perfect even if we are not aware of it in the beginning. It is either we are in the will of God or out of the will of God in our christian walk. I believe the whole, complete will of God covers all areas of our lives - our walk with Him, our callings and the use of our financial resourses, etc.
3. The two essential steps to finding God's will are, firstly, surrender ourselves without reservation to God. That is, to place our bodies on God's altar as "living sacrifices". Secondly, learn to think God's way. Paul called it being renewed in our minds. I believe this means, changing our whole outlooks, including the way we think, our values, our standards and our priorities. Only as our minds are renewed, can we discern and perceive what is God's will for our lives.
4. Being a "living sacrifice" means a christian needs to release all claims on his own life, and be submitted wholely to God, to be disposed of at His will. The "living sacrifice" we offered to God must be "holy and pleasing to God" which means without blemish or defect. In other words, the christian must be at all times, above reproach and blameless before God and men.
In summary, God's conditions for us to dicern His will are firstly, present our bodies as living sacrifice and secondly, by the renewing of our minds. Jesus is a perfect example in doing the Will of the Father by fulfilling these conditions in a place called the Garden of Gethsemane. I believe these conditions apply to the Local Church as well as individual christians. The whole Body of Christ needs the Gethesemane experience!
Please take note of a very important spiritual truth. Paul was writing to born again christians in the Roman Church. He said a christian needs a "renewed mind" and not a "renewed spirit" or a "renewed heart" in order to discern God's will. Why? The answer is, all born again christians have a renewed heart (Ezekiel 18:31 and 36:26). When a person is born again, he is born again by the Spirit of God and God gave him a new spirit. His spirit is born again by the Spirit of God. A person's spirit is the inner man, his heart. If a person does not have a new heart, he is not born again. The mind of a person is part of his soul. With a renewed mind, the christian will not "conform to the pattern of the world". He will be able to discern the will of God.
Friday, February 25, 2005
Who Seeks God?
The question in mind is who seeks after God, a believer or an unbeliever?
Another question is how many times we have heard christians say, "So and so is not a christian, but he is searching?". This, I believe is a common belief among christians. Many christians have the notion that there are people all over the world who are not christians yet, but they are searching for God. Their problem is that they just haven't been able to find Him. He is playing hide and seek. He is elusive. If what they think is correct, we can assume that God is running away from men!
In the Garden of Eden when sin come into the world, who went hiding? Adam and Eve and all sinners after them became fugitive and kept on running away from God. They turn their backs to God. The Scripture declares that the wicked flee when no one pursues (Proverbs 28:1). The uniform teaching of the Scripture is that fallen men are fleeing from God. The dead spirit of the natural man would not help him to find God and relate to God the creator. Should he claims to have found god, it would certainly be a fake god!
Paul, looking at man's fallenness said, "There is none who understand; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one" (Romans 3:10,11,12, NKJV, emphasis added).
I believe most christians confuse the two similar yet different natural human's motives or actions. We see people searching desperately for peace of mind, relief from guilt, and for the meaning and purpose to their lives and loving acceptance. We know that ultimately these things can only be found in God. Therefore, we conclude that since people are seeking these things they must be seeking after God!
The fact is, natural men do not seek God. They seek after the benefits that only God can give them. The major sin of the fallen man is this: he seeks the benefits of God while at the same time fleeing from God Himself. Men, by nature, are fugitives.
But, you may say this is very confusing because the Bible tells us repeatedly to seek after God. In fact, "seek the Lord" appears in 32 verses of the Old Testament Scripture according to the NKJV. For example, "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (Isaish 55:6). Notice that it is the chosen people of Israel who are called to seek the Lord. God had given them a new heart and a new Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26) . Without them being God's choice, even Israel would not seek the Lord!
What about the people in New Testament?
Jesus spoke to his disciples, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus also said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7).
The fact that they were the disciples of Jesus, their heart (their spirit) was "quicken" by the Spirit of God to help them to relate to God. They were not born-again yet, but they have been given a new heart and a new spirit.
In the New Testment it is the believers who are called to seek God and the Kingdom of God.
Jesus speaks to the Church of Laodiceans, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Rev. 3:20).
In other word, Jesus says, His people, who seek Him will hear His voice and will have a personal relationship with Him.
In conclusion, seeking God is something that the unbelievers do not do on their own initiative. The unbelievers will not seek God. The unbeliever will not knock. Seeking God is the business of the believers.
Seeking God is the result of faith of the believers, not the cause of it.
Another question is how many times we have heard christians say, "So and so is not a christian, but he is searching?". This, I believe is a common belief among christians. Many christians have the notion that there are people all over the world who are not christians yet, but they are searching for God. Their problem is that they just haven't been able to find Him. He is playing hide and seek. He is elusive. If what they think is correct, we can assume that God is running away from men!
In the Garden of Eden when sin come into the world, who went hiding? Adam and Eve and all sinners after them became fugitive and kept on running away from God. They turn their backs to God. The Scripture declares that the wicked flee when no one pursues (Proverbs 28:1). The uniform teaching of the Scripture is that fallen men are fleeing from God. The dead spirit of the natural man would not help him to find God and relate to God the creator. Should he claims to have found god, it would certainly be a fake god!
Paul, looking at man's fallenness said, "There is none who understand; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one" (Romans 3:10,11,12, NKJV, emphasis added).
I believe most christians confuse the two similar yet different natural human's motives or actions. We see people searching desperately for peace of mind, relief from guilt, and for the meaning and purpose to their lives and loving acceptance. We know that ultimately these things can only be found in God. Therefore, we conclude that since people are seeking these things they must be seeking after God!
The fact is, natural men do not seek God. They seek after the benefits that only God can give them. The major sin of the fallen man is this: he seeks the benefits of God while at the same time fleeing from God Himself. Men, by nature, are fugitives.
But, you may say this is very confusing because the Bible tells us repeatedly to seek after God. In fact, "seek the Lord" appears in 32 verses of the Old Testament Scripture according to the NKJV. For example, "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near" (Isaish 55:6). Notice that it is the chosen people of Israel who are called to seek the Lord. God had given them a new heart and a new Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26) . Without them being God's choice, even Israel would not seek the Lord!
What about the people in New Testament?
Jesus spoke to his disciples, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus also said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Matthew 7:7).
The fact that they were the disciples of Jesus, their heart (their spirit) was "quicken" by the Spirit of God to help them to relate to God. They were not born-again yet, but they have been given a new heart and a new spirit.
In the New Testment it is the believers who are called to seek God and the Kingdom of God.
Jesus speaks to the Church of Laodiceans, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me" (Rev. 3:20).
In other word, Jesus says, His people, who seek Him will hear His voice and will have a personal relationship with Him.
In conclusion, seeking God is something that the unbelievers do not do on their own initiative. The unbelievers will not seek God. The unbeliever will not knock. Seeking God is the business of the believers.
Seeking God is the result of faith of the believers, not the cause of it.
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