Faith!

Faith!

Romans 10:17 AMP

[17] So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.

The popular chapter 11 of Hebrews gives us an insight into what God would present as faith. Tne Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as 'a strong, often unquestioning belief or complete trust in a person, idea, or entity (such as God), frequently maintained despite a lack of empirical proof'. Reflect in this: even the world system knows that there is a place for empirical evidence, but there is also a realm where what you hold on to is not backed up by anything the world can see, but what you are convinced and convicted about. If what I need has already been physically provided, what am I trusting God for? If I do not yet have it, I have room for faith, hope and trust that God is able to keep His promises. 

That is the background to the verse above. Paul was writing to the church in Rome, and he was making reference to people who, not knowing about God’s righteousness which is based on faith, they sought to establish their own [righteousness based on works. They rejected God’s righteousness, seeking to please God by labour and striving. Of course, when you need access to a king, you do not choose your own ways and means. You come by the channel the king has laid down for access. If the King has made it clear that alll appointments are only valid when processed through His Son, it is a waste of time to think that you can go around or above the Son. How am I seeking God today? How do you seek Him? 

In seeking God, we have established that we come by faith. You need a conviction for faith, and it comes from the word of God. The message of faith cannot be fully understood or applied outside the clear word of God. It is His word that comforts us in all our afflictions and trials. It is His Word that helps us keep going, even when we do not understand the WHY behind the WHAT around us. It is His word that helps me understand who Christ is,  what He has done and what I stand to gain and lose by His death and resurrection. He does not hold back vital information: there will be gains and losses on this journey of faith, and because I do not have the full picture, I need to trust that God knows what He is doing. 

This is why i must take advantage of every opportunity to hear God's Word. The world is both loud and confrontational; it seeks to drown out every other voice except its own. I cannot allow the world to speak to me; I must make room for God to speak. He will not force Himself on me, or go against the exercise of my freewill, but be sure that His help is fully available and accessible if I seek Him with my whole heart. The world has a right to speak; I also have a right to ignore what the world says. Faith comes by hearing; fear also comes by hearing, but the source defines the fruit. Be careful what you allow to settle on your heart, because what you hear leads to what you believe, and who you believe defines your eternal destiny. God's time of favour is here.

Real Life!

Real Life!

John 5:24 AMP

[24] “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life.

Jesus had healed a man who was ill for thirty eight years. The Jewish leaders at the time did not like the fact that the healing had taken place on the Sabbath day. It was even made worse by the fact that the man who was healed went on to declare to them that it was Jesus who healed him, and Jesus too was calling God His own Father, which means He was making Himself equal with God. As much as we know that this angered the Jews at the time, we also know that all of the claims of Jesus were true. Indeed, He is the Son of God and the One who saves us from all our sin. By and through Him, we receive life, peace and merxy to live right and please Him. 

The audience at the time included the Jewish leaders, a lot of people, the man who had been healed, and His disciples. Jesus took the opportunity to teach the audience about the principles and practices of His kingdom, and how the people could relate to and enjoy the benefits and blessings of the kingdom. It must be made clear that though God invites us all to be a part of His kingdom, He has rules of engagement that those who want to come in must adhere to. That is why the verse above starts with 'any person'. It does not matter what my past looks like; it matters what I do from here onwards. Anyone can come in; it is he who does what is right that stays in.

The invitation also means that we will all hear. We will all have access to the Truth, and we have the power of the choice of response. Not all who come have an interest in hesring; some just come because it is the popular movement at the time. Not all who hear also heed and obey; some do not want anything to challenge their comfort and convenience. They would rather blend in and stay quiet. There are others that the Word will touch and lead to change, leading to believing and trusting in God. This is the ultimate desire of God for all who come in contact with Him. He is the Light that gives Life to all who come to Him. Have I truly believed, and am I trusting in God?

The end game is eternal life with God. As the verse above makes clear, this is the Life that actually begins at the point where the person is transformed. Such a person has already taken hold of eternal life, and had passed on from death to Life. Such a person does not come into judgment and condemnation. The curse of sin is broken; the spring of life is well and truly open, and the Light and Life of God are made manifest in such a life. What an awesome privilege, but also a sobering awareness of what is expected of me. When you consider all that Jesus has secured for all of us, it is important to note that an account will be demanded from all of us. What would yours look like? What would mine? God's time of favour is here. 

The Assignment!

The Assignment!

Matthew 28:19 KJV

[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

The deal is done; the account of sin has been fully paid up. The righteous demand of God has been fully satisfied by the cruel death and glorious resurrection of Jesus. Whatever was the penalty for sin had now been paid in full once and for all. In light of all the above, do we think it was truly all 'free', with not a single strand of responsibility expected from us? I believe that all that Jesus did was for me to bring to the consciousness of other people what His death and resurrection mean, and how they can also benefit. This means that the verse has a personal view: you only give what you have; this is one reality that you cannot fake. 

Jesus has done His bit and left the scene physically, but His presence remains with us at all times. As He was leaving, the verse above was with only His disciples, and not the crowd. This also means that the verse above, which we call the Great Commussion, is for disciples. If the verse above wants disciples to make other disciples, how can a person who is not a disciple, make a disciple of someone else? How do I reproduce myself in someone else in a good way if I do not have the right foundation and substance? To go is to 'move, travel, or proceed from one place to another, or to depart'. It means I do not sit on my hands and be content with just being. 

There is no limit to the scope and spread of the assignment; the only thing that will be constant is the substance of the message, and it must be about Christ. All nations are to hear the message about Jesus Christ, without exception. Christ died for the whole world, even those not yet born, and the whole world needs salvation from the power and effect of sin. How would the world hear about Christ if those who know and have Him do not speak about Him? How does the fragrance of Christ spread to other people if those who have Him shut Him in and do not let Him out? If I have Him, can the world see Him in me? Do you have Him, and does He shine in and through you? 

The assignment involves teaching as well as baptizing the people in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. This is proof that a man has come to the knowledge of, and has declared faith in Jesus. People are given access to the identity and person of Christ, what He desires from all who choose to follow Him, and how they can remain in Him no matter what goes on around them. It has to be clear that this does not work as a seasonal wonder, or an occasional party, but it is a lifetime commitment. You get in and stay in all the way. Remember: you csn only give what you have. God's time of favour is here. 

Right Response!

Right Response!

2 Corinthians 7:1 AMPC

[1] THEREFORE, SINCE these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.

As I recall the events of Easter, the great and amazing things that happened then, and the awesome things that still lie ahead, I am reminded of the promises that were made at the time, and which still continue to operate today. God promised salvation and redemption from sin, and He promised a life that will take away the sin of the whole world. He also promised help that will be with us for all of eternity, as well as an eternal home with Him. He promised us His Presence and Power and through all the generations and dispensations that have passed, not a single promise of His has failed to come to pass. That is faithfulness. That is consistency.

God has now done all He has promised. He has kept His own side of the covenant, and He now requires a response or reaction from me. He does not waste resources: if He gives grace and mercy, He sure will demand an accounting from all He has given these to. The verse above makes it clear that we have received these great promises. Who are the people who received these promises? These are people who have surrendered their lives to Christ. They are the ones who have made up their minds to stay away from sin, having come to the understanding of the eternal impact of sin, the consequences of sin, and the never-ending life that Christ offers.

What does God demand from those who have come to the knowledge of all He offers? He demands a departure from everything that contaminates and defiles both our body and spirit. Some people lay emphasis on the spirit alone, claiming that since the body is dust, it goes nowhere. Whilst that is true, it is also true that the body is just the outer cover for the inner man. It is that inner man that must be protected by the actions and decisions of the body. My thoughts, desires and actions flow from the inner man, and manifest by the things I then do. This is why, like Paul said, the body has to be kept under and brought into subjection. 

The other requirement is to then bring my consecration to completeness in the reverential fear of God. This is the concluding part of the verse above. I cannot do the first part without the second part. It is not enough just to keep the body under subjection; I also have to dedicate the life I have brought under subjection to God. It cannot be half-hearted devotion; it has to be the full package. It is not a one-off exercise; it is a daily and continuous experience. That is the right response to all that God has done. This is the way to fully appreciate God for the privileges that He has made available. How do you intend to respond to God going forward? God's time of favour is here. 

This Jesus 7!

This Jesus 7!

Acts 1:11 AMP

[11] who said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This [same] Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

We have looked at and considered the events of the week of passion. We have gone with Jesus as he groaned in the garden of Gethsemane, where he prayed that the cup of suffering may pass over Him, but He was careful to add that it was not according to His own will, but the will of His Father. We say as He was treated like a criminal, flogged with whips, his head pierced with thorns, and His side with a spear. We saw a real criminal, a thief crucified with Him, also mock Him as he hung on the cross.  The worst was that as He paid the full price for my sin, the Father looked away from His Son. That must have been the most agonising experience for Jesus.

He died, and was buried. The leaders of His time thought that was the end, but in line with His many promises, death could not hold Him down, and the grave had no power over Him. I cannot imagine how heaven felt when the Creator was being treated terribly by the created, but it was all in line with the plan of God for mankind. Even the disciples did not initially believe that He had risen from the dead, and Jesus had to appear to them, even in a locked room, before some of them even believed. The work of salvation and redemption was now done, and Jesus had committed the work of discipleship into the hands of His disciples. 

He also promised them the right kind of help for the assignment He had given them. He was not going to leave them alone to fend for themselves, but they would get help for the work ahead. It must be a source of comfort and encouragement to us that we are not left to our own devices. We have the help of the Ancient of Days, the Omnipotent God who is also Omnipresent. Through the changing of the times, and the development of science and technology, one thing remains constant, and it is this promise: "I will never leave you or forsake you". This promise has remained in place all through the generations, and we are again reminded today that God does not lie.

The story has not ended. The One who gave the assignment and the required help will come back again. As it is the case with all His promises, He has not failed yet. The disciples were told, as laid out in the verse above, that it is this same Jesus that they had just seen taken up to heaven, that would also return one day. I have the assurance that I am not working in vain, or labouring to waste. The One who gave the assignment is watching and cheering me on. I do not define success the way the world does; God's approval and reward are all that matters. I look forward to the crown that is ahead. Are you? God's time of favour is here. 

Rest!

Rest!

Hebrews 4:10 AMPC

[10] For he who has once entered [God's] rest also has ceased from [the weariness and pain] of human labors, just as God rested from those labors peculiarly His own.

As we read the story of the people of Israel, we are reminded of what God's plan for them was, and how they always seemed to find a way to mess up. God is always faithful to His promises, and there is nothing that can stop His will from coming to pass. My life can be a hindrance to what He wants to do, but His Omniscience means that He knows what is coming, and He has adequately prepared for any eventuality. As part of God's will for calling out Abraham from his father's house, and promising him a land flowing with milk and honey, God was trying to establish a pattern of life and behaviour that would attract His blessings and favour. He wanted to lay down a model that the world could see and follow, if it also wanted the same favour and blessings that Abraham and his offspring received. This was a rest that was permanent, and one that would be sustained by obedience. 

However, as we know, there were many reasons why Israel could not just stay loyal. It could be because it did not really fight for the land that it was given, or it was easier to just blend in with the practices of the nations that were around it, or it was just too much work to stay faithful, when there were attractive options all around. I note that the rebellion and disobedience of Israel did not change God's plan; God already had a plan even for the disobedience, and He applied punishment  as it was due under His rules for Israel. We read of the exile of the nation at different times in their history, and how many died in foreign lands. It is a truth that God has no favourites when it comes to, and He will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. However, His hatred for sin does not in any way dilute His love for the sinner. It is His love that underpins the message in the verse above.

It is God's desire that man has rest. He modelled this desire by working for six days on creation, and resting on the seventh day. He offers the same rest to all who would come to Him. He offers the same rest to all who would put their total trust in Him. As we know, God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. It is an offer open to 'he who seeks to enter into God's rest'. You enter by the only way God has laid down, who is Jesus Christ. You enter by total surrender and absolute trust in the finished work on the cross. He offers an end to the weariness and pain of human labors, which the people under the control and influence of the world cannot access. Today is another day that God has graciously given for us to access all that He has promised. Would you take Him up on His promises? God's time of favour is here.

This Jesus 6!

This Jesus 6!

1 John 3:16 AMPC

[16] By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him].

The writer of this letter is called John the beloved, and he was one of Jesus’ closest disciples, known for his deep love, devotion, and intimate relationship with Christ. He was also the brother of James, both fisherman by background, and part of Jesus’ inner circle alongside Peter. Another interesting fact about John was that he described himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, not as a sign of favoritism, but as a reflection of his deep understanding of God’s love towards him, and his acceptance of Christ’s love. It is not that much of a surprise that he demonstrated his loyalty by staying with Jesus even at the cross, where he was entrusted with the care of Jesus’ mother. 

John had a deep understanding of love, truth, and the price that was paid to secure full and free salvation for all mankind. This is why the whole of 1 John is a revelation of the love of God, and what is expected of us who are the targets of this love. This is not a reality or an experience that can be kept personal; yes, it starts as something personal, but its value and effect cannot be kept personal. If I know I am loved, and that there is an eternal plan for me, it will impact everything I do, and how I do them. I will keep an eye on that eternal goal even as I also seek to make as many people as possible aware of who I have come to know and what I am in line to inherit. 

All the benefits listed above were made possible and attainable simply because Jesus submitted to the cross. There would have been no crown to look forward to if there was no cross. There would have been no glory to aspire to if there was no pain. God's love may never be fully understood if we did not see a practical demonstration of that love. What He did was to pay the full price for past, present and future sin. Reflect on this: even the sins that I will commit in the future and truly repent of have already been atoned for. Even for children yet unborn, as long as this earth remains in place, their sin is already atoned for, if they come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, before He returns to take His own home.

This calls for deep reflection, leading to the right and appropriate response. I cannot afford to let all that Jesus has done go to waste. I have the right example to follow; One has laid down His life for me. He gave me His all so that there is nothing too big for me to lay down for Him. It may not necessarily mean dying, but it is about submission and humility in true service for other people. Do people see the mark of Jesus in and on me? Can men point to a remarkable difference in my attitude and response to, as well as my interaction with other people? Can I truly lay down my life for my brothers, comfortable in the knowledge and personal experience of the love I have already received? God's time of favour is here.