tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22556043275884464042024-03-18T00:19:53.923-07:00Message For Our AgeStephen David's BlogC. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-450930090236762872022-01-31T05:18:00.016-08:002022-01-31T05:46:43.988-08:00The Pride of Pushpa or the Humility of Jesus?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVXuWGT2wGdb2kBCqcqVL0Caw6E8Igq3K_vPNp5GJ5bAkb97bEYtNBEmFkMBFChELFxTwUlXPQgtW2bi0hZkAWPwZBLKLubyyngJlJzCIKT0bZTOtHPf0fISTPMJyzNAoo5V-JrzmoS8O9ljmKk28Vu3O9QQFCTrtRODcHPku38iqgBBDqBdVH5w=s1074" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1074" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjVXuWGT2wGdb2kBCqcqVL0Caw6E8Igq3K_vPNp5GJ5bAkb97bEYtNBEmFkMBFChELFxTwUlXPQgtW2bi0hZkAWPwZBLKLubyyngJlJzCIKT0bZTOtHPf0fISTPMJyzNAoo5V-JrzmoS8O9ljmKk28Vu3O9QQFCTrtRODcHPku38iqgBBDqBdVH5w=w640-h418" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Pushpa: The Rise</span></span></em><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif"> is a blockbuster movie that was recently released in five major languages across India. It has raked in tons of money and has won the hearts of the masses as well as film critics. Lead actor Allu Arjun’s dialogue <em>“Thaggede Le”</em> (in Hindi "Mai Jhukega Nahi") has become a viral catchphrase and the talk of the town. Such is the virality that even those who haven't watched the movie have become familiar with this slogan. However, this movie is a brazen glorification and celebration of a man’s ego. Period!</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif"><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">“Thaggede Le”</span></span></em></span></span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">means </span><em style="font-size: 14pt;">“I am not going to stoop down”</em><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> or </span><em style="font-size: 14pt;">“I am not going to humble myself”</em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">. It is being as stubborn as a mule, ambitiously bent on elevating and fulfilling what one wants. Contrarily, the Lord Jesus taught, </span><em style="font-size: 14pt;">“Thaggala”</em><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (humble yourself). He said in Luke 14:11, </span><em style="font-size: 14pt;">“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself (thaggin̄chukonuvaaḍu) will be exalted</em><span style="font-size: 14pt;">”. Elsewhere in 1 Peter 5:5, it is written, </span><em style="font-size: 14pt;">“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”</em></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Christ not only taught humility, He modeled it as well. He demonstrated it when He washed His disciples’ feet, even of the one who betrayed Him (John 13:1-11). His humility is seen in Philippians 2:7 - <em>“He, though being in the form of God, emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men”</em>. His humility was manifested when He stooped down and sacrificed His life on the cross for the sins of people; people who rebelled and rejected Him (Mark 10:45). Christ meekly asserted about Himself in Mathew 11:29, <em>“I am gentle and humble in heart”</em>. All of this stands in stark contrast to the carnal machismo, narcissism, arrogance, and pride displayed by the character Pushpa.</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span face="Arial,sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif">Where there is pride, there will be disorder, quarrel, and every vile practice. Isn’t this what we witness in our society? But where there is humility, there is peace, happiness, and every good work (see James 3:13-18). What transforms our depraved society is the gentle and humble Christ, not characters like Pushpa. Let’s celebrate humility and not pride! Let’s walk in humility (<em>“manam thaggala”</em>) by looking at the gentle and humble Christ.</span></span></span></span></p></div><div style="text-align: center;">___________________________<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Enquiries: <br /></b><br />messageforourage@gmail.com</p></div>C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-40475143686621155792021-02-13T05:06:00.013-08:002021-02-16T20:44:45.444-08:00Why Did I Become A Calvinist?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for calvinist" height="267" src="https://wp-media.patheos.com/blogs/sites/671/2015/05/9562941440_751abbd7ee_k.jpg" style="text-align: start;" width="400"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>George Whitfield said, “We are all born Arminians.” </i><i>It is grace that turns us into Calvinists. </i>- C.H. Spurgeon</div><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote><p></p></blockquote><p></p></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">W</span>hen I was born-again in 1996, except for the gospel of Christ, I had zero knowledge of the Holy Bible. As I began to grow in the Lord, I got exposed to several doctrines. But no doctrine frustrated me like the doctrine of Calvinism.</div><div><br>I attended a church that didn’t believe in Calvinism. I studied in a Bible college that wasn’t in favor of Calvinism. My close friends were anti-Calvinists. Most of the books I cherished reading in my early Christian life were written by non-Calvinists.</div><div><br>I hated Calvinism. I mocked the Calvinists. When I heard or read some statements related to Calvinism, I gritted my teeth. I took delight in reading against Calvinism. I vehemently argued against Calvinism. I wasn’t merely a non-Calvinist but an anti-Calvinist. I considered Calvinism a great heresy in Christianity.<br><br></div><div>With such disposition against Calvinism, what compelled me to become a Calvinist?</div><div><br>I want to mention at the outset that I dislike using the term “Calvinist”. It seems to highlight Calvin and inflates the misbelief that he invented the doctrine of Calvinism. I prefer to use “Reformed view of soteriology” or “Doctrines of Grace.” But since many are unaware of these phrases, I am using “Calvinist” or “Calvinism” in this article. </div><div><br>Two factors essentially led me to change my perspective on Calvinism.</div><div><b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">1. THE HOLY SCRIPTURE</span></b></div></b></div><div><br></div><div>With hatred towards Calvinism, I was reading the Holy Bible every day. And as I read, I couldn’t resist God’s revelation in His Word concerning the doctrine of election. The first Scripture that shook me to the core was 1 Thessalonians 1:4.</div><div><blockquote>For <b>WE KNOW</b>, brothers loved by God, <b>THAT HE HAS CHOSEN YOU</b>, <b>BECAUSE</b> our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. </blockquote></div><div>In this verse, I saw how Paul was certain (“we know”) that God had chosen the Thessalonians (“that He has chosen you”). How was he convinced about God’s election of them? Because the gospel transformed the lives of these Thessalonian believers ("because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction").</div><div><br>Observe, God didn’t choose them because they believed in the gospel. They believed in the gospel because God had chosen them. The gospel is effective only in the lives of God’s chosen ones.</div><div><br>Later I saw Acts 13:48 confirming this truth: “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and <b>as many as were appointed to eternal life believed</b>.” Unconditional divine election preceded people’s belief in the gospel.</div><div><br>As I kept studying the Holy Scripture, I came across numerous scriptures affirming the “Doctrines of Grace”. Since this is an article and not a book, I am confined to brevity. Interested readers may look at these 10 Scriptures (there are a few more):</div><div><blockquote><b>Matthew 11:27,</b> “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and <b>anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him</b>.”<br> <br><b>John 17:1-2,</b> “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, <b>to give eternal life to all whom you have given him</b>." (cf. v.6)<br> <br><b>Acts 18:9-10, </b>And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, <b>for I have many in this city who are my people</b>.”<br> <br><b>John 5:21,</b> "For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, <b>so also the Son gives life to whom he will</b>."<br> <br><b>Romans 8:30, </b>"And <b>those whom he predestined he also called</b>, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”<br><br><b>Ephesians 1:4-5, </b>"<b>even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world</b>, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, <b>according to the purpose of his will</b>.” (see v.11)<br> <br><b>Acts 2:39,</b> "For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, <b>everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself</b>.”<br> <br><b>John 6:65,</b> "<b>No one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.</b>”<br> <br><b>John 10:25-28,</b> Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but <b>you do not believe because you are not among my sheep</b>.<b> My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me</b>. I give them eternal life, and <b>they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand</b>."<br> <br><b>Romans 9:14-16,</b> "What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” <b>So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy</b>."</blockquote>Finally, I couldn’t fight anymore against the revelation of God’s Word. The authority of God’s Word prevailed over my human, finite reasoning. I humbled myself, resisting my own sentimental assumptions, and yielded to the “Doctrines of Grace” (“Calvinism” or “Reformed View of Soteriology”). <br> <br>If not for the Holy Scripture, I would never have become a Calvinist. I am a Calvinist because Calvinism is based purely and solely on God’s Word. I now regret accusing Calvinism a heresy. It is the truth God’s Word plainly teaches.<br><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>2. REFLECTION ON MY CONVERSION</b><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br></span></div>The other triggering factor for me to become a Calvinist was my reflection on my own conversion experience.<br> <br>I often say that if I was not converted by the gospel, I would have become either a criminal or a smuggler. I didn’t seek God. I hated attending the church. I was not too fond of the gospel when I heard it. I loved sinning and wallowed in it.<br> <br>While being dead in sin, my life was drastically changed (still changing) by the gospel of Christ on June 26, 1996. And most surprisingly, I was born-again in the temple of Sai Baba. I have written in detail <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.com/2008/06/he-transformed-my-life.html" target="_blank">here</a> </span>how the gospel of Christ transformed my totally depraved life.<br> <br>So when I reflected on my conversion experience, I didn’t understand how I chose to become a Christian. I was a terribly spoiled brat, bent on committing every evil possible. Personally cooperating with God as He worked in my heart to believe in Him (synergism) was an impossibility. I was good at rebellion against God and not at yielding to Him. </div><div><br></div><div><div>Moreover, if it were a matter of man’s choice, my young neighbors were better than me to believe, having a good upbringing. But I was born-again, and all my decent, non-born-again religious neighbors were shocked by my transformation.</div></div><div> <br>I eventually understood that I chose Christ because He first chose me before the foundation of the world. I sought Him because He first sought me. I came to Christ because the Father had drawn me to Him. I believed in Christ because He regenerated me.<br> <br>I was neither better than my neighbors (in fact, I was worst) nor softened in my heart to believe in Christ. It was only the sovereign grace of God that awakened me to eternal life (monergism). Like Lazarus who came out of the tomb when the Lord called Him, I came out of the darkness into the light because God called me. Thus says God’s Word,<br><blockquote>“And those whom he predestined he also called (effectual calling), and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Rom. 8:30)</blockquote>Of course, each person’s lifestyle and conversion experiences are different. But the cause of all born-again believers is the same. And that cause is, "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” (Eph. 1:4-5)<br> <br>So the revelation of God’s Word and reflection over my own conversion experience have compelled me to become a Calvinist. I still wonder why God in His grace and mercy had chosen me, a depraved sinner. And I don’t have answers for some mysterious issues pertaining to God's sovereign work. Thus says the Scripture, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Rom. 11:33)<br> <br><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">FINAL WORDS<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br></span></div>Before I close, I want to share a few thoughts. I subscribe to all the tenets of "Calvnism" or "Doctrines of Grace." But I must confess that Calvinism does not save people per se. The truth of the gospel<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">—i.e. </span>the death and resurrection of Christ for the reconciliation of sinners to God (1 Cor. 15:3-4)<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">—</span>alone saves people.</div><div> <br>Calvinism is the backdrop, which explains the sovereign work of God in and through the gospel. But the substance of the gospel is the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. And only faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ justifies a sinner before the Holy God (Rom. 5:1-2). <br> <br>So although I am strong in my convictions of Calvinism, my relationship with God’s children is based on the gospel of Christ. I am taught in Romans 15:7 to accept others just as Christ has accepted me (i.e through faith in the gospel). And I would love to engage in healthy discussions with others, sharing my biblical convictions for their consideration.<br> <br>I consider all non-Calvinists born-again believers my brothers and sisters in Christ. And when we all get to heaven, we would behold things brighter than we perceive now. In the meantime, I plead with them to consider studying Calvinism, giving thought to its teaching. Many hold myths about Calvinism because they haven’t personally given themselves to diligent study, thereby possessing a partial and misconceived understanding of it.<br> <br>Well, as a Calvinist who has a lofty view of God’s amazing grace, I am learning to grow in grace and truth, fighting against the arrogant and self-righteous attitude towards those who don’t hold my Calvinistic convictions. May God empower me to defend the Doctrines of Grace graciously.<br> <br>Soli Deo Gloria!<br> <br><b>Recommended book</b>: Many good books are available on Calvinism. The one I would recommend is <a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/books/five-points" style="background-color: #f4cccc;" target="_blank">“Five Points”</a> by John Piper. It is concisely written, precisely explained, and the PDF copy is available for <a href="https://www.desiringgod.org/books/five-points" style="background-color: #f4cccc;">FREE</a>.<br> <br><b>Calvinistic preachers and teachers who were a tremendous blessing to my Christian growth:</b> Charles Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, John Owen, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, John Piper, John MacArthur, R C Sproul, Wayne Grudem, D.A. Carson, Steve Lawson, Steve Atkerson, Paul Washer, David Platt, Mark Dever, Voddie Baucham, Paul David Tripp and so forth.<br><br></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________<br><br><b>Enquiries: </b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br>cstephendavid@gmail.com</div></div>C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-28917331175902261862020-12-14T02:46:00.001-08:002020-12-14T02:51:28.451-08:00"IT'S MY LIFE"<p style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="It's My Life (feat. TumaniYO) [Explicit] by Эндшпиль on Amazon Music - Amazon.com" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81aRiMNJPQL._SS500_.jpg" /></p><div><div>When I was a teenager, I enamored a pop song which was much celebrated at the time. It goes with the title "IT'S MY LIFE." That precisely defines the pulse of our depraved humanity. </div><div><br /></div><div>But after I became a disciple of Christ, I understood it's a lie to believe "IT'S MY LIFE." I realized, "IT'S NOT MY LIFE." </div><div><br /></div><div>1 Corinthians reveals who does my life belongs to. </div><div><br /></div><div>First, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 exhorts to flee from sexual immorality. And the reason it gives is that my life belongs to God who bought me with the blood of Christ Jesus. It says, "YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. for you were bought with a price." It's God's life. </div><div><br /></div><div>Second, 1 Corinthians 8:13 speaks about giving up eating certain food that causes a Christian brother in the church stumble. My Christian brother's welfare is more important than my personal pleasure. This shows my life belongs to the community of God. I am not my own. </div><div><br /></div><div>Third, 1 Corinthians 7:4 teaches that a Christian married couple must satisfy each other's sexual needs, "For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does." This points out that I must give preference to my wife's needs over mine. I am not my own. I belong to her. </div><div><br /></div><div>You see, all the above Scriptures reveal that our life is not our own. God owns our life, and we belong to His community and our spouse. "IT'S MY LIFE" is a phrase that must never be uttered and lived by a Christian. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hearing this truth, one might wonder, "Then what about my joy and happiness?"</div><div><br /></div><div>Remember, the most joyless people in the world are selfish people. True joy is not in living a selfish and individualistic life but in living for God and those He placed in our lives. Blessed is the one who lives accordingly. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div>___________________________<br /><br /><b>Enquiries: </b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><br />messageforourage@gmail.com</div></div></div>C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-79369506829114730312020-04-03T02:09:00.000-07:002020-04-04T19:50:51.699-07:00Can We Claim 2 Chronicles 7:14 for God’s Healing of Nations from Covid-19?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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2 Chronicles 7:14 has become a great hallmark for revival. During the present Covid-19 crisis, many well-intentioned preachers are claiming 2 Chronicles 7:14 and calling the church to repentance. “If we humble ourselves, confess our sins and seek the Lord, then God would heal our land from coronavirus,” they proclaim.<br />
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Now it is always good to call the church to heart-searching repentance. It is necessary to pray to God to have mercy on us and deliver us from Covid-19. But can we claim the promise given in 2 Chronicles 7:14?<br />
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It is rightly said, “A text taken out of its context (the original situation into which it was spoken) is a pretext (a false reason that hides the true intent).” Let us see the context of 2 Chronicles 7:14 to refrain from faulty interpretation and application. This article is long but worth your time and attention.<br />
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<b>WHAT IS THE CONTEXT?</b></div>
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After taking seven years to build the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, Solomon offered the dedicatory prayer (2 Chro. 6:12-42). As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, the glory of the Lord filled the Temple (7:1-3). Then the Lord appeared to Solomon in the night and assured him that He had heard his prayers (7:12). He said to him,<br />
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When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (7:13-14)</blockquote>
According to this Scripture, we must ask two questions.<br />
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<b>WHERE TO PRAY?</b></div>
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<b>Question One: According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, in which place did the Lord say He would answer the prayers? In which place did the Lord expect His people to pray and seek His face?</b> To answer, we must go back to Solomon’s dedicatory prayer. Due to space constraints, I will only quote the words that require our attention.<br />
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2 Chro. 6:22-23, “If a man sins against his neighbor and is made to take an oath and comes and swears his oath before your altar <b>IN THIS HOUSE</b>, then hear from heaven…” </blockquote>
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2 Chro. 6:24-25, “If your people Israel are defeated before the enemy because they have sinned against you, and they turn again and acknowledge your name and pray and plead with you<b> IN THIS HOUSE</b>, then hear from heaven…” </blockquote>
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2 Chro. 6:26-27, “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray <b>TOWARD THIS PLACE</b> and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, then hear in heaven…” </blockquote>
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2 Chro. 6:28-30, “If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands <b>TOWARD THIS HOUSE</b>, then hear from heaven…” </blockquote>
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2 Chro. 6:32-33, “Likewise, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays <b>TOWARD THIS HOUSE</b>, hear from heaven…”= </blockquote>
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2 Chro. 6:34-35, “If your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you shall send them, and they pray to you <b>TOWARD THIS CITY THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN AND THE HOUSE THAT I HAVE BUILT FOR YOUR NAME</b>, then hear from heaven…” </blockquote>
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2 Chro. 6:36-39, “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are carried away captive to a land far or near…if they repent with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity to which they were carried captive, and pray <b>TOWARD THEIR LAND</b>…then hear from heaven…”</blockquote>
Do you observe the phrases "in this house" "toward this place" "toward this house" and “then hear from heaven”? What is the place in which Solomon pled with God to answer? It is solely in the Temple at Jerusalem. Every petition that Solomon made was connected to the prayers offered at the Temple he built.<br />
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In 2 Chronicles 7:14, when the Lord said if they humble themselves and pray, it is in the Temple or toward the Temple of Jerusalem. Solomon acknowledged that this place was chosen by God Himself, “the city that you have chosen and the house that I have built for your name” (6:38).<br />
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Immediately after 7:14, the Lord said in verse 15, “Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made <b>IN THIS PLACE</b>. For now <b>I HAVE CHOSEN AND CONSECRATED THIS HOUSE</b> that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart <b>WILL BE THERE </b>for all time.” The humbling of the people of Israel and their praying and seeking the Lord was at the Temple that Solomon built.<br />
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Bear in mind that there was only One Temple in Jerusalem where people offered prayers and sacrifices. That was God’s chosen place in the Old Covenant. If we apply 2 Chronicles 7:14, then we must offer prayers in the Temple of Jerusalem, <b>for that’s what the text meant.</b> Unfortunately, there is currently no Temple in Jerusalem but the Islamic shrine “The Dome of the Rock” located on the Temple Mount. <br />
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Caution is required here that church buildings are not the Jerusalem Temple. Many falsely attribute church buildings to God's physical Temple by misinterpreting Old Testament Scriptures. To be sure, according to 1 Corinthians 3:16, it is not the church buildings but the church (God’s people) which is God’s Temple.<br />
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But 2 Chronicles 6-7 exclusively mentions the physical Temple in Jerusalem where God answered the prayers offered by the Israelites. It has no relevance to God’s New Covenant people. The discontinuity from the old pattern of prayers and worship was answered by the Lord Jesus Himself, which He spoke to the Samaritan woman:<br />
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Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain (where Samaritans worshipped) nor in Jerusalem (where Jews worshipped on the Temple Mount) will you worship the Father.....But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:21, 23-24)</blockquote>
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<b> WHICH LAND GOD PROMISED TO HEAL?</b></div>
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<b>Question Two: What is the land that the Lord said He would heal? </b><br />
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2 Chronicles 7:13-14, “if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and <b>heal their land</b>." </blockquote>
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Observe the phrase “heal their land.” Whose land? The land given to the nation of Israel. The Lord promised to Abraham centuries ago, “To your offspring I will give this land” (Gen. 12:7; 15:18; 17:8). This land is the land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. </div>
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Centuries later, when the Israelites were held in the bondage of Egypt, the Lord appeared to Moses and said, “I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land <b>to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites</b>…” (Exo. 3:8). </div>
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After their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt, when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness, the Lord spoke to them about blessings for obedience to the Law and curses for disobedience to the Law (Deut. 28-30).<br />
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The blessings include rich harvest and abundant rain, and victory over enemies in the land in which they would live (28:1-14). The curses include famine, pestilence, defeat by their enemies, eventually losing their land and going into captivity (28:15-28). But if people repent of their sins and turn to the Lord, God said He will bring them into the "promised land" and prosper them again (30:1-10).<br />
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So the prayer that Solomon offered in his dedication of the Temple in 2 Chronicles 6 was in accordance with God’s promise of blessings and curses and restoration written in Deuteronomy 28-30. And the assurance that God gave to Solomon in healing their land as a result of His people’s repentance was based on His promise of restoration in Deuteronomy 30. This healing of the land in 2 Chronicles 7:14 is concerning the curse the Lord would bring on the land, "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people" (7:13).<br />
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When the Lord brought out the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt, He made them a distinct and theocratic nation, gave them the Law (613 laws) by which they must abide, and brought them into the land of Canaan where their prosperity and adversity was dependent on their obedience and disobedience.<br />
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In contrast, the church is not a theocratic nation. We are God’s people living in secular countries. The church is not under the Mosaic Law. The covenant that the Lord made to Israel, the several blessings for obedience to the Law and curses for disobedience to the Law, does not apply to the church because we are under the New Covenant, under the Law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:20-21).<br />
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Do you know that even the present Israel cannot claim 2 Chronicles 7:14 because their blessings and curses are now based on their faith and rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ? They are no more called to live under the Mosaic Law with its blessings and curses. They are called to repent and believe in the Gospel of Christ and live under the New Covenant.<br />
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<b>2 CHRONICLES 7:14</b></div>
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Therefore, in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14,<br />
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<b>“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence AMONG MY PEOPLE,”</b> speaks about the disasters God sends among His covenant people because of consistently breaking His Law. Only God’s people (i.e. the Jews) are in view here. This text doesn’t speak about God sending these disasters on Gentile nations.<br />
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<b>“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves” </b>speaks about the nation of Israel (who are called by God’s Name) humbling themselves before the Lord. This text doesn’t speak about individuals or a small group of people praying to the Lord, but the nation of Israel. This text doesn’t even speak about repenting on behalf of the nation but the nation itself repenting before the Lord.<br />
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<b>“and pray and seek my face”</b> speaks about the Israelites offering their prayers in or toward the Temple of Jerusalem.
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<b>“and turn from their wicked ways”</b> speaks about the Israelites turning away from their disobedience to the Mosaic Law.
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<b>“then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” </b>speaks about the restoration of or to the "promised land", the land flowing with milk and honey. The land here is the land promised to Israel and not any other lands.<br />
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When you consider all these issues within the immediate and broader context of 2 Chronicles 7:14, do you suppose you can claim it for our present Covid-19 crisis? Did the disaster come only on God's people? Are we as a whole nation repenting before the Lord? Is our land the "promised land" given to the Israelites in fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant? Are we praying and seeking the Lord in the Temple of Jerusalem?<br />
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<b>CONCLUSION</b></div>
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Well, does all this mean that we learn nothing from 2 Chronicles 7:14? Not at all! We cannot claim its promise literally, but we can learn some good principles from it. We learn about God’s goodness, holiness, faithfulness, and grace manifested toward His people. We grasp how humble repentance is pleasing to the Lord. We observe how broken and contrite spirit moves the heart of God to forgive and accomplish His purposes in His community. The Book of James exhorts:<br />
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Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (4:8-10)</blockquote>
But can we claim 2 Chronicles 7:14 as a promise to apply to our current crisis, that is, if the Church repents, God will heal the nations? No, we cannot. The call to repentance with a promise of healing of the land was given to God’s Old Covenant people, the Israelites, who lived under a different dispensation. We, the church, are under the New Covenant, and are neither a political nation nor do we own a particular land as a nation.<br />
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In the Old Covenant, the Israelites had a physical Temple where God's presence dwelt, sacrifices of animals were offered on the altar, and Levitical priests were the mediators between God and people. They were also given the Law with blessings and curses in the "promised land" they lived. If they obeyed the Law, they prospered in the land. If they disobeyed the Law, the people and the land were cursed. And if they repented of their sins against God, the Lord healed their land.<br />
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Considering the New Covenant, Christ Jesus has become our sufficient and ultimate sacrifice for our sins (Heb. 10). Through Him, we have direct access to God (Heb. 4:14-16). Through Him, both Jews and Gentiles have become one people of God (Eph. 2:13-16). Through Him, we have become the Temple of God (Eph. 2:21-22). Through Him, we have become royal priests of God (1 Pet. 2:9). Through Him, we are no longer under the curse of the Law of Moses (Gal. 3:10-14). Through Him, if we confess our sins, we are cleansed from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7,9) What's more, through Him, we inherit God's eternal Kingdom (Eph. 1:13-14). Hallelujah!<br />
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Remember that we cannot randomly claim the Old Testament promises, particularly when they were given to God’s Old Covenant community, i.e. Israel, under a different dispensation.<b> The blessings and promises given to the church in Christ Jesus are incomparably greater (Read Ephesians chapter 1).</b><br />
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Finally, although it is inappropriate to claim the promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14, can we pray in general for God’s mercy and plead with Him to heal the nations from Covid-19? Sure! Much prayers must rise at the moment to the Throne of Grace for God’s deliverance from Coronavirus. We must also pray that the Lord would use the Covid-19 crisis to awaken unbelievers to remind them of their mortality and insecurity in the world, and show them the greater need of salvation found only in Christ.<br />
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We must likewise pray for the local churches that the Lord would use the current plight to bring spiritual awakening and deliver them from lukewarmness. We must pray that the Church would remain faithful in the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ, because real healing of the nation can only come through individuals turning from their sin to Christ. Without the preaching of the Gospel and without people experiencing the forgiveness of sin found in and through Christ, true healing cannot come to the nations.<br />
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___________________________<br />
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<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-84463273738460278702020-03-31T18:29:00.000-07:002020-03-31T20:07:58.499-07:00What Does Coronavirus Reveal About the Condition of Our Heart?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The outbreak of the pandemic Covid-19 has sent tremors all across the world. Yes, knowing its contagious and catastrophic nature, we must be concerned about its impact. However, this crisis need not cause God's redeemed people overcome by panic and despair. We may face fear but we must not be conquered by it.<br />
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Today morning, in my personal devotions, I came across the words of Christ Jesus, which birthed the following words.<br />
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At the end of His Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus delivered heart-searching words. He said that anyone who listens to His words and puts them into practice would be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. When the floods and winds storm the house, it doesn't fall because it is built on the rock. But when these disasters storm a foolish man's house, it collapses because he built his house on the sand. (Matthew 7:24-27; Luke 6:46-49)<br />
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The point that the Lord Jesus made was that if we keep listening to His words but do not put them into practice, we will collapse when difficulties storm our lives. Head-knowledge without heart-obedience cannot stand well during crises. But if we keep hearing and obeying God's Word, we will live a steadfast and unshakable life amidst the storms of life.<br />
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The outbreak of Coronavirus is a testing time for God's people about their obedience and genuine knowledge. We have been reading God's Word and listening to sermons about the goodness and sovereignty of God and trusting Him in times of difficulties. Praise God! But what does Coronavirus crisis reveal about the condition of our heart concerning all that we have been learning?<br />
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In their book "How People Change", Timothy Lane and Paul David Tripp show us the humble truth: "Trials do not cause us to be what we have not been; rather, they reveal what we have been all along. The harvest the trial produces is the result of the roots already in our hearts."<br />
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So what does Covid-19 pandemic disclose to us about how much we know God and obey His Word? Where is our faith in God's goodness and sovereignty? Where is our praise and thanksgiving to God in this affliction? Where are our unceasing prayers for God's kind help with whom nothing is impossible? Where is our comfort of God? Where is our joy in the Lord? Where is our hope of eternal life through Christ's death and resurrection? Where is our obedience to all that we have been reading and listening about God?<br />
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Contextualizing the Lord Jesus' words spoken at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, let us put it this way. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. When Coronavirus comes closer to his doors or storms his life, he is steadfast and unshaken because he built his house on the rock (knowledge with obedience).<br />
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But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. When Coronavirus comes closer to his doors or storms his life, he is shaken and collapses because he built his house on the sand (head-knowledge without obedience).<br />
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What does the pandemic Covid-19 reveal about the condition of our hearts?<br />
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___________________________<br />
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<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
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messageforourage@gmail.com</div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-83086637941526839912020-01-28T16:29:00.000-08:002020-01-28T23:15:07.267-08:00"It Is Better Not To Marry!"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>"IT IS BETTER NOT TO MARRY!" </b>Don't get upset. These are not my words.<br />
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The Lord Jesus said, Moses told to give a certificate of divorce because of men's hardness of heart. "I say to you," asserted Christ, "whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery” (Matt. 19:9).<br />
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Hearing the Lord's firm words, the disciples were afraid and responded, "If such is the case of a man with his wife, IT IS BETTER NOT TO MARRY" (19:10). The disciples understood the seriousness of marriage that once a person is married, divorce is not an easy option. There is only entry but no exit. Marriage is a permanent commitment and not a temporal relationship.<br />
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Don't you suppose divorce is rampant today because such seriousness is greatly lacking in the married couples? When there are several reasons for divorce, marriage is not a severe and sober decision.<br />
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However, biblically, to marry someone is to keep the covenant of marriage until the heart stops beating and the soul leaves the body. For this reason, a man and woman must discern carefully before getting into a marital relationship. Why shouldn't they when marriage is a significant choice of living together for life?<br />
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Many who claim to "fall in love" do not "stand firm in marriage". They easily give up on marriage because they quickly get into it without considering the cost. No wonder, it isn't uncommon for marriages to crumble because couples marry based on excitement, attraction, and wild emotions that don't last long.<br />
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Do young men and women pray for God's wisdom to discern wisely their life-partner? Do they seek the counsel of mature people? Do they discuss the pros and cons of marriage? Do they honestly discuss their differences and weaknesses? Do they understand God's design for marriage and submit themselves to its authority? Do they know what it means to die to self in marriage? Are they aware of the tremendous responsibilities and potential conflicts that come along with marriage? Do they read books on marriage to prepare themselves well? Do they understand how the Gospel builds their marriage? Do they put emotions (cart) behind and reason (horse) before them?<br />
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Dear young men and women, here is my counsel: GET INTO MARRIAGE WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING. DON'T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED. IT IS A PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP. CONSIDER THE COST OF MARRIAGE. BE SOBER-MINDED. EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL.<br />
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To marry someone impulsively is dangerous and destructive. Marriage, in reality, is not like Hollywood and Bollywood movies (i.e. always romantic and erotic). It is a tough relationship on planet earth.<br />
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So prepare yourself well for marriage. Choose your life-partner wisely. Set the Holy Bible before you, mature people around you, the Lord Jesus Christ at the center, and get ego out of everything. Remember the words of disciples (who understood there is no easy way out of marriage): "It is better not to marry" (Matt. 19:10).<br />
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IT IS BETTER NOT TO MARRY IF YOU DON'T PREPARE YOURSELF BETTER FOR MARRIAGE.<br />
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___________________________<br />
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<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-86284334596524263702019-11-18T23:05:00.001-08:002019-11-19T22:29:18.512-08:00"My Husband Doesn't Spend Time with Me"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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During my life lived "under the sun", the complaint I have most often heard from women is this: "My husband doesn't spend time with me". While this is an emotion that probably men also share, I haven’t yet come across a man who complained about it.<br />
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Let this be clear: Husbands must certainly not ignore the feeling of grief their wives have about their dissatisfied relationship with them. Instead, they must commend the longing and love their wives have for them.<br />
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But what must wives do with the grief they have about their husbands not spending time with them?<br />
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Here is my most sincere counsel to wives for their consideration.</div>
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<strong style="color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Firstly, examine yourself.</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> Ask yourself if your desire towards spending time with your husband exceeds the longing you have towards your heavenly Father. Do you neglect your intimacy with God and pursue intimacy with your husband? Have you idolized your husband and try to find your security and satisfaction in him?</span><br />
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May I tell you the plain truth (which maybe a painful truth to some): Your husband can never satisfy you and meet all your needs. Only Christ is your all-sufficiency. You are first married to Christ, and you owe your utmost allegiance and devotion to Him.<br />
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Remember the words the Lord Jesus spoken to the Samaritan woman who was in the pursuit of finding her heart's satisfaction in several men:<br />
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Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)</blockquote>
Most women claim to believe in Christ, but it seems to be only an intellectual confession because they haven't experienced the living water Christ pours on their thirsty hearts. As Jeremiah 2:13 reveals, they still desperately look to the broken cisterns, which is human relationships, rather than to the fountain of living waters, which is Christ Himself.<br />
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Your soul’s desperate need every day, therefore, is not for your husband but for Christ. So pursue your intimate relationship with Him. Long and seek communion with Him. Drink daily the living water at His feet. Make Him your strength, security, and satisfaction.<br />
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<strong style="color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Secondly, think about your husband.</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> Think about whether you are concerned about your husband's relationship with God! Do you encourage your husband to draw closer to God's heart? Are you an inspiration in his walk with his Creator?</span><br />
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Remember that God has made your husband, not for yourself, but for Himself. You do not own and possess your husband but God. You are not his life but Christ. You do not enthrone his heart—God alone does. Your husband doesn't exist for your happiness but for God's glory.<br />
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Your predominant responsibility in marriage, therefore, is to be a helper of your husband's walk with God. Here is a staggering fact that requires much consideration—A WOMAN WHO ENCOURAGES HER HUSBAND TO DRAW CLOSER TO GOD'S HEART DRAWS HIM CLOSER TO HER OWN HEART AS WELL.<br />
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<strong style="color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Thirdly, let him know<span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black;">—</span>gently.</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="color: #1c1e29; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> As you are desperate for your Maker and pursue an intimate relationship with Him, and as you encourage your husband in his walk with God—your desire to spend time with your husband will be noble and meaningful.</span><br />
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Instead of nagging your husband to spend time with you, gently share with him how much you love him, and enjoy spending time with him. Ask him what you can do to help him have sufficient time with you.<br />
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If necessary, seek the counsel of the elders of your church or some mature Christians to help you both enjoy a mutual love relationship in your married life. But remember to keep priorities intact.<br />
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Finally, do not lose heart!</strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> Despite seeking to help your husband have sufficient time with you, if all your attempts fail, do not lose your heart.</span></div>
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Christ Jesus, your eternal life, and heavenly husband, is always loving and faithful towards you. He loved you to the extent of laying His life on the cross for your sins. He will never leave you, nor forsake you, nor neglect you. You are the apple of His eye. If you give your heart to Him and make Him alone the King of your life, nothing can break your heart.<br />
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The Scripture reveals one of the things under which the earth trembles and cannot bear up, and that is—an unloved woman when she gets a husband (Proverbs 30:21-23). This woman would devour her husband for undivided attention, unfading affection, and undying satisfaction. How foolish it is for a woman to look for from her husband what only God can give!<br />
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Dear husbands, if you happen to read this message, be considerate towards your wives. If you love Christ and understand how much He loved the church and laid His life for her, give your time to your wives and encourage them in their walk with God (Eph. 5:25-33). Do not use the factor of finding your wives' sufficiency in Christ to evade your responsibility as a loving husband.<br />
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___________________________<br />
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<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
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messageforourage@gmail.com</div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-34644355567623120822018-04-28T07:08:00.001-07:002018-04-28T16:55:20.751-07:00You Are Not Created For Heaven<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"I have put my faith in Christ Jesus, my sins are forgiven in Him, now I have the gift of eternal life, and therefore I am awaiting to go to heaven"—such is the tendency of many Christians.<br />
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Although the assurance of heaven to those who believe in Christ Jesus is true, this narrow perception has done immense damage to Christianity.<br />
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A lot of Christians' focus is on heaven while they live here on earth for themselves. Their excitement is all about the benefits of salvation for themselves—such as love, forgiveness, deliverance, peace, joy, blessings and heaven. There seems no great passion and devotion in them for the Lord Himself.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
CREATED FOR THE CREATOR</h3>
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It is necessary to understand that YOU ARE NOT CREATED FOR HEAVEN. The Scripture declares:<br />
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<li>"All things were created through him and FOR HIM" (Col. 1:16). </li>
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<li>"FOR WHOM and by whom all things exist" (Heb. 2:10).</li>
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<li>"For from him and through him and TO HIM are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:33).</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>"Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and FOR WHOM WE EXIST" (1 Cor. 8:6).</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>"Everyone who is called by my name, WHOM I CREATED FOR MY GLORY" (Isa. 43:7). </li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>“The people WHOM I FORMED FOR MYSELF that they might declare my praise” (Isa. 43:21).</li>
</ul>
<br />
The Scriptures testify that WE ARE MADE FOR GOD AND FOR HIS GLORY. It is good to know that there is heaven for those who have faith in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. But we must know: WE ARE NOT MADE FOR HEAVEN. WE ARE MADE FOR THE LORD AND FOR HIS GLORY.<br />
<br />
If we are created for the Lord, don't you suppose our lives must be lived for the Lord? Shouldn't we know and submit to His Holy Scripture? Must not the purpose of the Lord and His will be our own purpose and will? Shouldn't His glory be our goal?<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
REDEEMED FOR THE REDEEMER</h3>
<br />
Salvation is not merely about possessing heaven. It is God's restoration of our lives to live (on earth and eternally) for the purpose for which we were created, i.e. for the Lord's glory.<br />
<br />
The Lord Jesus did not die on the cross to bring you just to heaven. He died so that He can bring you to God: "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD" (1 Pet. 3:18).<br />
<br />
God's passion and purpose for you is not to bring you to heaven, although there is heaven for those in Christ Jesus. God's goal for you is to bring you to Himself.<br />
<br />
The Scripture in 2 Corinthians 5:17 is quite well-known, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." But here is a Scripture, just above two verses, which many Christians seem to have never read carefully in their entire life:<br />
<br />
<h3>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">"He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (2 Cor. 5:15). </span></li>
</ul>
</h3>
<br />
Read the above Scripture again and again!<br />
<br />
What do you think is the meaning of these words spoken by the Lord Jesus to His disciples: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matt. 16:24).<br />
<br />
When the Lord Jesus said, "Deny yourself," He meant, "Don't live for yourself." And when He said, "take up your cross and follow me," He meant, "Live for Me and follow Me at the cost of suffering and giving up everything." To follow Christ is nothing but to live for Christ. To become a disciple of Christ is to become completely devoted to Him. Doesn't He deserve this from us?<br />
<br />
Paul well exemplified a self-denial and Christ-centered life in these words: "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal. 2:20).<br />
<br />
Caution must be made here: We do not live for the Lord to earn salvation We live for the Lord because that's what salvation is. Sin has separated us from God, making us our own gods (Gen. 3:5). Salvation in the name of Christ Jesus is reconciliation to the only true God by whom and for whom we were created and redeemed. Blessed be HIS Name forever and ever.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
ETERNAL LIFE IS ETERNAL JESUS</h3>
<br />
So may we not live for ourselves on earth while hoping for heaven. In fact, here is the truth for us to reflect upon—HEAVEN IS NOT FOR THOSE WHO LIVE FOR THEMSELVES ON EARTH.<br />
<br />
Do you know what eternal life is? It is not just endless living all through the eternity. Listen to the Word of God, "The life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us" (1 John 1:2).<br />
<br />
The Scripture declares that eternal life is Jesus Christ. To have eternal life is to have Jesus eternally. And to have Jesus eternally is to know Him and to live for Him throughout the eternity, beginning from the time of our salvation on earth (cf. John 17:3). Heaven is all about Jesus.<br />
<br />
Therefore, let our lives be marked on earth with a passion and devotion to live and die for the Lord and for His glory. Let us live for the One who made us for Himself and who redeemed us by His blood to make a people for His own possession.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
HOW TO LIVE FOR THE CREATOR AND REDEEMER?</h3>
<br />
1. Delight yourself in the Lord and find your utmost satisfaction in Him.<br />
<br />
2. Pursue intimate relationship with Him through prayer.<br />
<br />
3. Enjoy worshipping Him and thanking Him at all times.<br />
<br />
4. The Holy Bible is God's mind and will. Therefore, study it diligently to know His will and to understand His purposes.<br />
<br />
5. Obey God's commandments without reservations.<br />
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6. Keep God's glory as your focus in everything you do.<br />
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___________________________<br />
<br />
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messageforourage@gmail.com</div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-19255308222810930262018-03-12T05:32:00.000-07:002020-04-18T04:17:29.534-07:00The Answer to the Mystery of Suffering<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Why does suffering exist in the world?<br />
<br />
Some claim, “God must be good but not all-powerful, or He must be all-powerful but not good. If God is both good and all-powerful, how can He allow suffering to exist in the world? Why doesn’t He erase suffering from the earth?”<br />
<br />
The problem with such thinking is that these people only consider the goodness of God and His almightiness. What is missing in their perspective is God’s sovereignty. God is not just good and almighty; He is also sovereign.<br />
<br />
Here is the biblical description of God’s sovereignty:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Psalm 135:6, </b>"Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>2 Chronicles 20:6,</b> "O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Daniel 4:35,</b> All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and He does according to His will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand or say to Him, “What have you done?”</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Isaiah 46:10-11,</b> "For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it."</blockquote>
What is the answer to the mystery of suffering? God’s sovereignty. But who knows God’s sovereign mind and work? The Scripture declares:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Isaiah 55:8-9,</b> "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Romans 11:33-34,</b> Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Psalm 92:5,</b> "How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!" </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Ecclesiastes 3:11,</b> "Man cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>Deuteronomy 29:29,</b> "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." </blockquote>
What we know from the above Scriptures is that none would comprehend God’s sovereign mind, except what He reveals to us. To a certain extent, God's Word reveals the cause and purpose of suffering.<br />
<br />
The Scripture reveals that the existence of suffering is due to the original sin. Adam's sin has brought the curse upon the entire human race (Rom. 5:12). Added to this plight are the wrong choices every person has made, rebelling against God's holy standards (Rom. 3:10-17). Even those who make the right choices—especially by believing in Christ Jesus and following Him—have to suffer as a consequence of living in this sinful world (Phi. 1:29). But God uses suffering to shape the character of His beloved children (Rom. 5:3-4).<br />
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Moreover, there are many questions concerning suffering which remains mysterious to our finite minds. We simply have to trust God's sovereignty, knowing, "The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He" (Deut. 32:4).<br />
<br />
When one focuses only on God's goodness and His almightiness without giving thought to His sovereignty, he would assume God to function according to his expectations. It is only when one knows the sovereignty of God that he would heed the words, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Ps. 46:10), and acknowledge with Job, "Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know" (42:3).<br />
<br />
Though we have to go through suffering in this sinful world, God's Word has good news for us. All who have repented of their sins against the holy God and believed in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins, they have become a new creation by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. The glorious eternity is waiting for them when "He [God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." (Rev. 21:4)<br />
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<b>DEAR FRIEND, DON'T GIVE UP IN DARKNESS. WAIT FOR THE LIGHT.</b><br />
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___________________________<br />
<br />
<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
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messageforourage@gmail.com</div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-44011562621549239912018-02-16T03:50:00.003-08:002018-02-16T16:38:06.797-08:00The Sermon on the Mount to the Saints on the Mount of Social Media<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The teaching that the Lord Jesus gave in Matthew 5-7 chapters has come to be known as "The Sermon on the Mount." Christ taught different issues in these chapters. One of the matters He addressed was "anxiety<i>" </i>(Matt. 6:25-34).<br />
<br />
Based on the words of Christ, I address here the issue of anxiety for identity in social media. Apparently, these days social media has a dominating influence on the identity of people all over the world. Even God's people have yielded themselves to the temptation of building their identity on people's responses to their pictures and posts in social media.<br />
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Therefore, the following message is written to help the saints of God not to let social media determine their identity (who they are). Those who have ears to hear let them hear the conviction of this message.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
DON'T BE ANXIOUS AND CURIOUS</h3>
<br />
Do not be anxious about your acceptance nor look out for attention, how many likes you get or how many thumbs up you receive or people's responses to your posts.<br />
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Is not your life more than likes and thumbs up and smiles and other emojis?<br />
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Look at the birds of the air: they may neither seek for acceptance nor crave for attention, and yet your heavenly Father cares for them. Are you not of more value than they?<br />
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And which of you by seeking attention, acceptance and approval of people can add more value to your life?<br />
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Consider the lilies of the field, how beautiful they are and how they grow. Can a man produce by himself such beauty? Not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.<br />
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But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?<br />
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Do you understand how fearfully and wonderfully you are made? Do you know you are God's image? Do you see how glorious your life is, which is redeemed by the blood of Christ from the mire of sin? Do you know you are God's chosen, beloved and holy one?<br />
<br />
Stop being anxious and refuse to build your identity on digital emojis and people's approval. Do not be obsessed with posting your pictures or your personal matters and keep an eye out for how many likes or responses you get. For the pagans seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you do not need them.<br />
<br />
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, feast your eyes on the beauty of the Lord Jesus, behold the glory of God, gaze upon the cross on which Christ died for your sins, consider the eternal glory awaiting for you, set your mind on the things above—and you will count all the emojis as nothing.<br />
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Therefore, do not seek people's attention and be not anxious about your acceptance, nor about people's responses to your posts. Your heavenly Father loves you like no other and graciously accepts you based on the work of Christ Jesus on the cross.<br />
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Flee from building your identity on the vain and fleeting glory of social media. Know Christ Jesus and know who you are in Him, the Eternal Glorious One, who loved you and laid His life for you. That's all that matters. That's all you need. That's all-sufficient for you. Rejoice in the Lord always.<br />
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___________________________<br />
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-71429988770593542182017-09-20T07:41:00.004-07:002017-09-20T23:20:16.314-07:00Proverb of the World and Proverbs of the Word<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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These days a lot of emphasis is laid on the importance of appreciation by the secular world. I call it a 'proverb of the world'. It states, “Don’t be negative.” “Don’t be judgmental.” “Be positive.” “Appreciate others.”<br />
<br />
Yes, I do believe that appreciation is wonderful. We must practice appreciation when it is necessary as it is a great means of encouragement.<br />
<br />
What saddens me is that the world is addicted to appreciation and resistant to correction. This tendency has greatly influenced the mindset and attitudes of Christians too. Since the beginning of the exodus of Israelites, what we observe is that God’s people are more prone to the influence of the culture rather than to the command of God’s Word.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Loving Appreciation and Despising Correction</b></h3>
<br />
I fear to see how people in churches love appreciation and despise correction. When they are corrected, their face falls down, their emotions are disturbed, and their reactions are either wild or bitterly suppressed.<br />
<br />
How seldom do we find people responding to correction, saying, “Thank you for your correction. It helps me to become a better Christian. Please continue to help me become more like Christ.” Such words can only be uttered by a wise person who deeply reveres God and His Word.<br />
<br />
No matter how the talk of people and their Christian walk is, like the world, churches want to be just in the business of appreciation. They don’t want to offend one another, even if it is for good. They love to please each other through appreciation. They are reluctant both to receive and to give correction.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Proverbs of the Word</h3>
<br />
When I turn to the Proverbs of the Word, I don’t find much about the importance of “appreciation”. I find it only once where a godly woman is praised (Pro. 31:28, 30). The emphasis of the book of Proverbs is on “correction” (reproof, rebuke).<br />
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The words “reproof” and “rebuke” (correction) are used 20 times in the book of Proverbs. There could be more. And when the book of Proverbs speaks about correction, its attention is more on receiving correction rather than on giving it.<br />
<br />
Please don’t get me wrong. I am not saying that appreciation is wrong. Although we don’t find about it in Proverbs, there are other parts of the Scripture which speak of it a bit.<br />
<br />
As mentioned earlier, I believe in appreciation. It is a great encouraging tool. It is one of the love languages of people. We all love appreciation. Sometimes it rightly encourages us and at other times it pampers our ‘self’. Interestingly, correction is not the love language of anyone. It appears to be the hate language of people.<br />
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Proverbs on Correction</h3>
<br />
If we love God and His Word, we must be people who love correction. Look at the following few Scriptures from Proverbs which speaks about the importance of correction. The words commonly used for “correction” are “reproof” and “rebuke.”<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><br />
<li>Wisdom says, “If you turn at my reproof , behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” (Proverbs 1:23, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
<br />
<li>“My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” (Proverbs 3:11-12, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
<br />
<li>“Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.” (Proverbs 10:17, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
<br />
<li>“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” (Proverbs 12:1, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
<br />
<li>“A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” (Proverbs 13:1, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
<br />
<li>“Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored.” (Proverbs 13:18, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
<br />
<li>“A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.” (Proverbs 15:3, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
<br />
<li>“There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.” (Proverbs 15:10, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
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<li>“The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.” (Proverbs 15:31-32, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
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<li>“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” (Proverbs 27:5, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
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<li>“He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.” (Proverbs 29:1, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>)</li>
</ul>
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Moreover, observe the very purpose of God-breathed Scripture: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>) Even God's Word is given for the purpose of reproof and rebuke. It is not given for appreciation but for correction.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Correction Shapes Character</h3>
<br />
Honestly, in my many years of Christian life, I have learned so much more through correction rather than through appreciation. Whatever growth people see in me, much of the growth is the result of correction. The day that I stop taking correction, my growth halts and I become stagnant and dead.<br />
<br />
Recently, I have taken initiation and asked a brother to correct me if he had observed any flaws in my character. What he corrected in me has led to a radical change in my life and ministry. I am forever thankful to him. How true are these words, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses!” (Proverbs 27:6, <span style="font-size: x-small;">ESV</span>) Well, there were times where I resisted correction to my own loss of character.<br />
<br />
Never forget that appreciation encourages us, but correction shapes our character. Appreciation makes us feel good about ourselves but correction helps us to grow well towards maturity. We indeed need appreciation, but more than that what we need is correction. He who loves appreciation and hates correction desires destruction of his character, perhaps even of his soul.<br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Cultivate the Love Language of Correction</h3>
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Correction may not be the love language of the worldly people, but it must certainly be the love language of godly people because the book of Proverbs speaks so much of its benefits. Christians must resist being like the world and become the light of the world. They must cultivate a humble heart of receiving correction. According to God’s Word, only a fool hates correction.<br />
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Agreed, it is painful to receive correction. It hurts our ‘ego’. But, as followers of Christ, are we not called to deny ourselves and to follow the right path to change?<br />
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<b>Note:</b> When we give correction, we must do it with love and kindness. And when firmness is required in correction, it must be exercised with concern and without being harsh. Having said this, I must exhort that we must be more passionate and humble in receiving correction rather than giving correction. How we humbly receive correction encourages others to appropriately respond to correction.<br />
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___________________________<br />
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<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-65855081060884733782017-08-27T06:34:00.000-07:002017-08-27T09:23:09.486-07:00My Name Is Tradition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">MY NAME IS TRADITION</span></div>
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There are some truths in me and some lies.<br />
To be honest, there is less truth in me and more lies.<br />
And as you might know, a little truth is more dangerous,<br />
Than an outright lie which is less treacherous.<br />
<br />
People chase me blindly and do so without reason;<br />
They follow me zealously, like their forefathers did, in and out of season;<br />
Folks adore me and don’t bother with any questions;<br />
They want to be left alone with their purposeless superstitions. <br />
<br />
Here is my charisma and great feat;<br />
People simply tend to lose their minds at my feet.<br />
Not just the ignorant, but also the ones with intelligence;<br />
They dance around me like gullible fools without hesitance.<br />
<br />
My power thrives on people’s ignorance,<br />
I enslave them in their arrogance;<br />
And those who dare question my credibility<br />
Are quickly silenced by the society.<br />
<br />
Beware, those who challenge and deny me,<br />
Make themselves my bitter enemy.<br />
They face rejection and slander,<br />
For becoming Truth’s defender.<br />
<br />
My loyal servants cannot tolerate,<br />
Reasonable people whom they oppose and berate;<br />
They’d rather have ignorance and blind belief,<br />
Than embrace Truth and acknowledge their misbelief.<br />
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For so they esteem me in their foolish minds,<br />
Exchanging God’s Truth for mindless trends;<br />
They defend me with such a zeal,<br />
That even makes Truth seem so unreal.<br />
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Yeah, my name is tradition,<br />
I am so loved and admired by those who've lost their reason.<br />
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Note: This poetry is about the traditions which are unbiblical, which unfortunately is what is prevailing in our society.<br />
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___________________________<br />
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<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
messageforourage@gmail.com</div>
</div>
</div>
C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-13325231349612907412017-07-04T08:00:00.000-07:002018-03-15T08:13:21.343-07:00Proclaim the Cross of Christ<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Galatians 3:1-2, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?”<br />
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Paul’s disappointment and anger are clearly seen in his words to the Galatians. He was disturbed in his heart because after they received the gospel by faith in the finished work of Christ, they turned back to the works of the law.<br />
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It is foolish to consider attaining salvation by works, and so calls Paul, “O foolish Galatians.” “Who has bewitched you?” This is a term of witchcraft. In other words, “Who has influenced you in an evil way?” To wander away from the biblical gospel is like being bewitched by the evil.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Vivid Proclamation of Christ's Crucifixion</b></h3>
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Paul goes on to explain, “It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified” (Gal. 3:1b). Does this mean that the Galatians witnessed with their eyes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ?<br />
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Where was Christ crucified? In Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Matt. 16:21).<br />
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Where was Galatia? Galatia was a Roman Province, located near the central region of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). It is surrounded by Bithynia, Pontus, Cappadocia, and Phrygia. The churches of Galatia include Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe, which Paul visited in his first missionary journey.<br />
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Galatia and Jerusalem are separated by hundreds of miles. Then how did the Galatians witness with their eyes the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ?<br />
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This doesn’t speak about seeing the crucifixion of Christ with physical eyes. Paul didn’t say, “It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly crucified.” He said, “It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly PORTRAYED AS crucified.” This speaks about the public proclamation of the gospel of Christ Jesus with a clear verbal description of Christ’s crucifixion.<br />
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The cross of Christ speaks of man’s sin for which He was crucified. The cross of Christ demonstrates God’s love towards sinners. The cross of Christ manifests the satisfaction of God’s justice. The cross of Christ reveals the propitiatory sacrifice of the Lord Jesus to reconcile man to God. The cross of Christ shows the only hope of man, which is to believe in the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus to receive God’s gift of eternal life. This is what the gospel of the cross is.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Paul's Passion for the Cross of Christ</b></h3>
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When we examine the ministry of Paul, we observe that God had wrought great miracles through this man. He was a man filled with the knowledge of the Scriptures. He had supernatural experiences. He walked in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He was an extraordinary apostle. He was a church planter. He was a disciple-maker. He was a fundraiser who helped numerous needy believers.<br />
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In spite of all these great gifts and accomplishments, Paul’s focus and emphasis were on proclaiming the crucified Lord. Like the sun that shines, giving light to all the earth, so the cross of Christ shone over Paul’s entire ministry.<br />
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Elsewhere Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). He even said, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14).<br />
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Paul didn’t proclaim the crucifixion of Christ as a passing remark, as many do today. The cross was not peripheral but absolutely central to his message. What the Lord Jesus did on the cross drove everything that Paul spoke and did. The message of the cross permeated every cell of his body.<br />
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When Paul preached the gospel to the people, the Lord Jesus was clearly presented to them as crucified. According to Paul, there is no gospel without the cross. How precisely, emphatically, vividly, passionately, magnificently, he proclaimed the gospel of Christ Jesus that it was as if the listeners saw the crucifixion of the Lord.<br />
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<h3>
<b>Proclaim the Cross of Christ</b></h3>
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This is how we must proclaim the gospel. The listeners must clearly see with the eyes of the heart the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. They may forget almost everything we speak but not the cross because of our vivid description of it and emphasis on it. Our proclamation of the gospel-centered on the cross must leave an indelible mark on their minds.<br />
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It is the cross which discloses Christ as the unique Savior from all the so-called saviors of the world and of other religions. Jesus is the only Savior of the world because He is the only One who went to the cross to save the world. We cannot exalt Christ without elevating His cross.<br />
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Therefore, the effective presentation of the gospel is portraying before the eyes of people the Lord Jesus Christ as crucified. Let us resolve, like Paul, to proclaim Christ and Him crucified.<br />
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___________________________<br />
<br />
<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
messageforourage@gmail.com</div>
</div>
</div>
C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-80044065627566057232017-05-06T01:09:00.000-07:002017-05-06T03:06:59.797-07:00An Unusual Man of God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I can never forget the day I met this man for the first time. My youngest son, Joe, was born on December 7, 2006. The next day he came to meet me and to see my newborn son in the hospital. He had recently shifted to Hyderabad from Bangalore and someone suggested my name to him. So, he wanted to meet me. And since the day we met in the hospital, we became close brothers in the Lord. This man is Kim Taeyeob. His Indian name is John Kim.<br />
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Brother John was born in South Korea on August 4,1960, to a poor family. He grew up facing many challenges in life and ended up becoming a young rebel. Thankfully, he came to know the Lord at a young age. Thereafter he went to a seminary for training and served as a pastor for few years. Later, he felt the Lord calling him to India to serve as a missionary. After much thinking and prayer, in 2003, he finally moved to India with his beloved wife and son.<br />
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Brother John faithfully served the Lord in India for 13 years. A few months ago, he felt the Lord calling him to another third world country (which I leave unnamed) to serve as a missionary. After giving much thought, going through emotional struggle, and praying, in May, 2017, he moved to that country.<br />
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I have known brother John for more than 10 years. During his stay in India, he has been a blessing to many people, and I am one among them, perhaps the most. I write this article to share what I observed and learned from this man of God. There is so much to speak about the Lord’s work in him that I could easily write a book. I hope these brief words would be a great encouragement to the readers, especially to missionaries, pastors, and other Christian leaders.<br />
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<b>Note:</b> Whenever we read a person’s biography or listen to a testimony about others, we must know that it is a witness about the power of the gospel of Christ Jesus in transforming a worst sinner into a beautiful saint. Therefore, all glory goes to God for His amazing grace and the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.<br />
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<b>1. A MAN OF SELF-DENIAL</b></div>
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I cannot speak about brother John without mentioning about his commitment to the Lord’s work. When he felt the Lord calling him to India, he left his comfortable life in South Korea and came to India. He was not disobedient to God-given vision. (Acts 26:19)<br />
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Due to his serious liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus, he constantly suffered from weakness and sickness. He faced the pressure to return to his homeland many times. However, he wanted to serve and die in the land to which the Lord had called him to serve. Even on the day he was leaving India to serve the Lord in another country, he was physically unwell.<br />
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The country that he has now gone to is not an easy place to live. India is a lot better in comparison. Nevertheless, to brother John, what matters in life is not enjoying the comforts of life, but walking in obedience to the Lord who loved him and gave His life for him.<br />
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During his stay in India, brother John lived a simple life. He was a man without love for material riches, worldly pleasures or comforts. He was extremely cautious about how he spent money, especially when spending money on himself. He had very few pairs of clothes, so much so that at times we were tempted to buy him some. On one occasion, we pooled in money and bought a new windshield for his vehicle which had worn out. This is not because he had no money. Although he had the opportunity to live a luxurious life, he chose to live a frugal life for the sake of using money for better purposes.
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<b>2. A PEOPLE PERSON</b></div>
<strong><br /></strong>A lot of missionaries and Christian leaders seem to be ministry-oriented, not people-centered. On the contrary, brother John is a people person. He puts people before ministry. In fact, to him, ministry is loving people.
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<br />
In TENTS ministry, which is established through his encouragement and efforts, all the brothers can testify that brother John cares for people. When brothers or their family members fell sick or became unwell, without even caring about the distance, he immediately went to visit and to encourage them and kept following up about their welfare. If you live in his circle, you would know that there is a brother who always cares for you.
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Here is a testimony of one brother: “My wife became quite sick to the point of death. At this dark hour, brother John and his wife stood with us. He fervently prayed for us and even raised prayer support from his countrymen. He gave away his own medicine to help my wife. He constantly visited us traveling a long distance and encouraged us. He cared for us more than our own family members.”
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<br />
I must also mention the grace he shows towards people despite being hurt by them. I personally witnessed his immense patience and gracious attitude toward others, including myself. I wonder whether I or others would be as gracious as this man. He doesn’t easily give up on people. This may be because he is familiar with the gracious God and His amazing grace.
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<b>3. A WONDERFUL FAMILY LIFE</b></div>
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Brother John is married to Oh Hyunju. We call her Elizabeth. They have been married for more than 25 years and are blessed with only one son. They are one of the rare, loving and joyful couples I have ever seen in my life. Their love and commitment to each other causes us to envy their family life. One of my wife’s desires is to be like them.<br />
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Living closely to their family, we have seen that sister Elizabeth is a submissive wife and highly respects her husband. Brother John loves his wife and takes great care of her. They are physically, emotionally, mentally and heartily one flesh. This doesn’t mean they are a flawless couple. Yet, their strength in loving each other is greater than their failure of getting into occasional conflicts.<br />
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They not only loved the Lord and each other deeply, but have also devoted themselves to love and serve others as a family. Theirs is an open house, devoting themselves to show hospitality. We learned that when we go to their house, we must go with an empty stomach, because they would spread the table with a variety of foods, and that too nutritious ones. We had memorable moments in their house. Their hospitality and care makes us to feel guilty for failing to live up to their generosity. <br />
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<b>4. A MAN OF HUMILITY</b></div>
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We do not easily testify about someone, ‘He is a humble man’ as we quickly and usually say, ‘He is a good man.’ I would unhesitatingly testify, along with the brothers in TENTS ministry, “Brother John is a humble man.” Despite the fact that Korean churches are generally known for having authoritarian, highly pastor-centered, and top-heavy hierarchical leadership structure, brother John was different.<br />
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Brother John’s aim was not to build a name for himself. His passion was not to build an organization centered around him. His motive was not to be served by others. His expectation was not for others to elevate him. His conduct was not controlling, authoritarian, and dictatorial. Many times I have watched him giving preference to others' opinion than to his own. His goal was only to glorify God and to build His kingdom. And we give glory to God for his humility. I sincerely desire to become like him in his patience, gentleness, and humility.<br />
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Out of the many incidents which speak about his humility, here is one. Once brother John and I went to Nepal. I was teaching in a Bible college for a few days. Since the roads were sandy and dusty, my shoes became dirty at the end of the day. Every morning, he would polish my shoes and keep them ready at the doorstep for me to wear. Only a person who intimately knows the humility of Christ, who washed His disciples’ feet, would be willing to serve others humbly. <br />
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<b>5. A MAN OF PRAYER AND WORD</b></div>
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Brother John is a man of prayer. He believes in the power of prayer. When it comes to important decisions, he takes time to pray rather than make hasty decisions. If he has problems with any person, he gives himself first to prayer and prays hard. In difficult situations, he pours his heart before his God like a child. If he thinks a lot, he also prays a lot about what he thinks. He has earned the right to say with Paul, “I served the Lord with all humility and with tears” (Acts 20:19).<br />
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Brother John and his wife have also developed the habit of studying the Holy Bible in an incredible way. They study the Old Testament twice and the New Testament 20 times every year. Their desire is to live a Bible-saturated life. He keeps encouraging others to study the entire Bible more than once every year. I am slowly toddling in their footsteps, studying the whole Bible at least once a year. <br />
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<b>6. A MAN FOR GOSPEL AND FOR CHURCH</b></div>
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Brother John’s greatest passion was for the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the unreached places and for the planting of local churches. Like many missionaries, his focus was not on doing some social work, although he believed and practiced charity. His priority was the gospel and the church, which were also the main thrust of the book of Acts. He strongly believed in the importance of local church and was co-shepherding a church along with an Indian brother.<br />
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The co-pastor who served alongside brother John wrote to me, “Brother John is a man of commitment to church. His heart was for church. His sermons were gospel-centered. He gave himself unreservedly to serve the church members. Even when his health was in bad condition, he made himself available for church meetings and to encourage the brothers and sisters in church. Any part of the day or night, whatever the distance, if any church member was in need, he did not miss to serve them. Serving the church diligently and faithfully was his motto. And he patiently and graciously encouraged all the church members to do the same.”<br />
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I have known missionaries who were not part of any local church and some who nominally attended the church, but brother John took the local church seriously to heart and had poured his life into it. I wish many missionaries and Christian leaders would imitate his commitment to the gospel and to the local church. <br />
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Finally, this is my assertion. In my more than twenty years of Christian life, I have never seen a foreign Christian missionary in India like brother John. My wife wonders whether she would ever meet a missionary couple like them in the future. Although not immune to imperfections, brother John lived an unusual life among us. In a conference which I attended in India, one of his own countrymen said to me, “He is like Jesus.” What a testimony! All glory to God for this unusual man of God. May we imitate such men who imitate Christ.<br />
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We miss you, brother John.<br />
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___________________________<br />
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<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
messageforourage@gmail.com</div>
</div>
</div>
C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-21036656462822423062017-05-04T02:48:00.001-07:002017-05-04T07:05:46.665-07:00A More Important Question Than “Why Kattappa Killed Baahubali?”<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The movie “Baahubali: The Beginning” in 2015 left the audience with a burning question, “Why Kattappa killed Baahubali?” The media has created so much hype on this question all over India and beyond that crowds have flocked to watch the recent release of “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion.” They were eager to find an answer to this mystery. This movie is said to have made an all-time record in the Indian film industry.<br />
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Multitudes of people have found an answer to their long awaited question after watching the movie, but what happened after that? They all went back to their usual routine of life. It did not make any difference in their lives, except that it brought some momentary thrill to their emotions and millions of money to the makers of the movie.<br />
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I still do not know why Kattappa killed Baahubali. And even if I come to know, it may satisfy my fleeting curiosity, but it is in no way going to change my life. It is not a question of utmost importance.<br />
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However, there is a question more important than “Why Kattappa killed Baahubali?” It is, “Why was Jesus killed?” Unlike the question in the Baahubali movie, this is a real question, for Jesus was really killed on the cross. This is not an entertaining idea, but an eternal truth. The importance and seriousness of this question cannot be exaggerated. This is the question that can change your life for eternity.<br />
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Before going further, it should be noted that although it was the joint effort of both Jews and Romans in putting Jesus to death, the Lord Jesus voluntarily surrendered Himself to be killed by them. He asserted, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (Jn. 10:17, 18).<br />
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Moreover, His death did not take Him by surprise, for the Lord Jesus predicted His own death before He was killed: “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise” (Mk. 9:31).<br />
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But, why was Jesus killed? Author John Piper wrote the book "<a href="http://cdn.desiringgod.org/pdf/books_pojc/bpojc_all.pdf">50 Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die</a>". This article briefly presents three reasons why Jesus was killed. Or, it may be more appropriate to ask, “Why did Jesus voluntarily lay His life on the cross?”<br />
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<b>1. JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS TO RECONCILE US TO THE TRUE, LIVING GOD</b></div>
<strong><br /></strong>
The Holy Scripture discloses that there is only One, True, Living God who is Self- Existent, Creator, Infinite, Sovereign, Unchanging, Incomparable, Holy, Loving, Personal, and Eternal (Exo. 3:14; Ps. 71:16; 86:8; 115:15; 147:5; Heb. 13:8; 1 Pet. 1:16; 1 Jn. 4:16; Isa. 40:11; 1 Tim. 1:17).<br />
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At one time the human race knew this God intimately, but through sin, all mankind became separated from God. Man in his sinful state has lost the godly knowledge and relationship with this wonderful God, consequently becoming His enemy.<br />
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However, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Christ died so that we would be reconciled to God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and walk in intimate fellowship with Him (Rom. 5:10; 1 Pet. 3:18).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2. JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS</b></div>
<strong><br /></strong>
The Holy Scripture declares that all have sinned and that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 3:23; 6:23).<br />
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In order to save us from this eternal death, “He (Jesus) appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin” (1 Jn. 3:5). “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isa. 53:5). “He (Jesus) has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb. 9:26).<br />
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Since Christ died for the sins of people, our sins are forgiven only in Christ, for He alone sacrificed His life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.<br />
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<b>3. JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS TO GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE</b></div>
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The Holy Scripture says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). When we repent of our sins and trust in Christ, God forgives our sins in Christ, our penalty for sin is blotted out and we receive the gift of eternal life. In Christ Jesus, instead of eternal death, there is eternal life.<br />
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Stated another way, if the wages of sin is eternal death for sinners, then the wages of Christ’s death is eternal life for those who believe in Him. Christ Jesus died and rose from the dead so that those who believe in Him will also rise from the dead to eternal life. In His own words, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live...Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11:25-26)<br />
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<b>CONCLUSION</b></div>
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Dear friend, “Why was Jesus killed?” is the most important question on the face of the earth. It is so important because the eternal destiny of your life (and of everyone) is hinged upon your acceptance or rejection of what Jesus did on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. Would you call upon Jesus with repentance for the forgiveness of your sins and for the gift of eternal life? Assuredly, you will be amazed to see yourself changed, not merely for a moment, but forever.<br />
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<b><u>Related Articles</u>:</b></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.in/2008/06/he-transformed-my-life.html">He Transformed My Life</a></li>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-23711538549883829252017-04-21T01:25:00.000-07:002017-05-02T18:22:25.106-07:00Does God Hate Sin and Not the Sinner?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There is a widespread sentiment in Christian circles: “God hates sin but loves the sinner; He doesn’t hate sinners.” How good it sounds to hear God does not hate sinners, only their sin! There are some popular notions in Christian culture that many have naively accepted without examining them in the light of Holy Scripture, for they carry great appeal to man's self-indulgent emotions.<br />
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Let us first examine this statement logically—can sin occur without an individual’s choice? We know that sin is an outcome of a person’s will. When one chooses to sin, how can God just hate the sin and not the individual who chose the sin? It is like telling about the murderer who killed your child that you hate the murder and not the murderer. Crime does not exist without a criminal. Sin is not committed without a sinner.<br />
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Besides, if God loves the sinners but hates only the sin, can we also inverse the statement and say, “God loves the good deed but He does not love the doer of the good deed?” It doesn’t make sense, right? Just as good reflects the goodness of the one who did the good deed, so sin reflects the vileness of the sinner.<br />
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The Holy Bible does reveal that God loves sinners: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). And the Holy Scripture also declares that God hates sinners: “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence; YOU HATE ALL WHO DO WRONG” (Ps. 5:5).<br />
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Observe, He not only hates the wrong, but also those who do wrong. God loves and hates sinners. Reformed evangelical theologian and professor of the New Testament, D. A. Carson, comments:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
The cliché (God hates the sin but loves the sinner) is false on the face of it, and should be abandoned. Fourteen times in the first fifty psalms alone, the psalmists state that God hates the sinner, that His wrath is on the liar, and so forth. In the Bible the wrath of God rests on both the sin (Rom. 1:18–23) and the sinner (1:24–32; 2:5; John 3:36).</blockquote>
Well, a question may arise, “How can God love and hate the sinner at the same time?” This is a paradox. French theologian and Protestant Reformer, John Calvin, writes about God that “in a marvelous and divine way he loved us even when he hated us.”<br />
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The Holy Bible teaches that God is holy and God is love (1 Peter 1:16; 1 John 4:7-8). God hates sinners because He is holy and righteous, abhorring sins they commit; and He loves them still because He is loving and gracious, manifesting His mercy towards them. Both the holy and loving attributes are manifested in God’s perfect nature.<br />
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All men deserve God’s wrath because of their sin. No one deserves His love. His grace is amazing towards the sinners because He loves those who indeed deserve His wrath, and had His Only Son to die for them and save them from His wrath. Blessed be His Glorious and Gracious Name.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (Jn. 3:36)</span></blockquote>
<i>Note: This article is an excerpt from the book "Signs of Salvation: Understanding Authentic and Counterfeit Conversion" by C. Stephen David. Click on the following image to find more details.</i><br />
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-33723369286976502402017-04-11T21:28:00.001-07:002017-04-13T02:16:04.031-07:00A Look at the Modern Christian Devoted to What’sApp and Facebook<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is the tragedy of a modern Christian who has erected idols of social media in his/her life.<br />
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<b>The Holy Scripture:</b> “Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. With this in mind, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18).<br />
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<b>The Modern Christian:</b> “Engage with What’sApp and Facebook at all times. With this in mind, keep alert with all perseverance, seeing and responding to the messages that are coming from all the saints.”</div>
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<b>The Psalmist:</b> "In the morning my prayer comes before you (God)” (Ps. 88:13).</div>
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<b>The Modern Christian:</b> “In the morning my eyes fall on you (Facebook and What’sApp).”</div>
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<b>The Psalmist:</b>"I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways” (Ps. 119:15).</div>
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<b>The Modern Christian:</b> “I will meditate on What’sApp and Facebook and fix my eyes on its posts.”</div>
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<b>King David:</b> "I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night.” (Ps. 63:6)<br />
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<b>The Modern Christian,</b> “I remember What’sApp and Facebook on my bed, checking its messages, watching its posts, and meditating on them in the watches of the night.”</div>
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<b>The Early Saints:</b> "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).<br />
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<b>The Modern Saints:</b> “And they devoted themselves to What’sApp messages, to Facebook posts, to the breaking news and the broadcasts.”</div>
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<b>The Holy Scripture:</b> "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Col. 3:16).</div>
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<b>The Modern Christian:</b> “Let the messages from What’sApp and Facebook dwell in your richly, pinging and chatting with one another, reading posts, listening to music, watching videos, forwarding messages, (with forgetfulness in your hearts to God).”</div>
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<b>The Holy Scripture:</b> "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb. 10:24-25)</div>
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<b>The Modern Saint:</b> “And let us consider how to stir up one another to browse new things and online works, not neglecting to chat together in groups, as is the habit of some, but messaging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."</div>
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<b>The Holy Scripture:</b> "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33)</div>
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<b>The Modern Christian:</b> “But seek first the kingdom of What’sApp and Facebook, (and all the distractions of the world will be added to you).”</div>
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<b>The Psalmist:</b> "My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” (Ps. 119:82)</div>
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<b>The Modern Christian:</b> “My eyes long for messages from What’sApp and Facebook; I ask, “When will new posts come and comfort me?” </div>
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<b>The Holy Scripture:</b> "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)</div>
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<b>The Modern Saint:</b> “Stay online always, see messages on What’sApp and Facebook without ceasing, give prompt response to the messages in all circumstances; (for this is the will of the devil apart from Christ Jesus for you)."<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">"Little children, keep yourselves from idols.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">"</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />(1 John 5:21)</span><br />
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-48338090911715547012016-12-25T19:17:00.003-08:002016-12-28T17:35:32.431-08:00People-Driven Holiness: A Dangerous Pursuit [Part Three]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; text-align: left;"> </span><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.in/2016/12/people-driven-holiness-dangerous_25.html" style="background-color: #f4cccc;">IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PART TWO, CLICK HERE TO READ.....</a> </b></div>
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<h3>
Fifth, people-driven holiness is doing things to teach others. </h3>
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There is a “sacred guilt” that I sometimes carry in my heart. The guilt is, “How can I tell others if I don’t practice it myself.” So I try doing things to be an example to others. This seems good on the surface, for did not Paul write, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works?” (Tit. 2:7)<br />
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However, the problem here is that the focus is more on making others do what they must do rather than to walk personally in obedience to God’s Word. <b>The danger of being an example for others is doing things just for the sake of setting an example rather than becoming obedient to please God who has unconditionally accepted us in Christ Jesus.</b><br />
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It is good that we should practice before we teach, but we must be careful not to practice in order to teach. Our devotion to prayer, intercession, Bible study, church fellowship, evangelism, and all good works, must emanate from our love for the Lord who loved us and laid His life for our sins on the cross.<br />
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Imagine that I start spending time with my wife for 30 mins every day. My wife, surprised to see my radical behavior, asks the reason behind my change. I tell her, “You see, I want the husbands in our church to spend time with their wives. So, I decided to spend time with you so that I can tell them to do the same. I don’t want to tell them that which I don’t practice.”<br />
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This sounds heroic, but would my wife be impressed with such an attitude? She would only be delighted if I do things because I love her. It disappoints her to know that what I do for her is actually to tell others to imitate me.<br />
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An example should be the outcome of our pursuit to please God. We pursue to obey God as an expression of our love for Him because He first loved us. Doing things only for the sake of example in order to teach others displeases God who commands us to do all things for His glory.<br />
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<h3>
Conclusion:</h3>
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Much of our holy conduct that we manifest among people seem to be driven by our desire to please others, to get their attention, and to feed our image with a good impression. Our hearts are so consumed with self-glory that we may pursue holiness for self-gratification.<br />
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When our ulterior motives will be examined and exposed on the Day of Judgment, I think, all our good works may look like filthy rags before the holy God. May the Lord Jesus, who commanded us to deny ourselves and follow Him, deliver us from this bondage of self-absorption.<br />
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<b>Remember, only that which is practiced with a sacred consciousness to obey God, to please God, and to glorify God is what is considered as holy before God. People-driven holiness is no holiness at all; it is only hypocrisy and pride.</b><br />
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Therefore, let us constantly examine our hearts in the light of the Holy Spirit, preach the gospel of Christ to ourselves, repent of our sins, pray fervently for a God-fearing heart, and seek the glory of God in all things.<br />
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May I close this message with words of one of the Puritans cited by Ernest Kevan on the imperfection of our works: <b>"We do not do all that is commanded but come short of our duty, and that which we do is imperfect and defective in respect of manner and measure; and therefore in justice deserves punishment, rather than reward: and consequently the reward, when it is given, is to be ascribed to God’s undeserved mercy and not to our merit."</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"> </span><a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.in/2016/12/people-driven-holiness-dangerous.html"><b style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: red;"><u>Return to Read Part One </u></span></b></a><br />
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-68665160786357695792016-12-25T19:13:00.001-08:002016-12-28T17:37:32.913-08:00People-Driven Holiness: A Dangerous Pursuit [Part Two]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; text-align: left;"> </span><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.in/2016/12/people-driven-holiness-dangerous.html" style="background-color: #f4cccc;">IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PART ONE, CLICK HERE TO READ.....</a> </b></div>
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Third, people-driven holiness is doing things to get the attention, praise, and applause of people. </h3>
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In the first point, I shared about how admirably we may behave in the presence of others. In the second, how we want our image to be guarded when we fail. In this third point, I want to speak about how we do good things deliberately for others’ approval. </div>
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I remember how I prayed beautifully for the appreciation of others, how I preached well for the attention of others, and how I gave offerings to impress others. And when I didn’t get the response I desired from people, I got disappointed. </div>
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The Lord Jesus, in what is called <i>The Sermon on the Mount</i>, cautioned, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 6:1).<br />
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Take note, <b>the Lord is not saying that works of righteousness are invisible, but that the motive behind our good works should not be to be seen and appreciated by people. </b></div>
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I am afraid, much of the Christian activities that we do are done to be seen and praised by others. Perhaps we give an offering, do evangelism, go to church fellowship, do some good works—all so that people would look at our works of righteousness and get impressed with us. </div>
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How many of us try hiding our folly when we sin, but when we do something good, we want to blow the trumpet and share it with others! Isn’t this what usually happens in social media, like Facebook, What’s App, etc.? We want others to see our good works, put thumbs up or a smiley, and appreciate our acts. </div>
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Interestingly, we may even justify ourself that we share our good works to encourage others, when, in fact, our deceptive heart craves for attention and praise. And how disappointed we feel when we don’t see any appreciative symbols or words for what we have done!</div>
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Deeds done for the praise of people receive no praise from our Father in heaven. Our light must shine to glorify the name of God, not ourselves (Matt. 5:16).</div>
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Four, people-driven holiness is doing things so that others would do the same for us.</h3>
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What do I expect when I post a prayer request or a pic or a testimony in social media? I want others to respond with some emojis or words of approval. But, how will they do when I myself don’t do the same for them? Social media has become more like ‘you scratch my back and I scratch your back.’ </div>
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Some may quote the <i>Golden Rule</i> of the Lord Jesus, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12). Are we not just doing what the Lord Jesus said? We appreciate to receive appreciation. We help to receive help. We pray to be prayed for. We give gifts to receive gifts. We attend others’ parties so that they would attend ours, and so on.</div>
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<a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.in/2011/11/did-jesus-command-to-love-oneself.html">Just like some have twisted the words of Jesus, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself” to a command to love oneself</a>, so we may twist the words of Jesus, “Do to others what you wish them to do to you” to doing all things for others in order to get them do the same for us. </div>
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<b>In the <i>Golden Rule</i>, the point of the Lord Jesus is to focus on doing for others that which we expect from them, not doing for others with an expectation to have them do the same for us. </b></div>
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Think about visiting a person in a hospital and serving him. After his discharge, the person expresses his gratitude for all your kind help. Let’s say you are a transparent person, so you would respond, “O, my friend, let me be frank with you. I have done all these things to you so that when I am in trouble, you would do the same to me.” Would this excite gratitude in that person? </div>
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Doing good for others so that others would do good for us only speaks about our selfishness, not charity. <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"> </span><a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.in/2016/12/people-driven-holiness-dangerous_81.html"><b style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: red;"><u>Click Here to Read Part Three..... </u></span></b></a></div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-51249656903313744172016-12-25T18:57:00.004-08:002016-12-28T22:07:42.042-08:00People-Driven Holiness: A Dangerous Pursuit [Part One]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></b><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Note: </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This article is written in three parts. It would be helpful to the readers to study this material in its entirety in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the message.</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b> What is people-driven holiness?</b> It is an effort to live a pious life with an ulterior motive that is obsessed with self-image. It is a life that appears holy but its focus is on maintaining a good image before people rather than cultivating a good character in the fear of God.<br />
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Honestly, there is no such thing as holiness when it is people-driven. But it does appear holy and good before people. Nevertheless, the Lord who searches the heart and tests the mind knows the wickedness behind the appearance of our piety. When He walked in flesh on earth, the Lord said to the religious people who were clothed with people-driven holiness:<br />
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Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. <b>So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.</b> (Matthew 23:27-28)</blockquote>
Let me share five features of people-driven holiness. I have learned these lessons primarily by observing the filthiness of my own heart, which only the Spirit of God can expose.</div>
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<b>First, people-driven holiness is led by the fear of what people think about oneself. </b></h3>
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The other day, I was all set to go to church fellowship, but my family wasn’t ready yet. I got frustrated because I love to be on time for church. So I yelled at my kids to leave the house immediately and hopped into the car and on the way I spoke rudely to my wife.<br />
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After some time, I thought, “What if there were guests at my home. Would I have behaved in the same manner?” No, I would have conducted myself politely, suppressing all my frustration. My guests would have thought how patient and gentle I am at home.<br />
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What do you think my motive behind my pious conduct if there were guests at my home? It is the fear of what they would think about me. [But how constant and genuine my holiness would be if I live every moment of my life knowing that God is with me and watching me, and that I do all things to please Him and glorify His Name! Sadly, this is often not the case.]<br />
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Though being wicked in my heart, how easy it is to paint the picture of piety before others in order not to let my image get debased. Don’t you think many times we are driven to behave well in order to guard our self-image before others? We often give a different impression to others than what we actually are in the inside.<br />
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This also reminds me of my commitment not to share about my personal, family, and ministry needs with others, except when I am given the freedom to do so. People think I am a man of faith, like George Mueller.<br />
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However, considering the sinfulness of my heart, I fear such a commitment essentially is not to uphold the glory of God by my faith in Him. It may be my arrogance which refuses to stretch my hands before others for help, and also not wanting my image to be marred like many Christian leaders who publicly make financial appeals. Who knows, it could also be a subtle way to let others know, “Hey, I don’t ask money from anyone. So, remember to help me without me asking you.”<br />
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It seems a lot of our good conduct is manifested, not out of our fear of God, but out of our fear of people’s impression about us. Holiness can be pursued for self-image with no focus on being conformed to the image of Christ.<br />
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Second, people-driven holiness is more focused about personal honor rather than repenting of one’s failures. </h3>
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Due to my forgetful nature and negligent attitude in house responsibilities, I commit many blunders and often make my wife upset. Sometimes, she raises her voice to express her frustration and to get my attention. </div>
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As long as the conflict is just between my wife and me, it’s fine; but, if I realize somebody is nearby, hearing her upsetting voice over me, I get very angry. I want my wife to let others think good about me, whatever my conduct may be. I cannot tolerate if my image is tarnished before others. </div>
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Voluntarily or involuntarily, when someone corrects me before others, like a patriotic soldier who fights for his nation, I want to immediately rise to defend my image. I want to say, "It's okay that I've failed. We all fail. But don't think bad about me. That's not what I am." </div>
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Of course, it is good that correction must be generally given in private. However, our problem is that when we fail, we are too obsessed with our self-image before others rather than about our flawed character, confession of sin, and transformation. </div>
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When Saul was rejected by the Lord for disobeying His commandment, Samuel sharply rebuked him. Do you know what Saul said to Samuel? “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel” (1 Sam. 15:30). </div>
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Observe the words of Saul, “I have sinned, YET honor me before people.” Many times, do we not manifest similar sinful attitude? No matter how sinful our behavior is, we want to be honored before people and desire our image to be highly esteemed. </div>
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Those whose holiness is people-driven, they do not walk in transparency about their weaknesses, failures, and imperfections. They do not usually take correction and ask apology with humility. Even if they do these acts, they do so with concern about their image before others. They are basically good at justifying themselves. Despite their obvious failures, they always want to impress others that they are strong and good. <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"> </span><a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.in/2016/12/people-driven-holiness-dangerous_25.html"><b style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="color: red;"><u>Click Here to Read Part Two..... </u></span></b></a></div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-47557349137785149312016-11-25T23:40:00.000-08:002016-11-26T05:03:18.593-08:00Ten Significant Lessons From Deuteronomy 8:2 - [Part Two]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; text-align: left;"> </span><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.in/2016/11/ten-significant-lessons-from.html" style="background-color: #f4cccc;">IF YOU HAVEN'T READ PART ONE, CLICK HERE TO READ.....</a> </b></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Lesson Six</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">THE GOD WHO TESTS</span></strong></div>
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<b>Deuteronomy 8:2, "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, TESTING YOU TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN YOUR HEART, whether you would keep his commandments or not."</b></div>
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The God of the Bible is a God who tests our faith and obedience. The Scripture in Deuteronomy 8:2 clearly reveals that God tests the hearts of His people in the furnace of affliction. Let me share few more Scriptures with you.</div>
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Genesis 22:1-2 records - After these things God TESTED Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”</div>
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The psalmist acknowledged, "For you, O God, have TESTED us; you have tried us as silver is tried" (Ps. 66:10).</div>
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In his parable of the sower, the Lord Jesus explains a superficial conversion in this way, "And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of TESTING fall away" (Luke 8:13).</div>
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Peter comforted the afflicted believers, "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the TESTED genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7).</div>
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Similarly, James wrote to the believers under trials, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the TESTING of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (Jas. 1:1-4).</div>
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Dear readers, God is not simply flattered by our words and passion. He tests our heart and sincerity. When we are devoted to Him in times of testing and not fall away from our faith and obedience to Him, God would be greatly pleased and takes great delight in us.</div>
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Does God find our faith and obedience to be genuine when He tests us?</div>
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One may wonder, "When God knows all things, why should He test us to know our heart?" The next lesson answers this question.</div>
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<strong><strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Lesson Seven</span></strong></strong><br />
<strong><strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">DOES GOD KNOW ALL THINGS?</span></strong></strong><br />
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<b><span style="text-align: left;">Deuteronomy 8:2,</span><span style="text-align: left;"> "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, TESTING YOU TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN YOUR HEART, whether you would keep his commandments or not."</span></b></div>
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One of the majestic attributes of God is His omniscience, meaning, He knows all things. David specifically stated, "Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether" (Ps. 139:4).</div>
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So when God knows all things, why should He test to know what's in the heart?<br />
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Some try to justify this by saying that God wants us to know our own heart. If that's the case, the Scripture would say God tested your heart to expose it to yourself. But the Scripture says God tested to know what's in your heart. I think God knew the grammar well when He inspired His authors:-)</div>
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Words fall short to describe the mysterious works of God. For our understanding, let me use the words "intellectual knowledge" and "experiential knowledge".</div>
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God in His intellectual knowledge knows all things. He is ignorant of nothing. All eternity is laid bare before His infinite mind. However, when the Scripture says God tested to know what's in your heart, it means, He desired to know by experience, bringing into reality what's in the heart.</div>
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Moreover, when Abraham proved himself faithful by obeying God, the angel of God said, "NOW I KNOW that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me" (Gen. 22:12).</div>
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Doesn't God know beforehand that Abraham feared Him? He did. But He knew by experience that Abraham feared God when in reality he was willing to offer his son Isaac on the altar for the Lord's sake.</div>
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The word "know" in these contexts speaks about God's experiential knowledge. God knows all things, but He also wants to experience the things He knows by bringing them into reality.</div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Lesson Eight</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">WHERE GOD GUIDES HE PROVIDES</span></strong></div>
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<b>Deuteronomy 8:2, "And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD YOUR GOD HAS LED YOU THESE FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."</b></div>
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The Scripture not only speaks about God leading His people in the wilderness, but it also reveals of God's providence in the wilderness.</div>
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Verse 3 shows that God provided them with manna. Verse 4 tells that their clothes did not wear out on them and their foot did not swell those forty years. Verse 15 reminds how God protected them from predators and provided them water from the rock. Above all, the Lord's glorious presence was with them.</div>
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What do we learn from this Scripture?</div>
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God not only takes us through suffering, but also sustains us in it. He will not let us suffer alone in difficulties. He will not leave us nor forsake us. He will be with us and provides our every need to remain strong and to walk victoriously in the wilderness.</div>
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The famous Psalm 23 of David affirms God's presence and providence in our troubles, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (v.4).</div>
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Paul also encourages, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Cor. 10:13).</div>
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Therefore, let us not lose heart in our journey in the wilderness. Let us not give ourselves to unbelief and bitterness. God is with us. He is good and faithful. Where He guides, He also provides. Hallelujah!</div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Lesson Nine</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">LED TO LEAD</span></strong></div>
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<b>Deuteronomy 8:2, "And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD YOUR GOD HAS LED YOU these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."</b></div>
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How did the Lord lead the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years? We know that Moses was God's chosen leader to lead His people. Psalm 77:20 says, "You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."</div>
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Interestingly, before leading the Israelites in the wilderness for forty years, Moses himself was in the wilderness for forty years.</div>
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When he was forty years old, Moses wanted to save his people, supposing God was giving them salvation by his hand (Acts 7:25). But he wasn't ready yet. After killing the Egyptian, he fled to Midian and lived in its wilderness.</div>
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Then after forty years, the Lord visited Moses and used him to deliver His people from the bondage of Egypt and led them through the wilderness to humble them for forty years. (Acts 7:30; Deut. 8:2)<br />
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What principle do we learn from Moses' life?</div>
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Before leading others in His ways, God leads us and teaches us His ways. Before humbling others, God humbles us. Before breaking others, God breaks us. We are not ready for ministering to others unless we are first ministered by God.</div>
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God will not bypass us (ignoring to humble us) and use us to humble others. Remember, He will not work THROUGH us unless He first works IN us. Those who are well trained in the wilderness would lead others well in the wilderness.</div>
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Charles H. Spurgeon rightly said, "The Lord gets His best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction."</div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Lesson Ten</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBER</span></strong></div>
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<b>Deuteronomy 8:2, "And YOU SHALL REMEMBER the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."</b></div>
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We are in the final, tenth lesson from this Scripture.</div>
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Moses commanded the Israelites to remember how the Lord had set them free from the tormenting bondage of Egypt and led them in the wilderness for forty years to teach them humility.</div>
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The word "remember" means "don't forget" or "keep in mind". This doesn't just speak about intellectually storing the things in mind, but also taking the things God has taught seriously to heart and be diligent in following them.</div>
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Regretfully, the Israelites forgot God's lessons and discipline after their entrance into the Promised Land. After sufficient exhortation and warning through His prophets, the Lord had to send them on exile in their enemy’s territory and again teach them humility.</div>
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What do we learn from the failure of Israel?</div>
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The Lord's ways, His teachings and His discipline are precious and good for us. We must remember them and be diligent in living accordingly by the divine power He has given us. We should not allow negligence or casual attitude to creep and grow in us.</div>
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It is good for us to deeply value the lessons God teaches and be careful in following them. When we humbly walk with God, He will take us from glory to glory. Nevertheless, we sinful people often forget God's work of humility in us and slip into complacency and arrogance.</div>
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Now, here is the point - if we forget God's works and ways which He teaches in the wilderness to humble us, we may have to go back to the wilderness to start all over again the lessons of humility.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #d9ead3;"><b>Prayer</b></span></div>
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"Heavenly Father, how good and gracious You are towards us. You are the God who loves us and desires to mold us into Your likeness. We learn that unless we become humble, we would never reflect Your character and glory. So Lord, break us, melt us, and mold us, through whatever means, to become humble vessels. May we decrease, and Your Name be exalted forever and ever. In Jesus Name. Amen."<br />
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f4cccc; text-align: left;"> </span><b style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.in/2016/11/ten-significant-lessons-from.html" style="background-color: #f4cccc;">CLICK HERE TO READ PART ONE</a><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"> </span></b></div>
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______________________________</div>
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<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
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<b>cstephendavid@gmail.com </b></div>
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<b>(or)</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>messageforourage@gmail.com</b></div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-24115826828295949992016-11-25T23:17:00.002-08:002016-11-26T04:51:06.950-08:00Ten Significant Lessons From Deuteronomy 8:2 - [Part One]<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZatZLt4yjrZaYAILROjbDJBfTuamKVdbOYbi121j7I_Vod-fyRs-DLyEw75gGJI50iJ1gV5rQEiPmUm5JuS9tgpRGwHlU3gL0sNEBHU-04PGxOGmCwfiLioBh9sZvN_jgXckXDl4OQ/s1600/widerness+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZatZLt4yjrZaYAILROjbDJBfTuamKVdbOYbi121j7I_Vod-fyRs-DLyEw75gGJI50iJ1gV5rQEiPmUm5JuS9tgpRGwHlU3gL0sNEBHU-04PGxOGmCwfiLioBh9sZvN_jgXckXDl4OQ/s400/widerness+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">Note: </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">This article is divided into two parts. It would be helpful to the readers to study this material in its entirety in order to gain comprehensive understanding of God's wonderful lessons for His children from Deuteronomy 8:2.</span><br />
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Lesson One</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">GOD'S PASSION FOR OUR HUMILITY</span></strong></div>
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<strong><strong>Deuteronomy 8:2,</strong> "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, THAT HE MIGHT HUMBLE YOU, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."</strong></div>
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After delivering the Israelites from the bondage of Egypt, one important attitude God wanted to cultivate in these people was ‘humility’.</div>
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God’s passion is the same even for those who are delivered from the bondage of sin and have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. He desires to teach us humility and to keep us humble.</div>
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Why is God passionate to humble us? It is because by nature we are arrogant.</div>
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Although we appear to each other polite and good, the fact is, we are full of pride within. We are born in pride and have grown in pride. Pride is our inherent nature.</div>
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Pride does not disappear after our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, it becomes even more evident in our hearts. So God's passion is to break us and keep us humble. He does so by allowing difficult circumstances and difficult people into our lives, which could be called ‘wilderness experience’.</div>
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O, we cannot be Christ's followers and yet cherish and nourish pride in us! God cannot let that happen. He loves us so much that He will not let pride ruin us. He is passionate to see us walk in humility, which is a blessed calling of His beloved children.</div>
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The Lord spoke in His Word, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.” (Mic. 6:8)</div>
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Therefore, in view of God's love and our depraved nature, let us humbly submit to our Lord's rod of discipline. Let Him mold us as humble vessels on the wheel of affliction. Let us become humble followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.</div>
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<strong><strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Lesson Two</span></strong></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">BLESSINGS WITHOUT HUMILITY IS A CURSE</span></strong></div>
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<strong><strong>Deuteronomy 8:2,</strong> "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, THAT HE MIGHT HUMBLE YOU, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."</strong></div>
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The Living God earnestly desired to give the Promised Land to the people of Israel. However, He wanted to teach His people humility before fulfilling His promise. And He took them through the wilderness journey for forty years.</div>
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The reason God took the Israelites through the wilderness is not to make their lives miserable; He did this to teach them humility. The purpose of suffering is not to make our lives miserable; it is to make us humble.</div>
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Why?</div>
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Blessings without humility would do more damage than good. Blessings without humility would take us away from God. Blessings without humility makes us arrogant in our relationship with others. Blessings without humility makes us more self-centered. Blessings without humility is a curse.</div>
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Sadly, even in these forty years, many Israelites did not learn humility and perished in the wilderness. They wanted just blessings, not humility.</div>
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We all want blessings. We love to be blessed. But humility is our greater need than blessings. God is more concerned about our character than about our comforts.</div>
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Therefore, let us pray more for humility. Let us seek humility. Let us walk in humility.</div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Lesson Three</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">MARK OF HUMILITY</span></strong></div>
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<strong><strong>Deuteronomy 8:2,</strong> "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, THAT HE MIGHT HUMBLE YOU, testing you to know what was in your heart, WHETHER YOU WOULD KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS OR NOT."</strong></div>
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We have learned that God took the Israelites through the wilderness for forty years in order to teach them humility. But what is humility? What happens when a person is humbled? What is the mark of humility?</div>
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The Scripture says that God humbled the people of Israel through the wilderness experience to know whether they would keep His commandments or not.</div>
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Humility isn’t essentially about simple appearance, tender conduct, and polite conversation. All these can be faked externally, although internally we are full of pride.</div>
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Humility is fundamentally OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S WORD. A humble person is willing to obey God at any cost, honestly admit his sins and weaknesses, live a transparent life, submit himself to the exhortation and admonition by others, and make every effort to glorify God through his obedience to His Word.</div>
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Inevitably, this humility is tested in the wilderness. We know how some seemingly soft persons possess a hardened heart. When situations become difficult, they manifest wild behaviour and despise to obey God's Word. It is in the wilderness that their true nature is exposed.</div>
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Let us, therefore, prove to be faithfully humble in the wilderness. Let us not manifest stiff-necked attitude in difficulties. Let us fear God and obey His Word at all times, for this is the mark of true humility.</div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Lesson Four</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">DOES GOD TAKE US THROUGH DIFFICULTIES?</span></strong></div>
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<strong><strong>Deuteronomy 8:2,</strong> "And you shall remember the whole way that THE LORD YOUR GOD HAS LED YOU THESE FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not."</strong></div>
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Many suppose that God is so loving that He will not take us through difficulties, and any suffering that we face is from the devil. This is a grave misconception.</div>
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The Scripture clearly says that it is the Lord who took the Israelites through the wilderness for forty years. It is not the devil, even Moses. It is the loving God.</div>
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Even in the context of Job's suffering, we must know that it is God who gave permission to the devil to take him through the fiery trials. It is God who was in control over Job's life, not the devil.<br />
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Some may question, “Why does the loving God take His children through suffering?”</div>
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We think, if God is loving, He must always make and keep our lives comfortable. But God thinks that if He is loving, He must develop our character and teach us steadfast obedience. And our character is shaped in suffering. It is written, "Suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character" (Rom. 5:3-4).</div>
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There are infinite comforts and pleasures in heaven which we will enjoy eternally. But, here on earth, God is focused on cultivating godly character in us by taking us through difficulties. For this reason, the Scripture encourages:</div>
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"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (Jas. 1:2-4).</blockquote>
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<strong><strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">Lesson Five</span></strong></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: #d9ead3;">ADVERSITY EXPOSES REALITY</span></strong></div>
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<strong><strong>Deuteronomy 8:2,</strong> "And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, TESTING YOU TO KNOW WHAT WAS IN YOUR HEART, whether you would keep his commandments or not."</strong></div>
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When Moses told the people all that the Lord had commanded, all the Israelites responded together, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do" (Exo. 19:8).</div>
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Did these people really do all that the Lord had commanded? Did they keep their word? Did their talk reflect their walk?</div>
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We know they failed in following the Lord. The wilderness journey proved that they only paid lip service to the Lord's commandments.</div>
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The Scripture clearly says that the Lord had taken His people through the wilderness to test their obedience. Adversity exposes reality.</div>
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Thomas A Kempis said it right, "Adversity does not make us weak; it only shows how weak we are." How true!</div>
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Many of us are good at great talk and enthusiastic passion, but it is in suffering that our true commitment to the Lord is manifested.</div>
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When Job faced immense suffering (our suffering may not come anywhere close in comparison), the Scripture declares, "In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrong." (Job 1:22. cf. 2:10)</div>
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However, considering the trials of Israel in the wilderness, in all their suffering, they grumbled and sinned against God.</div>
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When we go through suffering, do we reflect the attitude of Job or the people of Israel in the wilderness? Does adversity prove us to be faithful or unfaithful disciples? <span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"> <b style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><a href="http://messageforourage.blogspot.in/2016/11/ten-significant-lessons-from_25.html">CLICK HERE TO READ PART TWO</a> </b></span></div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-27689317680871817702016-11-07T17:25:00.000-08:002016-12-30T09:44:05.014-08:00Conversation Between a Believer and the Lord Jesus on Suffering<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnSqx0jVCkTlXAmnom708EpK5btSboCDSVbWXtzV_uhobwM038GuuYNqeLkvzPK-2NL1nIY8tSmuiAMR0Dm9uzcd_z_qqoTXmLyuqhtV8sePDdpV4-meFoYIZcYpq5Rc9JdvBqkB9SA/s1600/why-suffering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnSqx0jVCkTlXAmnom708EpK5btSboCDSVbWXtzV_uhobwM038GuuYNqeLkvzPK-2NL1nIY8tSmuiAMR0Dm9uzcd_z_qqoTXmLyuqhtV8sePDdpV4-meFoYIZcYpq5Rc9JdvBqkB9SA/s400/why-suffering.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<b>Believer:</b> Lord, why am I suffering when I am your believer and follower? I don't think I must suffer as your child. <br />
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<b>Lord Jesus:</b> My beloved child, when did I say you won’t suffer when you believe in me and follow me? Haven't you heard me well? I plainly said.....<br />
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"In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) </blockquote>
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"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." This speaks about the invitation to suffer. (Luke 9:23) </blockquote>
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"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:13-14)</blockquote>
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"Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22) </blockquote>
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"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake." (Philippians 1:29) </blockquote>
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"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." (1 Peter 4:12) </blockquote>
<b>Believer:</b> Lord, I don't understand this. Why should I suffer as your believer and follower?<br />
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<b>Lord Jesus:</b><br />
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"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-3) </blockquote>
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"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5) </blockquote>
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"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6-7) </blockquote>
<b>Believer:</b> I don't think, Lord, I can undergo these sufferings. It is beyond my ability to endure.<br />
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<b>Lord Jesus:</b><br />
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"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)</blockquote>
<b>Believer:</b> What should I do, Lord, in suffering? I find it painful to go through trials.<br />
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<b>Lord Jesus:</b><br />
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"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7) </blockquote>
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"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray." (James 5:13) </blockquote>
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"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) </blockquote>
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"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12)</blockquote>
<b>Believer:</b> But, how long, O Lord, will I go through various kinds of suffering?<br />
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<b>Lord Jesus: </b><br />
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"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (James 5:7-8)<br />
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"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 5:10-11)<br />
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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4) </blockquote>
<b>Believer:</b><br />
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"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." (Job 42:2-3)</blockquote>
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"Not my will, but yours, be done." (Luke 22:42)</blockquote>
<b>Lord Jesus:</b> "Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12)</div>
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<b>cstephendavid@gmail.com </b></div>
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<b>(or)</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>messageforourage@gmail.com</b></div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-84272582089637006932016-10-02T06:06:00.002-07:002016-10-02T08:40:44.046-07:00Is God Our Buddy? Giving God the Reverence Due His Name<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We are exhorted in Hebrews 12:28-29, “Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” In writing, “Let us,” the author of Hebrews includes himself in the exhortation.<br />
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We are told to worship God with reverence and awe. God is certainly our loving
Father, but let us not forget the fact that He is also a consuming fire.</div>
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What is saddening to witness in our modern Christian culture is the decline of reverence and awe in our worship of God. If the President of our country
attends our churches today, I'm afraid he will receive more reverence than God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth.
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I am sure you will agree that we have become too casual and irreverential in our attitude towards God and worship of Him. In the past, people were too afraid to approach God, but
today people have become too casual in their approach to God.
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Some of the statements that are made in regard to God seem to stir up more casual tendency towards God. For example, some claim "God is my pal and buddy".
They speak about talking to God like a friend. This sounds sensational, but is it reverential?
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When the Scripture says that the Lord spoke to Moses as a man speaks to his friend, it is to explain the intimate conversation between them, not the
attitude (Exo. 33:11). The very next chapter reveals, “And Moses quickly BOWED HIS HEAD TOWARD THE EARTH and worshiped” (Exo. 34:8). How reverential Moses
was towards God!
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When the Lord Jesus said, "I have called you friends, not servants," it is in the context of sharing His secrets with His disciples. Observe His words
carefully, “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have
heard from my Father I have made known to you” (Jn. 15:15).
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After the Lord Jesus made this statement, not a single apostle or Biblical writer addressed Him as ‘Friend’. All confessed about themselves as servants of
God and Christ Jesus (Gal. 1:10; Col. 4:12; 1 Tim. 4:6; Tit. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:1; Jude 1:1). Even the Lord’s own brother, James, and His beloved disciple have acknowledged themselves as His servants (Jas. 1:1; Rev. 1:1).
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I believe we must seriously devote ourselves to study the nature and attributes of God. The subject of “Theology Proper,” which speaks about the grand
being and characteristics of God, is greatly ignored by believers today.
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More than motivational sermons and blessings-oriented preaching, we need to know who God is and how majestic He is in His existence. This is especially needed in our generation as many have cultivated
sentimental notions about God rather than reverential understanding of His nature and attributes.
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Although it is true that God is our Father and that we are privileged to have intimate relationship with Him, which is due to Christ’s atoning sacrifice on
the cross, we must also know that the Scripture exhorts us to revere His Name and worship Him with awe:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>"Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; </b><b>tremble before him, all the earth!" (Ps. 96:9)</b></span></blockquote>
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Before concluding my article, let me point out that when the author of Hebrews wrote to believers to approach <i>boldly </i>the Throne of Grace, it is to
encourage them not to feel despised to come to God due to their weaknesses and failures. So he said, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne
of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).</div>
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Later, the author of Hebrews exhorts, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable
worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29).
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God is our loving Father, but let us also keep in mind—He is the Most High God (Ps. 57:2). He is worthy of our utmost reverence. So let us worship Him with reverence and awe.</div>
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<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
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<b>cstephendavid@gmail.com </b></div>
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<b>(or)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>messageforourage@gmail.com</b></div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2255604327588446404.post-3208652325253977922016-09-16T17:12:00.005-07:002020-12-21T04:42:31.484-08:00What’s So Great a Difference Between the OT Ten Commandments and the NT Commandments?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong>The New Testament Scriptures for Reflection: </strong>
The beloved disciple of Christ Jesus, John, wrote, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1
Jn. 5:3). The Lord Jesus Himself said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me” (Jn. 14:21).
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In the Old Testament, God’s people were obligated to keep the Ten Commandments (Exo. 20). In fact, they were required to keep the whole law (Gal. 5:3). I
specifically mention the Ten Commandments because they are reflected in the New Testament, especially in the letters written to the young churches.
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What may come to our mind is, when both the OT and NT have commandments on moral issues, what’s so great a difference between the OT Ten Commandments and
the NT commandments? I will present five great differences for your consideration.
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<strong>1. Cross</strong></div>
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In the Old Testament, the law was given to Israel to expose the knowledge of sin and to show the depravity of man’s heart, ultimately leading people to
Christ in order to be justified by faith, not by works (Gal. 3:24). The Gentiles had their own law written on their hearts, which they themselves could not
keep (Rom. 2:12-16). Whether Jews or Gentiles, all have sinned and are in need of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:22-25).</div>
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Considering the Law of Moses, Paul argues in Romans 3:20, “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law
comes knowledge of sin.” The law is good, but since no one can keep the law in its entirety, none can be justified before God’s sight. In other words, the
law was given to show our impotency in following it and our need for God’s grace.
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Now, when it comes to the New Testament, the commandments were given, not to prove our impotency, but having found our sufficiency in Christ, we obey them.
Because of the redeeming power of the Lord Jesus from the bondage of sin, we can say, “We keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1
Jn. 5:3).
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Paul wrote that God “saved us and called us to a holy calling” (2 Tim. 2:9). Observe the order—God has first saved us through Christ’s sacrifice on the
cross and then called us to a holy living. We can live holy because we are saved from the penalty and power of sin through the cross of Christ.
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Besides, we do not keep the commandments of God to find our acceptance by Him. We are accepted by God only because of the sacrificial work of Christ Jesus
on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins (Rom. 5:1). Nothing that we do causes God to accept us. Everything that we do flows out of our acceptance by
God in Christ Jesus.
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<strong>2. Christ Jesus</strong></div>
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What is the source of OT law? Revelation through Moses. John writes, “For the law was given through Moses” (Jn. 1:17). Paul also mentioned, “Yes, to this
day whenever Moses is read (i.e. a metaphor for the Law) a veil lies over their hearts” (2 Cor. 3:15).</div>
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But, what is the source of New Testament commandments? The Lord Jesus Christ. After mentioning to believers to abstain from sexual immorality, drunkenness,
quarrelling and jealousy, Paul wrote, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Rom. 13-14). We are called to imitate Christ, and all our obedience to the commandments in the New Testament is with a purpose, i.e. to be conformed to Christlikeness. (1 Jn. 2:6; Rom. 8:29)</div>
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Although there are similarities between the Ten Commandments mentioned in Exodus 20 and the New Testament commandments in the letters to the churches, the
point of reference is Christ, not Moses. We put on Christ, not Moses. Christ Jesus is our absolute source and standard (not Moses) for obedience to New
Testament commandments. Paul elsewhere mentions that he is not under the law of Moses, but under the law of Christ (1 Cor. 9:20-21).
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<strong>3. Grace</strong></div>
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John wrote, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1:17). Do you know that God’s grace in the Old Testament
law was manifested only to some extent, but His grace is extensively shown in the New Testament?</div>
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For example, the fourth commandment in the Ten Commandments says to keep the Sabbath day holy (Exo. 20:8). And anyone who does not keep the Sabbath day, it
is commanded that they must be put to death (Exo. 31:14). The seventh commandment in the Ten Commandments says not to commit adultery (Exo. 20:14). And
anyone who commits adultery, it is commanded they must be put to death (Lev. 20:10).
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Thankfully, in the New Testament, we have been given abundant grace in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. It is written, “If we confess our sins, he
is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn. 1:9). There is no sin that cannot be forgiven, for “the
blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from ALL sin” (1 Jn. 1:7). This shows a radical shift in God’s administration of His grace.
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Having said that, this does not mean one can casually commit any sin and simply seek God’s forgiveness. Those who are truly born-again love righteousness;
they hate sin and wickedness (1 Jn. 2:29). And in their pursuit of righteousness, whenever they fall in sin, there is forgiveness for them in Christ Jesus
and freedom from self-condemnation (1 Jn. 2:1-2).
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<strong>4. Divine Empowerment</strong></div>
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The OT law was kept by one’s own effort. Paul explained his struggle to keep God’s law in this way:</div>
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For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the
law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Rom. 7:15-17)</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Finally, after Paul asking “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” he expresses, “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our
Lord!” (Rom. 7:24-25). He then goes on in chapter 8 explaining how sin is mortified (put to death) by the power of the Holy Spirit.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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As New Covenant believers, none of us can obey the commandments by our own effort. It requires divine empowerment. All our efforts flow out of divine
empowerment by God. Observe the Lord’s New Covenant:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of
flesh. And <em>I will put my Spirit within you</em>, and <em>cause you to walk </em>in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Eze. 36:26-27; cf.
Jer. 31:33)
</blockquote>
</div>
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Moreover, God's Word says, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3). The divine power has been given
for godliness. A Christian, therefore, is not impotent for holiness. He is empowered by the Holy Spirit. He is mighty in the Spirit.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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Because of the power that is in believers to live a godly life, the Word of God teaches, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the
flesh” (Gal. 5:16). And, “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live”
(Rom. 8:13).
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Christian life is not lived by just rules and principles; it is a Spirit-empowered life. The Puritan John Owen, recognizing a believer’s utter
dependence on the Spirit, wrote, “A man may easier see without eyes, speak without a tongue, than truly mortify one sin without the Spirit.” Believers are
called to live a holy life not by self-confidence and self-help, but by the Spirit’s enablement. No power, no purity.
</div>
<br />
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<strong>5. Love</strong></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When the question was asked to Christ Jesus about which is the great commandment in the Law, the Lord said:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a
second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:37-39)</div>
</blockquote>
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Paul also wrote:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit
adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.</div>
</blockquote>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Observe, such emphasis and enlightenment on love is not emphasized in the OT law. It is in Christ Jesus that love was absolutely manifested towards us, and
thus love was highlighted as a motivation for our complete obedience to the New Testament commandments. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For this reason, Christ gave a new commandment, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (Jn. 13:34).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">Further, the phrase “Love one another” is repeated at least a dozen times in the New Testament (Jn. 13:34; 15:9, 12, 17; Rom. 13:8; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1
Jn.3:11, 23; 4:7, 11-12; 2 Jn. 5). And you will find more than one hundred New Testament references on love, not to mention the detailed description of
love in 1 Corinthians 13.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The whole Christian life is a life of love. All the commandments are obeyed out of love for God and for others. So important is love in a believer that it
is written:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is
the one who does not love his brother. (1 Jn. 3:10)
</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Final Words</strong></div>
<br />
We have learned that despite the fact of having similarities between the OT Ten Commandments and the New Testament commandments, except the controversial
issue on the relevance of Sabbath which requires separate treatment, there is a great difference between them. The following is the summary:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
1. Our Christian obedience is built on the cross of Christ Jesus, which is the basis for our acceptance by God and justification before His sight.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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2. Our Christian obedience has its point of reference to the person Christ Jesus. It is the Lord Jesus, not Moses, who is our source and standard.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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3. Our Christian obedience has the riches of God’s grace available to us in Christ Jesus. Whenever we fail in our obedience, we don’t have to fall in
self-condemnation or fear of losing our salvation. Instead, we must sincerely repent of our sin, receive forgiveness in Christ Jesus, and move forward in
our growth in Christlikeness.
</div>
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<br /></div>
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4. Our Christian obedience is practiced not by self-effort, but by Spirit-enablement. Although our responsibility in putting our effort is exhorted, all
our energy flows out of God’s powerful work in us.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
5. Our Christian obedience is manifested out of love for God and for one another. The love of God in our hearts is the motivation for all our obedience to
New Testament commandments. We do not obey because we “have to” but because we “love to.”
</div>
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<br /></div>
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May the Lord continue to shower His grace and power on us to live a life of obedience to His commandments for His glory, honor and praise.
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_________________________________________</div>
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<b>Enquiries: </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>cstephendavid@gmail.com </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><b>(or)</b></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b>messageforourage@gmail.com</b></b></div>
<b>
</b></div>
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C. Stephen Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08675397501666351956noreply@blogger.com0