SAY NO TO IDLENESS; SAY YES TO PRAYER

 

IDLENESS

2 Thes. 3:11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.

Literally: Idleness is physically not working at all (NIV translation), is mentally having unoccupied minds, laziness to do any work, and caring nothing about.

Spiritually: Those who are busybodies but spiritually empty. We may be very busy doing work in our workplaces but this doesn’t exempt us from being idle. 

We become idle spiritually when: 

• we work without the incorporation of love and without the purpose of glorifying God in all things that we do, (Colossians 3:17)

• the goal is pleasing men instead of God, (Colossians 3:23)

• our minds are preoccupied with worldly things and unoccupied with heavenly things, (Colossians 3:2)

• Our motivation for work is the earthly riches and care less of the idea of supporting God’s kingdom. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Our work is probably one of the greatest testimonies of our faith!

God's Word makes it very clear that we are instructed to work hard and put our best effort forward. There is no instance in the bible that encourages us to be idle, lazy, or sluggard (read Proverbs 6:9-12, Proverbs 26:15, Proverbs 6:6, Proverbs 20:4, Proverbs 19:15, Proverbs 13:4) . The bible even warns us against idleness. 

In 2 Thess. 3:6 Paul said,

 “Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.”

PRAYER

The solution to idleness is prayer. We are commanded to pray unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17) most especially when we find ourselves being idle lest we fall into temptations. We are PRONE TO TEMPTATIONS during idle times. We are likely to be deceived by the enemy through overthinking, self-pity, gossiping (see proverbs). 

We read how important prayer is in our daily reading today, 2 Thessalonians 3:1 that even Paul, who’s mighty in prayer, asked for it from the Thessalonians whom he also kept in prayer. Every victory that Paul celebrated is battled in prayer. He has seen the need and the power of praying with the saints. 

Benediction

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

LOVING IN SPIRIT

 

Have you experienced loving others but eventually being burnt out or suddenly falling out of love? Have you experienced receiving or even giving seasonal love to others (e.g loving them when they are most lovable or pleasant)? Have you experienced giving out limited love because of believing that ‘’I also have to leave a room to love myself’’?

THESE ARE ALL WORLDLY LOVE!

As we read Galatians 5, We will know that Christ has set us free from the yoke of slavery of this world. The world has been teaching temporary love. And we became a slave of our own kind of love and self righteousness. 

Christ Has Set Us Free

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Make a difference!!!

Now that we are free men in Christ,

     What makes us different from our old self?

Faith working through love. 

• When we were in the world, we also loved but without faith or some of us have faith but not faith working in love. 

• BUT now, we should have both of these elements working together. LOVE keeps our FAITH working and FAITH causes us in LOVE. 

How do they work together?

• Verses 6 and 13 said, 

 ‘’Only faith working through love…through love serve one another.’’

How is it possible?

• Verse 25 ‘’Live and walk in the spirit’’

• LOVE is one of the fruits of the spirit, if we walk and live in the spirit we will reap this fruit that enables us to serve one another. The Holy spirit in us is the one who’s manifesting in love when we walk and live in spirit. We know the struggles of truthfully loving others and surely we will always fall short of loving them if we walk in the flesh. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us love them as He loves them.  

• We can feel genuine love and sincere service for others when we are in the spirit. When we feel hatred, anger, envy, jealousy, divisions and the like, these are the awakening that we are not walking in the spirit because the spirit knows not to hate, envy, angry etc. 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 5:25-26

Reflections: 

• Am I really walking in the spirit or in the flesh?

• Do I have a genuine love and sincere service for God and others?

• Do I serve them wholeheartedly without the expectation of return?

• How do I approach my brothers and others?

• Have I felt burnt out of loving them?

• Do I feel jealous, envious, angry towards them in certain circumstances?

• How does walking in the Spirit change my service to God and to others?

• How does walking in the flesh change my relationship towards others?

• What do I do when I catch myself walking in the flesh?

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:22-24

WHAT AN AMAZING JOB!

The most important factor that makes our job amazing is the people we are working with. Whether they are our employers or co-workers. Have you found these people in your workplace? Have you found this kind of work in this world?

Our bible reading for today is from 2 Corinthians 6. Verses 1-2 says, 

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 

2 Corinthians 6:1

The word ‘’workers’’ here is very significant. We are indeed workers as where we are. Workers not for the world but in this world for the Kingdom of God. Whoever claimed to be Christians and believers of Christ should no longer work for themselves but for the Lord. The moment that we’re reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, that was the time that ‘’We were hired!’’ and qualified to work in a new position in the Ministry of reconciliation. We are given the title as, ‘’the ambassadors of Christ’’ who will represent Him in this world. This is the most amazing job in this world and it is a great privilege to represent Christ in this foreign place-the world. 

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

2 Corinthians 6:18

Our job descriptions: 

Working in the ministry of reconciliation as Ambassadors of Christ. 

1. Preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons like Jesus

For He says:

“In an acceptable time I have heard you,

And on the day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2

• These call the urgency of the Gospel to be shared, sick to be healed, captives be freed. 

2. Take up the cross of Jesus

4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10

• This is no time for Christian lives consumed with ease and comfort and self-focus. It is time to get busy for the Lord and to be workers together with Him. God doesn’t want us to be sluggard but to keep on working for Him as He rewards  all the hardworking. 

3. Work in agreement with God

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 

2 Corinthians 6:1

• ‘’We are workers together with Him. Paul never said God works together with us. It isn’t our work that God helps us with. It is His work that He asks us to do together with Him. Instead of trying to get God to help us with our work, we need to find out what God’s work is, and do it with Him.’’

• Is God supposed to do it or am I supposed to do it? The answer is, “Yes!” God does it and we do it. Trust God, rely on Him, and then get to work and work as hard as you can! That is how we see the work of God accomplished.

The picture of ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) is especially helpful in understanding the nature of being workers together with Him. An ambassador can rightly be described as working together with his king. Yet, the ambassador himself has no power or authority or agenda on his own – it is all bound up in his king. The king delegates power and authority to the ambassador and reveals. 

There is no easy job, whether IN THE WORLD OR IN THE WORD. Working in the ministry of Reconciliation is never easy. But this is the most satisfying, beneficial, and valuable job. Working with the Lord is the best. It’s not that God needs us but He chose to work with us for our good. 

How do you find working with the Lord amazing?

What makes you stay in the work?

Could you recommend this work to everyone? Why?

 

Our reading for today is from the book of 2 Corinthians 2. 

2 Corinthians 2:15-16

15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 

16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

We- Christians

Aroma/fragrance/scent- pleasant smell

Source of aroma- Jesus 

We are the aroma of Christ to God. God through us is spreading the aroma of the knowledge of Christ in every place. God intends that the scent of knowing Jesus be smelled in every place through the lives of his people. 

Let us reflect: 

— What kind of scent are we bringing to people? Is it a pleasant scent or a foul one? 

— Does our fragrance brings death or life? 

— Are we getting the source of aroma from Jesus? Do we smell like Jesus everyday?

— Are we spreading the aroma of the knowledge of Jesus and make Him known to our loved ones? Friends? Workmates? 

Jesus smells like sacrificial service for the good of others.

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

The smell of Christ is a pleasing fragrance to God. Our sufferings, afflictions, “not my will but yours be done” smell like Jesus to the Father. Everything we do for the glory of Jesus, if it’s according to God’s Words and will is pleasing to the Father. 

Let’s persevere to think like Jesus, act like Jesus, and wear the fragrance of Jesus all the time. 

Amen

VICTORIES MUST BE CELEBRATED!

Monday, 30th October, 2023 1 Corinthians 14

       What is victory? How can you say that you are victorious? How often do you celebrate victories?

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV

    Christians must celebrate victory everyday. It is impossible to not be victorious when we carry the banner of the name of Jesus, when we do all things for God and with the help of the Holy spirit. We sometimes not feel victorious because our eyes are focus on the earthly things. We feel most victorious when we do the will of God and follow His instructions. Jesus is the overcomer of every battle, affliction, weakness, sickness this world has offered. We celebrate victories through glorifying the Lord, praising Him, and thanking Him before the day’s over. This is the reason why Christians are joyful even in the middle of a storm. When we are weak, He is strong. This is why we still delight even in our weaknesses (2 Cor 12:10).

2 Cor.12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

The Greatest Victory     

    On the top of these, nothing compares to the greatest victory that we are about to celebrate in the second coming of the Lord Jesus. This is where He will overcome death that has been trying to persuade, linger, and push us down to hell as we live in this world.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV

    A little more time and the end of the reign of satan will fall and death can no longer follow us to heaven.

"Death has swallowed up in victory-1 Cor. 15:54"

The sufferings we have now are nothing compared to the great glory that will be shown to us.

Romans 8:18 How do we keep the Victory on hand?

1. Be steadfast

• Joshua 23:8 But you are to cling to the Lord your God, as you have done to this day.
• Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

2. Be immovable

• Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
• Psalm 121:3 He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.
• Psalm 46:5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

3. Always abound in the work of the Lord

• 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
• Philippians 2:13 For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
  Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
  1 Corinthians 15:51 ESV
  *We are not to fall asleep as we wait. Stay awake in faith through 1 Corinthians 15:58
  "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

LOVE is the KEY

 

As we meditate the word of God today from 1 Corinthians 14, we cannot help but trace back all what Paul have written to the Corinthians Church from chapters 12-14. 

As Paul regulates the use of the Spiritual gifts in the Corinthian church, he emphasized that we cannot exercise our Spiritual giftings without love. 

The Corinthians were enamored with spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of tongues. Paul reminds them even the gift of tongues is meaningless without love. Without love, a person may speak with the gift of tongues, but it is as meaningless as sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. It is nothing but empty noise.

In discerning Spiritual gifts and identifying if it's really from the Holy Spirit is to judge things on how they relate to Jesus.
    - DOES THE GIFT / REVELATIONS / PROPHECY GLORIFY JESUS?
    - DOE IT PROMOTES JESUS OUR WE ARE EXALTING OURSELVES?

Jesus made it clear to us in John 15:26 - the Holy Spirit would come to testify of Me and He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you. 

Therefore, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to promoteJEsus, to glorify and represent Jesus. His true ministry is according to the nature of Jesus. 

LOVE IS THE KEY for all Spiritual Gifts - we will know if it's from God if it blesses others, exalts Jesus and brings people to repentance to the Father. 

In Chapter 14, Paul explains that prophecy is important in the church because it is more profitable in the church than the gift of tongues for it promotes mutual blessings. But we should not forbid the speaking in tongues for it is necessary for our own edification and personal restoration. 

Exercising Spiritual Gifts in the church must be done with LOVE, decently and in order for the Lord is the Lord of order and peace. 

Let us Reflect:

When the Holy spirit dwelled in us - we receive revelations and gifts. 

1. How are we using it? is it out of love to glorify Jesus or to exalt ourselves? 

        (-indicators we are exalting ourselves - we make sure people in the church know we are gifted by approaching them and telling them you've seen them or you have a dream of them without any confirmation - this can make people uneasy. 

    - when we hear them say - I know who you are, I can see your past and future - you cannot hide anything from me --only God know us and  this will scare people and we do not glorify the Lord.

    - when we hear them always say - the Lord revealed to me  that - and say things that can be read from a book or commentaries - 

    - when we always boast about how God is using us withhout any purpose just to boast.  )

2. When we reveal the revelations of the Lord, does it destroy relationships or edify the group? 

LET US REMEMBER:

We cannot use our gifts in the absence of love. Our final motivation in using our gifts is our Love for the Lord not self-exaltation. 

Now it is clear how to detect true gifts, true prophecy and true revelation- if it’s done out of love it is the ministry of the Holy spirit. Hallelujah! 

This makes things easier for us to identify if our revelations or others revelation is truly from the Holy spirit.

Amen.

“Knowledge puffs up, love builds up.''

 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 

1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV

The difference between puffs up and edifies is striking. 

Knowledge; Puffs up; bubbles

Love; Edifies; building up

"Some christians grow, others swell"

- In this chapter, Paul discussed about the liberty of the christians in response to eating food offered to idols. He said that it's no big deal whether or not we eat the food offered to idols because we do not believe that their gods exist. For there is only one God and one Lord (v.6) whom we live. 

- However, as christians we have great influence to those people around us. The knowledge of liberty that we have might stumble the weaker conscience and it caused us to sin against them and against Jesus. 

- Paul therefore concluded that when eating food offered to idols caused the weaker conscience to sin, then it's better not to eat (exercise that liberty).

4 Things we can learn:

1. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up." 1 Cor.10:23

2. The actions of the christians greatly affect others. It may grow or swell their faith in Jesus. 

3. We may be given knowledge but it will considered as bubbles when we do not apply/use it with love. 

4. The knowledge that God has given us should drive us to edify (builds up) others. If not, we do not love God. We cannot say that we love God and hate others. 

Remember from verse 3 that knowledge can be revealed for those who truly love God, the knowledge that edifies. In this, we know that if the knowledge edifies others then it is from God.

But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. 

1 Corinthians 8:3 ESV

BE WHAT YOU ARE

As we read 1 Corinthians 6, verse 11 says, 

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 

                                                    1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV 

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             ''WASHED, SANCTIFIED, JUSTIFIED''

These words tell us who we are NOW. We truly are the unleavened, For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us (1 Cor. 5:7). Therefore, we have to live in purity as the Passover speaks about us. 

Reflection:

Am I truly living my true self right now? 

A WASHED, SANCTIFIED, and JUSTIFIED believer of Christ?

• We are living "washed" when we keep away from temptations, but when we are tempted, we always come to repentance and we allow the blood of Christ to cleanse us. (1 John 1:9)
• We are living "sanctified" when we allow the Holy spirit to transform us and to only conform in His words     (Romans 15:16)
• We are living "justified" when we keep the salvation and the saving faith-the faith with actions.                      (Romans 5:1)

Let's pray,

Father God,

We praise you and thank you for the life of Jesus. HE is our Passover Lamb, whose blood was shed that judgment  might pass over us. So, we are to live in the purity that Passover speaks of. Let us stay to our new self as washed, sanctified, justified christians. In Jesus name. Amen🙏

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 

1 Corinthians 6:17 ESV 

for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 

1 Corinthians 6:20 ESV

OUR OBEDIENCE AND HIS PROMISES

 

As we meditate on His words today - let us reflect on Acts 23:11. 

11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."

In this chapter, we see God’s promise to Paul being kept. Paul was told by God that he would make it to Rome and that nothing would stop him. Paul had faith in God that he would keep his promise and that is why he went to Jerusalem where he knew there would be verbal and violent attacks against him for his relations with the Gentiles. In this scripture,  we see God's provision and protection of Paul.

Paul was not satisfirad with his work in Jerusalem, he felt that he did not do a lot to preach the Gospel to the Jews. But at night Jesus appeared to him inside the prison cell. Paul was imprisoned for several times and every time Jesus would free him. This time, Jesus did not free him, he accompanied him inside the prison to cheer him up and exhort him to take courage for He is always with him. 

Jesus assured Paul that he did well in serving the Lord and that He will still use him to testify in Rome. This is an assurance that Paul will not die in Jerusalem because he still needs to go to Rome. 

In our journey in faith, there are times that we fail the Lord, or sometimes we felt we are not doing enough for him, but in this situation it is very clear that for the Lord what is important is our obedient heart - it is our responsibility to obey and  He is responsible for the result. 

All He needs is for us to obey - no matter what.

Let us reflect:

- How many times do we fail God by not spending time with him because we cannot get up or lazy to open our bible -- we would rather entertain our laziness than to fight for the WORD of God. 

- How many times we do not attend to His works or fellowship because we do not feel well though we are aware of how satan works and the pattern of spiritual battle? 

- Was there a time that we doubted His promise and His plan for us? 

- What do we do when we felt like we fail Him. Are we like Paul, who repent and speak to the Lord what happened?

- We are all bound to fail when we do His works and when we decide to obey, because persecution is present and we are always on battle spiritually, but do we easily give in? if not, do we experience the presence of the Lord talking to us when we are so down? 

As Christians and true servant of the Lord we must be able to hear the voice of God, instructing us what to do and guiding us, encouraging us and giving us assurance like Paul. 

Lord, as we obey you keep your promises of proctection and provision to us.  Amen. 

DO I HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

 As we continue to reflect on the words of God, we are now in Acts 19.

Let us focus on the verses 2-6 where Paul asked the so called disciples if they have received the Holy Spirit.

2 he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." 4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Why did Paul asked? 

When they were asked about the Holy Spirit, Paul discovered that they have no idea about the Holy Spirit. 

The reason why Paul asked is unknown but  if we claim we are Christians - the manifestation of the Holy Spirit must be seen in our actions and in our lives.

Maybe when Paul saw these so-called disciples he did not see any transformation from them or any sign of the power of the Holy Spirit, that is why he asked.

In the same manner, in our Church, when the leaders do not see any transformation or manifestation of the Holy spirit in the lives of the flocks, we ask if they indeed receive the Holy Spirit. 

HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

1. We fall in love with the words - we read the bible daily.

2. We are so in love with Jesus that we felt the need to share Him to others. 

3. We have the confidence to use the authority of Jesus to heal, cast out demons and to preach with power. 

4. We are confident we are saved.

5. We speak in tongues or we have the desire to speak in tongues.

6. We bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit. 

7. The Lord speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. 

Let us reflect:

- Do I have all these signs in my life?

- Is my life already transformed that i do not use anymore the words I used to speak  like curses, gay language or street languages?

- Is the burden of God in finding the lost souls already my burden?

Father, in the name of your Son Jesus, thank you for Your gift to us - the Holy Spirit - who is convicting us to do the godly things. 

Oh Holy Spirit, who is our revealer of truth and helper, thank you for sanctifying us everyday. May our transformed life glorify the Lord Jesus always. Amen.