HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER

 

Let us meditate His words today from Matthew 23. 

On the first part of the chapter Jesus strongly rebuked the pharisees and scribes  for they do not practice what they preach. He called them false teachers, hypocrites, fools, whitewashed tomb, brood of vipers etc. He called them mean names to show how he hates their works and actions. For they are self-seekers, position seekers and men pleasers. 

When we serve the ministry of the Lord, we serve all not only a few who gave us favor. We serve and please the Lord not the people. When we teach and exhort we make sure that we don’t teach out of context- pick a verse and exhort it according to what we want to say. - this is false teaching. Jesus warned us of these brood vipers that lurking around even in the churches. They claim holy and knows the Lord but refused to have fellowship, to participate and to be used by the Lord and deny His power. He needs to see our action. For faith without action is dead. Let us beware that we may not become modern pharisees and scribes who teaches and lead to bring glory to themselves. They bring people to themselves for favor and for their sake. 

In order for us to be true servant, we must first submit to our Lord. Submission requires humility. 

But though we are sinners like these Pharisees, Jesus showed His love for us by lamenting and pleading for us to come back to Him. To submit to His care and to dwell under His wings. Indeed His mercy endures forever.  Amen.

BE TRANSFORMED!

 

As we read Matthew 22, we came across with the Parable of the wedding feast.

The King prepared a wedding feast for everyone. The invitation went out to all. He sent His messenger to invite His people but they refused to attend because of so many reasons – mostly earthly reasons. So He extended His invitation to the Gentiles – non believers.

When the king inspected His guests. He saw a man not wearing a wedding garment provided by the King, so he was thrown outside – into the darkness, where there is gnashing of teeth and weeping.

This is the man who doesn’t want to change his clothes but still wants to get in and party. God clothe us in the righteousness of Jesus, so…this man is saying “I want to go to be part of the kingdom, but not through Jesus. I don’t want to change.”

When we say we accepted Christ, we must submit to His will – be transformed. How can we be transformed? Be fed by His words that influences our thoughts and actions and our outlook.

LET US REFLECT:

Many claimed they are Christians, they are always in the church, but never listened to the Word of God. They are just in the church for good times and party but they are unwilling to be transformed by the Lord. This passage is warning for all of us who claimed we are with Christ but still living in sin and refused to be transformed.
How do we know we are transformed?

  1.   We changed from our fleshly desire to spiritual desire – we now have love for prayer and Word.

2.   We are always eager to learn more about Jesus – we do not refuse equipping.

3. We are always excited to attend the service for we know we will be fed. So, we listen to the sermon.

4.  We never backslide – because we know we come to the church for Jesus not for people.

5.  We do not give up the tasks the Lord has given to us. No matter what.

God gives everyone an opportunity to become saved and enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who fully accept Him and follow Him will be able to enter His kingdom. Amen.

LIVING LIFE FOR THE LIVING HOPE

 

    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great     mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

1 Peter 1:3

The Living hope

- We've been born again into new creations to a living hope through Christ Jesus. He is our living hope.

- We first started to see the power of God that raised Jesus from the dead when we started to believe and put our faith in Him. 1 Peter 1:9 ‘’obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls’’. His power does not end here, there's more that we can see when the face of the Lord is revealed to us when He comes back (Revelation 22:4).

- The living hope that we have is incorruptible, unfading, undefiled. The hopes that we had in this world when we're not yet born again were perishable and temporary (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

 “It is also called a ‘living hope,’ because it is imperishable. Other hopes fade like withering flowers. The hopes of the rich, the boasts of the proud, all these will die out as a candle when it flickers in the socket. The hope of the greatest monarch has been crushed before our eyes; he set up the standard of victory too soon, and has seen it trailed in the mire. There is no unwaning hope beneath the changeful moon: the only imperishable hope is that which climbs above the stars, and fixes itself upon the throne of God and the person of Jesus Christ.” (Spurgeon)

Isaiah 49:23 (NIV), “Those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

Let’s not cease this living hope until Jesus comes. Who among us here cannot wait for His great come back?

Christians cannot wait for the second coming of the Lord Jesus. These are the believers who confidently say, ''Maranatha, Lord Jesus'' not only by words but by actions.  

How do we express ''Maranatha, Lord Jesus'' in actions? 

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

- When we conduct ourselves as saved Christians, living a born again life and living a holy life. For God called us to be holy. How?

Called to be Holy

Trying to be holy is the hardest thing to attain, in this world governed by Satan. Holiness is not so much something we possess as it is something that possesses us. Let the holiness of God governs us. This the only way to be holy as He is holy. If we abide in Him, we will be consumed by His holiness. He wants us to take part in what's in Him. 

Brothers and sisters, let us stop trying to be holy by our religious actions. These things will never be enough for us to be holy. We will end up being hypocrites. The holiness that we know may be different from God's. Let us stop trying to pull holiness toward us. Let us draw near to that holiness. We know exactly where we can find it. Let's draw near to God and share in His holy presence, holy peace, holy love, holy joy. These are the things that the world cannot give.

The impartation of God’s holiness in us caused us to obey Him because we know that even His will is holy. We will be led to holy actions and works in His kingdom as what the Lord Jesus did.  It drives us to act upon His holiness in us. To spread it in the world of unholiness and darkness. 

Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

-If we know that we are saved. Let's live saved. Christians who are living in new way of life, in words and actions can surely, confidently say- 

‘’Maranatha, Lord Jesus. We can’t wait to see you face to face’’.

Reflections:

• How much do you hope for the come back of the Lord Jesus?
• How can you express, ''Maranatha, Lord Jesus'' without saying in words? 
• How do you live for the living hope you believe in?
• How much do you struggle living a holy life?
• Do you do religious things to be holy? or you draw near to God to impart His holiness?
• What God's holiness made you to be? 

THE RIGHT MOTIVES IN RESISTING TEMPTATIONS

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12

Temptation is Satan's bullet to every man’s weakness. Satan knows the weakest areas of your lives (the weakest because these are the areas that we do not fully submit to God and the areas overpowered by our flesh) and this is the temptations’ hook in us. Some people practically beg Satan to tempt them. This happens when we start to desire the temptation or even start to think about it. Our desires give birth to sin and sin to death. The bible said that we need to endure temptations to receive the crown of life instead of death. 

How do we endure and resist temptations?

Fear of man? 

Some of us have the wrong motive to resist temptation. We resist temptation because we fear being judged by others most especially, we are labeled as Christians. Fear of man still ended us up tempted secretly without their presence. If we truly consider God, we will endure temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13) ‘’But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it’’ because we cannot hide from His presence and He sees us. 

Fear of God? 

This is the right motive of resisting temptations. Proverbs 8:13 ‘’The fear of the LORD is to hate evil…’’ Do we really fear God? If we do, even the smallest thought of evil and temptation must be casted out. Do we have enough fear of God? Or are we just abusing His goodness and mercy? We know that He sees us when committing sin but we still continue because our thinking is that He is a forgiving God. Fear of the Lord is not taking effect on those unbelieving people who do not fear His judgment and on those abusive people who overuse His goodness and mercy. He is God, we don’t decide His goodness and mercy for us. He does it for us. He is the God who gives and takes away (Job 1:21). Fear Him. 

Love for God?

The best and right motive for resisting temptation is to love Him; to love Him with greater power and greater passion than your love for the sin. The passions of sinful temptation can only really be overcome by a greater passion, and that is a passion for the honor and glory and relationship with God. If the passion of our fleshly desire is intense and great then our passion for the Lord must be greater and more intense. This is the greatest way to resist temptation. 

Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 

Matthew 22:37

“So that those who endure temptation rightly, endure it because they love God. They say to themselves, ‘How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’ They cannot fall into sin because it would grieve him who loves them so well, and whom they love with all their hearts.” (Spurgeon)

Reflections: 

We are used to enjoying God’s unconditional and sacrificial love for us. 

• Has God enjoyed your love for Him? 

• How do you show your greater passion for your relationship with Him? 

• Can you sacrifice through enduring temptations to show that you love Him more than your passion for flesh?

• Do you resist temptation because you fear man? You fear God? or you love God?

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

SPIRITUAL FOOD: MILK OR MEAT?

(Hebrews 5:12b-14) A contrast between milk and solid food.

    All Christians started from being babies, in need of milk. There is nothing more delightful a Christian who is a true babe of Jesus. But there is nothing more saddening than Christian who should be matured but who has become a infant. A longer Christian should be growing and not returning back to an infant, who’s no longer asking for milk but of solid food. It isn’t that milk is bad, but it is less suitable for a growing Christian. This Christian should have added solid food to his diet. 

How have a longer Christian become a babe?

• If your Christian life is unstable; Babies are handed from one person to another, and spiritual babes are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14-16)

• If you are spiritually asleep. Babies need a lot of sleep, and spiritual babes spend much time spiritually asleep.

• If you are easily irritated and upset. Babies can be cranky, and spiritual babes will fuss over any little thing.

• If you are easily star-struck by Christian celebrities or a pastor. Babies are focused on one particular person (their mother), and spiritual babes glory in men (I am of Paul, I am of Apollos, as in 1 Corinthians 1:12).

Immature Christians revealed themselves as they are unskilled in the word of righteousness, to discern good from evil. We don’t expect brand new Christians to be skilled in the word of righteousness, but those who have been Christians for a time should be. The mature Christians are marked by their discernment and by their unshakable commitment to Jesus Christ.

Therefore, if we still find ourselves as babe christian, we have to learn to exercise (training and habit) our spiritual senses. The more that we exercise the use of discernment, the more we’ll mature. 

Exercising Spiritual Senses:

1. Spiritual sense of taste

If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious (1 Peter 2:3). Taste and see that the LORD is good! (Psalm 34:8)

2. Spiritual sense of hearing

 Hear and your soul shall live (Isaiah 55:3). He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (Revelation 2:7).

3. Spiritual sense of sight

Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law (Psalm 119:18). The eyes of your understanding (heart) being enlightened (Ephesians 1:18).

4. Spiritual sense of smell

He shall be of quick scent in the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:3, RV margin). I am full, having received from… you, a sweet-smelling aroma (Philippians 4:18).

5. Spiritual sense of touch or feeling

Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD (2 Kings 22:19). The hardening of their heart; who being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness (Ephesians 4:18-19).

Reflections: 

• How’s your journey with the Lord since you started a relationship with Him?

• Have you evolved from sitting to serving in the church?

• How do you meditate God’s words before? How about now?

• Have you evolved from hearing God’s words to teaching them to others? Have you desired to teach?

• What do you do after you hear the words of God?

• What are the spiritual senses you often exercise? What are the least?

GOD'S PERFECT PLAN

 

Today in Revelation 22, The lord has showed us his full plan for mankind. In Genesis the paradise that He created for us was lost but now He revealed to us that He will restore the paradise for us.

In verse 1 He showed us a pure river of water of life that only means richness, provisions and peace for those who believe in Him. All of these will be given to us straight from the source.

He revealed in v3-5 the perfect paradise for us where there I no more cursing, saints are sealed by the Lord, He will be in our midst, servants shall serve with all their heart. There will also be perfect transformation so we will be able to see the face of God who illuminates our path and He will reign forever.  What a perfect plan of the Lord for us.

Reflection:

·       Are we ready for His plan?

·       Let us remember that if Jesus is not our priority then He will never be our destiny.

·       The decisions you make today affect where you end up tomorrow. 

·       What you think about right now will impact who you will become. 

·       How you spend your time will determine the direction of your days. 

·       The little moments matter more than we give them credit for.

·       Today’s decisions affect tomorrow’s destination. 

·       Today’s faithfulness affects tomorrow’s fruitfulness. 

·       You have everything you need to live a flourishing life in Christ.