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| Discernment fosters Assurance. 3 Layers of commitment to foster discernment: 1. Be Cautious of Teachers (Fair-minded, not open-minded), 2. Be Clinging to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 3. Be Coming to Church (Keep listening to sound teaching) |
“Nathanael answered and said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.””
–
John1:48
“I saw you!”
Jesus not only saw Nathaniel but knew him through and through because Jesus is God.
There was nothing Nathaniel could hide from Jesus, either his thoughts or
actions of past and present. Fortunately for Nathaniel, Jesus chose to declare
him righteous. Indeed, God sees and knows everything. He knows us long before
we were born, nay, before we were formed in our mother’s womb. On the contrary, we don't know even who we are,
particularly how sinful we are. The Lord searches the heart and understands who
exactly we are. Bad news: our hearts are deceitful above all things, even our
best deeds are like filthy rags; we are all depraved sinners.
Yesterday I was so
annoyed with my slow laptop, I hit my keyboard once, running out of patience.
Then I realized a neighbour could be seeing me because my window and door were
left open. I was so relieved that nobody saw it. Yet, I knew I should have exercised
more patience publicly or privately. Sometimes, we, sinners, are okay with sins,
and reluctant to repent if nobody sees our sins. When we do that, we are acting
as if God does not see us.
We love the praises of
man and sometimes would do anything to get them. The greatest and sweetest
praise of man achieves nothing if God does not approve of us. Even our conscience
will torment us if we have a double-standard life: one in private and the other
in public. God demands that we live for Him alone. We do not live for man’s
approval. We do not live even for our self-approval. Remember, God is always watching
us. If we are Christians, God sees us in Christ, and therefore He will declare
us righteous no matter what. Yet if we sin, He will surely chasten us because God
chastens whom He loves. Would you practice the presence of God at all times?
"because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding
his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me."
– Philippians 2:30
Exposition:
According
to what is revealed in the book of Philippians, one of the principal ways how
Epaphroditus laboured for the work of Christ is his service toward Apostle Paul
(Phil. 2:25, 30). He brought gifts from Philippi to Rome, where Paul was
imprisoned (Phil.4:15, 18; 1:13). We may be tempted to think delivering a gift
was not a big deal, well, there were no aeroplanes those days, the journey alone
must have been a hard one. Furthermore, Apostle Paul wrote about him quite
favourably contrary to what he thought of a man like Demas.
Epaphroditus
could have done a lot of things for the furtherance of the Gospel, but what we
know for certain is his service to Paul, and in doing so, he even got sick
almost unto death (Phil. 2:27). The work of Christ, we are called to do, is not
only to proclaim the Gospel to those who are lost. In fact, God has given the
church gifted people to proclaim His words to the unreached, and not many of us
are called to do this. Each one of us is given a gift from Christ for His work.
We have to use our gift diligently and joyfully. Any work we do in the ministry
for the edification of the body of Christ is a legitimate work for Christ.
Are
you accompanying a fiery preacher in a revival? Are you attending the needs of
a sick brother at home or in a hospital? Are you raising funds for the cause of
ministry? Are you sweeping the floor of a church? Are those not for the work of
Christ? We have seen it from Epaphroditus.
Personal
Reflection:
·
Am I delighted with any work of the ministry as
much as in preaching God's word to a lost sinner?
·
Am I treating every worker of the ministry as a
specialist (masterpiece) of God?
Personal
Commitment:
·
I must practice not only to appreciate all kind of
works in a ministry but also to delight in any work I come across.
Prayer:
Lord,
help me to do my work to please You, and not to please the eyes of man, Amen!
“But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.”
– Philemon 14
“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” is unfortunately what we
see in the world, but Apostle Paul has modelled for us in honesty, equity, and
modesty in this verse. Onesimus, a runaway slave of Philemon encountered Paul
in a prison, became a Christian, and ministered to him. Paul considered the
whole episode to be the providence of God, and therefore, would like to keep
Onesimus with him for the sake of ministry, especially seeing that he is
fulfilling what his master Philemon would want to do for Paul.
Onesimus, like anyone, needed conversion. Paul needed somebody
to minister to him in a prison. Apostle Paul considered Philemon, his convert,
to be a brother and partner in the gospel. Onesimus being a Christian now must
be considered a brother by Philemon also, even as a partner, since he served
Paul on his behalf. Apostle Paul, with all his wisdom, authority, and the
providence of God, could have kept Onesimus without consulting Philemon, or
even commanded him what to do. Instead, Paul asked him to receive Onesimus like
it was him. Paul didn't even tell Philemon what other good deeds he should be
doing, although he gave him hints — to send Onesimus back to him. Paul did not
annul the authority of Philemon, rather he entrusted him to do what seemed best,
trusting his voluntary decision.
Are you a one-man leader or do you consult the consent (not to
mention the wisdom) of other workers in a decision-making process? It's okay to
expect others to do the right thing; it's better if they do it voluntarily;
it's wonderful if they do it voluntarily and gladly. Would you practice
considering the rights of others as well, and not being obsessed with your own
rights?
“This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”
– Titus 3:8
Some
people have accused Christians that we are so heavenly-minded that we have not
done any earthly good. That is a lie. Indeed, Christians are the only people
free from the power of sin to do all good works to the glory of God. Paul
instructed Titus to remind believers that we are to be ready for and be
diligent in every good work. It is not because we will be saved by good works,
rather we are already saved from our evil and sinful deeds by the kindness of
God. We are already made new and therefore our works must be good as evidence
of our conversion.
We are to
constantly remind ourselves that the wrath of God is upon the evil workers. We
aren't supposed to be doing the things which God has saved us from. There is no
neutral ground: either our work is good and pleasing to God or evil and grieves
the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, good works are profitable for all people, both
believers and unbelievers. Good works serve as a great testimony for
evangelism, because our good works aren't done for our self-accolades, but
because we know it is the will of God. They strike the conscience of people
because unbelievers live for their own pleasures according to their own
standard of righteousness.
On the
negative side, those who aren't cultivating good works are mere professors.
They profess to know God but deny Him in their works. They are to be warned,
and even be rejected in accordance with their works. Faithful Christianity
maintains good works; false Christianity oppresses others for its selfish gain.
Are we growing weary in good works? Remember, we are made for them. Professor,
is there a change of desire, a change of pursuit, a change of fruit, and a
change of hope of eternal life after your profession of faith? Examine yourself
whether you are a true believer or not!
"Yet
do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
-
2 Thessalonians 3:15
Few things are more
difficult than confronting a sinning brother; much more difficult to do
lovingly. Every one of us wants to be confronted lovingly and respectfully if
we are caught in a sin, but when we find someone in sin, we really do the
opposite. We are harsh, quick to condemn, as if we fear others may criticize us
for associating with that brother in the past even in good works. This verse
tells us how to confront one another in a godly way. Paul gives two
Commandments here: how not to, and how
to.
First, confrontation
must be done without giving in to hatred. Oftentimes, we condemn a person; let
only God condemn a person. Also, we are not to treat him like an enemy. Even if
he is a real enemy, our Lord tells us to love our enemy. Furthermore, this
verse is not about ex-communication. Even in ex-communication, we are not to
treat him as an enemy, but as other sinners. We don't hate sinners; we love
them to be saved and look out for every opportunity to share the gospel of
repentance.
Second, we must
confront him in love. Remember, he is your brother, a family member. (Even if
he is not a Christian, he is still a brother in the sense, we all are created
in the image of God). Sin must be confronted because sin is contagious. It not
only kills the person, but infects others too. Both Old and New Testaments
commanded us to love not only our neighbors but also our enemies. We don't and
shouldn't participate in their sins, but we must open our arms wide enough for
them to see that there is forgiveness, restoration, and friendship in God's
love.
Have you ever said or
thought "I hate him," "I am really angry," "I don't
want to do anything with him," or "He is useless" when you talk
about a sinning brother? Would you ask God to change your heart? Maybe you need
the grace of God as much as he does!
“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
–
Deuteronomy 29:29
Exposition:
Above all God's
creations, we are given an amazing brain capable of imagining things that we
would want without restriction. We are curious about new things, we like
challenges, confusions, and even horror for some time if we can resolve and
regain control over them. However, some things are beyond comprehension. Sometimes
we used our imagination to understand God. Scriptures forbid us to imagine a
different God other than the God revealed in the Scriptures. Rather, we are
commanded (not a suggestion or an advice) to study the Scriptures diligently to know Him more and more. The word
of God is an infinite treasure of wisdom, inexhaustible, timeless, sufficient
and beneficial for all those who seek to know.
With the Israelites, we
may wonder why God would bring a terrible judgment upon the stiff-necked Israelites?
Could He not give them a change of heart instantaneously? Or any question like,
“Why did God put the tree in the garden if He knew they would eat its fruit?” Those
questions aren’t bad per se, but if they lead us to doubt and deny God, we must
remember this verse: we are to seek and obey what is revealed in the Scriptures,
and not to try to fool ourselves by attempting to know the infinite wisdom of
God. Instead of asking ‘why?’ in our mind, we are supposed to study the Scripture
and confirm “So, it was.” God warned them of judgment for disobedience, they
disobeyed, and so, it was (that they were judged).
We must not reject God
or question His wisdom just because we don’t understand what He is doing. Our
puny brain cannot understand the infinite God. God is revealed in the Scripture
to be good, just, loving, merciful, and gracious. Would you humble yourself
before Him and trust His wisdom? As one Hymn says, “To be happy in Jesus is but
to trust and obey!”
Personal Reflection:
·
How often have I
got angry in trying to understand some circumstances of life when I should have
exercised trust and rest in God who has allowed them for my own good?
Personal Commitment:
·
To take delight
in His word to understand Him better, especially in trying times.
Prayer:
Lord,
help me to say like David, “I have quieted my soul before You. I do not seek to
understand which is too difficult for me.” I put my trust in You, Amen!
“Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.”
– John 6:15
John 6 is about bread offered by Jesus Christ. When He offered
the physical bread, many wanted him to be a king; He refused and walked away.
Then He offered the spiritual bread, which is Himself; they refused and walked
away. In verse 15, they wanted Jesus to be king after seeing His miracle of
feeding about five thousand people. In fact, the narrative says that they'd
force Him to be a king. Jesus wasn’t interested and ran away.
The true King of the Universe refused to be a king! And how many
of us want to be a king, president, CEO, officers, and any position of
leadership? Or to ask more accurately, “How many of us want to be popular?”
Well, position and popularity in themselves are neither bad nor to be rejected
bluntly. It just means that the mission (job, work) is more important than any
position, popularity, or reputation. A position is given to fulfill a specific
role. Popularity comes from being good at what one does.
Jesus was focused on His mission. He came into the world to die
like a criminal, not to be crowned as king. We are criminals before God, we
have violated all His laws. Jesus died for us, that we the real criminals may
live as princes and princesses in the kingdom to come. In fact, at His
crucifixion, He was crowned king again, but not in admiration, but in mockery –
a crown of thorn. Jesus is the true King and the only King. He reigns in the
heart of Christians now. He sustains and rules the universe invisibly. He will
come back to earth again, and the whole world will confess (and rightly so)
that He is King; because on that day, He comes not to die for sinners, but to
judge sinners (unbelievers).
Sometimes, we are tempted to wish God to raise up famous pastors
who are popular as Justin Bieber or Cristiano Ronaldo. And we would like to volunteer
if a call is made. We thought that if they were popular as them, wouldn’t they
be influencing much for the cause of the Kingdom? Actually, God doesn’t call pastors
to be popular. If it were so, I’m sure, pastors would be the most popular
people in the world. As a pastor, I am glad that the sorts of Bieber and
Ronaldo are very popular to remind pastors that our calling is not to be
popular, and we will never be popular as them.
Our calling as a pastor is not to build a name or a kingdom for
ourselves. Let Alexander do that. Let Justin Bieber be the crush of everyone.
Let Ronaldo have his CR7 brands. And let Obama have million Twitter followers.
Our job and mission is similar to our Lord Jesus Christ – to preach the gospel
of the Kingdom of God, which is offensive to the world in that we can become so
unpopular to the point of persecution. Having said that, I admit, "It's
difficult!" Therefore, in God, seeking, both for mercy and obedience! Amen!
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
–
John 10:10
Many
have thought that Christian life is boring and bitter because it's so demanding
and costly. Indeed, Christian life is demanding and costly, but it is the only
life worth living. Actually, human race is a zombie race; we are spiritually
dead people walking. We need a real death or a real life. This verse reveals us
how both options are offered to us.
The worldly lifestyle (its philosophy and temptations) and the false religions only deceive us and ultimately lead us to real death, which is the eternal separation from the love of God. They come like anyone but their intention is to fulfil their wicked desires. They burdened us with their man-made regulations, oppressed us for the benefit of the elites, threatened us with fear, and deceived us with false assurances. Jesus came to give true life. Wow! It's as if a zombie becomes a human being again through the antidote, as in a science fiction movie. Now, he stopped devouring one another, came back to his senses, and lives a life of deliverance– joyfully and meaningfully.
Only
Jesus has such an anti-dote to give us real life. It is a life in its fullness.
It is a life beyond anything we have ever dreamed of. The scripture promised this
effectively. It says, “may have life.’’ Indeed, it says more than this.
It says, “may have life abundantly.” It is a life of abundance.
In fact, it says, again, more than this, for it says, “may have life more
abundantly.” How could anyone say that Christian life is boring or bitter
when we have not only true life but exceedingly abundant true life?
A
true Christian already died in Christ, the life that he now lives is the life
given by Christ. Even this life is not lived on his own, but it is Jesus who
lives in him (Gal 2:20). It is He who gives the will and the ability to live
this abundant life. It is He who produces joy in his life. Would you receive
this true life in Jesus Christ? Worldly life leads to death. Jesus gives eternal
life, a life beyond physical death, a perfected life in the presence of the
glorious God. “Nobody is perfect” will be “Everybody is perfected” there.
