Day 12 Reconciliation

Day 12

Reconciliation

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.”  (Matthew 5:23-26)

Ministry of Reconciliation is the 4^th pillar

Reconciliation is the fourth pillar that holds the temple of Truth!

Reconciliation means to reestablish a fractured relationship, to make things right with others, regardless of who is at fault.

The ministry of reconciliation started with God our Father Himself.  He did not wait for us to be righteous or for us to come to Him, even though we are the ones at fault.  No! Not the LORD, whose nature is love, peace and righteousness.

God left His glory in heaven, came down to earth, down to us, to reconcile us to Himself.  Now pause for a moment and think: we humans believe that  we belong at the top; we climb the ladder no matter what.  But God left the highest point of the universe, a place no man, angel, or any creature has ever been, the throne that rules the universe.  He left all the glory, power, majesty, splendor, attention, worship, and praise from holy creatures.  (Not from me and you, pieces of flesh, full of ourselves, all puffed up like we are something, when indeed we are nothing but dust).

But Christ made Himself of no reputation, came down to this sinful world, in the form of a man, a little lower than the angels:

 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
      God was manifested in the flesh,
      Justified in the Spirit,
      Seen by angels,
      Preached among the Gentiles, 

      Believed on in the world,
      Received up in glory.”   (1 Timothy 3:16)

“But one testified in a certain place, saying:

“What is man that You are mindful of him,
      Or the son of man that You take care of him?
        You have made him a little lower than the angels;
      You have crowned him with glory and honor,
       And set him over the works of Your hands.
        You have put all things in subjection under his feet…”

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”  (Hebrews 2:6-9)

Why did God humble Himself in such a way?

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”  (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

God has provided an example that regardless of position, regardless of who is right and who is wrong, who did what to whom, and who said what, we are to follow His example and humble ourselves.  To be honest, God is not interested in all our excuses, for He knows we are puffed up people and that, going down and lowering ourselves seems beneath us.  But the truth is that God doesn’t really care whose fault it is.  What God wants is for LOVE and PEACE to reign in His Kingdom, even as He demonstrated His love toward us in Christ:

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)

Let us therefore make peace with all, reestablishing all fractured relationships, forgiving one another, bearing with one another, tolerating one another so that God may also forgive us and be pleased with us.

For if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us. Though we make many prayers, though we sing our lungs out, though we pay our tithes and offerings, though we feed the poor, though we clothe the naked, though we preach the gospel eloquently, though we heal the sick and visit the prisoners, we do all this in vain.  For God will not accept us if there is hate in our hearts toward our brethren!  It doesn’t really matter whether they are Christian or not, nor who is wrong and who is right.  You, who are children of God, be children of your Father.  Go, therefore, and make peace with everyone, and if your offer of peace is not accepted, leave it in the hands of God who judges righteously.  The Lord will be well pleased with you! Otherwise everything else you do is in vain.  Let us  be called the sons and daughters of God and be blessed because we are the peacemakers:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Let us be the peacemakers, even as those who came before us,

like Esau who forgave Jacob after he stole his birthright and his blessings:

“Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.  But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.”  (Genesis 33:3-4)

Like Joseph, who forgave his brothers even after they sold him into slavery in Egypt:

“Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.”  (Genesis 45:15)

And like Job, who prayed for his friends after they wrongfully accused him of evil and spoke all kinds of evil against him:

“And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”  (Job 42:10)

Let us, therefore, be like Christ and those who came before us--like Esau, Joseph, and Job and many more--who chose to forget the past.  Rejoice that you still have a brother or a sister, father, mother, spouse, friends, or colleagues.  Be glad that you still have them.  For I tell you the truth: far better people than you, desire to have what you are despising.  So appreciate what you have, appreciate the people in your life and be content. Look forward to a future together by the grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen!

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”  (Mark 11:25-26)

And again:

“And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”  (Luke 17:4)

Finally my dear beloved:

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”  (Ephesians 4:32)

“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”  (Colossians 3:12-13)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always.  Amen!

  

Meditation:  I have peace with God by having peace with others!  I am forgiven by God when I forgive others.

Prayer points:  LORD Jesus, please give me a forgiving heart.  Please help me to forgive those who hurt me in the past, present, and future, and by Your grace, please help me to pursue peace with everyone, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen!

Commitment:  I commit myself, by Your grace oh Lord Jesus, to forgive all those who hurt me in the past, and those who are hurting me now, and those who will hurt me in the future.  Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, unto the glory of God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen!

Day 11 Self-Control

Day 11

Self-Control

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.”  (Matthew 5:21-22)

Believer’s Self-Control is the 3^rd pillar

Believer’s self-control is the third pillar that holds the temple of Truth!

To have self-control is to exercise temperance in all things, to restrain yourself from fulfilling the lusts of your flesh, and by God’s grace, to walk in the Spirit!  In other words, self-control is to refrain from doing what your flesh wants you to do, and doing instead what the Spirit tells you to do.  Again, self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.  It will be difficult for you to maintain self-control and be temperate if your life is not totally committed to Christ who gives you power to walk in the Spirit so that you may not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.   This requires commitment and discipline on your part and grace on God’s part.

Unless you make a conscious decision to turn away from whatever bad habits you are struggling with, and turn with all your heart to God for help, you will never make it.  You will only frustrate yourself by continually failing and breaking promises you have made to God, which will leave you feeling inadequate, weak, pitiful, unworthy and dirty.  Ultimately you may give in and just accept your bad habit as part of your life.  The flesh will make you feel better, telling you, “This is who you are.  Accept it.’’   If you don’t snap out of it, this sin will become part of your life and with time it will become less sinful in your own eyes, and you will end up justifying it.  You can do this with all your bad habits, vices and lusts and live in misery and self-pity for the rest of your life, or you can get up in the name of Jesus and make a conscious decision to stop in the name of Jesus, and bring your sins to Christ one by one in prayer, with tears, supplications, and fasting.                                                                                                      

You must bring your sins to the altar of grace, and the grace of God, which is sufficient to deliver you from any bad habits, vices, lusts, addictions, or anything you are struggling with, will deliver you in Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Whatever you are struggling with, you can bring to God today, this very hour.  Just go on your knees and admit that you cannot stop in your own strength, that you cannot do it by yourself and that you need help.  Confess.  Ask for forgiveness of your sins in the name of Jesus! And ask God to wash you with the blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.   Ask God to deliver you.  Ask God to help you.  Surrender it all to God and leave all your bad habits, vices, lusts, and addictions on top of the altar of grace.  Stand up in the name of Jesus and confess with your mouth:

“I am free in the name of Jesus.  I am cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ my Lord.  Amen!”

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”  (John 8:36)

Christ came to set us free from all forms of slavery.  For if we live in sin, fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, the devil will hold us captive under his power, stealing our joy in the LORD, as well as our access to blessings that God promised us in Jesus Christ our Lord!

“Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.’”  (John 8:34-36)

My dear beloved, this freedom is available to you, now, today, this very hour.  All you have to do is surrender all unto Jesus.  Stop carrying this heavy load like a servant.  Bring all your burdens unto Jesus and He will give you rest for your soul.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  (Matthew 11:28-30)

Christ died so that you and I should no longer be slaves to the devil or to the lusts of the flesh.  Jesus Christ our Lord died so that you and I may become sons and daughters of God.  Hallelujah!

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the RIGHT to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

 (John 1:12-13)

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”  (Romans 8:12-17)

“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4:6-7)

“Therefore ‘Come out from among them
      and be separate, says the Lord.
      Do not touch what is unclean,
      and I will receive you.
       I will be a Father to you,
      and you shall be My sons and daughters,’
      says the LORD Almighty.”  (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)

If indeed we are the sons and daughters of God, let us therefore exercise self-control and walk as sons and daughters of the eternal King, casting out from among us our bad habits, vices, lusts, addictions, and malice, cutting ties with all works of darkness.

                                                                                                         

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”  (Galatians 5:16-26)

As a child of The King, your conduct and behavior reflects either good or badly on the King.  As sons and daughters of God, everything we do or say on this earth reflects either good or badly on God.  We can either bring glory unto His Holy name or shame unto His name.  You decide today!  But as for me, I have proposed in my heart--yes, even with all my imperfections, all my failures, all my flaws—I have proposed in my heart, I have made a conscious decision, that I will by God’s grace live a life that brings glory to God my Father.  Even if I fall, I will get up in the name of Jesus, and by His grace I will press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Forgetting those things which are behind which I cannot change and reaching forward to those things which are ahead unto the glory of God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name.  Amen!  I will press on to the mark, to the high calling of Jesus Christ my Lord, who overall is God blessed forever.  Amen!

As children of God, we ought to separate ourselves from the world.  That is, not to isolate ourselves from the same world of which we ought to be the light, but rather to be different in everything we do, that we may have a good influence in the world.

Let us therefore have self-control in life, food, temptations, clothing, speech, and over the lusts of the flesh, and especially of our tongues, which is the cause of most of our suffering:

“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”   (James 3:8-10)

And again:

“Come, you children, listen to me;
         I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
  Who is the man who desires life,
         and loves many days, that he may see good?
  Keep your tongue from evil,
        and your lips from speaking deceit.
  Depart from evil and do good;
         seek peace and pursue it.”  (Psalm 34:11-14)

There you have it.  If you want to see good in your life:

“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.”

That is all you must do if you want to see good in your life, and do not say, ‘’I just can’t do it.’’

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  (1 Corinthians 10:13)

“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.  Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”  (James 1:12-15)

                                                                                                             

“Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the Day of Judgment.”  (2 Peter 2:9)

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.”  (Romans 6:12)

Let us, therefore, discipline our bodies lest we fall into temptation.  Let us bring our flesh in total subjection to Christ, that we indeed may be sons and daughters of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen!

“But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”  (1 Corinthians 9:27)

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”  (Romans 13:11-14)

Finally my dear beloved, God is faithful to finish that which He has started in you.  Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty that you have declared with your mouth, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
      and to present you faultless
     before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
        To God our Savior,
      Who alone is wise,
      be glory and majesty,
      dominion and power,
      both now and forever.  Amen.”  (Jude 24-25)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.   Amen!

Meditation:  A sober mind is well pleasing in the sight of God.  To discern good from evil is better than silver and gold!

Prayer points:  LORD Jesus, please help me to have self-control.  Please help me to cast off the works of darkness in my life, and by Your grace, please help me to walk in the Spirit, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

Commitment:  I commit myself, by Your grace, oh Lord Jesus, to press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, unto the glory of God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Day 10 God’s Law is Eternal

Day 10

God’s Law is Eternal

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one title will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20)

Believer’s obedience to the Eternal Law is the 2^nd pillar

 Believer’s obedience to the Eternal Law of God is the 2^nd pillar that holds the temple of Truth.

“Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”  (Amos 3:3)

Certainly not!  Two can never walk together unless they agree.  You can never walk with Christ unless you agree that He is Lord over your life, and that He has authority over the universe and everything therein.  So if you believe that Jesus is Lord, why not do what He says?

“But why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

Dear beloved, Jesus without His law over our lives is the same as a king without a crown.  For you to be a ruler or a lord over certain people, it is necessary for those people must obey you and do what you say.  Therefore the question:

“But why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

So, if you say that you love the Lord Jesus, and that He is your Lord and Savior, but you don’t keep His commandments, sorry to say this, but you are, according to Scripture, a liar.

“By this we know that we love the children of God, and we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”   (1 John 5:2-3)

Before a country can exist, a constitution of rules must be drafted to govern the lives of its citizens. For example, before a nation was born in South Africa in 1994, the two parties that were in conflict had to agree to the laws that would govern the lives of its citizens.  This is called the Freedom Charter.  No country exists without a constitution or rules to govern the lives of its citizens.  Without such rules, a country would be in chaos.

If we then, being evil, know how to organize ourselves that we may keep order in our little countries, how much more will God, who alone is wise, the Architect of life, the Creator of the heavens and earth and seas, and everything therein, govern us.  Amen!  Would not God draft a law that would govern the lives of all His creatures prior to creating them?  Certainly!  Now God’s revealed law is called the Ten Commandments.  This is God’s constitution of love.  And every citizen of the kingdom of God must be obedient to His law. 

He who doesn’t obey shall be cast out like the devil, for he is the one who disobeyed first.  Now the devil seeks sympathy from all other creatures to join him in his rebellion against God.  Brethren, do not be deceived.  Do not join the sons and daughters of disobedience.  Stay away from those who say the commandments of God are void and irrelevant. He who says that he loves the Lord Jesus, but does not keep His commandments, is a liar. The Lord Jesus said:

“If you love ME, keep my commandments.”  (John 14:15)

The commandments of God will never be void.  As long as God exists, there will be His law to govern His creation. For the commandment is love, and as long as God exists, we shall surely love God and love others as ourselves eternally.

That is why the Lord Jesus said:

“Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or one title will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”  (Matthew 5:17-18)

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”  (Matthew 24:35)

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.”  (Isaiah 40:8)

The Law of God is the revealed will of God.  God gave the Law to men because He loves us; therefore it is the Law of love.  For us to live in perfect harmony with God, it is very important that we observe and abide by the Law of God, and show that we agree with Him that His Law is good and holy.

“Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” (Romans 7:12)

These days, there are those who believe that the Law of God is void.  How can the Law of love be void?  It is impossible.  The requirements of the Law for righteousness is void, not the Law of God.  Truly speaking, the standards of the requirements of the Law for righteousness in the New Testament, are much higher than in the Old Testament! For, if under the Old Covenant sin was only when you act upon it, in the New Covenant you sin just by looking, thinking, and meditate on it in your heart! Therefore by the Law no one will be saved.  For we are saved by grace; not by our works or our efforts.  We are saved by grace and by grace alone.  It is impossible for any of us to keep the Law of God, the Ten Commandments, as explained by Christ in the New Testament.  No man can keep the Law--not even Moses, who was on Mount Sinai when God wrote the Law on the tablets.  Seeing that the Law of God is a spiritual Law, no carnal man was or ever will be able to keep the Law. However, we thank God for His goodness.  When we are born in Christ, we become spiritual beings, enabling us through Christ to keep the Law by the grace of God, which simply means that, when we abide in Christ by faith, Christ’s obedience to the Law of God is credited to us in form of righteousness. Hallelujah, Amen!

What is the purpose of the Law then? Well, the Law stands as witness against us, that there is none righteous, no, not even one. For none of us can fulfill the divine requirements of the Law.  Therefore we all agree that:

“… the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” (Romans 7:12)

Now in this God is glorified for His grace, mercy and kindness towards us who believe that Jesus paid all the divine requirements of the Law that stood against us.

                                                                                

The Law, the Ten Commandments, is part of the New Covenant:

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD; I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.”  (Hebrews 10:16)

And again:

“….You are the temple of the living God. As God has said

‘I will dwell in them

 I will walk among them.

 I will be their God,

 And they shall be My people.’”  (2 Corinthians 6:16)

So if we are the temple, the tabernacle of God, and if God dwells in us, then the Law has to be kept in us.  We do not keep the Ten Commandments to be SAVED; rather, we keep the Ten Commandments as a testimony that we are indeed SAVED!   God dwells in our hearts and His Law is written in our hearts as a fulfillment of the New Covenant.

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD; I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.”  (Hebrews 10:16)

“clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:3)

 The manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit is only seen in those who obey God, that is, the fruit of the Spirit comes as a result of obedience to God.

“Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”  (Romans 3:20)

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.’”

(Romans 7:7)

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”  (Romans 6:14-15)

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”  (Romans 3: 21-26)

“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”  (Romans 3:31)

My beloved, we establish the Law of God, the Ten Commandments, in our hearts through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.  The Commandments and faith:  we must keep them both.

“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”  (Revelation 14:12)

To preach the faith of Jesus Christ, the power of His blood, His death on the cross, and His resurrection, without His Law, is to say that Jesus is King, but that His crown is removed.  How can Jesus be King and Lord if His subjects do not obey Him?  Pay attention to what the Lord Jesus is saying:

“But why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well; but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.  For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’  Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.”  (James 2:8-12)

Let us therefore believe, fear, trust, and obey!

Finally, my dear beloved, my companion in the LORD, you who are precious and priceless in the eyes of God our Father, do not let the sons of disobedience deceive you in believing that the law of God is void, for as you can see according to  (James 2:8-12)  we will be judged by the Law.

For there is an evil movement going around removing the Ten Commandment from courts, public places, from schools, and if we allowed them, they will erase it from our memories.

The law of God my dear beloved, is eternal, it will never be void. Though man try to destroy it with all their mighty, the Law will stand, for its no longer written on tablets of stone, but on hearts of those who believe, fear, trust and obey God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

“clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:3)

Therefore my dear beloved, please do not let disobedience hinder your prayer from being answered.

“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.”

 (1John 3:22)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen!

Meditation:  Jesus Christ is my Lord, Savior, and King.  He deserves my complete obedience.

Prayer points:  LORD JESUS, please write Your laws in my heart and help me by Your grace to obey them through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen!

Commitment:  I commit myself by Your grace, oh Lord Jesus, to be a law-abiding citizen of the Heavenly kingdom, to the Glory of God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Day 9 Influence (Believers are Salt and Light of the world)

PART 2

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

(Matthew 24:35)

“The grass withers, the flower fades,
      but the Word of our God stands forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

THE

 27

PILLARS

THAT HOLD THE SPiRiTUAL TEMPLE OF TRUTH: FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Day 9

Influence

(Believers are Salt and Light of the world)

 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
 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.” (Matthew 5:13-16)

Believer’s good influence in the world is the 1^St pillar

Good influence of the upright and godly is the 1^st pillar that holds the temple of Truth.

We are the salt of the earth

God created salt with two main functions: to add flavor and to preserve. Even so, you are born again to add flavor into the world and to preserve its sanity.

To add flavor:

“Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”  (Mark 9:50)

We are the salt of the earth; but if we lose our saltiness, our flavor, we lose our good influence.  How then shall the world be seasoned?  To be frank, the world is tasteless without believers.  It is the believers’ good influence that keeps this world balanced, that allows people to cope. 

It is the good character of so many believers that gives the world an alternative. Therefore, you must never avoid an opportunity to do good in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!  Always show love to people in the name of Jesus.   Many people could be converted because of your good character, the way you behave, your words, your life and your actions.  Believe me, the world is watching us for guidance.  They might not admit it, but they are.  Human knowledge has limitations and when it reaches its limit, men start to look for something, or someone,  bigger than they are, and that is exactly what we are offering the world—some One bigger than the world, some One who understands us better then we know ourselves. The world looks at us and marvels.  They see men and women from different countries, cultures, races, creeds, languages, classes, and backgrounds dwelling together, worshiping and praising God together, working and living together in harmony, in the midst of a world that teaches exactly the opposite.  This unity is something men tried to achieve with all their might and failed.  But the love of God is able to overcome all prejudice and make us one, and bind us in one body, which is Christ.  Hallelujah! Praise the LORD!  Amen! 

My dear beloved, let us therefore love one another.  Be at peace with one another.  In living this way we will have a good influence in the world and the world will be influenced to turn away from its prejudices and from malice and to turn to the living God.  And our Father in Heaven will be glorified. Amen!

To preserve:

“So the LORD said, ‘If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.’”  (Genesis 18:26)

It is each believer’s responsibility to intercede for the world in prayer that God may grant repentance to all of us.  For this is the will of God, that all of us be saved.  It is our responsibility to keep the world sane!  Let’s face it, the world is insane.  We are failing to preserve the world’s sanity.  It is true. Where righteous men fail to rise, wicked men will prevail!  Look around.  We are getting so used to that which once was called abomination by the Christian community: abortion, homosexuality, false prophets, fat shepherds, pornography, nudity, violence, murder, evil music, even children’s rights!  Can you believe that a child has the right to report his parents if they discipline him?          

The Word of LORD is very clear about disciplining a child.                                 

“Do not withhold correction from a child,
      for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.
        You shall beat him with a rod,
      and deliver his soul from hell.” (Proverbs 23:13-14)

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)

Should we obey God or man?  You must decide, my dear beloved.  But as for me and my house, we will serve and obey Christ Jesus our Lord.

“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’”  (Acts 5:29)

We are not to live by men’s rules, at the cost of disobeying God, but we ought to live by God’s commandments as the constitution of grace that governs our lives.  Let us arise and do good and stand by that which is good and acceptable in the eyes of God, that the world, by beholding us, may be changed for good.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

We are the light of the world

We are living in the last days and the darkness has covered the earth, even a deep darkness.  The world is unable to discern right from wrong, for the god of this world has blinded their eyes and closed their ears.  Having eyes, they do not see, and ears, they do not perceive.

My dear beloved, we are the light of the world, and it is through us that God gives light unto the world.  Each one of us MUST brighten up his corner.  This little light of ours, we must let it shine.  Yes, let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify our Father in heaven.  God did not save us to sit in the church and warm up the pews, or to hide inside the house, or even remain inside the church.

 God saved us so that through us, God may save others also, until every soul on this earth has heard the good news!  Whether people repent or not, that is not our responsibility.  That is the job of the Holy Spirit.  Our job is to share the truth with others; just to share the LIGHT.  The best way to share the Gospel is to live it, to be a doer of the Word, that those around you may see the works of God in you and through you, leading them to repentance.

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”  (1 Corinthians 3:9)

Finally, my beloved:

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,  who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”  (Philippians 3:20-21)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen!

Meditation:  I am the salt and the light of the world!

Prayer points:  LORD, please help me to be the salt of the earth; please help me to have good influence in the world. Please help me to be the light of the world.  Lord Jesus, please help my light to shine before men, that by Your grace, people may see my good works and glorify Your name, oh my Father in Heaven. Teach me to do good works through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen!

Commitment:  I commit myself by Your grace to let my light shine before men so that men may see good works done in Jesus’ name, so that Your name may be glorified in me and through me, oh my Father in Heaven.  Amen!

Day 8 Sacrificial Discipleship

Day 8

Sacrificial Discipleship

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

 (Matthew 5:10-12)

Sacrificial discipleship is the 8^th Step

Sacrificial Discipleship is the eighth and final step in a believer’s life.

This is it! The previous seven steps were preparation for you to stay on the peak of the mountain, the Most Holy Place—in the presence of God. The devil and unbelievers will try to push you off the mountain; they will try to discourage you, even afflict you.  But you, my dear beloved, hold fast to the cross of Christ.  Don’t depart from the feet of Jesus Christ our Lord no matter what!  The truth is that the Church of God has too often dropped the cross to be accepted in the world, and now we’ve brought the world into the Church. But God is calling us out of this adulterous relationship:

“And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.’” (Revelation 18:4-5)

“Therefore
        Come out from among them
      And be separate, says the Lord.
      Do not touch what is unclean,       

      And I will receive you.
      I will be a Father to you,
      And you shall be My sons and daughters,
      Says the LORD Almighty.”  (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)

God is calling us as individuals, all those who love Christ in sincerity, to arise and stand up for the Truth; to stand by Christ’s side no matter what; to suffer for Christ Jesus our Lord; and to stand beside the prophets and martyrs.  Therefore, let us gladly suffer for the sake of righteousness. The Lord Jesus is calling us:

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’”  (Matthew16:24)

Let us pick up our cross and follow Jesus Christ our Lord!  As many as love Christ Jesus our Lord in sincerity, let us have this mind, and turn away from the doctrines of the devil and demons, falsely called ‘’knowledge,’’ telling us to enjoy this present life.  Christ died for us to be truly rich.  Let us turn back to the Gospel of salvation of our souls with all our hearts, minds, and souls, because for this cause Christ died for us.  The Day of the LORD is at hand.  Jesus Christ our Lord is coming.  Even so, come Lord Jesus.  Amen!  The Apostle Paul warned us about these perilous times we are living in:

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

And these are the same people Paul talked about in Acts 20:

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”  (Acts 20:28-32)

These, my beloved, are the people who will persecute those who love the truth, because they do not have the love of God in their hearts. They rejected the truth and hired for themselves teachers to tell them fables, to tell them what they want to hear and to entertain the flesh.  These, unfortunately, are often your church members, your pastors, apostles, prophets, bishops, deacons, your leaders, your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your son, your daughter, other family members, or your friends.  These are the people who will try to discourage you from following Christ.  When you refuse, they will persecute you!  The Lord Jesus warned us:

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.”  (Luke 14:26)

Why?

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.  And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”  (Matthew 10:21-22)

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.  He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39)

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.”  (Matthew 10:16-17)                                                                                                               

This is what is called the HARD MESSAGE.  After Christ told His disciples about the necessary sacrificial discipleship from their part, many walked away.  Even now many are departing from the truth, seeking after the SOFT MESSAGE, the one that does not require suffering. However, no one who chooses to follow Christ with all his heart and to be totally separated from the world will escape persecution.

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”  (2 Timothy 3:12)

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”  (Philippians 1:29)

The Lord Jesus Christ has told us why those who love the truth must separate themselves from the world and why the world hates us:

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”  (John 15:18-19)

Let us, therefore, endure persecution for Christ’s sake, submitting ourselves to God daily that the devil may flee from us; holding fast to our faith; giving glory to God with our lives; fleeing from any form or appearance of evil; abstaining ourselves from worldly lusts; praying daily for those who hate and persecute us; that God may grant them repentance.  And as many as love the truth, let us therefore arise and shine on behalf of the truth, for the hour has come:

“Arise, shine;
      For your light has come!
      And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
        For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
      and deep darkness the people;
      But the LORD will arise over you,
      And His glory will be seen upon you.”  (Isaiah 60:1-2)

The darkness has covered the earth with its counterfeit gospel, but the LORD is arising over us and His glory will be seen upon us.  Stand fast therefore in the LIGHT, where you are called, and be a witness of the TRUTH.  Radiate the true LIGHT: preach the gospel of truth in season and out of season, that you may be counted worthy on the Day of the LORD! Let us therefore preach the truth, and if the truth is rejected, despair not, for:

“They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”  (1 John 4:5-6)

Finally my dear beloved, be of good cheer:

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”  (1 John 4:4)

Here it is--God’s promise to those who will stand fast in the truth and for the truth:

“So He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.’” (Luke 18:29-30)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen!

Meditation:  I am here to bear witness of the Truth, which is Christ Jesus my Lord!

Prayer points:  LORD, please help me to bear witness of the truth in Christ Jesus, my Lord.  Please hold me with Your Mighty hand, oh Lord Jesus.  Please help me, oh my God, to be a messenger of the truth in Christ Jesus my Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen!

Commitment:  I commit myself by Your grace to be a witness of the Truth, to stand beside Christ Jesus my Lord no matter what! I commit myself to live a godly life and to bear fruit worthy of repentance in this ungodly age, unto the glory of God the Father.  In Jesus’ name, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I pray.  Amen!