Monthly Archives: May 2024

AN EFFECTIVE EARLY-WARNING SYSTEM – 12

Christian Life, ,

‭1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT‬
[8] “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. [9] Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.“

Peter’s gems not only highlight our blessings, they also alert us to danger. He should know! After all, he fell hard because he failed to heed Jesus’s warning.
He knew how painful it was to get up and continue after a terrible failure. Only on hindsight did he realise that he had allowed himself to be ‘devoured’ by the devil.

Why do lions roar? They roar to protect their territory, and their females and offspring. “Stay away. These are my girls and kids. Leave them alone.” There are always young bachelor lions looking for an opportunity to drive out the ruling lion and take over their pride.

If a challenging lion wins the battle, he takes over the lionesses and kills his opponent’s cubs so that he can pass on his genes to the next generation.

Do you get the picture? Lions don’t roar on the hunt. They are ambush and stealth hunters. Roaring on the hunt woud blow their cover. They roar when they announce their possession of territory and family and when they have won their battle against a challenger.

I have pondered Peter’s simile and wondered how he saw the connection. Did he really know how lions behave? He had no TV to watch them hunt from his arm chair!

I’m starting to get the picture.

Satan is the arch deceiver. He wants us to believe that he owns us. He roars to protect his territory. He uses our failures to reinforce his claim. He lures us into sin through our ungodly desires, making them appear attractive.

When we sin, he pounces to devour us. He accuses us, “Now look what you’ve done! God’s finished with you! You see, I told you that you belong to me. You are in my territory, under my authority….” and the accusations go on, triggering guilt, shame, and fear.

So, Satan continues to devour us by driving us to despair, to give up on God because it’s no use trying to be good and to follow Him. I’m sure that we have all been in that place at some time in our lives.

What’s the solution? Peter gives us sound counsel.

  1. Be alert!
    It’s going to happen sooner or later. Our treacherous old nature will trip us up. When it does…
  2. Recognise the source
    Temptation to sin, and condemnation when we sin, is never from God. He doesn’t work that way. These are the devil’s tactics to lure us back into his domain. We must never accept condemnation. Guilt is the key to discern the source of our feeling bad.
  3. Stand on God’s Word

Fear says, “Devil, you are right. I am guilty. I have offended God. He has cut me off from Himself. It’s no use trying. I’ll always fail. I might as well give up.”

Faith says, “Devil, you are right. I am guilty of offending God, but… I have an Advocate who is my Defender. He died in my place to forgive me and remove my sin. I am not condemned. I am forgiven and restored by His grace.”

1John 2:1-2 NLT‬
[1] “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. [2] He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

  1. Suffering is not punishment but purifying

How often we think that our troubles are God-inflicted punishment for some wrong we have done. We blame the devil for our suffering and try to go after him with futile ‘praying-against’ prayers. Not so! Peter reminded his readers that believers everywhere were being persecuted for their faith.

From God’s perspective, trials and hardships are not punishment but tests to purify and strengthen our confidence in Him. Paul discovered that it was his weakness that qualified him for God’s grace. Instead of wilting under the ‘poor me syndrome’ (PMS!), stand on God’s truth that you are a new creation, belonging to Him, and He has made provision for those times when we do sin.

The ‘roaring lion’ is lying when he roars that we belong to him. We belong to Christ… forever, even if we are still imperfect. The ‘hunting lion’ is off limits when he seeks to devour us as prey. We are not his to hunt. He has no grounds to take us down. We have been bought with precious blood by, and are under the protection of ‘the Lion of Judah’. No wandering bachelor lion dare challenge Him or His pride.

So, dear brothers, and sisters, let’s heed the warning and stay protected in the boundaries of God’s promises, safe from accusation and condemnation, and becoming the devil’s next meal!

GOD’S HOUSEHOLD TO BE JUDGED? – 11

Christian Life, ,

1 Peter 4:16-17 NLT‬
[16]”But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! [17] For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?”

Judgment? What is Peter talking about? I thought that God’s children will never come under God’s judgment. Yes…and no!

Yes, the Bible is clear that those who believe in Jesus will not be judged.

‭John 3:18 NLT‬
[18] “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”

‭Romans 8:1 NLT‬
[1]” So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”

However, there is a fearsome judgment for unbelievers.

‭2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 NLT‬
[7] “And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, [8] in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.”

The Bible does not say that unbelievers will be judged on their behaviour but on their refusal to obey the gospel. All sinful behaviour flows from unbelief and disobedience. It’s the heart, not behaviour, that brings the judgement of God.

‭Jeremiah 17:9 NLT‬
[9] “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?”

So, here’s our gem for today. We may not like this one – perhaps it’s a black pearl! However, we need to examine it because we will discover its beauty when we understand its worth.

Unlike unbelievers who will be judged for their unbelief, believers will be judged for their words and actions. Why? Jesus said that what we say and do are the fruit of what is in our hearts.

‭Matthew 7:17, 20 NLT‬
[17] “A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit….
[20] Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

Imagine if God had never warned us in His Word that He will also judge the members of His household! What if we blissfully enter heaven thinking we will participate in all its glories and blessings only to find that we disqualify because we failed to read the small print.

This DOES NOT MEAN that our good works will get us to heaven. Let’s put that one to rest once and for all time. We are saved by grace and grace alone.

‭Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT‬
[8] “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. [9] Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

However, salvation has a powerful effect on every true believer’s life.

‭Ephesians 2:10 NLT‬
[10] “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.“

Our changed lives should and must produce changed behaviour.

‭James 1:23-24 NLT‬
[23] “For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. [24] You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.”

‭James 2:14, 17 NLT‬
[14] “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?…
[17]” So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”

So, faith that doesn’t produce a changed heart… from selfishness to self-less service… isn’t real faith.

‭James 2:19 NLT‬
[19] “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.”

‭James 2:21-22, 24 NLT‬
[21] “Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete…
[24] So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.”

What are the good works that God has prepared for us to do? There are so many examples of an array of good works that it is difficult to categorise them. Let’s put them all together under the category of ‘fruit’ since fruit is the result of the root.

If we are rooted in Jesus, our fruit will identify our root. Paul gives us the nine-flavoured fruit which epitomises our three-way relationships, i.e., our relationship with God, with others and, strangely enough, with ourselves.

‭Galatians 5:22-23 NLT‬
[22] “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

  1. Love, joy, peace

Since Jesus left us the legacy of His own nature, when we remain in Him, we respond to that legacy by the love, joy, and peace in our own hearts as we fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit moment by moment. We will become aware of any disturbance in our fellowship when we lose the awareness of His love, joy, and peace inside us.

  1. Patience, kindness, goodness

These are the evidence of our roots in Jesus that we show to the people we connect with around us. Whatever we do that is flavoured with Jesus’ character shows the nature of the tree. To confess to be a believer and to treat others harshly and unkindly, negates our confession.

  1. Faithfulness, meekness, self-control

Jesus counted these qualities in us of great importance. FAITHFULNESS to who we are and what we have been called to do is the fruit that prepares us for the ‘crown of righteousness’ that Paul eagerly anticipated. Even as he urged Timothy to be faithful…

‭2 Timothy 4:1-2, 5, 7-8 NLT‬
[1] “I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: [2] Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching…
[5] But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”

So he testified to his own hope…

[7] “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. [8] And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”

MEEKNESS is the fruit of God’s patient work in us. Through many trials and tests, He has collapsed and tamed our rebellious hearts and brought them under His control to do His will by His grace. Meekness submits to authority under God on every level.

SELF-CONTROL is the most difficult fruit to grow. Self-control is the one flavour of our fruit that tames and overcomes our ungodly desires and allows our new nature to develop and flourish. Unless we choose to submit to the Holy Spirit’s leading throughout every day, we will lose the battle to live as overcomers. We will ignore God’s grace and give way to self. Our fruit will become unpalatable and there will be no glory to God.

There is one more consideration as we examine the judgment of believers… the tongue. God will judge our behaviour by examining our hearts. God knows what is in our hearts.

‭Jeremiah 17:10 NLT‬
[10] “But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”

However, how can we know what is in our hearts? Jesus said that our words and actions which flow from what is in our hearts, will tell us.

‭Luke 6:45 NLT‬
[45] “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

As shocking as this may be to us, it will be our words that God will judge. Our words are a dead giveaway of what’s inside.

‭Proverbs 18:21 NLT‬
[21]” The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

‭Proverbs 18:21 NIV
[21] “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

God will not need a list of offences to judge, just one charge…

‭Matthew 12:35-37 NLT‬
[35] A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. [36] And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. [37] The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”

The words we speak reveals all.

What we think about God comes out in our words of doubt and fear. We inadvertently expose our unbelief by what we say. How? By repeatedly rehearsing our adversities!

We show our attitude to people by our criticism, gossip, judgment – that superior attitude that Jesus hates. We fly above others, puffed up by the unspoken notion that we are better than they; we wouldn’t do what they are doing; we won’t fail like they are failing…the ‘Peter balloon’ that will bring us crashing down!

We expose our opinion about ourselves when we speak words like “I can’t… I am not… I wish I was…” and even words like “You are so clever… talented… blessed. You pray such beautiful prayers (as if God is impressed by words)…God will answer your prayers (but not mine). You are this, that, or the other thing…”

Since we speak what we think, let’s change out thinking by renewing our minds, then our hearts will think God’s thoughts and our mouths will speak God’s words.

‭Romans 12:2 NLT‬
[2] “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Let’s pray David’s prayer with sincere hearts…

‭Psalms 139:23-24 NLT‬
[23]”Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. [24] Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

GIFTS OF THE GIVER – 10

Christian Life,

1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT‬
[10] “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. [11] Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.”

I’ve skipped over some of Peter’s instructions to his readers since he echoes Paul’s counsel to those who are children of God, living in the realm of God’s rule in the midst of wickedness.

Peter’s next gem to examine is his emphasis on the use of spiritual gifts. “Gift of the Givers”, to borrow a title, with a slight variation, from a Muslim organisation meeting many urgent needs in my country and elsewhere, is an apt way to understand spiritual gifts.

In today’s church, in many places, there is an emphasis on “my gift”, as though, somehow, I have a gift that must be respected and honoured, elevating me to a position of office and title. There are a collection of self-appointed office bearers in many branches of the church,…Apostle, Prophet, even Intercessor or Prayer Warrior (both unbiblical), who carry great authority globally and must be heeded because “they speak from God!”

Peter emphasises that it is God who is the Giver, ‘Gifts of the Giver’. He chooses both the gift and its recipient. It’s all about grace. The recipient is but a channel through whom the gift is dispensed. No one dare claim an authority or an office by the gift he gives away. There is only one Apostle, Prophet, intercessor, Healer, or anything else, JESUS, and through us, He dispenses His gifts.

There is a purpose and a motive for spiritual gifts that puts Jesus right in the centre.

The purpose…

“Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.”

‘Glory to God’ is the purpose for everything we do, not because He is egocentric but since He is the source and goal of the universe.

The motive…

‭1 Peter 4:10 NLT‬
[10] “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”

… and do it all in love…

‭1 Peter 4:8 NLT‬
[8] “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.“

Loving service in the body of Christ obliterates the little irritations that can so easily creep in to divide. Love is the mortar that holds the living stones in place in God’s temple.

Let’s get this straight. God is the Giver. He decides which gift to channel through His human givers. We are His givers, not elevating ourselves or our gift but freely and lovingly serving the body of Christ so that He gets the glory.

Imagine how much competition in the body of Christ would be eliminated if we all understood our place and honoured one another in our functions. We would be one in our hearts as we love and serve one another to the glory of Jesus!

AN UNEXPECTED OUTCOME… A LESSON TO LEARN – 9c

Christian Life, ,

What can I learn from this unexpected outcome? Or perhaps I should say, “unlearn” first. So much learning happens when we first uncover the deception in our old ideas before we can replace them with the new, eternal truths we can stand on as a sure foundation for life.

What must we first unlearn? Many wrong ideas block our minds to the truth. The lie is that our circumstances are our problem…depleted finances, ill-health, broken relationships, messy environment, inflation, cost of living, unfair labour practice, government, poor service delivery, corruption – the list is endless…these are things that stand between us and happiness.

The truth is that these trials are the very things God uses to chip away at our self-sufficiency so that we are always aware of our need of His grace.

Peter gives us a jewel of truth that shines through the gloom of our depression and despair – he advocates a celebration of the circumstances that we try so hard to pray away!

‭1 Peter 1:6-9 NLT‬
[6] “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. [7] These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. [8] You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. [9] The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”

We must learn to see our trials from a different perspective. Peter says they are transient… for a little while; they test the quality of our faith… it is fireproof; and they produce a joy that rises up and beyond the boundaries of this life…into the future where we will enjoy the rewards of a faith that stood the test.

Wow! That’s something to digest! How different from the world’s perspective!

The world says, “Resist these adversities. You deserve to be happy.” God says, “Celebrate your adversities. They are preparing you for great joy.”

God is smart! His ways and His thoughts are far above ours. Where we attach our happiness/contentment to our circumstances, He takes us to the heart… the heart!

Solomon wisely advised us to

‭Proverbs 4:23 NLT‬
[23]” Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

What is in our hearts not only inevitably comes out but it also directs the way our our lives will go. Focus on untoward circumstances will colour our lives with bitterness and disillusionment that taints us and those around us. Focus on God’s unwavering love and goodness, despite our circumstances, will produce hearts of gratitude and confidence in His promises, and clear the atmosphere around us.

Thankfulness for the adversities that keep us on the ground are the real blessing. Pain of whatever kind constantly reminds us of our mortality and weakness, of our utter helplessness without God’s grace, and qualifies us for the sufficient grace God gives us for every situation.

In God’s mercy, He enables us to overcome the greatest sin of all, unbelief, by the very suffering we hate so much. He will use whatever it takes to keep our feet on the ground, so that we don’t go floating off on some imaginary cloud of self-realisation. He will bring us down in a painful way to remind us that “without Him, we can do nothing.”

Let’s learn this lesson quickly and thoroughly. Then we will experience the overcoming attitude that will steer us clear of the pride and the unbelief that insists that “We can do it! We don’t need God.”

‭John 15:5 NLT‬
[5] “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

AN UNEXPECTED OUTCOME – 9b

Christian Life, ,

There are many examples in Scripture of the kind of suffering God uses to pierce our balloon and release the hot air that inflates us. I’ll use only three examples to show us how God works through suffering.

  1. David
    David was riding the crest of the wave as God’s model king of Israel. The kingdom was united and expanded; his capital, Jerusalem, was secured; his enemies were subdued; his life was blessed…his helium balloon was full and…his lust got the better of him. He let go of God and went it alone. PRIDE!!

David fell very hard.

2 Samuel 11:2-4 NLT‬
[2] “Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. [3] He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” [4] Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home.”

HUMILIATION! His balloon was popped!

David’s response, when the prophet, Nathan, confronted him, reveals a fragment of his real suffering. First, his pride was so hurt that it was unbearable.

‭Psalms 32:3-4 NLT‬
[3] “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. [4] Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.”

Second, his sin had cut him off from God’s presence and he was devastated.

‭Psalms 51:3-4, 11 NLT‬
[3]”For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. [4] Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just…
[11] Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.”

David used a word that aptly described how God had dealt with his pride – broken (dakah) – meaning ‘to crush’ or ‘collapse’.

‭Psalms 51:8, 17 NLT‬
[8]” Oh, give me back my joy again; you have BROKEN me— now let me rejoice…
[17]”The sacrifice you desire is a BROKEN spirit. You will not reject a BROKEN and repentant heart, O God.”

What did God do? Nothing!! He let David’s pride take its course. David pierced his own balloon by actions that left his pride in tatters. David’s sin nature won, and he was broken… crushed and collapsed!

Now do you get the picture? This kind of suffering is unbearable because the sufferer can do nothing about it. He can only throw himself on God’s mercy.

God wants to collapse our balloon of pride. Sometimes He simply allows us to be who we are, infused with an old nature that WANTS to be independent of God. Unless God allows our pride to be collapsed, we cannot have a ‘broken’ spirit, like a horse that has been broken in, to take a bit and bridle and submit to a rider.

  1. Paul
    ‭2 Corinthians 12:2, 7 NLT‬
    [2] “I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows….
    [7] even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud… “

Sometimes God exposes and helps us to deal with pride before it takes over. In Paul’s case, God intervened to keep Paul from riding his helium balloon. He introduced a form of suffering that kept pricking Paul’s balloon to keep his feet firmly on the ground.

Hardships, especially in the form of persecution, have a way of helping us stay in union with Jesus. When we suffer for Him, we suffer with Him. Our identity is strengthened by an awareness of how weak we are and how much we need His grace.

Exactly! This was the lesson for Paul as he struggled with the never-ending hostility of his fellow-Jews and the Roman government. God refused to remove Paul’s thorn, but He supplied the grace to give Paul joy in his suffering.

‭2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT‬
[8] “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. [9] Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. [10] That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

What a turnaround! It took Paul time, three times a “No!” from God before he got the picture, but God finally turned his complaining into celebration. That’s what God desires. Paul was learning to take the bit and bridle.

Joni Earekson Tada learned this lesson when she was seriously ill with Covid. She came to the point where, realising that she could rest in God, she ‘turned her cross into a crown’.

  1. Peter
    Peter’s self-inflicted suffering didn’t happen by chance. It was inevitable. He was too cock-sure for his own good. His self-sufficiency oozed out of him like sweat on a hot day!

Jesus saw it coming. He knew Peter, and He knew the Father. He was alerted to the coward in Peter. So, He graciously warned him before the time so that, when it happened, Peter would feel the impact of his denial.

True to Peter, he conveniently forgot Jesus’ warning until the full force of Jesus’ glance hit him between the eyes. That look in the eyes of his Master said more than a thousand words. It was not an “I told you so” look but rather a glance of pure compassion. Peter was entering a season of suffering, a collapse of his balloon, a humiliation so great that it would expose the core of who he really was.

With shuddering remembrance he could write,

‭1 Peter 5:5-6 NLT‬
[5]… All of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [6] So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”

Be sure, then, brothers and sisters, that our loving Father will do whatever it takes to bring down the pride that separates us from His grace. There is nothing God hates more than the arrogant attitude that says, “I don’t need you, God. I can do it myself.”

So, the warning,

‭1 Peter 5:8 NLT‬
[8] “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

To be concluded…