Tag Archives: hope

THE GOSPEL IN HEBREWS – 18

Bible Study, ,

Hebrews 11:1-3 NLT
[1] “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. [2] Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. [3] By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”

Faith! What is faith?

Our writer gives a definition that is sometimes difficult to understand. Simply put, faith is confidence in God that He will do everything He said He would do. Our hope is what the end results of His promises will look like.

He said we will be transformed into the likeness of Jesus. That’s our hope. So, we believe that everything we are called to suffer now is moving us towards that goal. He said that, if we endure, we will be with Him in glory. So, we persevere through thick and thin because our hope is to be with Him forever.

Faith, then, is the gossamer thread of trust, confidence in God that joins us to Him and His intentions for us. Faith grows stronger every time we push through a trial, a test that strips off another layer of suspicion, mistrust, or doubt that clouds our vision of God’s faithfulness to see us through to the end result.

“Absolute trust is freefallimg into the arms of Jesus, knowing that He will always catch you. “

Hebrews 11, known as “the faith chapter” is a summary of the lives of Israel’s heroes of faith. Many triumphed, some suffered because they had faith in God to do what He promised. Together, they form the “great cloud of witnesses” to the value and merits of trusting God through good and bad. Beyond earth’s experiences lay a life in God’s presence in His eternal city prepared for them, too marvellous to know now but as sure as God Himself.

Hebrews 11:13-16 NLT
[13] “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. [14] Obviously, people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. [15] If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. [16] But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

It is said, “To be heavenly-minded is to be of no earthly use? ” This is a lie and and contrary to the Scriptures. It was because the witnesses of which our writer writes had their hearts and minds set on heaven that they acted in faith at God’s command and endured the often terrible consequences of their obedience.

Without the vision of an eternal reward for faith and obedience, life is nothing more than aimless wandering in a barren and howling wilderness.

We, too, will join that cloud of witnesses as we participate with them in this journey of faith that will take us through the dark valleys of testing and trouble to His eternal city. The great test of faith is to continue when nothing seems to be happening, when the way ahead is foggy and uncertain, when God’s voice is silent, and when the enemy closes in with doubts and fears that threaten us with loss and disappointment for believing in Him.

God’s promise of final victory over all the negatives of this life is for those who endure to the end because they have fixed their gaze on the heavenly and everlasting prize.

To be continued…

PRAYING GOD’S WAY – 22

Prayer, ,

EVEN MORE!

‭1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 NLT‬
[12] “And may the Lord make your LOVE for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. [13] May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.“

Such a happy letter! Paul has much to commend the people in the Thessalonian church. They responded to his message, believed the truth and lived it out among the pagans in their city.

Unlike the people in some churches, Thessalonians believers didn’t drag their pagan lifestyle with them into their new lives. Their love for one another was powerful evidence of God’s work of grace in them.

All through the ages, the ‘wheat’ and the ‘weeds’ in the world are left to grow together. When harvest time comes, Jesus said, the wheat and weeds will be separated according to their fruit. The true and the false may be difficult to differentiate as they grow but their fruit will eventually give them away.

So, Paul prays, whatever the Thessalonians believers were doing, do it even more. In this way, when harvest time comes, there will be no doubt about their identity and to whom they belong.

‭1 Thessalonians 4:1 NLT‬
[1] “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.”

Paul’s prayer for the Philippians Church enshrines this thought.

‭Philippians 1:11 NLT‬
[11] “May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”

There is a particular fragrance, an aroma, about those who belong to Jesus, like the fragrance of freshly-picked fruit that identifies its kind.

‭2 Corinthians 2:15 NLT‬
[15]”Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.”

As we read through Paul’s letters of correction, instruction, and encouragement to different groups of people, qualities and characteristics begin to emerge that typify true believers.

‭1 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT‬
[3]”As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your FAITHFUL WORK , your LOVING DEEDS , and the ENDURING HOPE you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

‭Romans 1:8 NLT‬
[8] “Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your FAITH in him is being talked about all over the world.”

‭Colossians 1:4-5 NLT‬
[4] “For we have heard of your FAITH in Christ Jesus and your LOVE for all of God’s people, [5] which come from your confident HOPE of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.”

‭1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT‬
[13]”Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

Faith, love, hope… the core qualities of believers in Jesus, evidence of the new life in Him, emerge from Paul’s writings. These are the fruit of our salvation.

The fragrance of these fruits pervade the atmosphere around us like sweet perfume. O, that the Lord would fill His people with the fruits of our salvation!

We have Paul’s example to follow as we obey his instruction to pray for all believers everywhere.

‭Ephesians 6:18 NLT‬
[18] “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

Whatever believers are doing that shows their true life in Jesus, pray that they will do it even more. There are spinoffs when we channel our energies into faith, hope and love,

“May he, as a result, make your hearts STRONG , BLAMELESS , and HOLY as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people.”

“… for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”

Isn’t this, after all, what we desire above all else, as God’s beloved children, to be strong, blameless, and holy when we stand before God, and to bring much praise and glory to Him? Our prayers will contribute to the quality of the fruit God’s children bear all over the world that make this possible.

26 – ENGAGING THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM –THE POWER OF THE WORD

Christian Life, ,

26 – ENGAGING THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM –THE POWER OF THE WORD

It is fitting that we should conclude our studies on the powers of the kingdom, at least for a while, with a closer look at what the Bible has to say about itself. After all, if this book is not authentic, then everything we believe and live by is a lie, and we are all witnesses to something that is not and never has been true.

Every religion has an originator and sacred writings that claim to be the truth. What makes our faith unique? We claim to have a written record of what God has spoken that is infallible, indestructible, powerful, and eternal.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” Hebrews 4:12 NLT

This is the witness of God’s Word about itself and the reason for people’s differing responses to this book.

The Bible is either loved and revered by those who believe it and are transformed by its truth or hated and feared by those who claim allegiance to other gods.

The story of the Bible is amazing. Despite every attempt to destroy this book, God has protected it to the extent that its words and influence have infiltrated the entire planet. Since it has been translated and disseminated across the globe in written and digital form, it would now be impossible to eradicate it from the earth.

During the most repressive of regimes, especially in China and Russia, the Word lived on and even single pages of the Bible have brought people to living faith in Jesus.

We call the Bible God’s Word. According to Hebrew scholars, the Word is a manifestation of God in another form. In other words, God has revealed Himself to us in written form, using the words that people can understand to explain what we need to know about Him in order to believe in Him.

The Bible contains words in three forms

  1. The LOGOS

In essence, the “logos” is everything God has  revealed in written form, that enables us to connect with Him.

  1. The RHEMA

Rhema is the Greek word for “word” which reflects the spoken word or utterance. The whole Bible is God’s “logos” but there are times when God speaks a specific “rhema” word to our situation or need. The Holy Spirit quickens the Word that is in us to give us light, or to provide wisdom or a weapon against the devil’s lies.

“But Jesus told him (Satan), “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhema) that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4 NLT

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.  He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.  All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’ ” John 16:13-15 NLT

  1. JESUS, the living Word

God spoke words through His prophets in the Old Covenant, but His final word came in the form of a person, Jesus, who is the embodiment of everything God has revealed about Himself. Jesus is the living LOGOS, God’s final word.

“Long ago, God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3 NLT

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT ITSELF?

Apart from the many millions whose lives have been changed by reading the Bible, we have the witness of the Bible itself to its power to work in people’s lives, either to judge and condemn or to save and transform.

PROPHECY AUTHENTICATES THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE

Let’s start with prophecy because prophecy is God’s trump card that witnesses to the Bible’s authenticity.

Many so-called prophets, both in and outside the Bible, claim to speak for God. How do we know that what they say is the truth?

“I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying. If they had stood before me and listened to me, they would have spoken my words, and they would have turned my people from their evil ways and deeds.” Jeremiah 23:21-22 NLT

False prophets tell people what they want to hear. True prophecy speaks the truth whether it is palatable to the hearer or not.

“Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.” Isaiah 46:10 NLT

“Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, but the people believe your lies. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘You must die. Your life will end this very year because you have rebelled against the Lord .’” Two months later the prophet Hananiah died.” Jeremiah 28:15-17

Jesus is the final proof is the truth of Old Testament prophecy . Since everything that was prophesied about His first coming was fulfilled, we can safely believe that everything prophesied about His second coming will also be fulfilled.

“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.’ 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 NIV

GOD’ S WORD IS PERFECT

“And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.” Psalms 12:6 NIV

There is nothing we can add to or take from the Bible to make it a better revelation of God. If we do so, we only bring judgement on ourselves.

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” Revelation 22:18-19 NIV 

THE BIBLE IS SPIRIT-INSPIRED

“Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,  or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.” 2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT

THE BIBLE IS FOOD FOR OUR SOULS

“And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.  Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.” Ezekiel 3:1-3 NIV  

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.  They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.  By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. “Psalms 19:7-11 NIV

THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE HAVE THE POWER TO EXPOSE THE HEART

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.” Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT

“Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord . “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord , “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” Jeremiah 23:28-29 NIV

FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD

“So, faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” Romans 10:17 NLT

WE ARE BORN AGAIN THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD

“For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23 NLT

WE ARE WASHED BY THE WORD

3″You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” John 15:3

“…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…” Ephesians 5:25-26

THE BIBLE IS A MIRROR IN WHICH WE SEE OURSELVES

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” James 1:22-25 NLT

ALL SCRIPTURE IS PROFITABLE

“You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” 2 Timothy 3:15-16 NLT 

GOD’S WORD GIVES US HOPE

Two promises that I cling to that I know God will keep

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Phil. 1:6 NLT 

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

The Bible has so much to say about itself that we could go on discovering the treasures of God’s Word forever.

Since we can’t do this here, I would like to conclude this series with what the Master Himself has to say about His Word.

  1. God’s Word is truth

“Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.”John 17:17 NLT

  1. God’s Word is authoritative

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4 NIV

  1. Jesus’s words give life

“The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” John 6:63 NLT

  1. Jesus speaks God’s words

“I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.” John 12:49 NLT

  1. Jesus’ words are the standard of judgement

“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.  There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.” John 12:47-48 NIV

THE GLORY OF JESUS, GOD’S FINAL AND PERFECT WORD

“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.” Hebrews 1:3 NLT

“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.” Revelation 19:11-13 NLT

NO OTHER BOOK CAN CONFIDENTLY PROCLAIM A MESSAGE LIKE THIS ONE

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31

“And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9 NLT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

All Scripture quotations in this series

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18 – ENGAGING THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM – THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

Christian Life, ,

18 – ENGAGING THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM – THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

Just as God’s grace underpins everything He does for us and in us to enable us to overcome the world, so Jesus’ resurrection is the reason and the power to overcome.

Paul said that, without Jesus’ resurrection, we have no hope and are still dead in our trespasses and sins.

“For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15:16-19 NIV

The resurrection of Jesus is an undeniable fact of history. Many unbelievers have tried to disprove the truth that Jesus rose from the dead but, from Biblical and secular evidence, no one has been able to disprove the fact.

Frank Morrison, an unbelieving lawyer, wrote a book called “Who Moved the Stone?” in which he set out to disprove the resurrection but, after examining all the evidence from a legal perspective, he could only conclude that Jesus really did rise from the dead. On the strength of his findings, Morrison became a believer.

Before we consider some important aspects of Jesus’s resurrection, we must understand that before God created the universe, before the beginning of time, His plan was to create people who would live forever.

Job, who lived during the time of the patriarchs, had this hope.

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!” Job 19:25-27 NLT

David spoke of Messiah’s resurrection centuries before Jesus came to earth.

“King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’” Acts of the Apostles 2:25-28 NLT

Despite the futility of life, Solomon recognised that God had a higher plan for man.

“Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart…” Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

Without the resurrection of Jesus, none of God’s plans for the human race would come to anything. Death, the last enemy, would never be conquered, and Satan would have the last word.

WHAT DID THE RESURRECTION MEAN TO JESUS?

  1. The resurrection was the fulfilment of prophecy and God’s seal of approval on Jesus’s work of salvation.

“And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus…”

  1. The resurrection affirmed Jesus’s identity as the Son of God.

“… He was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 1:4 NLT

  1. The resurrection confirmed Jesus’s sinless nature.

“But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.” Acts of the Apostles 2:24 NLT

“For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’” Acts of the Apostles 2:27-28 NLT

  1. The resurrection sealed Jesus’s exaltation as Lord and Messiah.

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand…” Acts of the Apostles 2:32 NLT

“So, let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Acts of the Apostles 2:36 NLT

  1. The resurrection guarantees the full harvest of those who will rise again.

“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT

‘But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.” 1 Corinthians 15:23 NLT

  1. The resurrection completed Jesus’ victory over sin and death.

“Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.” Hebrews 2:14-15 NLT

“For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 NLT

WHAT DOES THE RESURRECTION MEAN TO BELIEVERS?

The resurrection power of Jesus affects both our present and our future.

  1. OUR PRESENT

Paul prayed…

“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT

Through faith in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, we have become one with Him. This means that we share in all the benefits of His life, death and resurrection.

This truth has far-reaching effects on our everyday lives in the environment and influence of an evil world. According to Paul, we died with Christ (because we are “in Christ”) and we have been raised with Him to a new life.

So, just as His death and resurrection cut Jesus off from His life as an earthly being and restored Him to His position in glory…

“We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God.” Romans 6:9-10 NLT

… so we, who died and rose again “in Him” by faith, have been cut off from our old, sinful lives and have risen to a new life in the realm of God’s kingdom.

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6 NLT

Through our baptism in water, we illustrate what has happened to us in the spiritual dimension. Not only that, but we also make a public declaration of our union and identity with Jesus in His death, burial and resurrection and…

By faith we embrace the same power that raised Christ from the dead to raise us up from the works of the flesh that produce death, to newness of life in Jesus.

HOW CAN WE APPLY THE RESURRECTION TO OUR PRESENT LIVES?

To use the excuse that we are “only human” when we sin is to cancel God’s power in us to live new lives in Christ.

“Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” Romans 6:1-4 NLT

What we need, to begin with, is a new understanding of what has happened to and in us when we believed the gospel.

“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.” Romans 6:6-8 NLT

Based on this understanding, and believing the truth of what Jesus has done for us, we need to develop a new awareness.

“So, you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11 NLT

How do we apply this awareness to our everyday lives, when we are under pressure to act and react like people of the world?

“So, you also should CONSIDER yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. DO NOT LET sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, GIVE YOURSELVES completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” Romans 6:11-13 NLT

Paul gives us three courses of action to overcome the temptation to give in to the flesh.

  1. Consider…

This means that we stop and think first before we say or do anything out of the flesh. Emotion is often what we respond to first, but emotion always follows wrong thinking.

So, the fact that you are dead to your old nature is a done deal. Now let that thought (truth) dominate your mind in that situation before you make the next move.

  1. Do not let…

Say a firm  “No!” to what your flesh wants to do. It’s a choice YOU have to make and, once you’ve made it, grace steps in and gives you the power to do what you have decided.

  1. Give yourselves…

Since it is impossible to think two thoughts simultaneously, once you have changed your thinking from yourself to God, your mind is on safe ground and will lead you to take the right action.

This is resurrection power working in you that will train you to live by the Spirit and not according to the flesh. It will take a lifetime to learn but, if you keep applying these truths to your life, the journey will become easier.

“Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.” Romans 8:12-13 NLT

  1. OUR FUTURE

The resurrection of Jesus affects the way we deal with our present tests and trials in the light of our hope for the future.

Our life philosophy should never be either a  “karma-type” fatalism, what will be will be, or “let’s eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die” way of thinking. We are tied to a hope for the future that is securely joined both to our present and to Jesus’ resurrection.

This is how the resurrection affects our future.

(The following points aren’t in any sequence or order of priority).

  1. Jesus’s resurrection gives us the hope of eternal life.

“Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 11:25-26 NLT

” Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.” John 14:19 NLT

  1. We will be God’s eternal dwelling place.

“When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:20 NLT

  1. The resurrection guarantees that we are justified, no longer guilty of sin

“He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.”Romans 4:25 NLT

  1. Jesus is the firstfruits, we are the harvest of the resurrection

“But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT

  1. Jesus’ resurrection conquered sin and death

“Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? ” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. ” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 NLT

  1. We will be raised with new, indestructible bodies

“Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.” 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NLT

  1. Our hope of resurrection motivates us

To live pure lives

“Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3 NLT

… and to persevere in doing good

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 NLT

  1. Our resurrection will happen in an instant…

“But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NLT

… and we will be with the Lord forever

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NLT

Therefore, we, of all people, have everything to live for and to die for. We have powerful equipment to overcome our enemies in this life, both outside and inside of us… the world, the flesh, and the devil…

… and we have the hope that draws us towards, eternity. Death is no longer something to fear. It is the door to our eternal dwelling place with God. And the indestructible truth that gives us this hope is…

… that Jesus rose from the dead and is now

“…. seated… in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT

CONCLUSION

“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 NLT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

All Scripture quotations in this series

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

 

9 – ENGAGING THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM – THE POWER OF JOY

Christian Life, ,

9 – ENGAGING THE POWERS OF THE KINGDOM – THE POWER OF JOY

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…” Romans 14:17 NIV 

Believers tend to think of joy as an emotion that we feel or should feel all the time, especially when things are not going well. We are encouraged to hold on to the truth that “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The Hebrew word for strength actually means “a place of safety, a fortress, protection”. Joy is God’s protection against… what? Emotions don’t give us protection. They only tell us what our state of mind is.

I think, therefore, that we should look at joy from another angle, i.e., not as an emotion but as an attitude, especially as we are exploring the powers of the kingdom that God has provided for us to overcome the world.

If God’s peace is His protection against the anxieties and fears our present circumstances produce, joy is prophetic of the outcome of our future.

“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Romans 5:2 NLT

To understand the meaning and power of joy in our lives, we must look at the power of joy in Jesus’ life. Jesus was the most joyful man who ever lived.

“You love justice and hate evil. Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” Hebrews 1:9 NLT

What was the reason for Jesus’ joy? Isaiah saw Him prophetically as “a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.” (Isa. 53:3 – NLT).

How could two such powerful emotions be present on one person?

The answer is the cross.

Despite His overriding joy, Jesus felt the agony of impending suffering for the sin of the world.

“He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.” Luke 22:44 NLT

He felt the pain of His people who would have to face the horrors of Roman invasion and the cruelty of war because they had rejected Him.

“But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.”Luke 19:41-42 NLT

He wept over Mary’s disappointment and disillusionment because she didn’t understand what He was about to reveal.

‘When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled… Then Jesus wept.” John 11:33, 35 NLT

As real as the sorrow Jesus felt for the self-inflicted suffering of His people because they failed to understand who He was and why He had come, and the agony of His own suffering, His overriding attitude to life was pure joy.

All His sorrow would be swallowed up in one great event – the cross.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT

It was the outcome of His sorrow and suffering that produced the joy that kept Jesus going to the end. Our salvation was His goal and He did it because He never gave up.

“When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.”Isaiah 53:11 NLT

It is true that there are many experiences in life that produce a surge of joy in us… falling in love, marrying the one we love, carrying our first child, successes and achievements and many more, but these are earthly and temporary.

The true joy that will sustain us through every bad experience is the anticipation of our future.

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while…. 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. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6, 8-9 NLT

In a world of people who have no hope, we have the power of Jesus’s joy to sustain us through every trial and bad experience because we are convinced of God’s promise…

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

Therefore, when we choose to maintain an attitude of joy, we have a powerful weapon against Satan’s attempts to drag us into depression and hopelessness when we confront present circumstances.

Confidence in God’s promises enables us to persevere with joy, no matter what, and we can rejoice because we know that our future is secure.

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Romans 12:12 NLT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

All Scripture quotations in this series

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.