Following Jesus is not always easy
Many generally show their interest to follow God looking at the miracles and wonders. In awe of all these great things, they forget what the Word says about following Him. We come across a similar incident in the Bible (Luke 18:18-24) where a rich young ruler met Jesus saying that He would like to follow Him. Then Jesus asked him to follow the commandments for which he said that he had never missed to follow them all of his lifetime. Many believers also would answer the same way . But Jesus told to the young man that He was lacking something. He asked him to sell off all his property and come back to follow him. But the young man was so rich and so much in love with his property that he became sorrowful and went back reluctant to give up his riches. Then Jesus ended up saying it is hard for the rich to get into heaven.
What does this tough statement of Jesus convey? He doesn't say that heaven doesn't accept the rich but stresses on the fact that one should be able to give up anything to follow Him. It is not easy to follow God. Jesus didn't say that the rich should sell off everything if they want to follow Him rather He wanted us to give up the love for those. It is a common call, very much similar to how he called Matthew, Andrew, Peter and many more. The young man was not ready to give up His riches and position.
It is not easy to understand the words of Jesus. Luke 9:23 - whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. We are human beings. Many things of the world like temper, inclinations, lust, pride, jealousy, anger and more prevail in is. If anyone loves the world, God's love in not in him (1 John 2:15).
Let us consider the incident where Jesus was tempted by satan for three times. Jesus was fasting for 40 days and no doubt He was hungry. At that moment, satan asked Jesus to make the stones as bread to quench His hunger. Jesus could have anything for self gratification but denied it right away. Yes this is denying selves.
Secondly, Jesus spoke about taking up the cross. Jesus took up the cross to Golgotha and died for all mankind. So final goal of picking up the cross is to die. This means that we need to die for ourselves every day. Gal 5:24 - Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Following Jesus is not easy but following Him makes us live a victorious life.
Manifested presence of God
The Ark of God is the manifested presence of God. It is something tangible for Israelites to attach
faith to. God had given specific ways of carrying it. And only the levites were supposed to carry it.
During the time of Eli, the priest, the philistines captured Israel and took the Ark of God. Very soon,
they were unable to withstand the power of God working against them, they sent it off to
Bethshemesh and from there it was sent to the house of Abinadab in kiriath-jearim.
It was there for
20 years but the Israelites who were living in the status quo were just ignorant of its importance.
Many a time we see or listen about churches fully furnished and equipped but the manifestation on
God's presence is found missing. Why? Because they are accustomed to their traditions, programs,
events and so on.
The bible says in John 10:10 that the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy. Many a
time, more than killing or destroying, satan tries to steal. He loves to make the active ones become
passive Christians.
Saul the first king of Israel was anointed but he live did not live according to God's heart. He seemed
not bothered about the Ark. But his successor, David was so passionate about God and was
determined to bring the Ark into the city (2 Sam 6:4).
With great pomp and praise, David along with
is 30000 men placed the Ark on a new cart and started taking to the city. As they were on the way,
the oxen stumbled and immediately, Uzzah, the son of Abinadab touched the Ark to keep it from
falling. And immediately the Lord struck him and he died and David was sore afraid.
David's intention of bringing the Ark into the city was right but the way was wrong. It's good to have
passion to do something.
But many fall short as they don't use the right method. The Ark was to be
borne on shoulders. It requires sacrificial and personal involvement. David sent the Ark to Obed-
Edom's house. It was with them for three months and the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom.
The reason, they revered the presence of God. When we revere the presence of God, He blesses us.
Wherever the Ark of God (God's manifested presence) is, there is power, provision, abundance and
more.
May the Lord bless you abundantly as you desire for His manifested presence loving and revering it.
Character of God
Jan 05, 2020
It is quite common to talk or listen to people talk about commitments, vision and goals. Where there
is no vision people perish (Prov 29:18). Vision keeps one focused on what one is called to do.
A
person with vision doesn't waste a moment because he/she hold strong determination.
Few people give up saying that their vision is either side-tracked or gone off-track. But one needs to
understand that the vision is given from above and therefore God is the one who gives and if He
gives, He will help us accomplish. We are required to be in the journey. Your goal towards the
fulfillment is important but the journey is more important. In this journey God is more interested to
build His character in you than giving comfort.
The Character of God is the Fruit of Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22, 23). If we possess the Fruit in us, we will be
able to work like Christ. Character is more important than gifts, goals, talents or dreams. One of the
functions of the Holy Spirit is to process God's character in us. He is working in us to transform us
into the image of God from glory to glory. When the Fruit of Spirit is in us, we attain God's Character.
Jesus is not just a sustainer of life but a transformer. Once we are transformed, it is easy to reach our
goals.
How does Holy Spirit work out the Fruit of Spirit in us?
Through the Word of God: Psalms 1:1-3 says that the one who meditates the word of God is blessed
and he will be successful in whatever he does. Prov 23:7 says 'As a man think, so he is'. If our
thoughts are based on sinning, we sin. Similarly, if our thoughts are based on the Word of God, so
will our behavior be because we are transformed.
By Abiding in Christ: Psalms 91:1 talks about abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. Jesus clearly
states that one who abides in Him will be fruitful (John 15:4,5). Abide means to remain and not to
depart, to contribute and represent. It is to wait on the Lord. They that wait on the Lord shall renew
their strength. (Isa 40:31).
By Abiding in Church: Church is not a building. It's you! Indeed everyone of us! Every person is
unique and every person personality is different. Our thinking is different, our response is different,
our families are different and our systems are different. But we have the same God who made us
unique and united us. We are to bear one another and support one another for we together are the
body of Christ
As we continue to meditate the Word, abide in Christ and abide in Church, the Holy Spirit processes
the Fruit of Spirit in us in our journey towards the fulfillment of the vision.
Walking by the spirit
Key verse - John 3:8 - The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it goes. So is it with everyone born of the Spirit
The Greek word used for wind is Pneuma which means Spirit or Strong wind. Holy Spirit is omnipresent and omnipotent. He can do anything, anywhere and is not limited to a place. It is by His help we are saved. That's why Paul says in Gal 5:25 - If we live by Spirit, let us also walk by Spirit. We can walk by the Spirit when we are filled with the Spirit and led by the Spirit.
Eph 5:18 - Do not get drunk on wine, but be filled with the Spirit. We know how drunkards are so influenced with wine that they are go uncontrollable. Their natural behavior differs from the behavior exhibited when they are drunk. The timids catch up courage. Similarly, the ones who are filled with the Spirit are controlled not by selves but by the Spirit.
Jesus came as a man like you and me but the scriptures testify that He fully depended on the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:1 - He was filled with the Spirit and led by the Spirit. When Jesus was baptized, the heavens opened and Father God witnessed about Him. Even before this, John the Baptist spoke about the One (Jesus) who would be coming after him was greater than him. In other words, by the Holy Spirit, He was given recognition. The same Holy Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to face temptations. And after winning over them, the Holy Spirit strengthened Him and led Him to Galilee and there He started preaching, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me...". Usually, when we are filled by the Holy Spirit, we would be so overjoyed. But we become reluctant to take up challenges or face trials and temptations. And this is how we miss out sometimes the strength offered by the Holy Spirit.
In John 4:14, Jesus refers to the living water that produces springs of living water in the one who accepts. John 7:37-38 - Jesus said that rivers of living water would flow within them who believes in Him. In other words, whoever believes in Him would have fountain of rivers of life in them by the Holy Spirit. The question is, are these living waters flowing out from us.
There are two things that block the work of the Holy Spirit.
1. Grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30)
We generally would be moved with more compassion and display more grief towards the loss of our own ones rather than some others. The reason behind this is love. Holy Spirit loves us so much and therefore when we go on sinning, He is grieved. He is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:16). When our words and actions are filled with lies, He is grieved. He is the Spirit of Grace (Heb 10:29) and grace forgives. If He forgave us and convicted us to confess our sins and faithful enough to renew the relationship with Him, then we ought to forgive and if we don't, He is grieved. He is the Spirit of Holiness (Rom 1:4) and He wants us to be Holy as He is. We need to set ourselves apart from the world.
2. Quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 5:19)
Many a Christian have become so accustomed to the works of the Spirit that they are not bothered to focus on Him in their efforts for the Kingdom. This decreases the dependency on Him and uplifts the attitude of self. And many are not even bothered about what He can do through us by ignoring or neglecting His power. This quenches the Spirit. Today, let us regret for what we have done and determine to come under the control of the Holy Spirit. As we walk by the Spirit, we become powerful tools for the Kingdom and God is glorified through us.
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