Tuesday, August 25, 2009

In everything give thanks!

1 Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

It’s easy to give thanks when good things happen. However, the Bible says ‘in everything give thanks’. You know what does 'in everything' means? It includes the time when you are facing a problem or a difficult situation. Yet the Bible says, even in these, give thanks.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you are to accept your problem as ‘fated’, and nothing can be done with it anymore. That’s not what the apostle Paul meant in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. The Bible says it is God's will for you to prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

When you give thanks (in spite of your current problem), know that your victory or breakthrough is at hand. Notice the words ‘for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’. Now that makes a whole lot of difference in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, and Christ Jesus has made all that difference! He has already taken your curse, sickness, or any other problem when He died on the cross (Isaiah 53:4-5), and now you are blessed and healed, and now you have your victory and breakthrough! All these have been done for you when Jesus said "It is finished!" (John 19:30) on the cross. What you can do now is to believe and receive. That's why the apostle Paul wrote 'in everything give thanks', even in 'not so good' situation, because in Christ Jesus, there’s already a victory, there’s already a breakthrough, and there's already a 'way out' for you!

Let’s do some cross-reference in the Bible now. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says 'thanks be to God who gives you victory through Christ Jesus our Lord'. The word ‘gives’ here in Greek is both in present tense and continuous tense. It actually means ‘keeps on giving’. It means God 'keeps on giving' you the victory or breakthrough you needed. He has indeed won every victory for you on the cross. That's how blessed you are in Christ! And 2 Corinthians 2:14 says 'thanks be to God who always leads you in triumph in Christ'. The word ‘always’ here really means ‘always’, not ‘sometimes’, ‘often’, and not even ‘almost always’. God always. Give thanks to God who always leads you in triumph in Christ!

Why do you normally say "thank you" to someone? You say it when that someone has helped you, or at least promised to help you. It's the same when you say "thank you" to God. When you thank Him, you are actually and effectively saying thanks for His help! He is indeed your help. He has indeed carried your debt, your sickness, or your every other problem on the cross. Even if you don't see your breakthrough coming immediately, it doesn't mean nothing's happening. When you believe and receive, something has happened in the spirit, and what happens in the spirit will soon be reflected in the natural.

Are you currently facing a 'difficult' situation? Maybe it's a mounting debt, a sickness, or a problem that 'seems to have no solution' at the moment. Be encouraged, my friend. To God, nothing is ever impossible (Matthew 19:26). Only believe. In my life, I know He has never failed to deliver me, even through my 'darkest of hours'. I believe He'll never fail you too, and He'll definitely show you a 'way out'. Take heart.

Beloved, begin to give thanks, and let it flow in your heart, and out in your speech, because your victory and breakthrough is at hand!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Choose to bless and speak 'life'!

Proverbs 18:21: Death and life are in the power of the tongue. And those who love it will eat its fruit.'

Whatever you speak over your life, or whatever you speak over your spouse, your children, your family, or anything else (business, studies, work, etc) will either bring ‘life’ or bring ‘death’. That’s how powerful your tongue can be! Sometimes we hear words like, “I am useless!”, “I am not going to make it!” or “I am good for nothing!” being spoken. But instead of saying such ‘death’ words, why not say, “I am already blessed” or “by Jesus' stripes, I am already healed!”.

When you speak ‘life’ over an area of your life, you are actually declaring it into being. So, if you want to see a breakthrough in finance, begin to speak 'life' over your finance, and if you want to see yourself living in good health, begin to speak 'life' over your body. That's what Proverbs 18:21 tells us!

Our tongue can either be used to bless or to curse (James 3:9-12). But friends, choose to bless. When you speak 'life', you are actually speaking 'blessings'. The word ‘bless’ in Greek is ‘eulogeo’, which means ‘to speak well of'. Start to 'speak well of' your life. Start to 'speak well of' your spouse, your children, and your family. Start to 'speak well of' every other area of your life! As a believer, know that Jesus has already carried your curse upon Himself on the cross, andyou are meant to be blessed!

Choose also to bless others. When you bless others, you’ll start to see yourself blessed too. The bible says you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7). Those who have past brokenness, bitterness or hurts (that have not been healed yet) may sometimes speak bitter or hurtful words, even unknowingly or unintentionally. The bible says ‘out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks’ (Matthew 12:34). This in turn causes even more hurts. It's like a 'spring' that sends forth 'bitter waters' (James 3:11). But when one is healed, 'sweet waters' will begin to flow out, and it shall 'water' and 'nourish' many others as well.

Maybe you have been broken or hurt before in the past, and it wasn't even your fault. Or maybe you have been finding it hard to forgive yourself, or forgive someone. Take heart my friend. Whatever you have been going through, God understands, and He wants to heal you right now. Know that with Him, nothing is impossible. Jesus has already died on the cross to carry your brokenness and hurts, and He has already made you whole. What you can do now is receive your healing. He wants you healed because He so loves you, and He has blessings waiting for you to receive.

Beloved, you are meant to be blessed, because this is God's inheritance for you. You are an heir of God through Christ (Galatians 4:7). You are also ‘blessed with every spiritual blessing’ (Ephesians 1:3). And not only that, He also wants you to be a blessing to others, and out of you shall flow ‘rivers' of living waters that water and bring ‘life’ to many others (John 7:38).

Friday, August 14, 2009

Be a true worshiper

John 4:23: But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

A true worshiper of God worships in spirit and in truth. Let’s begin by defining the words ‘spirit’ and ‘truth’. The word ‘spirit’ here is ‘pneuma’ in Greek. It’s the deepest part of you, your spirit. ‘Pneuma’ is the word used both for the ‘spirit’ of man and the ‘Spirit’ of God. The word ‘pneo’ in ‘pneuma’ actually means ‘breath’. As true worshipers, we worship God with our spirit. We can even worship in the spirit, just as we pray in the spirit. The word ‘truth’ in John 4:23 is ‘aletheia’ in Greek. It means ‘truly, true, not concealing, not hiding anything.’ As true worshipers, we also worship in truth, or in other words, ‘just as we are’, without hiding anything from Him, or without ‘putting up a front’.

Let’s now look at the background story of this verse John 4:23. That was when Jesus met a Samaritan woman. Do you know who the Samaritans were? They’re a race formed when the Jews married non-Jews. They lived in a region called Samaria, and in those days, the Jews despised them, and they would never want to pass through these Samaritans' land.

However, Jesus did pass through their land. You may ask, ‘why did Jesus reveal such important truths about worship to a Samaritan woman?’ Not only that, as a woman in those days, she had no standing even in her own community. Worse still, she’s been living in sin (John 4:17-18). You may also ask, ‘why didn’t Jesus reveal these truths to the Pharisees, or anyone who’s of high-standing in Jerusalem?’ Well, nothing in Bible was written by accident. Here, Jesus was demonstrating God’s love for the Samaritans as much as He loved the Jews. God loves all of us. We can worship Him disregarding of our background or race. Also, Jesus revealed this truth to a Samaritan woman (instead of a ‘knowledgeable, intellectual’ Pharisee) because she was open, and was humble enough to acknowledge her weaknesses (John 4:19). In those days, worship has become a religious, outwardly act, 'just for show’ (instead of from the heart).

Today, God is looking at the heart of a worshiper, not how much ‘head knowledge’ one may have, or how ‘sophisticated’ one may be, or how high a position (even in ‘spiritual office’) one may be in. He is looking for those who are totally open to Him, those who worship Him ‘just as they are, without hiding anything from Him’, and those who are humble enough to acknowledge their weaknesses (like the Samaritan woman). These are the ones God is seeking for. Beloved, as said by the prophet Jeremiah, let us lift our hearts (and not just our hands) to Him in worship (Lamentations 3:41), and let us worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Receive God's forgiveness

1 John 1:7b: And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

The word ‘cleanses’ is ‘katharizo’ in Greek. It means ‘to cleanse, purify, or purge.’ It comes from the word ‘katharos’ which means ‘clean, clear, or pure.’ The blood of Jesus Christ is effective to cleanse us from all sin. The word ‘all’ here is ‘pas’ in Greek. ‘All’ means ‘all’. In Greek, this word can mean ‘any, every, the whole, whatsoever, thoroughly.’ So, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from every sin, whatsoever, all our sins.

In 1 John 1:9, it says, ‘if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’. The word ‘confess’ here is ‘homologeo’ in Greek. It comes from two words, ‘homo’ which means ‘the same’, and ‘logos’ which means ‘say’. So, the word ‘homologeos’ means ‘to say the same, or to acknowledge’. God says He is faithful to forgive us. The word ‘faithful’ here is ‘pistos’ in Greek, which means ‘sure, true, trustworthy’. So, God is sure to forgive us, when we acknowledge our sins, and he cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

Because He cleanses you from all unrighteousness, you are now made righteous in Christ. To be righteous here means 'to be in right standing with God'. The interesting word here is ‘cleanses’. In Greek, this word (in 1 John 1:7 and 1 John 1:9) is both in present and continuous tense. It actually means ‘keeps on cleansing’. We can illustrate this like a waterfall, which never stops washing and cleansing the stones in it. It’s a 'waterfall of forgiveness', from the time you first received Jesus. It means God continually cleanses you of your sins.

When you know you are forgiven, you will be healed, in spirit, soul and body. You'll even start to see healing in your finance, in your family, in your career, in your relationships, etc. Psalm 103:3 mentions forgiveness before healing comes. In Luke 5:20-24, when a paralyzed man was brought to Jesus, Jesus said, ‘your sins are forgiven’, before He said, ‘rise up and walk’.

Beloved, receive your forgiveness now. You can because Jesus has done it for you on the cross. When you know you are forgiven, your healing will start flowing!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Communing with the Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians 13:14: 'The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.'

The word ‘communion’ here is ‘koinonia’ in Greek. It means ‘fellowship, relationship, intimacy, or partnership.’ So, when Paul wrote 'communion of the Holy Spirit', he meant having 'fellowship, relationship, intimacy, or partnership' with the Holy Spirit. All these words are relational in nature. The Holy Spirit is indeed relational. He wants to relate with you. He's not merely a 'force' or 'power'. He is a Person of God.

Beloved, when you have a deep relationship with the Holy Spirit, you’ll not easily be shaken, no matter what happens in the outward, and you’ll not easily be discouraged. Deep in your spirit, you’ll be steadfast, because you know Him. He is the source of love, joy, and peace in your life. He's also your Comforter, Teacher, and your closest Friend. He's always here for you and with you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That's who the Holy Spirit is!

The Holy Spirit has been given to us since the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4). When you are filled in the Holy Spirit, the evidence is that you'll pray in tongues (or in other words, pray in the spirit). It's the Holy Spirit who gives you the utterance as you pray (Acts 2:4). When you pray in the spirit, you are indeed praying in the perfect will of God (Romans 8:27). Sometimes we tend to pray selfish prayers, or pray from our fleshly point of view, or we are lost for words what to pray. That's where praying in the spirit comes in. Praying in the spirit also builds yourself up on your most holy faith (Jude 20) and edifies (strengthens or energizes) your spirit (1 Corinthians 14:4). When you pray in the spirit, you are also entering spiritual rest and refresh (Isaiah 28:11-12). So, if you feel like you are in a ‘plateau’ spiritually, and you just can’t seem to progress further (i.e spiritually stagnant), do take some time off from your 'busyness', and begin spending time praying in the spirit, soaking yourself in His very presence. In fact, I suggest you pray in the spirit at least an hour everyday. You'll come out refreshed, refilled, and renewed!

The bible says, 'eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him' (1 Corinthians 2:9). The Holy Spirit wants to reveal to you the deeper things that 'eye has not seen, nor ear heard', but you need to take time to wait on Him. One way is by praying in the spirit. You'll begin to know by revelation what God has in store for you, in every area of your life. You'll be sure what's the next step you need to take in life. You’ll also be rooted and built up in Him (Colossians 2:7). You’ll not be so easily deceived by the devil, or lured by the temptations of the world, because you know His voice, the voice of the Holy Spirit. You'll recognize His voice, and you'll follow His leading. He'll guide you into all truth (John 16:13), and He'll lead you to fulfil your God-given destiny in life. All these happen when you commune with the Holy Spirit.