Humility leads to God's kingdom come

Proverbs 22:4 (NKJV): By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.

The word 'humility' here in Hebrew is 'anavah', from the word 'anav', meaning 'lowly, meek, a mindset of needing (Him)'. The word 'fear' here in Hebrew is 'yirah', which means 'reverence, deep respect'. Interestingly, the word 'honor' in this verse is translated 'kabowd' in Hebrew, which means 'glory, weight, splendor'. In other words, 'humility and the fear of the Lord leads to God's glory manifesting in your life'!

How about the word 'life' in this verse? In Hebrew, it is pronounced 'khah-ee' and has a very wide span of meaning. It can mean 'fresh, strong, lively, up and running, merry, restore, revive, be made whole, or recover'.

To humble before God is to surrender to Him. How do you surrender to Him? You surrender to Him in worship. To worship Him is to surrender (your spirit, soul, and body, i.e. your whole self) to Him and to His will. The Bible says, 'His kingdom come, His will be done' (Matthew 6:9-10).

Note: Know also that His will for your life is always the best. Proverbs 13:22 says, 'a good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children'. Just as a loving, responsible dad would get his lawyer to help him write a will for his children, making sure that they'll have what they should have after he leaves this earth, your Father in Heaven also wants His will be done in your life! Matthew 6:9-10 can therefore be translated this way: 'His kingdom come, His inheritance be done'. Amen! What are some of His 'inheritance' for you? These include divine health, wisdom, revelation, love, joy, peace, blessings, prosperity, and every other good thing on earth! In fact, God also wants Heaven to be your inheritance as well! Such is His immeasurable 'wealth' for you. Praise God! He is altogether good!

So, you want 'His kingdom come, His inheritance be done'? Humble under His mighty hand! John (the Baptist)'s humility those days opened the way for the King to come (see John 1:23-27). Humility also leads to more good things coming your way, and in greater ways. Proverbs 11:2 says, 'When pride comes, then comes shame. But with the humble is wisdom'. Jesus Himself chose to humble (at the cross), and that's how He was also exalted high above all names (Philippians 2:5-11).

What does it mean to be humble before God? To say that you are humble before God is to say that you need Him and depend on Him more than ever before. God indeed 'gives grace to the humble and resists the proud' (1 Peter 5:5-7). Notice Peter didn't stop there in this sentence, but he continued by saying, 'casting all your care to Him, because He cares for you'. To take things into your own hands (instead of casting all your care to Him) is like saying, "I can, and I can do it better than God!", instead of saying, "Lord, I need you and depend on you to lead me on from here."

Finally, give yourself all over to Him again (Romans 12:1-2). Choose to re-align to His will and His way today. He sees farther than anyone can ever see (& knows better than anyone can ever know) on this earth. By humility and the fear of the Lord are His kingdom come and His glory being manifested in (and through) your life. There's no other way around it. Just look at John the Baptist, Peter, and even Jesus Himself! And instead of being conformed with the ways (and values) of this world, allow yourself right now to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may walk in all that is good, acceptable, and perfect will of God (for your life). Amen!

Overcoming negative thoughts

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NKJV): Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

'Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God'! This is a battle many believers struggle to overcome. But I have a good news for you. Contrary to what many think, this isn't so much about fighting the devil (& his fiery darts). The truth is Jesus has already won it for you on the cross. The devil cannot do anything to you if you don't allow him. Such is your authority in the spiritual realm!

So, what is the real battle then? It's a battle of 'believing that the battle has already been won'! 

Under the covenant of grace, know that all is well with you and there's really nothing wrong with you, because you are in Christ. God sees you the way He sees His Son Jesus, and because He has accepted and is pleased with His Son, He has also accepted you and is pleased with you! That's exactly what being 'in Christ' means. 

So, believe that all is well with you, in spite of all those medical reports you may have received, or despite whatever people say about (against) you! I've even known of some people receiving unsolicited 'prophecy' that their marriage is going to break, or they are going to die young, when the Bible clearly says, 'surely goodness (and yes, that includes in your marriage) and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life...' (Psalm 23:6) and 'with long life, I shall satisfy you...' (Psalm 91:16).

The key that makes all the difference here is, of course, in one's belief 'system'. You are what you believe. Choose therefore to believe in the truth of God's Word, instead of mere human words! Think of what God says about you, and not what mortal human says about you!

Now, many believers struggle to believe that God is really that good. They thought this is too good to be true! I used to think so too, until God drastically changed me and renewed my mind! 

And the good news is when your thought life changes, everything else also changes! Your 'thought' is indeed like a magnet. It either attracts good things or it attracts bad things (including physical/bodily symptoms). Remember this: Flower attracts butterflies. Rubbish attracts flies. 

Are you believing for jobs and better jobs today? Are you believing for divine health and healing today? Indeed, the battle for every believer under the covenant of grace is not so much about whether they'll win or not against the enemy, but to 'believe that all is well with them'! There's no question about winning or losing here, when you are in Christ. The battle is the Lord's, and He has already become the 'victor' for you!

So choose to have 'flower' thoughts about yourself, because that is the truth in the Word of God about you! You'll then 'attract' butterflies (yes, even 'spiritual butterflies', and this speaks of angels ministering and bringing 'goodies' to you). This is how God works for His people! And that's why your thought life is super-crucial at the moment, either in making you or breaking you. People of God, choose ye this day!

One of the best ways to have 'flower' thoughts is by meditating/muttering (speak under your breath) what God says in the Word. There is something powerful about 'speaking out' the Word by muttering it. When you read (or speak) it out, you are using your eyes to see, your mouths to speak, and your ears to hear. Faith (means: believing heart) then comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rom 10:17). Three, instead of only one of your senses (if you do silent meditation), are actively taking in the Word! 

Here are some of the personalized verses I've learned to meditate/mutter through the years (especially in times of temptation to fall into negative thoughts regarding any area of my life):

1. God knows my sitting down and my rising up. God understands my thoughts afar off. God's thoughts toward me are precious thoughts. (Ps 139:2,17)

2. The thoughts of the righteous are right. I am righteous in Christ and my thoughts are right. (Pro 12:5, 2 Cor 5:21)

3. God's thoughts for me are thoughts of peace that give me a future and a hope. (Jer 29:11)

4. I think only of those things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report. I think of those things which have virtue and are praiseworthy. (Phil 4:8)

5. God keeps me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on Him and I trust Him. (Isa 26:3)

6. The peace of God which passes all understanding guards my heart and my mind through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7)

7. I am not conformed to this world but I am transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may walk in what is good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. (Rom 12:2)

8. I live according to the Spirit and mind the things of the Spirit. I am spiritually minded and have life and peace. (Rom 8:5-6)

9. I have put off the old man and put on the new man according to God's will for me, and is now renewed in the spirit of my mind. (Eph 4:22-24)

10. I set my mind on the things above and not on the things on this earth. I set my mind on the things of God. (Col 3:2)

11. I set my mind on the goodness of God, because it is the goodness of God that leads to a change in my life. (Rom 2:4)

12. God has not given me the spirit of fear, but He has given me the Spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7)

Read/speak each of these personalized verses out and hear it many times, yes, 30, 50, or even 100 times or more if you may, till you are changed and renewed in your thought life according to the Word of God! 

In conclusion, the key to overcoming negative thoughts is in making a choice to have 'flower' thoughts, not 'rubbish' thoughts; and that's how your thought life can be changed, and as a result, your entire life, even in every aspect, can also be changed! I've tasted and seen this truth in my own life, and praise God, I want to believe this for you as well. In Jesus' name. Amen.

The ashes of the red heifer - What does it mean to a believer in the New Covenant?

Numbers 19:2-4 (NKJV): This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying: 'Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come. You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, that he may take it outside the camp, and it shall be slaughtered before him; And Eleazar the priest would take some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of its blood seven times directly in front of the tabernacle of meeting'.

The above is a 'picture' of Jesus Christ in all His beauty and holiness, the One without blemish, in Him there's no defect, and on Him there's no yoke. Yet, in all His beauty and holiness, He was also slain (slaughtered) for the sins of mankind. His blood would then be sprinkled seven times. This speaks of 'the perfection of His work on the cross'.

Note: The number '7' in Hebrew numeric means 'perfection, purification, consecration, or sovereignty'.

One may also wonder why this ordinance (i.e. law to be followed) in Numbers 19 was given to Moses and Aaron in the Book of Numbers, and not in the Book of Leviticus (a book pertaining to the Levites, and in particular, the priests). The answer is found when you study the background of the Book of Numbers. This book narrates 'the journey of the Israelites in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land'. So, this ordinance in Numbers 19 actually applies to 'you and me as sojourners in our journey on this earth'. In other words, it applies to the believers in the New Covenant.

However, note also that in the New Covenant, you look at the Law in the Old Covenant not to see the Law, but to see Christ who has fully satisfied and fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17).

Numbers 19:5-6 (NKJV) then says, 'Then the heifer shall be burned in his (the priest's) sight: its hide, its flesh, its blood, and its offal shall (all) be burned. And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet (wool), and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer'.

Today, Jesus has become both your burnt offering and sin offering, and it has already happened when He died for you on the cross some 2,000 years ago. He has also indeed carried all your sins, 'filth', and curse together with Him when He died for you (2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13).

'Cedar wood' (a kind of big and magnificent evergreen tree used as timber) here speaks of 'the greatness of Jesus',
'Hyssop' (a kind of small, flexible vegetation) speaks of 'the humility of Jesus'.
The 'scarlet (wool)' then speaks of 'the blood of Jesus that washes and carries your sins', till you are as white as snow (see also Isaiah 1:18).

In short, He has given Himself wholly and completely on the cross, so that you have the forgiveness of sins and redemption through His blood (Ephesians 1:7). It was a complete and perfect work.

And Numbers 19 says all the above were burned till they become ashes.

Now, what does 'ashes' actually mean here? 'Ashes' marks the end of a burning. It is the finest that the fire can burn something into. In other words, you can't burn 'ashes' any further. It is the result of the completed work of burning with fire. This speaks of the perfect, completed, and finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Numbers 19:17-18 (NKJV) then says, 'And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin, and running water shall be put on them in a vessel. A clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water, sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, or on the one who touched a bone, the slain, the dead, or a grave'.

The nature of water is such that it brings cleansing and refreshing. It also has purifying effect to one's body. Now, the same is also true with the Word of God to one's life!

Ephesians 5:26-27 (NKJV) says, 'that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish'.

So, 'running water' here speaks of 'the washing of water by the Word'.

What does 'water with ashes' mean then? This speaks of 'the preaching of the Word that is full of the revelation of Jesus on the cross'. And as it is being sprinkled using hyssop (see James 3:5 - 'hyssop' here speaks of the 'tongue' as well) on all the vessels, the 'unclean' shall be made 'clean'. This speaks of 'sanctification' for a believer in the New Covenant through the preaching/teaching of the Word by the 'elders' (i.e. those who teaches the Word and those who are involved in the lives of the people) in the Body of Christ.

Of course, just because someone teaches the Bible, it doesn't mean that person is teaching 'water with ashes'. So, choose to listen to preaching/teaching of the Word that is full of the revelation of Jesus on the cross. As someone puts it aptly, "Choose Calvary, not culture; choose faith in the blood of Jesus, not faith in works; and choose grace, not works."

2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NKJV) says, 'But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work'.

Notice the word 'vessel' here? Let Scripture interpret Scripture (Numbers 19:17-18 and 2 Timothy 2:20-21). This 'vessel' here speaks of you, the believer.

The word 'sanctified' here in Greek is 'hagiazo', which means 'separated, consecrated', i.e. 'to be set apart from dirt to cleanliness'.

Therefore, the more one is being washed by 'the washing of water by the Word' (i.e. sitting under the preaching/teaching of the Word that is full of the revelation of Jesus on the cross), the more one is being cleansed as well, i.e. being separated from confusion to peace, from sicknesses to health, and of course from 'dirt' to 'cleanliness'! Such is the power of 'water'!

Note: In New Covenant ministry, the effect is in the 'hearing' of the Word being preached (Romans 10:17), while in the Old Covenant ministry, the effect is in the 'doing' of the Laws and Ordinances. That's how important hearing is for a believer in the New Covenant. That's why upon the outpouring of the Holy Spirit when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (in Acts 2), the first thing that happened on that day (marking the beginning of the church age) was Peter preaching the Word and the people hearing it! (Acts 2:14-41)

In conclusion, as you keep hearing 'the preaching of the Word that is full of the revelation of Jesus on the cross', that's when you'll also be sanctified and cleansed (by the washing of water by the Word), useful for the Master, and prepared for every good work. Amen.

In Christ, you have the forgiveness of sins

Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV): In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Are you feeling like your hope has gone up in smoke because of something that you've done wrong, or a sin you've recently committed?

Maybe it is something that you promised God you won't commit it ever again, but yet you found yourself committing it all over again! And now, you are really feeling bad about it and wish you could turn back time. You may even be feeling that God is really angry with you right now, and is all-out to punish and suffer you from now on!

Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) says, 'In Him (Christ) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace'. It says here 'we have'. It doesn't say 'we try to get' the forgiveness of sins!

And because His work on the cross is complete and perfect (Hebrews 10:14, Hebrews 9:12), your forgiveness is also therefore complete and perfect! Make no mistake about it. Complete forgiveness means all the penalties for your sins can no longer fall on you, because they have already fallen on Jesus' body at the cross. Isaiah 53:5 says 'the chastisement (punishment) for your peace (well-being) was upon Him'. So, you see, not only are you forgiven, Jesus has also carried your punishment as well! The Word of God says so.

"Pastor, in that case, does it mean that as a believer in the New Covenant, I don't need to repent?"

God has definitely not gone soft with sin under the New Covenant. A sin is a sin, and a sin still has to be punished. Just that Jesus in all His grace has carried upon Himself your punishment (Isaiah 53:5). So, of course there is a place for repentance. 'Repentance' is 'metanoia' in Greek, which actually means 'change the way of thinking'. When a believer who is under grace realizes he has done wrong, he then 'repents', i.e. acknowledge it with God, and then 'change his ways', yet also knowing that he has already been forgiven, through the blood of Jesus Christ.

So, my point here is it's not about you don't acknowledge or repent (i.e. change your ways). What I'm saying is 'you don't have to beg and keep begging Him for forgiveness', because under grace, you are already forgiven, whether it's your past, present, or even future sins!

I know of many believers who are still struggling and begging God for forgiveness, and even after crying and pleading Him hard, they still aren't sure if they really have been forgiven or not! That's the problem. This in turn causes 'guilt' within, which then leads to 'fear' (that something bad's going to happen to them due to those sins they've committed), and eventually this 'fear' leads to stress, depression, and even sicknesses. See how one leads to another?

So, in conclusion, all is not lost and hopeless yet for you. What you need to do now is to settle it in your heart once for all, that as a believer, you already have the forgiveness of sins, because God sees you in Christ, not by what you do, but by what He has already done for you on the cross. Amen.