There was a recent survey in England which stated that only 27% of Christians read their bibles regularly in this country and among them, Charismatics read the least.
The Zeal with which we started the Christian race for some reason has dwindled.
We no longer pray the way we used to pray when we used to pray in the olden days. Our prayers have become diplomatic and lazy.
Our level of commitment towards the things of God has dwindled to such an extent that we find an excuse for everything we don’t do right. We make excuses and say God understands.
The bible says in Ezra10:10-12 “..Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, as thou has said, so must we do”.
For every Christian, this should be our confession; no if’s no buts, no excuses. We must be willing to obey the word of God to its last letter. We cannot justify our disobedience in any way. Our duty is to obey.
The question is if you do not know what he says, how can you obey?
1Peter2:2-6 & Issaiah28:16 “For I lay in Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that beleiveth on him shall not be confounded”.
Vrs 2 says we have to desire the sincere milk of God. We all Christians are like lively stones which are used to build up a holy house, we are like a holy Priesthood who have been sanctified to bring sacrifices unto our God.
God has given us a foundation that we have to depend on. A foundation upon which we have to build our spiritual building. A foundation that we can’t do without.
Psalm 11:3 “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Mt7:24-27 says the word of God is our foundation.
No Christian can live without the word of God. For me the word is like our spiritual food. You must study it more than the number of times you eat. Any time you are about to eat, ask yourself whether you have fed your spirit? Anytime you eat, make sure you feed your spirit man as well.
Study the word and meditate on it.
Col.3:16 “Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and in hymns and in spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord”.
When you season meat or fish, if you wait for a short time, you end seasoning only the outside but when you wait a long time, then the seasoning goes inside the meat as well.
The reason is for us to be able to teach and admonish one another.
2Tim. 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”.
There is a difference between reading and studying. Studying is more detailed and it sticks. You remember it during the test.
The reason why you are to study so that you will show yourself approved unto God. We write a test to show ourselves approved unto the examiner. In this case, our examiner is God.
We have to study the word of God so that when we are tested, we will pass the test. If you look at the story of the ten virgins, when the time of testing came, it was those who had enough in their reserve tanks who passed the test.
Study so that you will have enough word in your reserve tank so that when the test of time goes into extra time, your reserve tank will be able to see you through.
You need the word to build your spirit, to make him strong to face every wiles of the evil one.
2Tim 3:16-17 “All scripture is inspired by God for…”
Doctrine—Teaching
Reproof--- evidence
Correction—restore things to their proper use and place, correcting false theories and
Practices.
Instruction--- The schooling of mankind in true scripture righteousness.
Eccle 12:1 “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them”.
James 4:17 “To him that knoweth to do good and does it not, and doeth it not, to him it is sin”.
Monday 22 October 2007
Monday 8 October 2007
Christian Character
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col 3:12-17)
“True Christian Character” is not something that comes automatically in the life of a believer upon his or her acceptance of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But it is something that must be put into practice in the life of every believer as he/she dies to SELF and surrenders his whole being to the Lord. Thus allowing the Holy Spirit to develop this character in working through him/her making the believers walk pleasing and acceptable in the eyes of the Lord.
Paul writes here in the book of Colossians “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” In order to “PUT ON” something, we must first “TAKE OFF” something and what must be taken off are the things of the flesh. We must learn to die to self, for when we walk in the flesh we cannot walk in “True Christian Character”. For the flesh wars against the spirit, fighting against everything that is of God. What is pleasing to the Lord, our flesh will desire and choose to do the opposite, if it is allowed to lead.
Oh how it GRIEVES the Holy Spirit when a “Christian” walks OPPOSITE of the Character of GOD! For this description given above by Paul, is the very NATURE of Christ, the very CHARACTER of God the Father. Thus, how can one say they are a child of The Father and not practice the Father’s ways. For the very nature of a child is to imitate his father. From infancy onward, a child watches closely his father behavior and tends to imitate such. So much so that those around would begin to take notice, and would begin identifying that child as “being just like his father”, having the “characteristics of his father”, etc. How closely are you, being “child of God” watching your Father and how much of His character have been developed within yourself. Have others stopped and taken notice that your behavior is just like God the Father? Or have they wondered if you were spiritually Fathered by another? For when there is such unkindness, unforgiveness, disputes, strife and divisions, gossip, complaining and murmuring against one another, brethren despising brethren, hearts consumed by anger and bitterness towards one another, does this not display the character of one OTHER than God the Father? And would not others who’ve yet to become part of the family begin questioning not only your behavior, but Christians as a whole? It paints a very uninviting picture to those who are on the outside looking in. For wouldn’t they rather go elsewhere, or remain where they are rather than to enter into fellowship with those who are behaving in the same manner as those who profess NOT God as their Father, nor Jesus as their Lord? Where would be the difference?
Are we merciful as our Father is full of mercy? Are we truly kind to one another as our beloved Lord is so very kind to us? Have we humbled ourselves before the Lord, or do we consistently seek to be exalted by man? How meek have we been and how well have we endured longsuffering? Are we forbearing with one another or are we impatient with one another, easily provoked to anger, having no self control? And what about forgiveness, oh my…. How many are harboring unforgiveness towards another brother or sister in his/her heart? How many literally stand in worship service giving praise to the Lord while despising the brother or sister standing next to him? Tell me, how can one possibly expect the Lord to forgive them of their sins, when they refuse to forgive their brother? How difficult is it to forgive? Do we truly desire to be as our Lord ENOUGH to put away our old fleshly ways and begin to WALK in NEWNESS of LIFE, possessing TRUE Christian Character? For we cannot have both. Either we will seek to please the flesh, or seek to PLEASE GOD THE FATHER! To please our Father we must hate the wickedness of the flesh ENOUGH to put it away, and literally put on the character of God, having the mind of Christ Jesus our Lord.
Merciful, kind, forbearing, longsuffering, forgiving ALL these things and MUCH MORE are the characteristics of God our Father and should be displayed as true Christian character in the life of every professing believer but yet, here’s one more characteristic that PERFECTS them all….LOVE! LOVE according to the scriptures is the BOND OF PERFECTNESS! Oh, that we the church, the body of Christ, would put on LOVE! How it rips my heart in two, to see such lack of love for one another in the church. For it seem to me to be such an easy thing to do, and yet many have made it to be so complicated in finding one reason or another to excuse their lack of love for one another. And yet, LOVE is the very ESSENCE of GOD THE FATHER. It is the character of the Father that is visible FOR ALL to see: “For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”….. WHAT A GIFT OF LOVE! WHAT AN AWESOME GIFT OF LOVE! Let us give of ourselves to one another, serving and caring for one another. Putting our brother or sister before ourselves. Being kind and tenderhearted towards one another while seeking to give and not always to receive.
Walk always in this light of LOVE my dear brothers and sisters, that the world may see CHRIST in YOU, your True Christian Character.
I Love you all so very much. Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember: Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!
“True Christian Character” is not something that comes automatically in the life of a believer upon his or her acceptance of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But it is something that must be put into practice in the life of every believer as he/she dies to SELF and surrenders his whole being to the Lord. Thus allowing the Holy Spirit to develop this character in working through him/her making the believers walk pleasing and acceptable in the eyes of the Lord.
Paul writes here in the book of Colossians “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” In order to “PUT ON” something, we must first “TAKE OFF” something and what must be taken off are the things of the flesh. We must learn to die to self, for when we walk in the flesh we cannot walk in “True Christian Character”. For the flesh wars against the spirit, fighting against everything that is of God. What is pleasing to the Lord, our flesh will desire and choose to do the opposite, if it is allowed to lead.
Oh how it GRIEVES the Holy Spirit when a “Christian” walks OPPOSITE of the Character of GOD! For this description given above by Paul, is the very NATURE of Christ, the very CHARACTER of God the Father. Thus, how can one say they are a child of The Father and not practice the Father’s ways. For the very nature of a child is to imitate his father. From infancy onward, a child watches closely his father behavior and tends to imitate such. So much so that those around would begin to take notice, and would begin identifying that child as “being just like his father”, having the “characteristics of his father”, etc. How closely are you, being “child of God” watching your Father and how much of His character have been developed within yourself. Have others stopped and taken notice that your behavior is just like God the Father? Or have they wondered if you were spiritually Fathered by another? For when there is such unkindness, unforgiveness, disputes, strife and divisions, gossip, complaining and murmuring against one another, brethren despising brethren, hearts consumed by anger and bitterness towards one another, does this not display the character of one OTHER than God the Father? And would not others who’ve yet to become part of the family begin questioning not only your behavior, but Christians as a whole? It paints a very uninviting picture to those who are on the outside looking in. For wouldn’t they rather go elsewhere, or remain where they are rather than to enter into fellowship with those who are behaving in the same manner as those who profess NOT God as their Father, nor Jesus as their Lord? Where would be the difference?
Are we merciful as our Father is full of mercy? Are we truly kind to one another as our beloved Lord is so very kind to us? Have we humbled ourselves before the Lord, or do we consistently seek to be exalted by man? How meek have we been and how well have we endured longsuffering? Are we forbearing with one another or are we impatient with one another, easily provoked to anger, having no self control? And what about forgiveness, oh my…. How many are harboring unforgiveness towards another brother or sister in his/her heart? How many literally stand in worship service giving praise to the Lord while despising the brother or sister standing next to him? Tell me, how can one possibly expect the Lord to forgive them of their sins, when they refuse to forgive their brother? How difficult is it to forgive? Do we truly desire to be as our Lord ENOUGH to put away our old fleshly ways and begin to WALK in NEWNESS of LIFE, possessing TRUE Christian Character? For we cannot have both. Either we will seek to please the flesh, or seek to PLEASE GOD THE FATHER! To please our Father we must hate the wickedness of the flesh ENOUGH to put it away, and literally put on the character of God, having the mind of Christ Jesus our Lord.
Merciful, kind, forbearing, longsuffering, forgiving ALL these things and MUCH MORE are the characteristics of God our Father and should be displayed as true Christian character in the life of every professing believer but yet, here’s one more characteristic that PERFECTS them all….LOVE! LOVE according to the scriptures is the BOND OF PERFECTNESS! Oh, that we the church, the body of Christ, would put on LOVE! How it rips my heart in two, to see such lack of love for one another in the church. For it seem to me to be such an easy thing to do, and yet many have made it to be so complicated in finding one reason or another to excuse their lack of love for one another. And yet, LOVE is the very ESSENCE of GOD THE FATHER. It is the character of the Father that is visible FOR ALL to see: “For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”….. WHAT A GIFT OF LOVE! WHAT AN AWESOME GIFT OF LOVE! Let us give of ourselves to one another, serving and caring for one another. Putting our brother or sister before ourselves. Being kind and tenderhearted towards one another while seeking to give and not always to receive.
Walk always in this light of LOVE my dear brothers and sisters, that the world may see CHRIST in YOU, your True Christian Character.
I Love you all so very much. Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember: Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!
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