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Discipleship Series :: The Continuation

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On July 22, 2011

In Christian, Discipleship Series

Jesus said, that one must, continue in the word of God to be his disciple (John 8:31). The word ‘continue’ is used in the context of the word ‘abide’. To abide is to be implanted or grafted. We must be like branches grafted to Jesus, The Vine. We cannot be a disciple of Jesus and not be part of him or let him not be part of us. But how can we know if we are abiding in Jesus or not? The answer is “fruitfulness”. When we abide in Christ Jesus, we shall bear much fruit (John 15:8); the fruit of the Spirit. Our life will be fruitful. In other words, it will be filled with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, against which there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).

Point(s) to ponder:
If we are disciples of Jesus, are we implanted with and in him and bearing much fruit of his Spirit?

John 8:31 (KJV)
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

John 15:7-8 (KJV)
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Discipleship Series :: The Compassion

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On July 21, 2011

In Christian, Discipleship Series

How can one tell if you are a disciple of Jesus or not? The short answer is “love”. In fact, Jesus expresses, that all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another (John 13:35). But what kind of love must this be? The answer is given by Jesus as well. We must love one another as Jesus loved us (John 13:34). But what kind of love is this that Jesus loved us? He loved us with love that is greater than great love, for great love has one, who is willing to lay down their life for their friends, but while we were still sinners (enemies, not friends of God), Jesus loved us and gave his life for us. In like manner, we must have compassion and  be willing to lay down our lives (i.e., be selfless) for one another.

Point(s) to ponder:
Are you a disciple of Jesus? or in other words, “Do you have compassion?”; “Are you willing to lay down your life for the other?” The same are the questions, I ask myself.

John 13:34-35 (KJV)
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Discipleship Series :: The Cost

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On July 20, 2011

In Christian, Discipleship Series

Jesus teaches on discipleship to the multitude that came to hear from him. In order for one to be a disciple of Jesus, Jesus said that one must not only be willing to count the cost, but also be willing to pay it. So what is the cost of being the disciple of Jesus? The short answer is “life” (Luke 14:26). The cost is “everything one has (including one’s life)” that it takes to be a disciple of Jesus (Luke 14:33). While the cost of “life” may seem extreme on the onset, closer scrutiny actually reveals that it is not extreme but equitable. Jesus paid the cost of our salvation with his life and so only “life” can be an equitable exchange for the Savior.

Points to ponder:
Are you/I a disciple of Jesus? In other words, have you/I forsaken all that we have, including our life for Him?

Luke 14:26 (KJV)
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33 (KJV)
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Discipleship Series :: The Commission

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On July 19, 2011

In Christian, Discipleship Series

The commission that is given by Jesus for his disciples is to go and teach and baptize in the name of God the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). The word “teach” here is used in the context of “making disciples”. In fact, many versions of the Bible render this commission as “Go and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” In other words, the commission of a disciple is to make disciples.

Apostle Paul taught for a year, the teachings of Jesus in Antioch and the people there came to be known as disciples of Christ Jesus (Acts 11:26). Paul was commissioned to make disciples and that is what he did. The same is true for all of us, who believe in Jesus. We are disciples of Jesus and our commission is to make other disciples of Jesus. This means that we teach with our lips and our lives, that there is only one Master and Lord, who is to be followed and that Lord and Master is Jesus.

Point(s) to ponder:
The question is not, “Are you/I a disciple of Jesus Christ?”, but “Are you/I a disciple of Jesus Christ, that makes disciples of Jesus Christ?”

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach (make disciples) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Discipleship Series :: The Calling

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On July 18, 2011

In Christian, Discipleship Series

The disciples of Jesus were called Christians for the first time in Antioch (Acts 11:26). In fact to be a Christian, means “to belong to Christ” or “Christ Ones”. In other words, the disciples belonged to Christ.

In our materialist realm, when we say that, something (say a house or a car) belongs to us, it means that we have paid for it completely. As long as a someone, other than you (like a lienholder) has a claim on that property, you cannot truly say that that property belongs to us. The same is true in our spiritual realm as well. If we are to be called a Christian, then we must belong to Jesus completely. Jesus paid for us in full and so we cannot be encumbered by anyone or anything else, other than Jesus Christ, if we are to be his disciple. To be a disciple of Jesus is to be a Christian and to be called a Christian means we are God’s property, paid in full by Jesus and we belong to Christ Jesus.

Point(s) to ponder:
Are you a Christian? In other words, do you belong to Christ i.e., Are you God’s property or can anyone other than Christ Jesus have a claim on your life?

Acts 11:25-26 (KJV)
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:
26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Christian Senses :: To Touch

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On July 15, 2011

In Christian, Christian Senses

The Bible says that Jesus touched the lepers, whom the society in his times, had branded as untouchables and unclean and healed them. The Bible also says that there were many who sought to touch him for when they did, the power (virtue) of God and healing flowed from him (Luke 16:19; Luke 8:46). Interestingly, the Bible also records that Jesus allowed sinners to touch him and he forgave their sins (Luke 7:38-50).

Christians are not those who have been born into Christian families, but those who have been born again in God’s family, because they have believed in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and trusted Him to be their Lord and Master. In other words, Christians are those who have reached out and touched Jesus and received the forgiveness of their sins. Christians are those who have been touched by the Lord Jesus Christ and made clean and whole, healed from the leprosy of sin. But the power of touch does not stop there. Christians have been touched so that they can do that which is commanded of them which is to direct others to the touch of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5) as they await His return.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. Have you reached out to touch Christ to experience and enjoy the power of God that brings about the forgiveness of your sin and total restoration?
2. Have you experienced the touch of Christ which makes you clean and holy?
3. If you/I have been touched by Christ Jesus, are you directing others to His touch?

2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 (KJV)
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Christian Senses :: To Taste

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On July 14, 2011

In Christian, Christian Senses

Do you want to live forever? If so, you have to taste; taste the grace of God (1 Peter 2:2-4): blessed is the man that trusts in him (Psalm 34:8). To taste is to experience by consumption. Food that is tasty and palatable to the mind is consumed and assimilated into one’s being. The most delicious food cannot be enjoyed if it simply sits on the table. One cannot enjoy its goodness until they have taken it into their mouth and tasted it. The same is true of Jesus Christ. Until one trust in Him and accepts Him, they cannot experience His goodness or His grace (1 Peter 2:2-4). The grace of God is that Jesus tasted death once and for all (Hebrews 2:9) and so those who taste (accept) him, will not have to taste death (Matthew 16:27-28). When Christ is taken in and assimilated into one’s life, He becomes part of that person, and He dwells in that person.

And for those of us who have tasted Christ, we ought to make known the goodness of that taste to those who have not yet tasted (experienced) him. Job questions, can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt (Job 6:6). If food is bland, then it is not very palatable. Seasonings and salt add to the flavor of food that makes it palatable. In the same manner, if the lives of those who are believers of Christ is not seasoned and unsalted, then others will not be attracted to experience Christ. Jesus said, we are the salt of the earth and we cannot lose our saltiness (Matthew 5:13) lest we make Christ Jesus unpalatable to those who observe our lives.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. Have you tasted Christ? If you have, is the life you live, one that make Christ palatable to those who haven’t?

Hebrews 2:9 (KJV)
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Romans 8:10-11 (KJV)
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

John 11:25-26 (KJV)
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Christian Senses :: To Smell

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On July 13, 2011

In Christian, Christian Senses

The Bible talks about two kinds of smell, namely the stench of death and the aroma of life (2 Corinthians 2:16). Apostle Paul writes that as ministers of the New Covenant (i.e., followers of Christ), we are a sweet savour (aroma) of Christ unto God and the aroma of life unto those who have life, but the smell of death to those who are dying (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). In other words, as Christians we must smell. Yes you read that right! We must smell.

But what must we smell like?

To God, we must be the sweet-smelling savor of Christ. What is this savour of Christ? It is the aroma of A sacrifice. Jesus gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor (Ephesians 5:2). Likewise, our lives must be an offering and a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2), with an aroma that is sweet-smelling to God.

Now to men, what kind of a smell are we, when we bring the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ? If you liken the good news to a rose and it is presented to someone, some would smell the fragrance of the rose and enjoy it while others may complain about the thorns that can prick them. The same is true when we present the Rose of Sharon (Jesus Christ) to others. Those who are in Christ, will perceive him to be the aroma of life while others who are have not believed in Him or who outrightly reject/deny Him will perceive such knowledge to be the smell of death, when it pricks their conscience. Irrespective of what one perceives, we are to present Jesus Christ and live a life of service unto God and man, so that we are a sweetsmelling aroma to God.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. If God was to smell you/me today, what would we smell like? Stench or Aroma?
2. Are/I you willing to present the Rose of Sharon, Jesus Christ, to those around us?

Ephesians 5:2 (KJV)
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (KJV)
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

Christian Senses :: To Hear

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On July 12, 2011

In Christian, Christian Senses

After Jesus read the portion from Isaiah, that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him, because he was anointed to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (captive) and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19), Jesus said that this scripture was now fulfilled in their ears. His words were “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” implying that in the hearing of Jesus, as the Salvation of mankind is the fulfillment of the scripture (Luke 4:21).

Faith (Salvation) comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). What is this word? Prophet Isaiah tells us that the word of the Lord that was revealed to him in his ears, by the LORD of hosts, is that his iniquity (sins) shall not be purged until he dies (Isaiah 22:14). The word of God is that we must die; die to self and die to sin. In other words, we must be righteous and holy. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin (Romans 4:8) but righteousness. To be righteous, we must be imputed righteousness, which is possible only by believing in Jesus. For when we believe in Jesus Christ, His righteousness is imputed on us (Romans 4:24).

He who has an ear, let him hear, what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.

Point(s) to ponder:
Have you/I heard the word of God? In Christ Jesus alone, is the scripture fulfilled (in our ears).

Luke 4:17-21 (KJV)
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Isaiah 22:14 (KJV)
14 And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Christian Senses :: To See

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On July 11, 2011

In Christian, Christian Senses

The lyrics of one of the songs, I learned in my childhood days was “O be careful little eyes what you see, for there is a Father up above and He is looking down with love, so be careful little eyes what you see.” But what is such a simple truth, instilled in us, when when we were children, is still extremely relevant, even today, to all ages. We must be careful with our eyes, what we see.

The Bible records that when satan beguiled Eve, she saw the fruit of the tree and it was good and pleasant to her eye, and desiring to gain wisdom, she took it and ate it (Genesis 3:6), directly disobeying God. With the seeing and partaking of what was forbidden by God, did mankind lose their relationship with God. But interestingly, it is with the seeing and partaking of the ONE who was forsaken by God, does mankind gain their relationship back with God. Jesus was the one forsaken of God (Matthew 27:46) so that God did not have to forsake us and only those who partake of Jesus can one be reconciled back to God. To partake of Jesus is to believe in him. Only those who have believed in Jesus are sanctified and made pure by the blood that He shed on the Cross, by which there is remission of sin (Matthew 26:28) and when one is made pure in heart, they can see God (Matthew 5:8).

In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus tells us that the rich man saw from hell, what was transpiring above in the heaven, but it was too late for him (Luke 16:23). If we choose not to see Jesus, while we are on earth, as our Lord and Savior; as our Salvation, it will be too late for us, to see Jesus as our Savior, from hell. Only after the seeing of the Lord Jesus as one’s Salvation can one truly depart (from this world) in peace (Luke 2:25-30).

Points to ponder:
With our eyes we can choose to see the lust and lures of this world or we can choose to see the Lord God, the Salvation. Choose ye, this day what/whom you shall see, but as for me and my house, we will see the Salvation of the Lord (Luke 2:30).

Luke 2:25-32 (KJV)
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

Luke 16:22-24 (KJV)
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

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