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Christian Verbs :: U is for Urging

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On August 9, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

The Apostle Paul urges the Church at Corinth to follow him (1 Corinthians 4:16). It is this same Paul who once entitled himself to be the chief of sinners. How is it then that one can make such a pressing request? First we must recognize that Paul was not urging his heaters to follow him, but to follow him as he follows Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

The only way that such a request could be made is when the sinner is turned to a saint, by being clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, for even man’s righteousness are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). To be clothed with robes of righteousness is to believe in Jesus Christ, for Abraham believed It was imputed to him as righteousness (Romans 4:22). Jesus, the sinless became sin so that we the unrighteous may be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

As Christians we need to urge others to be Christ-like and this means that we need to awake to righteousness and not sin (1 Corinthians 15:34) for only then can we urge others to follow us as we follow Christ.

Christian Verbs :: T is for Teaching

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On August 6, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

As Christians we need to be teachers as was our Lord Jesus Christ. One the titles that was given to Jesus Christ, was that He was a teacher from God (John 3:2) and the people identified Him to be so, because they recognized that He could not do the miracle He did unless God was with Him. The Psalmist writes “Come my children, listen to me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord” (Psalm 34:11) which is the beginning of all wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). The last order before Jesus’ ascension known familiarly as the great commission starts with the instruction to first go and then teach as it reads “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”. It also tells us that we need to teach the nations to observe God’s commandments, but we need to first recognize that in order for us to be like Jesus, teachers from God, we need to have God with and in us. And in the presence of sin, God cannot exist. So if we have any unconfessed sin in us, we need to first confess and repent. Only then can we be teachers. This is why King David repented and sought that the Lord restore unto him the joy of Salvation and uphold him (not cast down) with His freeing spirit, for only then, only then could he teach other sinners like himself, God’s ways (commandments) and sinner shall be converted unto God. (Psalm 51:12-13).

As Christians, we need to be teachers from God and of God, but before we embark on this mission, let us first examine our lives and seek God’s grace and mercy, confessing our willful sins, so that we can then teach others God’s ways. Praise God, that the steps of a  good man are ordered by the Lord and He delighted in His ways; though he falls, though he falls, He shall not be cast down for the Lord upholdeth him in His hands (Psalm 37:23-24)

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach 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.

Psalm 51:12-13 (KJV)
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20Teaching 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.19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20Teaching 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.

Christian Verbs :: S is for Sanctifying

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On August 5, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

To sanctify is to be set apart. The very first time the God gave His commandments, He required that the firstborn of all man (and beast) be set apart (sanctified) for him because He claimed them to be His(Exodus 13:2) and then He told Moses to go and sanctify His people and the priests by washing their clothes before facing God (Exodus 19:10, 22) but Moses responded by saying, that the people could not come to face God even if cleansed by their own accord (Exodus 19:23). From the book of Exodus throughout the old testament, there are many times, the voice of God is heard either directly from Him or through His prophets, requiring that one sanctify himself/herself, but when we come to the New Testament, all the instances of the need to be sanctified is recorded as one that is not required of man, but as one that has been granted by God, because of His Son, Jesus Christ. See, we cannot sanctify ourselves by washing ourselves, but the blood of Jesus Christ that washes our inward evil self is the only thing that can sanctify us (Hebrews 13:12).

In the Lord’s prayer as recorded in John 17, Jesus prayed that God sanctifies us (John 17:17) and then He makes a bewildering statement. He said, I sanctify myself for the sake of my people (John 17:23). In other words, Jesus was saying that He was setting himself apart from God and His divinity for you and me, so that we can be set apart from our humanity and be more Christ like in spirit, soul and body. Our beings are sinful and our flesh that war against the Holy Spirit of God is corrupt and cannot be set apart on its own will, but it is the blood of Jesus alone that can set us apart. My prayer is that of Apostle Paul; that the very God of peace sanctify me wholly; and I pray that my whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Let this be yours as well!

Exodus 13:2 (KJV)
2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Exodus 19:10-11,22-23 (KJV)
10 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
11 And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
22 And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
23 And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

John 17:17-19 (KJV)
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (KJV)
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Christian Verbs :: R is for Repenting

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On August 4, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

Did you know that even God repents? He does not repent as we do, because He is sinless, blameless, pure and Holy, but He repents when he has to chastise us for our sinfulness. 1 Chronicles 21 records the incident of how David was enticed by Satan to do the evil of numbering his people which was an expression of his own abilities and not his dependence on God and so God sent forth an angel to destroy Jerusalem and seventy thousand men were killed. God’s disciplining arm was indeed an expression of His love, for God chastises whom He loves (Hebrews 12:6). But when God’s judgment fell on His people for the sin of David, God said, “Enough“, and He held back the punishment. He prefers our repentance over His revenge/repayment; our confession over His chastisement.

Jesus started His ministry preaching “Repent, for the kingdom of God is near”. The counsel that is given to the Church of Ephesus is that they ought to repent because they had forsaken their first love (Revelation 2:4-5). This counsel is very much applicable to each one of us as well. In our humanness, we have the tendency to forget and forsake our first love and fall, many times not realizing as to how far we fall. We backslide foolishly when we seek short term pleasure in exchange for long term pain, making mistakes and hurting not only God, but many a times our beloved ones. It is therefore important for us to first remember and then repent; remember from where we have fallen, so that we can experience the depth of grace, as to how far God and our loved ones needs to reach down, to lift us up back out of the miry pit. The road to restoration begins with repenting our sins to God and reconciling with the ones we have hurt. The blessed assurance that remains, thankfully is that no matter how sinful we have been, there is no accusation or condemnation in Christ Jesus. God is willing to forgive us, when we earnestly seek Him and repent of our evil ways. He says, “Come let us reason together;  though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be like wool.”  (Isaiah 1:18). Jesus expressed that the prayer of a penitent (repenting) sinner will not go unheard by God and we can be assured of this. His unconditional love and grace extends from the purest of saints to the vilest of sinners (and I count myself to be one among the latter).

As Christians, who have the foreknowledge of Salvation, when we backslide, we need to remember and repent (which is to turn back completely) so that God can restore in us a clean heart, one that genuinely loves Him and His people. When we repent, we need to confess for when we confess, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).

1 Chronicles 21:15 (KJV)
15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Revelation 2:4-5 (KJV)
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works;

Isaiah 1:18 (KJV)
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

1 John 1:9 (KJV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Christian Verbs :: Q is for Quenching

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On August 3, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

To quench is to put out or extinguish and we are asked to take up the shield of faith (above all) wherewith we shall be able to quench (put out) the fiery darts of the devil. It is however, important to recognize that we do not put out the fiery darts (trials and temptations) but instead we need to merely take up the shield of faith, that protects us against these darts. It is also important to recognize that we ought not to quench (put out) the Holy Spirit of God that dwells in us (1 Thessalonians 5:19). For when we quench the Holy Spirit, the flesh that is at war with the Spirit triumphs and makes us sin that leads to death, trampling the Son of God and nullifying his sacrifice (Hebrews 10:26-29). So as Christ Ones we ought to quench the fiery darts and also quench not the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 6:16 (KJV)
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (KJV)
19 Quench not the Spirit.

Christian Verbs :: P is for Praying

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On August 2, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

Jesus not only taught his disciples how to pray, but he practiced what He preached and was found many a times in solitary, praying to God His Father, sometimes praying all night long (Luke 6:12). Jesus expressed and asserted that we ought to watch and pray lest we fall into temptation, for the Spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38). The Bible further counsels us that we ought to pray continually (i.e., without ceasing) (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Now think about this – is it humanly possible for us to pray without ceasing? Certainly not humanly. So how then can we as Christians pray continually; pray without ceasing? For the answer to this question, we need to dive deeper into the scripture. The scripture reveals that God is able to do more than we can ask or think. In other words, we can ask (pray audibly) and present our requests and supplications to God or we can think (pray silently) about our needs and He is able to do exceedingly abundantly (Ephesians 3:20-21). Our eyes need to be fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) and our thoughts/mind  need to be  focused/stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). Now, what should we think of? We should think about – whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, anything that is excellent or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). By praying with our voice and thoughts, we can pray incessantly (without ceasing) and as Christians we need to do exactly that.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV)
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Luke 6:12 (KJV)
12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Christian Verbs :: O is for Obeying

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On July 30, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

Merriam-Webster’s defines the word ‘obey’ in two ways. One has to do with following commands or guidance and the second has to do with conformance. To obey is to follow the commands or guidance; and to obey is also to conform to or comply with.

To obey is to follow commands or guidance. While I was a child, I remember learning the song, “Trust and Obey” whose lyrics went as follows: “Trust and obey for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” For many of us, trusting in the Lord is not a big deal, but when it comes to obedience, it is altogether a different story. Not only do we not casually heed to God’s Spirit but we sometimes willfully choose to disobey Him. Thankfully, we have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, who empathizes and mediates for us, whose mercy endures for ever. But why should we even give Jesus a chance to have to mediate for us? How much greater it would be for Jesus, to present (not plead for) us as ones who truly fear God (loving and obeying Him), eschewing evil, as He did of Job, and not have to meditate our case. For those who love Him, will keep (obey) His commands or follow His guidance as a sheep does a true Shepherd.

To obey is to conform to or comply with. The Bible counsels us that we ought not to be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. In other words, we are not to obey the patterns of this world, which is in enmity with God (James 4:4), but be transformed by our minds complying with that of God’s and a pure heart that is after His very own. We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29), for unto all who obey, Jesus is the author of eternal (not temporary) salvation unto them (Hebrews 5:9). In fact, by obeying the truth through the Spirit, one purifies their souls (1 Peter 1:22).

Point(s) to ponder:
So if someone was to ask you now, if you/I obey Jesus?, our answer really should not be yes or no but ” I follow His commands or guidance and I conform to His likeness”. Can we truly answer this way?

1 Peter 1:22 (KJV)
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Christian Verbs :: N is for Nurturing

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On July 29, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

Although, the word “nurture” has its roots from Latin nutritus, which is the past participle of nutrire meaning to to suckle or nourish, Merriam-Webster’s has two other definitions for the word “nurture”, which are training (or upbringing) and the sum of the environmental factors influencing the behavior and traits expressed by an organism. To nurture is not only to nourish but to train and create an influential environment.

As Christians we need to be nurturing others. We need to present the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, nourishing those who are starving for The Bread of Life, the manna from heaven (John 6:51,58). We need to train our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord and train newer believers to walk according to the will of God. The Bible says  “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6). Additionally, our lives must create the environmental factors that influence the behavior and traits of other believers so that they may grow in the Lord and non-believers so that they may be nourished and satisfied.

Point(s) to ponder:
Would people around you consider you/me to be a person who nurtures?

Ephesians 6:4 (KJV)
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Christian Verbs :: M is for Magnifying

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On July 28, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

The Psalmist says, “O magnify the LORD with me,  and let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3). When Mary was given the news that she would be a earthern vessel through whom the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, would be born, she responded by saying “My soul doth magnify the Lord” (Luke 1:46).

What does it mean to magnify the Lord? I remember when I was little, we would use a magnifying glass to light a fire by holding it in the rays of the sun. The sun rays would be concentrated, focused and channelized to create a beam of light that burnt the object on which the beam of light was focused. Additionally,  a magnifying glass makes the object on the other side appear bigger and closer. Likewise, the word of God which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105), needs to be concentrated, focused and channelized to burn into the hearts of those who hear of God, through our lives. We ought to be God’s magnifying glasses. We need to be God’s magnifying glasses so that people who see God through us, would see Him for how big He is and how close He is to all.

Point(s) to ponder:
As Christians we need to magnify the Lord. Are we focusing Christ in the lives of others and making God appear closer and bigger to those who are seeking to see Him?

Psalm 34:3 (KJV)
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Christian Verbs :: L is for Loving

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On July 27, 2010

In Christian, Christian Verbs

The entirety of Christianity can be summed up in one word – “Love”. It is about a God who loved the world so much, that He offered His Only begotten Son (John 3:!6), who was Love personified Himself, to be a sacrifice, so that a world that was made to love Him, will repent and return to Him, and love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). In fact, the very first time, the word “love” is used in the King James Version of the Bible is symbolic of the offering of Jesus, God’s only son, whom he loved as we see in Genesis 22:2 when God tells Abraham, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, who thou lovest, …; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

The speaker before the assembly (Ekklesia) says that the whole duty of man; the conclusion of the matter is this – Fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Jesus said, if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). In other words, Jesus was saying, the conclusion of the matter; the whole duty of man is this – Fear God and Love Him, since keeping His commandments is an expression of our love for Him. As Christians, we must Fear God and Love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30), for He who loves, knows God, who is Love (1 John 4:7-8), and this is our whole duty.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. How are we doing in our duty to God? Are we loving Him by keeping His commandments?

1 John 4:7-8 (KJV)
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

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