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All in One – Priest, Judge, Prophet, and King

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On June 28, 2010

In Christian

Before the time of the kings, the modus operandi was theocratic in nature and the voice of the Lord was heard by His people via priests, judges, prophets and kings. While the old testament priests had to enter into the Holy of holies with a sacrifice to atone, first for their own sins, and then intercede on behalf of the people, Jesus was made a High Priest by God Himself, because he showed up empty handed to the sacrifice and offered himself on behalf of all mankind (Hebrews 9:24-26).  The last judge and first prophet of Israel, was Samuel which is variously translated “The Name of God,” “His Name is God,” “Heard of God,” and “Asked of God.” Many prophets and kings followed Samuel. Just a Samuel was the last Judge of Israel, Jesus will be the final judge for all mankind (Rev 19:11) and as Samuel was a prophet, so is Jesus a prophet from Nazareth (Matthew 21:11). While many kings ruled over God’s people after the time of the prophets, Jesus Christ is the only one who is given authority and a name above all kings as the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16).

No longer is the voice of God needed to be audible to us through God’s prophets, because Jesus Christ is not just the voice of God, but the very  WORD of God (John 1:1). In Jesus Christ, we have THE High Priest, THE final Judge,  THE Prophet and THE King of kings and when we believe that Jesus Christ is THE Lord and Savior, there is no more need for priests, judges, prophets and kings. Jesus Christ is the All-in-One!

“Have you believed in THE All-in-One?”
“Do you belong to THE All-in-One?”

Hebrews 9:24-26 (KJV)
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

What is to be or what was!

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On June 25, 2010

In Christian

June 24th, 2010 goes down in the annals of Tennis as one of the days that is historic; a day in which an epic battle ensued between American John Isner and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut on the tennis courts of Wimbledon. This event was rightfully referred to, by Mahut, as the greatest match ever in the greatest place to play tennis in the greatest tournament (Wimbledon 2010). The match was as 5 setter with each contestant having 2 sets and battling for their 3rd set. The match continued for 11 hours and 5 minutes, spanning 3 days, establishing several unprecedented records by both players, until  Isner finally won with a 70-68 game count in the 5th set. After the match was over, to honor the players and the umpire, a memento was presented and the players interviewed. When Mahut was questioned on his mental fortitude as he served to stay in the match and the pressure each time he came off a time break, Mahut replied “I was not thinking about this, I was just thinking about wining the game I was playing, the point I was playing, again and again. It was very long but I think we both enjoyed it.” Mahut did not think about the past, irrespective of whether he had won or lost the point. He kept thinking about what was to be and this helped him fight as no one has ever fought before. He did not dwell on the past but sought to think solely of the future.

We ought to be likewise in our Christian walk with God as well and as Paul expressed, we need to press on (run and fight) with our focus for future glory (Philippians 3:14). We need to stop dwelling on our past and press on thinking about the future. God does not dwell on our past and graciously He remembers our repented sins no more (Hebrews 6:17). The devil on the other hand not only remembers our repented sins always but he seeks persistently to remind us of our past. In fact, the devil strategy is to whisper temptation one moment and then bring down the hammer of guilt in the next.

Point(s) to ponder:
Where is your/mine focused on?
What is to be or what was!

We should not be dwellers in the past (what was). We need to be future thinkers (what is to be), looking forward and unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Hebrews 6:16-18 (KJV)
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Philippians 3:14 (KJV)
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

It is time …

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On June 24, 2010

In Christian

The renowned author of the “7 habits of highly effective people”, Dr. Stephen Covey, dedicates a section of his best seller to time management as he expresses that highly effective people, put first things first. But even with the best of time management, many of us often complain that there is not enough or no time for the things we need to have done. We find ourselves to be incredibly busy. Partly this could be because we don’t put first things first; in other words, we don’t give our time, preeminence and priority to the people and things that matter most. But there is more to this than just time allocation. It is also about time control, and by this, I mean recognizing who is in control of our time. Most of us try to do all the things we need to get done, all on our own strength. We try to control time by our own strength and abilities. Herein lies the problem.

The Bible tells us that there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and that God makes everything beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Notice, it is His time that matters, not ours. It is God who needs to be in control of our time. He has ordained twenty fours hours in a day for us, but that time is really His and when we recognize this and that we are merely stewards of His time, only then can we be highly effective for him. We need to be like the Psalmist who exclaimed “It is time for thee, Lord, to work” and trust that He will carry His work through our lives. Let us not continue to exhaust our time trying to work for our lives but instead let us give to God our time so that He can work in our lives. At this juncture, let us also recognize that when we submit our time to God for Him to work, let it be in totality. Say you ask painter to paint your portrait. Do you think that painter can output a beautiful work of art, if you keep grabbing the brush from the painter’s hand upon each brush stroke?  Likewise, once we give to God our time, let us not meddle in his work.

When we give to God our time, then the added benefit is that we have less time for ourselves and our selfish sinful desires and when He works in our lives, He always makes every thing beautiful (in His time).

Psalm 119:126a (KJV)
126 It is time for thee, LORD, to work: …

Ecclesiastes 3:11a (KJV)
11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:

Searching eyes of God

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On June 23, 2010

In Christian

2 Chronicles 16:9 informs us that the eyes of the Lord are going to and fro. In other words, the eyes of the Lord is searching and this raises questions that warrant answers. Fortunately, the answers are given in that same verse.

Question: Where is the eyes of the Lord searching?
Answer: The whole earth

Question: Who is the eyes of the Lord searching for?
Answer: For those whose heart is perfect toward Him.

Question: Why is the eyes of the Lord searching?
Answer: To show himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward Him.

What can we learn from this?

Firstly, note how it is not only someone but something in someone that the Lord is searching for.  It is a “perfect” heart that the Lord is searching for. When man looks for outward characteristics, God looks inward at the heart. Think about this. If God had looked at outward appearances, the brother’s of King David (arguably the greatest King of all Israel) would have superseded him, but God chose David, because his heart was after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). Since God is perfect, to have a perfect heart toward him, is to have our heart after God’s own heart as David did. Finally, God is searching for a person with a perfect heart, so that He can show His strength on behalf of that person. It is God that is to be glorified by the display of His strength through that person.

Point(s) to ponder:
If the Lord’s eyes were to see you/me today, would he find you/me to be one with a ‘perfect’ heart – a heart that is after God’s own heart?

2 Chronicles 16:9a (KJV)
9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

Message or Messengers of Christ Jesus

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On June 22, 2010

In Christian

Many Christians (present company included) often view their roles as being the messengers of the Gospel to those around them. The great commission in a sense mandates that we ought to be messengers but the scripture also counsels us that we ought to be, not just messengers but the message of the Gospel itself (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). Sometimes we are eager to share the Gospel (as the messenger) but seldom do we remain still for others to read us as the message of the Gospel. When Jesus dealt justly with the woman caught in the act of adultery, he did play the role of a messenger of God and share with her accusers His salvation story, but instead he was the message of Salvation to her questioning her as to where those who needed Salvation were. He was in the midst of those who needed to read the epistle/message of God in Him and without sharing a word, he spoke volumes.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. We ought not to be just the messengers of God but also the message of the Gospel itself.
2. When those around us view our lives, will they see the handwriting of God in our lives; Will they see us as His epistle?

2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (KJV)
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

What kind of a father is Jesus?

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On June 21, 2010

In Christian, Reuben

We all celebrated father’s day 2010 yesterday and I thank God for having granted me the privilege of being an earthly father to Reuben Abishai Paul (RAP). As I reminisced about father’s day, I was reminded of my own biological father, Dr. R.A.C. Paul,  who on the 30th day of September, 1986 passed away from this ephemeral world to enter into an eternal kingdom. And as my heart wandered to wonder about why I was deprived of a father-son relationship, I was promptly reminded from the scripture that God is the father of the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). Jesus Christ addressed Almighty God as Holy Father (John 17:11) while affirming that He and the Father are One  (John 10:30).

But what kind of a father is Jesus/God?

He is a
Friend of the sinner (Matthew 11:19),
Alpha/the First (Revelation 1:8),
Teacher from God (John 3:2),
Holy (Mark 1:24),
Emmanuel/With us (Matthew 1:23) and a
Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4) on whom we can depend.

And to all who believe and receive Jesus, He gave them the power to be called the sons of God (John 1:12) and because we have received the Spirit of adoption, we can call God, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). Our relationship with God is that of a father-son relationship only because of our Spiritual Father, Jesus Christ; it is by adoption, and not by ancestry.

And as children of God, what kind of father’s do we need to be?
We need to be
1. the friends of those who are lost (who have not believed and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Father);
2. the first (alpha) to pass the baton of faith to our earthly children;
3. the teacher of the fear of the Lord;
4. holy as God the father is Holy;
5. always with and for our children and loved ones; and
6. the rock on which our children and loved ones can depend on.

John 1:12-13 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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.

Through The Bible

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On June 18, 2010

In Christian

American clergyman and author, Phillips Brooks, who served as the Bishop of Massachusetts in the Episcopal Church during the late 1800s is known to have said the following about the Bible. “The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees the worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, then he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through, to see that which is beyond; but most people only look at it; and so they see only the dead letter.” Dr. J. Vernon McGee in his radio ministry “Thru the Bible” exposited chapter by chapter and verse by verse with the mission of proclaiming the whole Word to the whole world. Brooks and Dr. McGee had the right perspective. The Bible is to be looked through.

From the page that begins with “In the beginning” to the final words which ends with “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all”, it is a revelation of God’s great love story. In the beginning was the Word (John 1:1) a.k.a., the Word that became flesh and dwelt among man in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14) and the Word was with God and was God (John 1:1). Note how in the beginning, there is no mention of anyone other than the Godhead – God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ (the Word) and the Spirit of God (Genesis 1:1-2). We were not there in the beginning, but the good news is that all who believe in Jesus Christ will be there in the end. The final word in the Bible is the word “all” as the Bible ends with “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all”, penultimate in position, only to affirm that so be it (Amen). The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ does not exclude anyone and is all inclusive. It is freely available to all; from the penitent sinner to the practicing saint.

When we look at the Bible, we merely see a dead letter of God to man. But when we look through the Bible, we see not only God’s story, but we see THE GRACE story. In other words, we see Jesus Christ revealed in the pages of the Bible.

Point(s) to ponder:
1. When you read the Bible, who do you see?
2. Someone said your life may be the only Bible someone may read. If this is true, if someone see through our lives, will they see Jesus Christ or are we about showcasing ourselves that people don’t see through us but at us and find our lives to be a dead letter?

To be still or not to be

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On June 17, 2010

In Christian, Movie Motions

In the movie, The Karate kid, Jackie Chan expresses that to be still does not mean you are doing nothing. When training his student, he asks the boy to look into the water and asks him as to what he sees. The boy replies that it is his reflection that he sees. Now the master stirs the water and asks the same question, to which the boy responds that the image is blurry. It is only when the water is still and clear, can the reflection be seen. Unfortunately, from the time of Adam in the garden, man’s selfish pursuits have often put him in a grind for things that don’t matter. We are constantly seeking answers to all unanswered questions and a solution to every problem we encounter. Sadly, to be still is often misunderstood to be “useless”, “non-engaging”, or even worse “doing nothing”. So what does it mean to be still?

When Jesus rebuked the raging storm of wind and waves that threatened His disciples in the boat, He said, “Peace, be still” and the wind ceased and there was great calm (Mark 4:38-41). When the winds and the waves obeyed Him and became still, the disciple questioned “What manner of man is this?” In the stillness and the calmness of the elements was a question that surfaced which sought to answer and exposit “What manner of man Jesus is?” a.k.a. “Who Jesus is?” God’s image was reflected in Jesus, in the calmness of the sea and they questioned as to who He is. Likewise when we are still, our calmness needs to reflect who Jesus is and have those around us, ask “What manner of man/God Jesus is?”

In a world that is constantly on the rush with its ephemeral pursuits,  we often blurry the image of life that God has ordained us for. To be still does not mean we are doing nothing. When we are still, God’s image can be clearly (not a blurry image) seen and this should lead those around us to recognize who Jesus is, the (manner of) man in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth bodily (Colossians 2:9).

Point(s) to ponder: Is your/my life calm that we are reflecting Jesus Christ and making those around us ask as to who Jesus Christ is.

Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

In a world that is constantly on the rush with its ephemeral pursuits,  we often blurry the image of life that God has ordained us for.

Mind over body – The need for Placebo Christians

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On June 16, 2010

In Christian

Master Joe Schaefer, founder and owner of the Austin Shaolin-Do Kung Fu school, was expressing to me and another student, the power of the mind over the body and used the following illustration to demonstrate his thesis. He said, if I ask you to carry a 50 pound sandbag to the hospital that is about a mile away, you are mostly likely not going to be able to do it, but if I was to ask you to carry your son who needs medical attention to the hospital that is a mile away, you will do it. Medically, the power of the mind over the body has been demonstrated using placebo experiments such as inert tablets and sham surgeries. Commonly known as the placebo effect, believing that a medicine or procedure is therapeutic when in fact it is not, has been proven to show considerable improvement of the health in patients. So it is no surprise, that the mind has a major role to play in the well being of a person or the will of a person to accomplish an objective. We can apply the same principle in our Christian life/walk.

Jesus said, you shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul and MIND (Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27). It is interesting that when the people found the man from whom the legion of evil spirits had been exorcised by Jesus, sitting at the feet of Jesus, they found him clothed and with a right mind (Mark 5:15). When we believe in Jesus Christ, we are given a sound/right mind (2 Timothy 1:7), but the body (flesh) wars against the mind and when the mind wants to accomplish the objectives of God, the body often seeks otherwise. There is a constant battle between the mind and the body and apostle Paul succinctly expressed this warfare when he described that the things he did not want to do (that his mind told him not to), those things he did (because the body/flesh made him do so) and that which he wanted to do, he did not (Romans 7:15-25).  I can empathize and relate with apostle Paul and I recognize that we must put on the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5), who humbled himself and subjected his body to be broken as a sacrifice, once and for all (Hebrews 10:10). There is a need for placebo Christians; those who believe in the power of God and exercise the power of the mind (that God has created) over the body (that is to be offered as a living sacrifice to God). And to train our mind to have control over the body, we need to first wear the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17) and renew our mind with the things that are true, honest, just, pure, and of good report, virtue and praise (Philippians 4:8) so that we are transformed and not conformed to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2), which is in enmity with God (James 4:4).

Point(s) to ponder:
1. Are you/I a placebo Christian?
2. Philippians 4:8 states “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” What are you/I thinking about, in other words what is our mind dwelling on?

Romans 8:5-7 (KJV)
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

An offering for an offering!

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On June 15, 2010

In Christian

The writer to the Hebrews writes in chapter 10 verse 10 that Jesus Christ was offered bodily once for all. But why was Jesus an Offering? The answer is found in the text itself, Jesus was offered so that all can be sanctified. To be sanctified is to be set apart. To be set apart is to be renewed in our minds and refreshed in our heart to have allegiance unto none other than Jesus Christ. In other words, to be set apart is to offer ourselves (our bodies) as a living sacrifice.

Jesus offered Himself to the death sacrifice so that we can offer ourselves as a living sacrifice.
Jesus Christ offered his body and we are expected to do the same as well.

In other words, an offering for an offering. His offering warrants ours.

Hebrews 10:10 (KJV)
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)
1 I  beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

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