Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Bobo Doll Christianity

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On September 8, 2010

In Christian, Doll Christianity

The sole purpose of a Bobo doll is to bounce back up when knocked over; but it does not do this on its own strength. Instead, the center of gravity works in restoring the Bobo doll back into a standing position.

In our Christian faith walk, we often grieve the Holy Spirit as we backslide and yield to sinful and selfish desires. The question that Apostle Paul poses to the Romans is the same I ask of myself “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Thankfully the Holy Scripture provides us with THE ANSWER. I thank God [that such a victory is only possible] through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:24-25) The Spirit is willing, the flesh is weak; but praise be to God the Father, for His Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who is the ONLY ONE able to deliver us from the body of death, and to present us blameless before the throne of a Just God (Jude 1:24).

We may succumb to temptation and fall and be knocked down because of our own selfish and sinful desires, or by the adversary of God (Satan), who like a roaring lion preys on our negligence (1 Peter 5:8), but praise be to God that like a Bobo doll, we can always revert to a standing position before God, not on our own strength, but by Jesus Christ, if we have Him as the Center of Gravity of our lives. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his ways. Though he falls, [though he falls], he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord (Jesus Christ) upholdeth him in His hands (Psalm 37:23-24).

Romans 7:18-25 (KJV)
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Psalm 37:23-24 (KJV)
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Cyclist Christianity

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On September 7, 2010

In Christian

Once while on a journey to preach in a village in the district of Malkangiri, in the state of Orissa, in India, I was looking out of the window of the jeep we were in and noticed a cyclist with a heavy load in the back of his bicycle. He was struggling as he pushing his cycle uphill. Soon afterward, I noticed another cyclist riding alone on his bicycle. It was not too long afterward, when I saw a another cyclist cycling, but this man had his wife sitting in the back of the bicycle as they merrily rode.

It was then I realized that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been presented to me, in a quaint and profound way. Before we meet and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are like the first cyclist struggling with the load of sin, making our every effort to reach our destination, an arduous, grueling and impossible undertaking. After we meet Jesus and we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, our sins are washed away and the burden and guilt of sin is removed once and for all, making us like the second cyclist who was riding his bike without any load behind him. But then as Christians, we are saved by grace, but called to do good works; such as bringing others to Christ Jesus. After we have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, it does not do us well to remain a solitary Christian. We must be like the third cyclist, bearing one another and carrying others with us to Christ.

Psalm 38:4 (KJV) – Verse of the first Cyclist
4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

Galatians 5:1 (KJV) – Verse of the second Cyclist
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 6:2 (KJV) – Verse of the third Cyclist
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Heart Matters Matter

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On September 6, 2010

In Christian

King Solomon, the son of King David, in his sermon (as recorded in 2 Chronicles 6) states that the Lord said unto his father, David, that he did well by pondering in his heart to build a house for the Lord. David’s desire to build a house for the Lord is recorded in 1 Chronicles 17. David expresses to Nathan, the Prophet, that he desired to find a place for the Lord in which the Lord could tabernacle. Though David was not the chosen one to build a house for the Lord, what he pondered in his heart mattered and pleased God so much so that God told David that he did well. From the Scripture, we learn that David’s desire was to find a place for God to dwell and if David is recorded to be the one after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) we can extrapolate and recognize that it is in God’s heart to find a place for Himself.

The desire of our heart must be as that of David, which is to find a place for God in the hearts of many who have not believed in Jesus; who don’t have Jesus as the host of their lives. This will be in tune with God’s own heart and when he looks at us, he can tell of us, that you and I are after God’s own heart. Yes, that which is in our heart matters, for out of the heart flows the issues of life and so we must guard it diligently (Proverbs 4:23). Heart matters matter if our heart is filled with the matters of God.

2 Chronicles 6:7-8 (KJV)
7 Now it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.
8 But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:

Stopping priests!

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On September 3, 2010

In Christian

The Bible records that when the trumpeters and singers were unified in one voice, praising and thanking the Lord, exclaiming that He is good and that His mercy endures forever, the priests could not minister because the Lord’s glory had filled the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 5:13-14).

What we can learn from this incident are many. Some of the salient lessons are as follows:
1. The people were unified in their praising and thanking God.
2. The people not only recognized the goodness of God, but they also confessed that He was indeed a merciful God, whose mercy had not bounds of time.
3. The priests were unable to minister anyone more because God’s glory descended in his House.

The application of these facts in our lives are as follows:
1. Are we unified with other believers in praising and thanking God?
2. Are we confessing God’s goodness and enduring mercy?
For when we do so, we can experience the glory of the Lord to descend upon us (his house/temple), so much so, that there wont be a need for the priests (pastors, missionaries, etc) who are in the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, we will be stopping priests, because the glory of the Lord in us would emanate his goodness and mercy to those seeking an answer for their lives.

2 Chronicles 5:13-14 (KJV)
13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;
14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

Is God in Front?

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On September 2, 2010

In Christian

Before Jesus predicts Peter’s denial as recorded in the gospel of Matthew, he predicts His own death allegorically as being the Shepherd who would be smitten, but in that same prediction, He also makes a promise that he will not only rise again, but He will go before his disciples into Galilee. I have heard many preach on Jesus predicting His death that would result in the scattering of His people (the sheep), but seldom have I heard of His promise, not only of resurrection but also of His going before his disciples.

Here are some of the most important questions that each of us should answer. Is Jesus risen in our heart? He said he will rise again and He did from death. When we accept Him and believe in His name, our old self dies and we become a new creation rising with Him. He also said that He will go before his disciples. So Is the Lord Jesus going in front of you and me, leading us or are we leaving Him behind, wanting to run our very lives? Let us not leave Him behind for He did not leave us! Let Jesus be in front of us in every sphere of our life! Let Jesus go in front of us and lead us.

Matthew 26:31-32 (KJV)
31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Are you the one? Am I the one?

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On September 1, 2010

In Christian

Psalm 53:2 reads “God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God”. It is only the fool who does not delight in understanding (Proverbs 18:2).  It is better to get wisdom that gold and chose understanding over silver (Proverbs 16:16). In other words, wisdom and understanding are better than the things we deem wealth in this ephemeral world. In fact, understanding is the wellspring of life unto him that has it (Proverbs 16:22). The Bible also informs us that if we seek God, we shall find Him. But from Psalm 53:2, it is evident that God is seeking, but sadly, He is not finding the one He is looking for; one who understands and one who is seeking Him.

So today, if God looked down from heaven upon you/me, will he find you as the one, who has understanding and who is seeking Him? Will God find me as the one with understanding and as the one seeking Him. Are you the one? Am I the one?

Psalm 53:1-2 (KJV)
1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.
2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.

Lovesick

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On August 31, 2010

In Christian

In the book of the Song of Solomon, the bride charges the daughters of Jerusalem, that if they find her beloved Bridegroom, they should tell Him that she is lovesick (Song of Solomon 5:8). Her beloved is hers and she is His (Song of Solomon 2:16).

We, who believe in Christ Jesus are His bride. He is the Bridegroom that has promised to return to take us into His Father’s house. Now as the bride of Jesus Christ, are we in love with Him? Are we earnestly seeking Him? Are we His for He is ours? Are we lovesick for the one who is Love personified?

Song of Solomon 2:16a (KJV)
16 My beloved is mine, and I am his:

Song of Solomon 5:8 (KJV)
8 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.

Conviction, Cleansing, and Consent

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On August 30, 2010

In Christian, Reuben

I was watching a show “The greatest is the least” with my loving wife, Sangeetha and beloved son, Reuben. In this episode, they depict the account where Jesus washes the feet of His disciples. When Peter refuses to let Jesus wash his feet, Jesus responds by saying, “if you DO NOT LET ME wash you, you have no part with me“. The words that stuck in my mind was “If you DO NOT LET ME”.

See the Holy Spirit of God convicts us of our sin. He also convicts us of righteousness (our need for God) and of judgment (John 16:8-11). God who is Holy can have no communion with sin. To have communion with God, we need to be cleansed. Jesus is ready to wash us. It is His blood that was shed that cleanses us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9) so that we can be righteous, a.k.a., in a right standing before God. But then again, why is it that not all are clean and saved? Even though, the conviction and the cleansing is the responsibility of God, He is not a puppeteer or one who coerces anyone to believe in Him and accept Him. To be washed by Jesus is to first LET HIM wash us. In other words, it is ours to consent, in response to His conviction so that He can cleanse us. The conviction and cleansing is His to do, the consent however is ours. Without our consent, we can have no part with Jesus, for He is Holy as is His Father and His Spirit, the triune God in One.

If you have never believed in Jesus, believe in Him as the ONE TRUE God, who paid the penalty of you sin (which is death) and LET HIM cleanse you. If we have believed and are a born again believers, but have back-slidden, then we (you and I) too must LET HIM cleanse us. Ask Him to create in us a clean (cleansed) heart and renew a steadfast Spirit within us. If we don’t let Jesus wash us clean, we can have no part with Jesus. Oh, what a tragedy that is!

John 13:4-10 (KJV)
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

1 John 1:7-9 (KJV)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Beloved, which was not

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On August 27, 2010

In Christian

Through the voice of the prophet, Hosea, God says that He will call the people who are not His, His and that they will call Him their God (Hosea 2:23). God through the Apostle Paul, takes this further by expressing that not only will he address us as His people, but He will call us His Beloved, which was not beloved (Romans 9:25).

We who are vile in our sinfulness can be only made blameless and pure by the blood of Jesus Christ. When we believe in Jesus Christ, as the One and Only true God,  He takes us who are like trash/filthy (our righteousness is like filthy rags) and makes us His peculiar treasure (Exodus 19:5). He turns our rebellious heart into a repentant one, making us lovable, so much so that He can address us not only as His people, but as His very own BELOVED.

But, what does it mean to be called the Beloved of God?

Besides the fact, that the Beloved of God will BE-LOVED by Him, closer introspection of this text in Romans, reveal a fabulous hidden truth in it. When God addressed His Only begotten Son, Jesus, He called Him, beloved as he promulgated “This is my BELOVED son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5). When he addresses us as His beloved, He is not merely addressing us but adopting us. We will be called BELOVED; We will be called the CHILDREN of the living God.

The question that remains then is this, can God tell of us, “I am well pleased with you?” as He did of Jesus. Let us be imitators (followers) of Jesus (Ephesians 5:1) , so that when God calls us Beloved (which was not), He can also say, “I am well pleased with you!”

Romans 9:25-26 (KJV)
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

Inseparable

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On August 26, 2010

In Christian

What can separate us (you and me) from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord?
Short answer: Nothing!
Long answer: Nothing!

In fact, I need not say any more to express this profound and inexplicable Truth about our inseparability from the love of God, in Christ Jesus. My brother, Ragland Remo Paul, when teaching from the text in Romans 8:38-39, written by Apostle Paul to the Romans, highlighted certain dimensional attributes, to ascertain the verity of our inseparability from God.

Romans 8:38-39 reads For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life (physical dimension), nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers (spiritual dimension), nor things present, nor things to come (temporal dimension), nor height, nor depth (spatial dimension), nor any other creature (everything else dimension since all are created by God) shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

No matter whichever dimensional viewpoint, we take, it goes back to the truth that NOTHING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING can separate us from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. What a wonderful privilege and assurance this is! However, this also warrants our rightful response, which should be “Nothing absolutely nothing, neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature should be able to separate the LOVE we have for God, in Christ Jesus, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19), and demonstrated that by his sacrificial death (in our stead), while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).” This is my prayer, what is yours?

Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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