In looking at any subject, there are usually many perspectives from which it can be approached. More often than not, each has some reasonable points.
In this article I am going to examine the subject from what I prefer to term a Christ-like view.
The Old Testament is relevant today as much as the New Testament. The bible should govern the worldview and lifestyle of everyone who claims to be united with Christ.
Now, how the Old Testament is relevant to us today is something that needs to be established for us to make sense of Christ’s view that should guide us to follow him faithfully in our daily affairs under every circumstance.
The Old Testament is a canon of scripture as much as the New Testament and it is on those grounds that we view the bible as God’s infallible word. If that is correct, which I personally believe it is; then it means Christ is the Old Testament as much as He is the New Testament; given that in the beginning was the word but the word only came to be flesh in the new dispensation (John 1:1 &14). So, Jesus in the beginning (even in the old testament) was introduced to mankind as Law or commandments to be obeyed since the people at that time did not have Christ IN their spirit according to God’s plan (Col 1:26-27 & Eph 3:9).
God had planned to reveal Himself to Man in stages but Adam and Eve’s impatience and sin interrupted the smooth flow. However, God is still on course to bless man with the revelation of Himself not just outwardly but in man (Heb 10:16 & Jer31:33).
The Old Testament is the shadow of the real nature of God He is revealing to man (Col 2:17). As a shadow, the physical occurrences that God worked in the midst of the Israelites whom He chose to be His people pointed to his real nature. He was to ultimately reveal in Christ not as a code to be kept but life to be lived in the spirit (Rom 8: 4, 11 & 14).
For the above reason, those who are in Christ indeed, take instruction from the law of the spirit of life in Christ and not from the letter of the law (2 Cor 3:6). But knowing that the law of commandments is from God and as such is good (Rom 7:12), followers of Christ depend on Christ by the help of the Holy Spirit to find the fulfillment of the law of commandments in Christ Jesus.
I believe failing to find how the law of commandment is fulfilled in Christ leads man to attempt to practice the letter without the spirit and that will always lead to departure from God and His way of doing things that reveal his true nature which is love (2 Cor 3:6). It is for these reasons that the scripture tells us that God does not just do loving things but God Himself is love (1 John 4:16).
John’s exhortation in 1 John 4:16, speaks to us not just about doing loving things which is good but to better still possess Love as our nature the way God originally intended for us.
This understanding affects the spirit, soul and body of man. In other words, man’s thought process and physical actions get powerfully affected so much so that it reflects God’s true nature (which is higher than man’s nature). For this reason God did not mind to condescending to the level of man in order to suffer and die that man may finally be engraced to enjoy Him, live and reflect His true nature which Adam and Eve’s sin marred and introduced the devil’s nature which leads to murder.
All who fail to find the Old Testament in Christ, who is also The New Testament, will ever seek to reproduce the Old Testament law as a standard to live by-: that will mean nullifying the grace that Christ has suffered and died to bring to mankind for salvation and glorious living which reflects God’s true nature of love, mercy and reconciliation to God and amongst men.
I will be quick to point out that God having established this grace through Jesus His Son is still working out the process in men who are yet to embrace this established grace through the preaching of the gospel. For those who have accepted the grace, it is still a “work” in progress as He leads them to perfection in their walk of grace. (Titus 2:11-12, 2 Tim 3:16-17 & Eph 4:12-13).
I can understand how a man who has accepted the grace of God for salvation can still be ignorant and un-cooperative with grace and may still want to live according to the Old Testament practices e.g. advocate capital punishment which was lawful in the dispensation of sin and death.
I have taken time to read almost all the plausible reasoning for capital punishment and I can see that indeed it is laudable and maybe even more persuasive than the opposing view. But that is as far as we are limiting it only to our human reasoning. If we incorporate our maker’s view as revealed in the superior law of life in Christ Jesus, we can hear not only Abel’s voice crying for revenge with all the good reasons but more powerfully the voice of the purest blood ever shed innocently pleading for mercy to be shown to murders (Heb12:24 NLT, Rom 12:17).
What makes murder so outrageous, painful and sickening to us is not just that the murdered person is dead but also, how the murderer could intentionally be so cruel to their fellow man. We all get mad about murder even though the murdered person is not related directly to us but because they are human.
We all know that everyone will die someday; accidental or otherwise, we sorrow and weep for the dead and show disdain at the party directly responsible for the death of the other party. However, our bowels of mercy including that of the state, jury and judge is activated to act leniently in the case of manslaughter.
The question we Christians should meditate with our Lord is this,-: how can we turn around and be deliberate to advocate murder just because murder of a deliberate kind has occurred. We are not to deliberately sin, for among all of our sins; the deliberate ones that we persist on are the ones that God has not made any provision of propitiation. But even at that, He does not kill us but He waits till the appointed time when He will judge the living and dead (Gen 4:10-15).
Lex Talionis is cancelled in Christ Jesus
The above opens the door for forgiveness and discipline- what I mean is this, we forgive murderers and discipline them by separating them for all the plausible reasons including worry over re-offending. This is why we have the prisons (Heb 12:6-7). Though it’s not a perfect place, some murderers have come out from there changed and have not re-offended while some have come out and even committed more brutal murder.
We humans are fallible unlike God who is infallible. This point has left the state with a lot of regrettable and irreparable mistakes e.g., killing innocent people based on the law of capital punishment. The good plea will never cease to be; to abolish capital punishment but hold firmly to the prescribed jail term as practiced presently. While some may see it as a waste of money maintaining murderers in prison, it cannot be compared to the waste of funds in developing weapons to murder uncountable lives all in the name of war or can it be compared to the flow of cash that exchange hand in order to murder unborn babies in their mothers precious womb.
God wants us to acknowledge our inadequacies by leaving ultimate decisions like depriving anyone of life no matter the circumstance to Him who is infallible. This God’s advice goes to those who carry out criminal murder and those who will use state law to deprive life.
To make the above clearer, let us all remember that with Jesus- New Testament, he that hates his brother is a murderer and that carries death penalty but is not executed till the all knowing and infallible God has exhausted the chance for the person to repent before their time in prison (this world) has expired. Yes! This world is a prison in a sense and that is why it’s not the home of followers of Christ though they are in the world (John 17:16). It’s used by Christ’s people as a place to grow in grace and to reflect God’s goodness and that is why we reach out to the lost pointing them to the grace that has come to save us all in Christ.
In Conclusion, while the state may have the option to consider whether they will obey God or not, those who are in Christ do not have an option at all. Let us listen to the voice of Stephen, all the martyrs and most importantly the plea and command of the Lord Jesus Christ in the following scriptures (Rom 12:17, 1Thess 5:15, 1 Pet 3:9, Acts 7:59-60, Luke 23:34)
Our world will be a better place while we are waiting for the best place (the heaven of God) to come if we all HUMBLY OBEY HIM AND LEAVE VENGEANCE FOR HIM WHO IS IN FULL CONTROL OF ALL AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE.
In the Old Testament God spoke to His people predominately through selected ministers who lived by faith and as such beyond their generation- the people heard God by the voice of His servants. Due to this fact, the people were missing out on the unique effect of hearing God directly; for there must be some advantage to hearing God’s direct voice.
According to God’s preordained plan which showed only in His “due season” (Heb 9:8), His superior law hatched in His only begotten Son Jesus Christ- the ONLY name (way) to salvation (rescue from the kingdom of darkness and translation into the Kingdom of light and life) was and is made visible for all to see. This dispensation of grace or the New Testament, has made the feared but highly valued voice of God now available to all who are in the Kingdom of God though the people of old, unwisely, begged not to hear it directly.
The partition-the curtain that kept God’s people, except the high priest, from entering into the holy of holies to enjoy God’s creative voice has been made available to us who are in Christ Jesus (Heb 10:19-20). May all praise be to Him for all eternity! Amen.
All the secrets of God in salvation is hidden and revealed in Jesus Christ (Col 2:3)
In Hebrews 5:11 and 1 Corinthians 2:6, Paul concluded that explanation of some things that relate to salvation that is hidden in Christ is not for the ears of those that are dull of hearing Heb 5:12 and babies in Christ Heb 5:14. We are to grow in our knowledge of Christ who is our salvation but that can’t happen if we’re not prepared to enjoy the privilege God has given us to hear His voice as His sheep (John 10:14 & 27).
To enjoy the voice of Jesus Christ we must love and live not just righteously but have godly lives. That was one thing most of the people of old were not prepared to do. They preferred someone else to hear on their behalf – that way, they have a person they can blame and harass when they get angry with God. They were wise enough to know that no one can continue to hear God’s voice and persist in sinning the way they had determined to pursue other gods. Their wisdom was foolish, earthy and evil because true wisdom comes by fearing the Lord continually which leads to obedience to God’s voice. The voice of God carries unction, prophecy and creative purpose. They knew hearing God directly would eventually change their deceitful and deceptive heart thereby conforming them to His image and purpose (John 5:25, Rom 12:1-2).
In our twenty-first century Church, most of God’s people like the Israelites of old are tilting towards this attitude of not wanting to hear God’s voice directly. It is time to awake to the fact that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit indwell all of His children. The ministers of God in this dispensation of grace are not like the Old Testament priesthood with the high priest. We need to remember that God has appointed all His people who have the Spirit of His Son (Christ Jesus) as kings and priests. The devil takes his field day to lie and harass God’s children with his deceiving voice to accuse and intimidate, but he is not God’s advocate. Jesus is and the Holy Spirit speaks His voice to us as Christ intercedes for saints His blood purchased. We simply need to repent (turn away from) wrong or sin when we fall for it (1 John 2:1, Acts 23:2-5 NLT).
Oh! How vital it is that we hear, learn and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit leading us to our Savior and Lord – Jesus Christ.
Paul who commended people to be children of God and faithful servants in different places in the scriptures tells us in Rom 8:16 that “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” It is only the Spirit that can witness to us that we are regenerated- born again, but if the sheep can’t hear the witness of the spirit how can the assurance come? Unfortunately, we resort to complex doctrine to resolve truths God has simplified for us already.
If the assurance of our salvation is not established in our hearts, how can the sheep willingly follow the good shepherd, much more endure suffering with Him.
For a change, why not determine in 2011 to open the ears of your heart to the voice of the Holy Spirit for your benefit and that of other believers you fellowship with and maybe beyond. We must not let laziness stop us from following the admonition in Col 3:16, Joshua 1:8 and 2 Tim 2:15. Those who are gifted with the ministry gift and spiritual gifts should wake-up, serve those who are weak and needy and let iron sharpen iron. It is time for all to fall upon their face before God to charge the battery inside us ( 2 Tim 1:6).
Let us learn God’s voice from the pages of the scriptures, obey it and see our lives blossom in God in all circumstances. If we are blessed to be doing so already, let us persist on it and look to bless others. The promised outcome in Eph 4:14-15 as a result of Eph 4:13 should encourage us to press on. I believe it is worth forming part of our core resolve this year and to aim for it with all of our hearts and strength.
One generation will praise thee O God to another generation and another and forever. Amen
Spiritual blindness leads to hypocrisy. God wants His people whom He has conformed to the Image of Christ through regeneration to get rid of greed, self indulgence, wickedness and unfaithfulness through His grace, the knowledge and understanding of His Son (Rom 8:29, Rev 17:14).
God had determined to explode His blessings (grace, wisdom, knowledge and understanding of His Son to the bride—the church) in this generation like a cluster bomb. God’s intent is always purposeful and creative so, why this unleashing of His blessings?
Ephesians 3:10 holds an answer to the intent of God in blessing the church at this time of the end: [The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere (Amplified bible).
Christ’s Image
His image is a portrait of the totality of His person- spiritual and human (fully God and fully Man) and it is only that type of sacrifice God has accepted for atonement and salvation (1 Pet 1:19, John 1:29). Christ is the Spirit of God in our spirit and He has made us conformed to His image in the sight of God (Rom 8:29). This is where the boasting of a Christian lies (1 Cor 1:30 NIV). Christ is our righteousness and our righteousness is of God not of ourselves (Phil 3:9). All praise and glory be to our Saviour and Lord—Jesus Christ. Amen.
At the point of our believing and receiving Jesus Christ into our hearts as our Saviour and Lord, His act of regenerating us makes us completely saved and accepted by the Almighty God. If such a soul falls asleep after that moment, the eternal home of that soul would be the bosom of God. Indeed, salvation is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone. But, if God who sustains life in a soul were to keep that soul awake on the earth, he or she is bound to live heavenly (godly and righteously) on earth and show forth the praises of God (1 Pet 2:9). No preacher should debar the saints of this glorious privilege by teaching what deviates from the Apostle’s doctrine as given to them by Jesus Christ Himself John 15:10. If anyone does, let such a one be accursed! (Gal 1:8-9).
Christ’s Stature
Irrespective of our chronological age, we all are brought into Christ as babies though fully saved but needing to mature (grow in grace ). Christ’s stature which the church (the gathering together of individuals in Christ) is exhorted to grow in ( see Eph 4:13) speaks of His visible character or life style which is summarized as full of grace, love, forgiveness, holiness, righteousness, mercy, power, faithfulness, joy, peace, long-suffering, compassion, gentleness, goodness and truth. This personage of Christ is who God predestined us to walk in by the grace He has made available to us who are in Christ (Eph 2:10). Walking in it is not what gives us salvation but it serves as light to the world (Matt 5:14, Phil 2:15) and gives God good pleasure and honour (Phil 2:13, 1 Sam 2:30).
Mortal men are gaining understanding of Jesus Christ in a way that is transforming and leading to a reverence of Him and a desire to see Him appear to consummate the marriage feast that all generations of godly and righteous men and women have longed for without ceasing.
This transformation is cleaning inside the cup – our minds (Matt 23:26, 25, Luke11:39, Rom 12:2) and producing visible obedience outside the cup- our bodies (Rom 12:1) to Christ.
The essence of God increasing the Church’s understanding and reverence for Jesus Christ is so that we may be the more diligent and earnest to hear and do the biding of His voice. That way, we will continue to abide in Him as our minds are set on Him and not on anything else. This is the safeguard from drifting to another spirit that is fighting to govern those who dwell on the earth (Heb 2:1-4).
God is hastening this matter of moving His Church from one degree of glory to another to enable us do His will with the heart of love and fear as a preparation for the world to come which is not subjected to angels but to Christ for the full benefit of His people -the bride of Christ and to the eternal praise, glory and honour of God almighty (Phil 2:13 NLT, Heb 2:5-9, 1 John 3:3 NLT).
Awake Zion
“Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into (Prov 25:28, 4:23). You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:35-40).
And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end (Heb 6:11).
Jesus is coming soon… it’s not just a fact. It is the truth. (Phil 4:5). This truth; should serve to wake us up from slumber. Awake! Zion and get to the high mountain for the time of your exaltation is at hand (not physical mountain and doesn’t necessarily entail anyone leaving their legitimate source of livelihood). Prepare; for streams of people are coming to you seeking the highest mountain (the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Saviour- the prince of peace) in your midst.
There is a wide spread misunderstanding of the subject of chance in the Church and as such many argue that chance does not happen to Christians. The book of Ecclesiastes included in the sixty-six books that make-up the canon of scripture (the bible) states that chance happens to everyone on the earth.
Chance is an event that occurs without the deliberate intervention of man when spiritual orchestration and physical sequence meet to create a natural event.
The spiritual side can originate from God or Satan. When it is God inspired we call it a blessing and if Satan influenced, we call it a curse and evil.
Firstly, the scripture tells us that God spiritually orchestrates things by blowing the wind where He wishes.
Secondly, the Devil also orchestrates his wishes through his arrows that fly by day and by night.
The knowledge of physics confirms that wind can aid (allow) or disallow arrows from reaching their target(s).
God has promised all His children who put their faith in Him and are lead by His Spirit that the Devil’s arrows will not come near (defeat) them because His wind will constantly blow them away to the waterless places and they are covered by the blood sacrifice of Christ (Eph 6:16, Psalm 91:5 &7, 1 Cor 10:13). Paul substantiates this by revelation in Rom 8:28, Eph1:11 and Job’s story which represents the life of the bride of Christ holds lessons for the Church.
Retaining the fear of God, His love, His righteousness and consistent prayer life, fasting, study of the bible and meditation on the rhema of God contributes towards our response (physical sequence) to achieve our safety and blessings but ultimately God’s sovereignty accomplishes it (Prov 16:1, Phil 2:13). For God has ordained that when we’re asleep, our high priest neither slumbers nor sleeps. He is ever making ceaseless intercession for the heirs of salvation (Heb 7:25).
Time births events and time has its limitations and is subject to God who lives outside time. So, time is a servant of the Almighty God. He combines time and chance for His ultimate purpose and pleasure.
The race is not to the swift
God uses time and chance to influence the race to which humans are involved in on the earth in such a way that the outcome is not determined by the swift (those that move fast when need) but by Him. This point does not negate the necessity to move fast when needed but is an emphasis that is not those who move fast at the right time that win the race. There are other factors called time and chance that ultimately and truly determines outcomes of all races. Sports men and women know this too well-a champion runner can start a race well and fast but trip and fall or suddenly lose breath unduly without any prior symptom of illness before the race.
The battle to the strong
God uses time and chance to influence battles such that the outcome is not determined by the strong. The Egyptians still remember what their fore-fathers experienced when they pursued the weak Israelites to destroy them in the wilderness.
Bread to the wise
God uses time and chance to influence bread in a way that its benefit is not determined by the wise (Eccl 11:1). The percentage of return from a bread cast into water is not determined by the wise. There are many wise people who lack bread and while this may have been contested years back especially by the younger adults, today’s economic environment and alarming rate of unemployment created by the very wise men and women of our generation stands as a credit to the fact that bread is not to the wise. Also, visit to the most impoverished nations of the world with array of wise people buttresses this more.
Riches to men of understanding
God uses time and chance to influence riches to determine where it should go at any given time and those with understanding are at the mercy of time and chance. So understanding does not determine riches of any kind. The most advanced countries of the world today are inviting us to come and learn that the word of God is infallible. The understanding of the most advanced people of the world has suddenly resulted to disappointment, poverty, debt and sorrows. “Understanding” is good and should be sort after but riches do not lend itself just to the men of understanding.
Favour to men of skill
God uses time and chance to influence favour thereby determining where it should go either to a person with skill or not. Skill therefore does not determine favour. Many skilled people are working in Jobs that are meant for the unskilled in various sectors of the economy because of lack of favour and vice versa.
There is only one thing that can make man fail to understand this crucial messenger of time and chance and that is man’s pride.
All answered prayers are stored till an appointed time and chance creates the event(s) that births the purpose of God. God had determined that John the Baptist was going to be six months older than Jesus and for that reason, pray Zechariah and Elizabeth the much they want, she could not get pregnant before the “due” season. God is truly sovereign!
Time and chance puts all men under the mercy of the spiritual. For the spiritual controls the physical. Those that worship God through Jesus Christ alone by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit enjoy time and chance because the alpha and omega, the creator of all things visible and invisible, the Lord of Lords, the lion of the tribe of Judea and the Prince of peace grants them to live and move and have their being in Him and with Him (Acts 17:28). This should ignite fresh confidence, appreciation and thankfulness to Jesus Christ for saving us who have become the heirs of salvation and joint heirs with Him.
The secrets, power, wisdom and love of God are beyond searching out! Which other god has been wise enough to dwell outside of time- which, has power and love so deep to secure his or her worshipers outside of time?- none but the ONLY true God and father of our Lord and saviour Christ Jesus. To Him be all praise, glory, adoration and thanks for all eternity. He has hidden all of His sons in Christ who dwell outside of time and uses time as a servant to run His errands for the heirs of this most precious salvation to their ultimate benefit and destruction of Satan, his cohorts and those that prefer him (Satan) to their creator.
Those that reject Jesus Christ, and those that use His name for participation in abomination that cause desolation in the Holy place (His temple-us), time and chance holds defeat for them when victory will be needed the most. Every soul needs victory on the day of the race of life, on that day bread is needed which are the riches of the heart and favour, for those are the indispensable gifts that win the battle of death which must come to every soul at the appointed time.
At the appointed time, chance kicks in, for time and chance are mutual friends!
If you have read this article up to here and you are not a believer and follower of Jesus Christ I will plead with you to see this as an opportunity of God’s orchestration to bring you into a lively relationship with Jesus. Ask him to come into your heart as you will ask your natural father, mother or friend to visit you and perhaps help you with a need. Like the song goes, “Sometimes in our lives We all have pain We all have sorrow But if we are wise We know that there’s always tomorrow Lean on me, When you’re not …”. Maybe yesterday you postponed making friends with Jesus and now, today is that tomorrow you said in your heart that you will consider Jesus’ invitation as in the song- “Lean on me”. Jesus is the best friend both the wise and foolish need. He does not have pain neither does He have sorrow now. He finished with both over two thousand years ago for the sake of mankind- He understands pain and sorrow like no one else do. Now, He seats as the only prince of peace to all who need peace and help. God bless you as you enter into this relationship with Jesus with new horizon of joy and peace that surpass all understanding.
A good place to turn to for clearer understanding of your new friend if you have just invited Jesus into your heart will be the bible and not some Christians out there. Your fellowship should be with the one (JESUS CHRIST) you have made friends with First and then with Him guiding you to fellowship with others. Remember to Judge God by your experience with Jesus and not the people you fellowship with—for they are but followers just like you. And every follower is yet learning from the master (Jesus).
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ and He is your savior and Lord, be strong and confident that time and chance can only work and is working for your ultimate good. The beginning and the middle of a matter is important and many times calls for patience, endurance, long suffering but it culminates to the best beauty at the end. That is why there is need to persevere in the interim no matter how things seem to be turning out for you. Exercise your God given faith and trust Him that He is working in every event facing you right now for your blessing. We must remember- without faith is impossible to please God that is why He has given us faith. If we must please Him, we must do so now while we are in this world.
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith (1 John 5:4).
God is today helping all who are engaged to Jesus to hasten towards the unspeakable joy of the marriage feast of the lamb (Rev 19:7). And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death (Rev 12:11).
It is very easy for man to turn every beautiful gift of God to his own means for achieving his own selfish desires and it always leads to sincere errors and misplacement of priorities fostered by misinterpretation of God’s word that is perfect and well capable of converting the soul and keeping it in the straight and narrow.
The extract below from George Warnock’s book ” Beauty For Ashes Part 4” -Chain Reaction in Realms of the Spirit- Chap 6, being lead by the spirit: sheds helpful light to bear in mind as one desires to be lead by the spirit of God.
“Let us not emphasize this matter of being led by the Spirit, in the context of things temporal or geographical. These are important too, but if we are faithful to be led by the Lord into living truth, and into realms heavenly and spiritual, then I am sure we will find ourselves doing the right things regarding the temporal, and being in the proper place geographically. If we are moving in the Spirit, and walking in God’s will, we will always discover that we are in God’s place at God’s time. I believe all this is a vital part of Jesus’ promise: “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”
One of the things the lord has been teaching me over the years and which I am still learning day by day is that all of his business is inspired and accomplished by His spirit. So desiring to fervently join oneself to Gods’ business as He inspires it will always mean readiness to hold His admonition in Rom 12:3-8 also fervently.
Close attention to Rom 12:3-8 above reveals the following:
[a] It is admonished to every member including those who have been gifted with any of the five-fold ministries and the elders in Christ’s body in the context of a local assembly.
[b] It is the responsibility of each member of the body of Christ at a local assembly to be faithful to think soberly according to the measure of faith and grace God has given to him in such a way that honours God.
[c] It is not the responsibility of anyone else to enforce upon another.
[d] It forbids that any man should assume or be assigned a responsibility beyond his measure of faith and grace.
[e] It also means that none should be depraved or suppressed to function to the measure of faith and grace given to him or her by God.
These understanding shows that if one thinks of himself with more than the measure of faith and grace already existing in one’s life at a particular time, the person dishonors God and it shows itself in the way it generates schism or disrupts the fellowship of the gathering of saints.
Also, if one thinks of himself with less than the measure of faith and grace already existing in his life at a particular time, he dishonors God and robs the gathering of saints the blessing God intents to flow out from him as a vessel or temple. So thinking more highly or less of oneself is dishonoring God. Treating any vessel of God more highly or less as needed is also dishonoring God and creating room for the enemy to attack that vessel and consequently the Church.
Paul was almost tempted to boast because his authority (measure of faith and grace) was challenged unduly. Also, Paul and Apollos was at one time looked upon more highly than they ought not to be and they resisted the brethren from such mindset that dishonor God and put them in danger. It also occurred when Barnabas and Paul was almost worshiped as deity by some pagan oriented community that was freshly embracing the message of Christ.
Everyone in Christ is either contributing positively or negatively to God’s business on the earth. You and I need to withdraw often to examine our lives closely in the light of the above exhortation. The body of Christ must be given fervent attention but not in and with the fleshly mind.
I believe we’re once again in a time of great opportunity to be used by God to demonstrate His love and power to the dying world and to His discouraged sheep that are fast being swept away by every wind of doctrines.
There is a returning to our first love for one another that I believe God is waiting on us for that will usher in an incredible response to our prayers for demonstration of His power in us to heal, do miracles, signs and wonders at a pace, magnitude and depth that will not only equal what we read in the early Church but even more as prophesied by Joel and confirmed by Jesus Christ.
As we keep drawing close to the time of God, the need to obey God’s instruction on how to build His temple will be more urgent and needed.
One instruction that stands out is the instruction not to quarry the stones of the temple in the temple house but to do it at the site where the stone is- shaping it to fit its place at the temple house (1 Kings 6:7). By interpretation, every stone (each believer) must at their private place give God chance to shape them into what He intends to use them for in His house (church-gathering of saints). It is time for brothers that tends to work together and those working together to love themselves deeply and know themselves not just after the manner of flesh but more importantly after the spirit as God have known each vessel.
Private disagreements must be seen as private and settled fast in sincerity privately without making it the Church’s issue and then dragging others into it because of the influence (measure of faith and grace) God has given us. All God given faith and grace is for building up not for religious politics. Thank God He has anointed the ears of His sheep with ear salve to enable them hear His teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteous conducts and love. The warning for us is to be wise and fear God who remains a consuming fire even in our dispensation of grace.
May the Lord continue to multiple His mercy and grace to His Church that in all things, in thought, words and deeds; we might please Him as He weighs the intentions and actions of each lively stone in His house.
crying for revenge with all the good reasons but more powerfully the voice of the purest blood ever shed innocently pleading for mercy to be shown to murders (Heb12:24 NLT, Rom 12:17).
Paul substantiates this by revelation in Rom 8:28, Eph1:11 and Job’s story which represents the life of the bride of Christ holds lessons for the Church.