Revere the ASSURER…Resist the ACCUSER…!

Let’s read Revelation 12:9, 10; John 14:25-27(MSG); Ephesians 4:30(MSG) & James 4:7 in tandem

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah.  For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.

“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.

Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The assurance & support of a mother after her little one falls & sustains a painful knee bruise while playing in the park. A doctor’s re-assurance to his ailing patient. An “ASSURANCE” is always comforting and encouraging. But, an “ACCUSATION” on the contrary can be very bitter and depressing.

Satan’s very first interaction with a human was filled with untruth & false accusation. He misinterpreted the very command given by the almighty God to Adam & Eve and even portrayed God as a liar..! (read Genesis 3:1-5). Since then, throughout the history of mankind, Satan has always been accusing men and women before God day & night.

He accused Job of hypocrisy (read Job 2:1-6). He spoke through the Pharisees and falsely accused Jesus the very Son of God, calling Him the “prince of demons” (read Matthew 12:24). He constantly accuses you and me trying to remind us of our shortcomings in an exaggerated manner so as to make us feel depressed/ dejected and hopeless. Do you ever hear somebody whispering statements such as these in your ear “You are good for nothing”; “You are too insignificant for God”…etc? That is definitely the voice of the ACCUSER – Satan. Resist him straight away and he WILL flee from you.

But, thank God for the ASSURER – THE HOLY SPIRIT! Unlike Satan, the Holy Spirit God always lovingly assures us of RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE, JOY, & HOPE. Satan accuses and condemns whereas the Holy Spirit God corrects & comforts the diligent through the Word of God and also empowers the humble through the Grace of God!

Learn to revere this precious gift of God – the Holy Spirit. Never ever take Him for granted..!

The “rich-in-Love” yet “not-very-obvious” FRUIT of the Spirit…!

Let’s read Galatians 5:19-25; 1 Corinthians 13:13; John 1:11-13

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;

idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit”

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”

“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God”

The acts of the flesh are very obvious – it virtually takes no time to point a finger out at someone caught yielding to the desires of the flesh. One look at a smoker puffing out smoke sends an obvious signal to the people around that the smoker has yielded to the fleshly desire of smoking, although it is known to be hazardous to health.  One look at a drunken husband, verbally and physically abusing his wife sends an obvious signal to the people around that the husband has yielded to the fleshly desire of unrighteous anger, rage and violence.

The opposite of “The acts of the flesh” is not “The acts of the Spirit”. To negate man’s filthy-rags-like righteousness, God imparted and imputed unto us Christ’s righteousness. And this heavenly righteousness is analogically referred to as the “FRUIT of the Spirit”. Many Christians incorrectly refer to this as the “FRUITS” of the Spirit. It is a singular kind of FRUIT and not multiple types of FRUITS. However, a fruit contains many parts in it – pulp, core, skin, seed, stalk etc. Similarly, the FRUIT of the Spirit constitutes the following - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The pulp of the Fruit of the Spirit is LOVE…..!!  

While the acts of the flesh are obvious, the Fruit of the Spirit is not obvious. Only those with a humble heart focused on God and a mind with an eternal perspective can praise the Fruit-giver for the marvellous and appreciable Fruit which is one-of-a-kind.

The Fruit of the Spirit was first revealed in and through Jesus Christ. Even today, only a remnant of the masses   of people believes in Him because the Fruit of the Spirit is not “obvious”.

If you have truly received the Fruit-giver as your personal Lord, then you will not seek the obvious but the unknown/unfathomable yet spiritually tangible FRUIT of the Spirit….!

Loving the EXPERIENCE or Experiencing the LOVE…!!

Let’s read Proverbs 14:12; 1 John 2:15-17; 1 John 4:7, 8 & Psalm 34:8 in tandem

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

“I love travelling”, “I love watching movies”, “I love playing cricket”, “I love KFC”…etc

All these statements (used very commonly in day-to-day living) refer to “love” being limited to an “experience”. However, “Love” in God’s dictionary has a greater and richer meaning than what the world has limited it to.

“Love” in God’s point of view is a person. And hence, “Love” has a personality. What is the personality of “Love”? -  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

In short “Love” always gives, “Love” always forgives, “Love” is always sacrificial in nature. True “Love” is never ever self-seeking. God Himself is this amazing “Love”. God’s identity is defined by His personality called “Love”, and that personality is revealed to us through His Son Jesus Christ (John 14:8-11).

You and I only have one life on this earth. And hence, only one chance and only one choice. Either the created world or the creator Himself. Love towards the world is expectant in nature (not sacrificial). Loving the world means to “love” just the “experiences” that it has to offer. The passing pleasures (lovable experiences) of this world will one day vanish away in a flash. But whoever rests in the Love of God will live forever…!!

Our love for God is not a self-generated love. We love because he first Loved us (1 John 4:19). We sacrifice (Romans 12:1) because he sacrificed it all for us first (Philippians 2:6-8).

Loving an “experience” lasts only till that experience itself lasts. Experiencing the “Love” lasts forever, because God and His “Love” are eternal.

One who has truly tasted the Lord will surely yearn to rest in His Love always..!

POOR in spirit, RICH in Christ..!

Let’s read Proverbs 28:6(NIV); Matthew 5:3(NIV); Luke 4:18, 19(NIV) & Matthew 19:23, 24(NIV) in tandem

“Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse”

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”

Jesus read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah - “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

The WORLD says this - The “poor” (in prosperity/status) are always ignored and unwanted. It is always a loss to befriend the poorest of the poor. But the “rich” (in prosperity/status) are always sought after and wanted. Everyone wants to befriend the richest of the rich..! Hence, always seek to be “rich”.

The WORD says this - The “rich” (proud/disobedient) are always ignored and unwanted. It is always a loss to befriend the richest of the rich. But the “poor” (humble/obedient) are always sought after and wanted. God wants to befriend the poorest of the poor..! Hence, always seek to be “poor”.

The world’s perspective of the rich vs. the poor is different to the Word’s perspective of the two. The richness that Jesus mentioned above is the richness of “PRIDE”. God looks at men as either proud (rich) or humble (poor). Jesus the anointed (Christ) was sent to proclaim the Gospel (good news) of freedom, salvation and eternal blessing ONLY to the poor (humble) in spirit.

Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

(Mark 2:17). The Bible says that ALL are sick in SIN (Romans 3:23). And ONLY those who acknowledge their sickness (sin) shall be treated by the doctor of doctors – Jesus Christ (1 John 1:9).

The rich (in flesh with pride) will continue to remain in SIN and emptiness. The poor (in spirit with humility) will continue to remain in GRACE and fullness ONLY through Christ (Colossians 2:10).

Are you too proud of yourself; too self-reliant and too “rich” to ignore the Love of Christ or Are you humble enough to fit through the eye of a needle and embrace the “richest” Love of Christ??

Spiritual LEADERSHIP vs Religious MANAGEMENT

 

Let’s read Matthew 23:1-7(MSG) & Luke 6: 39, 40(NIV) in tandem

Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. “The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God’s Law. You won’t go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take it into their hearts and live it out in their behaviour. It’s all spit-and-polish veneer. “Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend.’

…. “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher”.

A “Manager” is one who controls and administers a group of people. A “Leader” is one who leads a group of people to a common target/destination. A Manager does not expect his sub-ordinates to follow his footsteps. He is happy as long as the job gets done within the given time frame/resources. A “Leader” on the other hand, expects his followers to “be-like-him” in his talk and walk alike because their goal is common.

In the above scripture portion (Matthew 23:1-7) Jesus is highlighting a few distinctive characteristics of the “religious managers” (Pharisees & Scholars) of His time on earth. Unlike Jesus, who is the superlative “Spiritual Leader”, these Pharisees & Scholars were competent ONLY in the teaching of the Law and not in the doing/living of the same. They would burden others to walk righteously, but never seek to walk in the righteous WAY themselves. They would talk about truth, but never seek the TRUTH themselves. They would preach about a life acceptable in the sight of God, but never seek the LIFE eternal. JESUS (the WAY, the TRUTH & the LIFE) was right in the midst of them, yet they did not recognise Him or seek the Heavenly pathway through Him (John 14:6).

Even today, there are many “religious managers”, who don’t WALK their TALK. They are blind themselves but fervent always to lead others. They will one day fall into the pit of hell along with the ones who follow them “blindly”. There are however, a few (very few) true “Spiritual Leaders” even today, who can confidently say just as Paul the Apostle did through God’s all-sufficient grace - “Follow me, as I follow CHRIST” (1 Corinthians 11:1).  

Spiritually speaking - Are you being “managed” or are you being “led”??

Never succumb to the dreadful “religious management”. Always seek the Kingdom of God (Romans 14:17) looking ONLY unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:2).

The Simplicity of CHRIST vs The Complexity of Everything & Everyone else…!!

Let’s read Matthew 13:10-13, 16&17

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. ‘But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Rabindranath Tagore once said this – “It is very simple to be happy, but it is very difficult to be simple.” You may not understand it the first time you read it. Hence, read it again and again till it makes sense.

In Spiritual terms, the above statement could be restated as follows: “It is very simple to be Joyful, but it is very difficult to be simple”; “It is very simple to be God’s very Son/Daughter, but it is very difficult to be simple”; “It is very simple to live Christ, but it is very difficult to be simple”…!

Jesus was a very simple man. He was in fact the simplest of all men. He was thus, because He was born of a Spirit who is the simplest of all beings.  

But, what does it mean to be SIMPLE? The opposite of SIMPLE is COMPLEX. So, being SIMPLE simply means to be “uncomplicated”. God’s instruction to Adam was a very simple one - “You can eat from any tree in the garden, except from the Tree-of-Knowledge-of-Good-and-Evil. Don’t eat from it. The moment you eat from that tree, you’re dead.”(Genesis 2:16, 17 MSG). God’s expectation of Adam & Eve was also a very simple one. But Adam & Eve chose the easy, complicated & truth less way of having their eyes opened, and be like God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5b NIV). It is indeed difficult to be (present continuous) SIMPLE…!

All of Jesus’ preaching & ministry was very simple, yet very difficult to comprehend and practice. This is because we are more inclined to the easy, complicated & truth less way of this world than we are to the difficult yet Simple & Truthful way of God.

The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven is exclusive ONLY to those who diligently seek God through Christ (read Hebrews 11:6). If you are Spiritually driven, you will yearn to be SIMPLE (even though it is difficult) but if you are fleshly/religiously/worldly driven then you will yearn to be COMPLEX (just because it is easy..!)

Have your spiritual eyes open to see the “God’s-eye-view” and have your spiritual ears open to hear the very “voice of God”.

Is your life SIMPLE or COMPLEX right now??

The Repulsive or Propulsive Revelation of CHRIST…!

Let’s read Mark 5:2-8, Matthew 16:13-17 & John 6:68, 69 in tandem

“When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

In the first scripture portion above (Mark 5:2-8), we see the impure spirit’s confession of the divine Sonship of Jesus – the CHRIST. Till the possessed man saw Jesus, he was a slave to the impure, strong and self-destructive spirit. This evil spirit made him lonely, wounded and pathetic. This evil spirit did recognise the true identity of Jesus and thus knelt down before the Holy Spirit of God. The coming of Jesus to him was a torturous experience, because of his evil nature. The evil spirit worshipped Jesus (bowed down and obeyed His command) only to repel from the vicinity of the Holiest of all beings…!!

Anything revealed by flesh and blood is mere INFORMATION, but that which is revealed by the Spirit is REVELATION. The evil spirit did not have mere information on who Jesus really was, he had a revelation, but alas it wasn’t a divine one.

In the second and third scripture portions above (Matthew 16:13-17 & John 6:68, 69) we see the propelling effect of the revelation of Christ. This revelation draws the seeker closer and closer to the Lord. Out of this very revelation did Peter not only recognise the true identity of Jesus, but also live as His witnessing apostle till the very last moments of his earthly life.

Today, there are many fake-christians who find the Word of God boring, torturous and instinctively repelling. This natural reaction is a clear sign that the in-dwelling spirit in such hypocrites is NOT the Holy Spirit…!

If you are one among the repelling/counterfeit christians – empty yourself of sin, repent and seek for the in-filling of the Holy Spirit whose divine revelation will always propel you towards your Heavenly Father, His Son, His Word and His Holiness and will never ever repel you away from Him..!!