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Did God Say Holiness Is Difficult for You to Achieve?

Be holy.

God did not say it is impossible or difficult, but simply commanded us to be holy. So it is not an option, but a command to be followed.

We should be thankful that God pointed us to himself as the model to follow for holiness (see Leviticus 11:44). The Bible declares that God is light and there is no darkness in him at all (1 John 1:5). Therefore the command be holy has to do with us coming into God’s light.

Jesus said that we love to stay in darkness because light exposes our deeds. Therefore the first step to be holy is our willingness to be exposed by the light of God (John 3:20). It is only when we come into his light will we be enabled to see how we look like in the light of the holiness of God.

Secondly, there is the idea of separation from the world. And separation unto God. That is the thought behind the word, “consecrate yourselves and be holy (see Leviticus 11:44).” Simply wishing to be holy will only be wishful thinking.

To become practical you have to earnestly desire to be holy; renew your mind and offer our bodies as living sacrifices (see Romans 12:1, 2). What does all that mean? It simply means that there is a battle involved.

Our flesh won’t submit to holiness. We need to keep the attitude of holiness constantly in front of us; and our own inner fleshly attitudes will fight against it. Therefore it is not going to be easy.

Thirdly, God is a jealous God. He has used the image of being a husband to his people. And he expects us to have a single-minded pure devotion to him like a faithful bride (see 2 Corinthians 11:2).

You cannot flirt with the world and have a relationship with God. That is why James uses the term “adulterous people” to denote those who have a friendship with the world (James 4:4). What is your situation? Are you having a friendship with the world. Then you are in enmity with God and a walk of holiness is impossible.

Fourthly, without a knowledge of God you cannot even desire to be holy.

Think about it. If your knowledge of God through reading and meditating on Scripture is limited, your desire to be separated unto him will also be limited.

Without doubt, your unwillingness to spend time with God by reading his word is the single biggest point of failure in your life. Without falling in love with God’s Word, you can never know God.

And unless you have a big vision of God you will never desire to be holy.

Finally, there is a divine element and a human element in being holy.

The human element is expressed in David’s cry: “Create in me a pure heart, O God (Psalm 51:10a).” He had understood that his sin was primarily against God (Psalm 51:4). He also realized that cleansing should be deeper than just asking for forgiveness.

Isaiah too had this realization as he saw a vision of God. Seraphs crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy,” was too much for him to handle. So he cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips (see Isaiah 6:5).”

Then God takes the initiative to cleanse his lips with fire from the altar (see verses 6, 7). Remember Isaiah was a prophet of the Lord and a godly man. Yet his righteousness was like filthy rags before God (see Isaiah 64:6). He needed cleansing. How much more do we?

Unless God helps us we cannot walk in holiness in our own effort. But we need to count ourselves dead to sin (Romans 6:11) and also put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature (see Colossians 3:5). But we often, instead of putting to death, put to sleep so that it can wake up and restart whenever needed.

Paul cries out to crucify the sinful nature with its passion and desires (Galatians 5:24). Unfortunately the cross has become an ornament of gold to most of us and a fashion statement rockstars wear. We have forgotten that the cross is a bloody instrument to torture to death. That is what Paul is asking us to do—crucify your flesh! There cannot be a compromise here if we have to be holy.

Sinless perfection is not what is understood by holiness. John makes it clear: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:9).” Therefore when you fail and fall find your way back to the cleansing fountain of the blood of Jesus immediately (1 John 1:7, Zechariah 13:1). Trust in nothing else. Ultimately it is the blood of Jesus alone that enables you to be holy before God. Amen.

Sexual Fantasies in the Minds of Men Is Sin and Playing with Fire!

Are You Struggling with Masturbation?

Are You Hooked to Internet Pornography? 7 Steps to Freedom from Sin!

About God’s Will and Right Sexual Conduct

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Sexual Fantasies in the Minds of Men Is Sin and Playing with Fire!

Sexual fantasies occupy much space in a man’s mind. If he is not on his guard, not right with God, or is not walking with God at the moment; the sight of a woman can trigger a lot of sexual thoughts in his mind.

This is because men are stimulated by sight. It doesn’t matter whether a woman is properly dressed or not. An undisciplined mind is is easily run over by sexual fantasies.

These sexual fantasies are sin. Why? Because if given a chance you’ll act them out. You play with sexual fantasies in your mind because you think no one knows and you won’t get caught. You can still keep your outward appearance of godliness while inside you can have sexual pleasure.

Some of you might be young. Some of you in middle age. But if you never have tried to control sexual fantasies, it will have a stronghold in your mind. This will get difficult to break as years pass by.

If you wish to get out of it; you need to take it to the Lord in prayer. And accept sexual fantasies as sin. Now there are thoughts that Satan can bombard into your mind from outside. Maybe flaming arrows of the evil one that Paul speaks about (Ephesians 6:16) can refer to that.

That is why when you walk on the road or even reading the Bible or attending church suddenly a sexual thought pops up into your mind. If you do not immediately recognize the source and flee to Jesus from it; you are in trouble.

The thought that you cannot come out of sinful sexual fantasies is a lie of the devil. It might take some time to break out of the habit. You have to humble yourself before God and seek his help repeatedly.

Do not think that you alone are addicted to fantasies. Many men who might have a close walk with God can also battle the temptation of sexual fantasies. Your feelings of inferiority, rejection you have faced, abuse that you might have undergone in your childhood can all determine the intensity of sexual fantasies you entertain in your mind.

Now there are practical things you need to consider. It is true that you are faced with lot of women dressed differently than expected. That can create sexual fantasies. But wait a minute.

Can a burning stick thrown into water ignite water? No; isn’t it? At the same time, can a burning stick thrown into a can of petrol or gasoline ignite it? Pretty quickly, isn’t it? So what does that mean? It means that there is something in your heart that responds to the flaming arrows thrown at you. That is where the problem lies (Reading James 1:13–15 might be helpful).

Look at David. He saw a woman bathing. That was not the problem. The problem was that he fantasized sexually about her in his mind and might have gone through all that he planned to do to her in his mind even before she ever appeared in person before him.

Why did that happen? David was a godly person. But for some reason he did not maintain a close walk with God and neglected his duty of leading the army in war during that period in his life. Therefore he fell into sin.

Look at Joseph. He chose to stay away from Potiphar’s wife. Why? Because even in his thoughts he did not want to violate the sacredness God has placed on marriage. He knew it was sin against God. He had all the opportunity inviting him to sin sexually. Yet he did not fall because he did not sexually fantasize.

Married men also need to be careful. Perhaps it is more easy for you to sexually fantasize than before. If your sexual fantasies don’t match with your real life with your wife; then you are crossing the boundaries. If you are substituting someone else in your mind other than your wife for sexual pleasure then you are crossing the boundaries.

You need to confess before God and ask his help. Perhaps your wife is not respecting you or not interested in sex or is busy chatting on social media. It can make you vulnerable to sin as you feel you have a right to sin because you are neglected.

Take your emotional need to the Lord in prayer. But do not think that sexual fantasies are the way out. It will destroy the very foundations of your married life.

Sexual fantasies will lead you to sinful action. It can result in a lot of weird sinful sexual behaviour. Therefore seek God’s mercy before it is too late.

It is a reality that men do struggle with sexual fantasies. If not, why did not there remain at least one to cast a stone at the woman caught in adultery and brought before Jesus (see John 8:7–9)? Not one of them might have committed adultery for real. But their minds were not free from sexual fantasies.

Techniques to avoid the second look is not what you need. That doesn’t work. It is God’s mercy and compassion you need to seek. It is the help of the Spirit of God that you need to seek earnestly. It is a desire to spend more time with God’s word that you need to seek.

The blood of Jesus is powerful and effective to cleanse you from all your sexual fantasies (see 1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:14). Ask God to cleanse you thoroughly by the precious blood of Jesus.

When sexual fantasies trouble your mind remember that Jesus said: “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” — Matthew 5:28.

There is no need to explain what Jesus said. It means what it says. Therefore cry out to God regarding the sexual fantasies you are having. Spell out to God in honest words what you secretly cherish and are obsessed with in confession before him. And ask him to cleanse you with the precious blood of Jesus. There is nothing else that can cleanse like his precious blood.

And seek God’s help to bring every wrong sexual thought you have captive and make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). If you think the battle is too much, remember that the battle is the LORD’s even as the boy David said as he took on the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:47). And remember 1 John 4:4 says, “the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Yes big is your God. And bigger than your battle with sexual fantasies. He will certainly deliver you.

Did God Say Holiness Is Difficult for You to Achieve?

Are You Struggling with Masturbation?

Are You Hooked to Internet Pornography? 7 Steps to Freedom from Sin!

The Deception of Innocent-Looking Chat Relationship Outside Marriage

About God’s Will and Right Sexual Conduct

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The Deception of Innocent-Looking Chat Relationship Outside Marriage

Lust deceives. You might not know it. The lack of physical or emotional intimacy in marriage can make you feel attracted to someone else other than your husband or wife. Maybe lack of appreciation or care can be a sea of petrol or gasoline waiting to be ignited by a casual physical touch, a longing look or even a smile that looks angelic.

Be warned. All this is a kind of substitution for the real relationship with your husband or wife. It takes a lot of prayer, perseverance, and love to make a marriage work. And tons of forgiveness for the many little wrongs that keep happening every day.

Honestly, it can be exciting to chat with someone other than your husband or wife. Someone in the opposite sex can easily distract you if you are not watchful. Social media provides endless opportunities for you to connect with someone other than your husband or wife. Unless you draw the line at the very outset, an innocent beginning can lead you to an adulterous relationship.

Therefore, never encourage yourself to have secretive relationships.

Never spend too much time with someone of the opposite sex talking about personal matters; especially relating to emotional disturbances or troubles in one’s solo or married sex life.

Cut down time spent on social media as much as you can. Even spending too much for scrolling through all the messages can drain away the strength you gained through Bible reading or prayer.

Be accountable to someone you trust. Open up and share your struggles. Often the first thing you do is to hide what is secretive from this person. Why? Because stolen water is sweet and food eaten in secret is delicious (Proverbs 9:17).

Today it is so easy to lie in your bedroom and connect with a married man or woman other than your husband or wife. Technology has made it possible. No one else will know.

But God sees; God knows. He calls it adultery.

If you have gone far already, take a bold step to cut off that relationship. Confess to God and repent of your sin.

Do not worry about consequences of cutting off the wrong relationship. God will see to it. He will protect you from the harm you seem to fear.

Show courage to step out of the deception. Even if it is simply chatting alone, in God’s eyes sinful talk is equivalent to a live-in relationship.

Sin deceives. It destroys. It kills.

If you are comfortable being self-righteous and finding fault with the other person for your own sinfulness; you are sitting on the edge of a cliff and ready to crash down to the rocks below where the waves hit.

Act now. Confess. Repent. Cut off that wrong relationship. Get right with God and with your husband or wife.

Read more posts in Living Streams

About God’s Will and Right Sexual Conduct

Are You Hooked to Internet Pornography? 7 Steps to Freedom from Sin!

Are You Struggling with Masturbation?

Did God Say Holiness Is Difficult for You to Achieve?

Sexual Fantasies in the Minds of Men Is Sin and Playing with Fire!

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Are You Hooked to Internet Pornography? 7 Steps to Freedom from Sin!

God is merciful. He will show you compassion.

But if that is all, then you have got a wrong picture of God. He is holy.

You need to look at the holiness of God before you find reasons to justify your surfing the internet to see or read porn.

God understands your struggle. You do not wish to be a slave to sin. But you find yourself return to the vomit time and again as the Bible says (2 Peter 2:22).

Do not deceive yourself by saying to yourself that God will forgive. Yes, he does that through the precious blood of Jesus shed on the cross.

But look at the cross. The punishment that had to fall on you fell on him.

Yes, look to Jesus. You can see love in his eyes. But he came to set captives free (Luke 4:18, John 8:36).

  • Therefore the first step to get out of internet pornography is to call it by its true name–sin.
  • Step two is to stop justifying your sin. Do not put the blame on your hormones, your friends, or anything else. Accept responsibility like David and say, “I have sinned against the Lord (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51:4).”
  • Step number three is to stop relying on your resolution, “This one last time I will look at internet porn. From tomorrow I will stop.” It has never worked and never will.
  • Step number four is to spend more time with God’s Word and hiding it in your heart so that you will not sin against God (Psalm 119:11). Yes, the Word of God can strengthen you in your fight against sin and can cleanse your mind of filth.
  • Step number five is to seek the help of the Holy Spirit. Without his help you fight an ever-losing battle.
  • Step number six, always remind yourself that God has called you to be holy. Fleeing sexual immorality is God’s will for you (1 Corinthians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 4:3). Therefore run away from all sources of temptation like how Joseph did.
  • Finally, return to God with all your heart each time you saw porn. The battle is real. There is no moment you are insulated and safe against temptation. The Bible warns: “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful you don’t fall (1 Corinthians 10:12)! Just cry out to God for mercy. He will hear you.

But do one thing. Never yield a moment to the devil’s lie that it is impossible to break this evil habit of yours. He is a liar and a murderer always (John 8:44).

Do not deceive yourself by thinking that circumstances were favourable; therefore it was God’s will. Read James 1:13–15 and be warned.

Do not think that it is ok because nobody else is watching me. I am harming no one. All these are lies of the devil. Jesus said, looking lustfully at a woman is already adultery committed with her in one’s heart (Matthew 5:28). So it is your heart’s attitude that is primarily counted. So looking lustfully at an image, movie, picture etc. amounts to adultery.

Remember that each time you see porn you are strengthening the hands of the wicked and pouring out money to them.

Remember this too: When the Bible says that God’s wrath is being revealed against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness (Romans 1:18), wrath certainly includes wrath against pornography as well.

If you are married, then know that you are defiling your marriage bed (Hebrews 13:4) by filling your mind with lust.

If you earnestly repent and seek God with a broken heart, he will restore the joy and sanctity of sex in marriage as he created it to be (Proverbs 5:16–20, Song of Songs).

Stop being unfaithful to God and your beloved wife or husband.

God’s hand is not shortened. He is Almighty. He can deliver you from internet pornography. But the devil would like you to believe that it is impossible.

The question is, do you want to believe the lie of the devil or the truth of God?

The Deception of Innocent-Looking Chat Relationship Outside Marriage

About God’s Will and Right Sexual Conduct

But David Remained in Jerusalem, Woman Bathing

Are You Struggling with Masturbation?

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For Children: Be Prepared

Be Prepared
Man first landed on the moon after years of preparation. Likewise, a team which wins the cricket or football world cup or an athlete who wins gold at the Olympics does so after years of hard work and preparation. Again, no one clears a national level examination without long years of preparation. It is clear from these statements that preparation with a definite goal in mind is important for success.

There Is No Luck Factor
Several young people think that those who succeed do so because they have got talent or luck. This is untrue. A cricket or football player or an athlete spends several hours practising even when they not competing in an international event. That way they keep their talent polished and ready. That is true with all great players.

What about the luck factor? Nobody has succeeded in life because of luck. Then who are the persons who became lucky? In the words of Seneca, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Those people who got lucky were those who did not sit idle and waste their time. They used all the time they got to prepare themselves. And when the opportunity came they were ready.

God Keeps His Servants Prepared
David’s spend his childhood as a shepherd. That was God’s training ground for him to later become the shepherd, leader and king of the nation of Israel. First of all, his ability to take care of the sheep and protect them from the lion and the bear was a training ground for him to be able to trust in God to kill the giant Goliath.

Then his ability to play the harp well which he practiced and perfected while taking care of the sheep got him an entry into Saul’s court. As he stayed with King Saul, God gave David the shepherd boy an opportunity to learn the way administration is carried out in the palace. That helped him when he became king.

There is another aspect in David’s later life which we often forget. He had a great desire to build a temple for God Almighty. Yet God did not allow him to do so; but promised David that his son would build the temple. We all remember Solomon as the one who build the magnificent temple; but we forget that it was David who made extensive preparations for it (1 Chronicles 28 and 29).

So remember that your preparedness can impact the next generation with great blessings.

Be Ready for Your Opportunity
It is important to understand that the circumstances of your life, however difficult or unattractive it seems to be, are designed by God to give you the best preparation for your future. And when you are faithful to God in little things of life, he will promote you to greater things in life.

The secret is to trust God while he is preparing you. Your role is to be prepared and wait patiently for God to open the right door for you at the right time. Make the motto of the Scout Movement, “Be Prepared,” a motto of your life too.

Did not Jesus too emphasize the importance of preparedness when he told the parable of the ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom (Matthew 25:1—13)? Therefore be ready and prepared for your opportunity!

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For Children: How to Make Right Decisions

We all make decisions every day. As a young person, it is important that you learn to make good decisions. Let us try to find out some steps that can help you make the right decisions in life.

Wisdom
The first thing needed to make good decisions is wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge in a practical way. The Bible speaks much about wisdom. There are at least two important lessons you should know. One, the Bible says that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Those who fear the LORD avoid evil.

The second lesson is from James. He tells us that God gives wisdom to those who ask God for it (James 1:5). He advises us to ask without doubting. When we ask God he gives us the wisdom to make good decisions.

Ask God First
Before you make any big decision, seek God’s counsel. That means asking God’s opinion as to what to do. When Saul saw the vision of the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus, he asked this same question. “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10).  Jesus, before he chose the 12 disciples spent an entire night in prayer (Luke 6:12, 13). See how big an importance Jesus gave to asking God for wisdom in choosing his disciples.

In the Old Testament, the story is told about 2 kings getting ready to go to war. But suddenly the godly king Jehoshaphat reminds everybody that it is good to go to war, but seek God’s counsel first (1 Kings 22:5). The simple lesson for you is Ask God First.

Stay Away from Evil
So many young people are attracted by evil because it looks good. Instead of avoiding that evil, they go and get a taste of it. Soon, they find that they made the wrong decision when they are trapped by evil.

When friends encourage you to go along with them to participate in wrong deeds, the right decision always is to say “No” to them. They may make fun of you and might not include you in their group. But your decision will be right.  And God will reward you for staying away from evil.

Think About Consequences
If you plant a mango seed in the ground, after some years you will get a mango tree and plenty of mangoes. Likewise every decision you make is like a seed you plant. Some years later you will reap the harvest. If you have sown good seed, you will reap goodness. But if you have sown bad seed, you will be paid back evil.

So whenever you make a decision, think about the consequences. What is going to happen if you decide not to study but run away from home and school? So many young people think that life is like a movie which shows happy endings. Sadly it is not true.

In movies, most of the stories shown are not real. Life is not like that. It involves lot of struggles and hardship. So deciding not to study is a bad decision. This is because it is going to give you negative results. When all your friends have good jobs and families in future, you alone will be wandering around without money or people to support you.

The Greatest Decision
One of the most familiar verse to all is John 3:16. Jesus talks here about God’s great love. Those who accept Jesus will not perish but have eternal life. No doubt, accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour of one’s life is the greatest decision. And it will affect your life on this earth and eternity as well.

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The Response of Mary Made Christmas Possible

Christmas is about a response to good news.

Mary accepts the plan God had for her. It is not easy for us to imagine the trembling that might have come to Mary who was a village teenage girl when twenty centuries ago angel Gabriel told her that she was going to become pregnant as a virgin and before getting married.

She did not consult anyone in her family; but immediately said, “May it be to me as you have said.” Well, what do you think was the secret of her acceptance? She was well-versed in Scriptures as her song of praise shows us (Luke 1:46–55).

Remember that there had been a prophetic silence for 400 years when the angel spoke to Mary. All she had was the prophetic words that were recorded in Scripture before that gap of silence.

Mary’s role in God’s plan of salvation was unique and not to be repeated. At the same time, God has a plan for each one of our lives. Our acceptance of that plan is of utmost importance. One way to be prepared for accepting God’s plan for our lives is to be saturated in God’s Word.

See, God sent an angel to Mary. He does that rarely now. Instead he speaks to us when our minds are saturated with God’s Word. It is then than you are able to discern the faintest whisper of God when he speaks to you.

Mary, after listening to the angel, did not sit still. She got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. Possibly a 100 km travel which took her three days to accomplish.

What a moment it was when the baby in Elizabeth’s womb leaped with joy and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit! Even at that time Elizabeth is given insight as to who the child Mary will bear is; as she addresses Mary as “the mother of my Lord (Luke 1:43).”

Take a moment to think on this visit of Mary to Elizabeth. What would you have done if you were in Mary’s shoes? Would have undertaken this travel? Was the news worth sharing?

Probably that meeting would have ended up as a WhatsApp chat today. But then Mary could not sit still at the great news that she was given. It was something which every young girl in Israel had looked forward to: to be the mother of the Messiah (see Isaiah 7:14, 9:6,7). And she was the one whom God had chosen!

Mary not only accepted the message; but she did not sit still. Compared to her, have we become exhibits in cold church museums without life? Mostly, the only spiritual activity we have is within our church boundaries; isn’t it so?

Christmas is the news of the Son of God taking birth in our hearts. It has to disturb our status quo. It has to put a sense of urgency in us to share. It should send us on our way to tell.

Sadly our Christmases from childhood have been an inward looking celebration with family and relatives mostly. But look at God: God loved the world. God gave. God sent.

What do we do about it?

Christmas is not just about reception of the good news but about prompt response as well.

Is it because God knows we won’t respond that he does not entrust us with anything worth much? If that be true let us continue with our traditions: build bigger mangers, make bigger stars, light up our homes and churches, sing carols for our own enjoyment, and share the good news with none.

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Lesson 28: Jesus’ Majestic Interview with Pilate

This Lesson is part of John’s Gospel Easy Notes Series. 

John devotes more space to the trial of Jesus before Pilate than in the other gospels (John 18:28—19:16). We find Pilate unable to make a decision in favour of Jesus and yielding to the unjust demand of the Jews, “Crucify! Crucify!”

In spite of certain omissions, the trial of Jesus before Pilate is given more space in JOHN than in the other three gospels. John’s portrayal of this incident was designed to bring the personalities of Pilate and Jesus into sharp relief. As he narrated it, the judicial aspect of the occasion became less prominent, and the character of Pilate became more important. It was a trial of Pilate before Christ instead of Christ before Pilate. – Merrill C. Tenney

It is Jesus who is standing before Pilate. But if you read between the lines, you will see the roles reversed. Jesus is standing before Pilate with a calmness that he alone has. The reply Jesus makes to each of Pilate’s questions make Pilate look weak.

For example,

Pilate: “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus: “Is that your own idea, or did others to talk to you about me?”

The Jews, according to their Law, could only stone someone to death. But at the time of Jesus they were under Roman Law and had no legal right to put someone to death. Therefore the Jews tried their best to persuade Pilate to put Jesus to death (see John 18:30—32). But we need to remember that it was Jesus who is in control of the situation not Jews or Pilate.

Jesus had said that he would be “lifted up,” that is, when he was crucified, he would draw all men to him (see 18:32 and also 3:14, 12:32, 33). Crucifixion was the Roman method. The fact that Jesus was sentenced to death by a Roman court made his death an imperial (related to the empire) one and not a local affair.

The Jews hated Jesus so intensely that they kept crying, “Crucify! Crucify!” The Jews were careful not to become ceremonially unclean because of the Passover but were ready to kill the Son of God. The Jews twisted their charge against Jesus to make sure that he was killed. In their own trial, the charge against Jesus was blasphemy (Matthew 26:65). But they accused Jesus of claiming to be a king so that the case against him will become a charge of rebellion and political insurrection. Finally, instead of saying that God is their King, the Jews in an unbelievable moment said, “We have no king but Caesar (John 19:15b).”

From other writings available we come to know that Pilate had a bad history of confrontation with the Jews. When the Jews blackmailed him saying, “If you let this man go you are no friend of Caesar (John 19:12),” Pilate’s previous mistakes made it impossible for him to defy the Jews and keep his post. “He crucified Jesus in order to keep his job.” – Barclay.

There is a Pilate in each one of us. Jesus stands in front of us. If Pilate is given command of our lives, what all things will we do?

Pilate tried to put the responsibility on the Jews. “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law (John 18:31).” You cannot evade the responsibility of dealing with Jesus.

Pilate tried to evade responsibility by using the custom of releasing a prisoner at the time of the Passover (John 18:39). You cannot escape making a personal decision about Jesus.

Pilate tried compromise. He had Jesus scourged. That was a punishment usually given to base criminals to obtain a confession. He thought that would satisfy the hatred of the Jews toward Jesus. We need to remember that there is no half-way following Jesus. Either you are for him or against him.

Pilate tried emotional appeal. He asked the Jews: “Shall I crucify your king (19:15)?” You cannot appeal to others to make a decision you alone can make. No one can evade making a personal decision for or against Christ.

“Pilate by this world’s standards was a successful man. He had come almost to the top of the Roman civil service; he was governor-general of a Roman province; but there was something missing. . . . Into his life came Jesus, and suddenly he saw what he had missed. That day he might have found all that he had missed; but he had not the courage to defy the world in spite of his past, and to take his stand with Christ and a future which was glorious.” – William Barclay.

Note the sheer majesty of Jesus during the whole trial. Jesus speaks in clear terms that he is king and that his kingdom is not political. He reigns in the hearts of men by love and sacrifice not by force of muscle and might. Jesus says that he came to this world to testify to the truth—the truth about God and the truth about people. He himself is the truth.

Pilate asked, “What is truth (18:38)?” But he did not wait for an answer. Finally, Pilate presents Jesus to the Jews saying, “Here is the man (19:5b)!” Pilate wanted to make the Jews feel pity for Jesus but we can also see an underlying admiration Pilate felt for the sheer courage of Jesus under scourging and the majesty he showed.

Jesus reminds Pilate that he has no power over him unless given from above (19:11a). [The one who handed me over to you and guilty of a greater sin is a reference to Caiphas the high priest.] If Pilate really had power to release Jesus why didn’t he do it especially when he found Jesus innocent (19:4)?

We find Jesus giving Pilate no answer at times (John 19:9). To not speak when asked to by a Roman Governor was equivalent to contempt of court. But Jesus is in absolute control. He knew that Pilate was not serious when he asked him “Where do you come from?” He was simply afraid according to popular legends and superstitions of the time this “Son of God” the Jews were accusing him of was some kind of half-god. He feared whether he was angering the gods (19:7). Jesus had nothing to say in answer to that kind of superstitions.

We have Pilate seated on the judge’s seat at the Stone Pavement to give a final verdict. The role will be reversed one day. We all will stand before the judgement seat of Christ.  This scene should never be wiped out of our minds. The world is fast and furious heading towards this day when Jesus will judge the world—both believers and sinners (though these are two occasions and two different types of judgements. 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:12—15). Are you ready to stand before him?

Let us look at it again:

Pilate: “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus: “Is that your own idea, or did others to talk to you about me?”

Pilate is half-mocking. If you read it this way, “So YOU are the king of the Jews.” He had heard that there was someone posing as king and he is being brought before him in the early hours of the morning to be questioned. Pilate couldn’t see any rebellious attitude in Jesus.

But then Jesus’ counter question took Pilate by surprise. Jesus did not plead his innocence nor did he show defiance. Instead Jesus treated Pilate as an equal, not as a superior; and questioned him in turn.

Jesus, by this question, is changing the direction of the case. Pilate was concerned about the legal side of the pending case against Jesus. But Jesus is directing the question to Pilate’s personal decision and destiny.

It was impossible for Jesus to give a simple “Yes” or “No” answer.

Jesus was asking Pilate whether it was a personal inquiry he was making. If so, Jesus could engage in a conversation and try to talk to him about spiritual truths. If Pilate were willing to listen, Jesus would have given him a fair chance to understand salvation just like he gave the chance to Nicodemus as well as the Samaritan woman.

If he was just repeating what others or the Sanhedrin told him, then Jesus might have to give a long explanation to clarify. A commentator Carson says, “Jesus . . .has become the interrogator; the prisoner has become the judge.”

The sad situation of Pilate was that he was convinced that Jesus was no criminal; but he never understood Jesus’ claim to be king of a kingdom that comes with life-changing power. This is what the world also does today. They agree to everything Jesus is; but will not allow him to exercise kingship in their lives so that he can transform their lives.

Jesus is king. Nowhere else in Scripture than here does it come with such majestic force. Are you willing to allow him to change your lives? He is king. A king commands and does not beg. Let us not play the role of Pilate as we stand before Jesus. But let us accept him for he who he truly is—the King!

Pilate seemed unwilling to be part of the action. He was uneasy throughout the trial shown by the fact that he makes at least four trips between the outer court where he met the Jews and the inner court where he took Jesus for questioning.

Jesus made Pilate confront the real issue at stake: his attitude towards truth. “Everyone on the side of truth listens to me (John 18:37b)” said Jesus. If Pilate was devoted to the truth he would hear it in Jesus’ voice; if not he would brand himself as not belonging to the truth.

Pilate had the chance of a lifetime. But he was not on the side of truth. He was not ready to act on what he knew was right. “The story of Pilate is the tragedy of unbelief.” Merril C. Tenney.

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Lesson 18: “I Am the True Vine.”

This Lesson is part of John’s Gospel Easy Notes Series. 

John 15:1
Israel the Vine and Jesus the True Vine
Jesus is speaking about the intimate union we can have with him. In a theological sense, Israel was the vine that God had planted (see Isaiah 5:1—7). But it continually failed to witness to God and was not the light God wanted it to be to the nations of the world. Now Jesus is applying the image of the vine to himself. Therefore he emphasizes the word “true” vine. Through belief in him, we the branches, the church or the body of Christ can bear fruit by abiding or remaining in him.

Warning
The warning in this passage should not be missed. God the Father cuts off every branch that does not bear fruit. As far as the vine is concerned this is literally true. Too many branches without fruit take away the nutrients away from the fruit-bearing branches. Therefore it was important to mercilessly cut off branches that did not bear fruit. And the wood of the vine was good for nothing except to be burned and destroyed!

As we are busy with Christian activities including that of in social media, have we forgotten to bear fruit? Busyness is not the same as fruitfulness! The possibility of being rejected by Christ because of our uselessness in his kingdom is a very serious warning. Jesus is calling us to remain in him. Any busy Christian activity without remaining in him comes under the threat of this warning.

Remember that the only reason why Jesus cursed the fig tree was because it  had plenty of leaves and gave an appearance or pretense of fruitfulness but had no fruit in it (Mark 11:12—25). It can happen to you and me if we do not produce fruit.

Pruning
God the Father prunes the branches. Often the difficulties that come into our lives are part of this pruning process. The process itself is painful. But there is a purpose. That is to make us even more fruitful.

Pruning can also be compared to a sculptor like Michael Angelo creating a statue, for example, out of marble. He chisels away all that does not look like an angel if he is making the statue of an angel. The process is painful if the statue indeed had life in it; isn’t it?

A Disciplined Life
The call to remain in him or abide in him is a call to a disciplined life. It calls you and me to give up sinful attitudes, rebellion, pride and disobedience to God.

“To ‘abide in me’ expresses the continuous act by which the Christian lays aside all he might draw from his own wisdom, strength or merit to derive all from Christ” – Godet.

Prayer
Prayer is a continual expression of our remaining in Jesus. When we pray in the way God wishes us to, our prayers will be focused on bearing fruit for God’s glory rather than on getting our selfish desires met. It is only when we pray for God to be glorified in our lives can God answer our prayers in the name of Jesus. In Biblical times a name represented the entire personality and character of a person. So our prayers should always reflect the character of Jesus for it to be answered.

There is nothing wrong in asking for our needs to be met. But when we forget the fact that Jesus came to this world to save sinners and that message has to reach the ends of the earth and we have to do our part; then our prayers will take a different tone.

Griffith Thomas points out, “There is scarcely a passage in the Gospels without a self-assertion of Jesus coming out in connection with his teaching. His message and his claims are really inextricable.” If you remove His claims, you will have to remove His life and teachings also. These three are so closely linked that you cannot remove one and keep the other – from The Supremacy of Christ by Ajith Fernando.

Abide in Me
(John 15:4)
Remain in me.
Never forget this lesson.
Do not try to be too busy for God.
What he desires is that you come and spend time with him.
Most of us were taught to spend five minutes in reading a Psalm and in prayer each day.
How misleading that advice was.
If you can rise up early than usual you can easily spend an hour with God.
It will become a habit.
It is love for him that makes it possible.
Don’t ask me how to do it. If you thirst for him you will find him. See Jeremiah 29:12, 13.

I read somewhere the story about a novelist who fell in love with a woman. He tried to win her heart but she was not interested. Anyway he presented her a copy of the latest novel he had written. She took that and just threw it in some corner of a shelf in her room. After some years she for some strange unknown reason fell in love with him. The first thing she did was to find that copy of the novel she had thrown somewhere and read it in full. What made her do it? Love for the author. Simple; isn’t it?

Bible reading becomes a joy when you fall in love with the author. Bible reading then becomes a secret meeting between two lovers!

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Lesson 10: The Last Night–Jesus Takes Centre Stage

This Lesson is part of John’s Gospel Easy Notes Series. 

Let us look at the last night of Jesus on earth. John devotes Chapters 13 to 19 to the last twenty-four hours of Jesus on earth.

I Am He!
We find Jesus predicting his betrayal to the Twelve. Then he makes this statement:

“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He (John 13:19).”

Background verses: Jesus is using God’s name I Am Who I Am. Read Exodus 3:14 where God reveals this name, his personal name, YHWH name to Moses. In Deuteronomy 32:39, God says, “See now that I myself am He!” You also find a similar usage in Isaiah 43:10, “so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.”

Jesus says that “I am he” or “I am the one I claim to be” in John 8:25 and 28 too. His claim represents the timelessness of God and the eternal being of Christ. It equates him with God.

Jesus in Complete Control
“It was as he dismissed Judas that he most fully and closely demonstrated his right to have such a title. He gave him the sop and took complete command of the situation: ‘Do quickly what you are going to do (v. 27b).’ He acted as if he were in complete control—as indeed he was—even of the evil Judas hatefully intended. He thus displayed God’s complete sovereignty* over all that was intended to lead to his own death (compare Acts 2:23, 3:18).”  – Ronald S. Wallace
[*Sovereignty means having supreme power or authority.]

And It Was Night
John, as we noted earlier, is not just telling the facts about the life of Jesus. He is also helping us understand the meaning of what happened. Here, as soon as Judas leaves, John comments, “And it was night (John 13:30).”

He was not just reporting the fact that it was night. He had already mentioned about the evening meal (13:2). Therefore the mention of night is not just reporting the fact that night had set in. Instead it is a recollection of the darkness that came into their hearts at that time.

Judas, at that point in time, as the door closed behind him was going out from the light of the world into “outer darkness.”

The next time John reports of dawn was when Jesus was risen from the dead: “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, . . . (John 20:2). The stone from the entrance of the tomb had been removed. Night and darkness had given way to Sonrise even as it gave way to sunrise— the break of dawn!

Are you passing through some “night experience” in your life right now? Is there some mistake that happened that you can do nothing about? Has some habit of sin taken a strong hold in your life? Are you sorrowing over a personal loss? Is your career in trouble? Are there difficulties in marriage? Are finances running out?

Jesus never promised a life without problems. But let us look beyond the night and wait expectantly for the Risen Christ to bring light and hope into our troubled lives. Read also Psalm 18:28, Isaiah 50:10, Micah 7:8, 9 regarding God’s light shining in our darkness and keeping our lamps burning!

Recall: When John reported the sign of Jesus walking on the water (John 6:16—21), there are two things that he had in mind.

    • One, the darkness around them and the trouble they faced and the absence of Jesus. A night experience is one in which you feel keenly the absence of Jesus.
    • Two, the fact that Jesus came to them. He did not leave them alone in their difficulty and John records that when Jesus came and they took him into the boat, “immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.” John is emphasising the difference Jesus makes when he is with us in our “night experiences.”

When Judas Was Gone
In verse 31 of Chapter 14, which reads, “And when he was gone, Jesus said,” we find more than a mention of time!

The going out of Judas from among them gave some relief to Jesus. For Judas, with his heart of unbelief, was a barrier for Jesus preventing him from opening up his heart to his disciples.

Only after Judas leaves, Jesus speaks so lovingly to The Eleven. He addresses them as “My children (13:33)” and he calls them “friends (15:15)” and gives them a new command to love each other (13:34, 15:12) and demands obedience as proof of their love for him (14:21).

Is Jesus your friend?
Do you love him?
If you love him, do you obey his commands?
Is love for others real in your life?

The Hatred of the World
Jesus speaks realistically about the hatred the world will show towards his disciples because the world persecuted him and hated both Jesus and the Father (John 15:18—25).

Read more on “friendship with the world is hatred toward God” in James 4:4. We need to understand this because one of the key emphases in John’s gospel is the hate of the world against God the Father: “He who hates me hates my Father as well (John 15:23).”

We too will be party in the hatred as we make friendship with the world. John uses the words the “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:15—17 KJV)” to describe our love for the world.

The Love of the Father
The assurance that the Father himself loves the disciples was given (John 16:27). The reason for the Father’s love is that they had loved Jesus and had believed that he came from God (John 16:27).  When Jesus reached this stage he was speaking plainly about going back to the Father (v. 28).

The Moment of Belief
The disciples were relieved with what they seemed to understand and said so: “This makes us believe that you came from God (v. 30b).” What a moment it is when Jesus says, “You believe at last (v. 31)!” But then Jesus tells them plainly that they are all going to leave him all alone. At the same time Jesus said, “Yet I am not alone for my Father is with me (v. 32b).”

The Gift of His Peace
He tells the disciples that they are going to experience grief (John 16:20) but their grief will turn to joy. The promise that prayer in his name will be answered and answers to prayer will bring joy was given (16:24).

He ends by telling them the purpose of his farewell address: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (John 17:33).” Two things are clear here. Jesus never promised an easy life to any of his disciples. Instead he realistically told them and us too that we will have trouble in this world.

But he has promised, “In me you may have peace.” The gift of his peace is something we can all be assured about. Ask him for his peace in all the troubles of your life and it will be given to you. We often pray for removal of our troubles. But shouldn’t we first ask for his peace in our situations? Think about it.

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Lesson 7: Jesus’ Conversation with the Samaritan Woman

This Lesson is part of John’s Gospel Easy Notes Series. 

Matthew Henry divides the conversation Jesus had with the Samaritan woman (John Chapter 4) into four heads:

  1. Conversation concerning the water (v. 7—15).
  2. Conversation concerning her husband (v. 16—18).
  3. Conversation concerning the place of worship (v. 19—24).
  4. Conversation concerning the Messiah (v. 25—26).

The above division is helpful to understand the conversation.

The Context
Samaria is in the middle between north and south of Israel. The people of Northern Israel were carried away to captivity in Assyria. A lot of people from other races were brought in there in 722 B.C. The few Jews who had remained in the land intermarried with other races and became mixed blood. Their faith also got mixed up with other religions. They are the Samaritans who later erected a place of worship at Mount Gerizim too (referred to in v. 19). For these reasons Samaritans were hated by the orthodox Jews.

Conversation Starters
Jesus broke barriers. He talked to a woman which Rabbis normally did not do in public (see v. 27) even if it is his wife. Jesus was tired from the journey and he used it as an opportunity to start a conversation. “Will you give me a drink?”

It is a lesson for all of us. The starting point of a conversation with a non-believer can be a natural one. It can slowly lead to helping that person find Jesus. The importance of having a context is important. Try to build relationships with people. Then you will find it natural and easy to share with them, Jesus.

The Gift of God
Jesus talked about himself as the gift of God (John 4:10). This is yet another clear indication that none of us can earn our salvation based on any of our good deeds. Simply we have to say “Thank you” and accept it as a gift.

Paul was so moved in his heart as he was writing about being generous in giving. And as he was writing about sowing generously, his heart overflowed with the thought of God’s great generosity in giving his Son Jesus to the world. All on a sudden he praises God with this lovely expression: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15. Compare John 3:16—the generosity of God’s giving!)!”

Living Water—Jesus Is the One Who Satisfies
Jesus talks about living water. Jacob’s well (dug two thousand years before the time of Jesus) was around one hundred feet deep and water collected in it from beneath the soil. Jesus is contrasting that water to water that flows in abundance. Living water to the listener meant running water in contrast to water that remained still in the well. The Samaritan woman naturally wondered from where Jesus was going to provide that refreshing running water.

It is an interesting episode in Jesus’s conversation with people that when Jesus said something heavenly the listener understood it in an earthly way. With Nicodemus when Jesus talked about being born again, he tried to ask, “How can that be?” Can a man “enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born?”

With the Samaritan woman Jesus was talking about himself being a complete satisfaction—living water—and she was answering him by saying that the well is deep and he had nothing to draw with. She also became practical when she said, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

Both responses make Jesus talk more on the subject. Are you able to understand what Jesus is speaking to you is about eternal things. Or are you still responding to him with practical questions?

The whole point of the conversation about living water is that natural water does not satisfy thirst permanently. But in Jesus we can find complete satisfaction. Just look at your life. With what are you trying to fill that vacuum or emptiness in your heart? Jesus is inviting you today to himself—the source of living water. Will you accept that invitation?

Jesus with Sensitivity Confronts the Samaritan Woman
When Jesus confronts her with the situation regarding her married life, she suddenly diverts the question to a seemingly spiritual question—about worship. See verse 19. Jesus however answers that question saying that true worship is not confined to a place—but people can worship God from anywhere if they worship in spirit and in truth. It is worship that is spiritual and real which comes from the heart.

When Jesus deals with you, he will not allow you to escape with sin in your life. He will certainly point it out to you. Instead of condemning her, Jesus simply said to her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” That made her to realize that there is a thirst in her life which she was trying to quench the wrong way.

Again, as she goes back to her town, her testimony was: “He told me everything I ever did (v. 39). The deep insight Jesus has about what has happened in your life so far should be motivation to seek him out. The Samaritan woman was convicted in her heart. Even though she tried to deflect the conversation away from her life’s dissatisfactions to arguments about place of worship; Jesus turned her eyes to himself—the Messiah—by saying, “I who speak to you am he.”

Jesus Delighted to Do the Will of God
John is very careful to show us the divinity of Jesus that he is the Son of God. At the same time he shows us how much Jesus was the “Word made flesh.” In this incident he is shown as tired from the journey (v. 6). He needed to eat food (v. 31) but he had infinitely higher priorities that satisfied him. In this case, he found delight in doing the will of God and finishing the work that God gave him to do.

There seems to have been a divine compulsion in him choosing this route to travel (see v. 4) and he brought that to a completion by leading the Samaritan woman to recognize him as the Messiah. What a joy it gave him to lead one single soul to eternal life!

This incident tells us how much value Jesus puts on a single soul. The Samaritan woman had no great reputation. But Jesus met her and pointed out the emptiness of her life. She had thirst more than for water. Jesus helped her realize her true need.

Meeting the Christ
Jesus declared himself to be the Messiah to the Samaritan woman (as well as the man who was born blind—John 9:37. The blind man responded with worship. See v. 38). Jesus is not pointing out to her religion in in Samaria or in Jerusalem but he was pointing her to himself.

The Samaritan woman comes to realize who Jesus is. Her real need is met. She leaves the water jar and goes back to her town. Her testimony leads an entire town to come out to Jesus. And many believed in him as the Saviour of the world.

Food for Thought
How are you trying to deflect Jesus’ claim to be your Lord and Saviour? And when you have found him, is it not natural that you have a desire to share him with others? When Jesus is concerned about a single soul, like the disciples are we concerned about eating lunch?

Again, Jesus challenged the disciples about the harvest. Isn’t it now the right time to see the need of people ready to listen and open their hearts to the gospel? You need to “open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest (v. 35b).”

Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman: Two Contrasting Characters

Nicodemus

The Samaritan Woman
A Jew

A man

A learned person

He was morally upright

He was wealthy and from the upper class of society

He recognized Jesus’ merits and sought him out

He was serious and dignified

 A Samaritan

A woman

An ignorant person

She was sinful

She was poor and was probably an outcast from society

She saw in Jesus a curious traveller and was indifferent to him

She was flippant (not having a respectful attitude) and possibly boisterous (noisy, energetic and cheerful)

[Adapted from: JOHN—The Gospel of Belief by Merrill C. Tenney]

Worship
If you look at people worshipping God as described in the Bible it almost always is accompanied by a posture of the body showing respect, awe, reverence or adoration to God. We find people bowing down to the ground. We find people lifting up hands to God in prayer. We have records of people kneeling down. But imitating all these will not be true worship.

Today many go to church to see others and be seen by them. Going to church is a habit rather than having a purpose. Jesus, in his talk with the Samaritan woman, speaks of the time that worship is not going to be place-centric (people will worship neither in Jerusalem nor on this mountain). Instead, people will worship God in spirit and in truth.

Worship fails when people tell a preacher that his sermon was good and that they enjoyed listening to it. It succeeds when people go home having experienced God. Worship fails when people enjoy the music but that does not lead them to think about the One about whom the song was all about. Some people pray as if God is there just to sign plans approved by people. That is not worship.

Worship does not start unless you start with God. Think a moment about God and who he is. Think about his holiness, his justice, his righteousness, his infinite love, the cross and the shed blood of Jesus, his wrath against sin and the sinner, and the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts making the presence of God real to us. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name (Psalm 100:4).”

Worship cannot end unless you see your utter sinfulness in God’s eyes. Often we come to God with the attitude of the righteous Pharisee. What was his problem? He was comparing himself to someone else. But worship means you stand before God like that sinner. And see yourself as God sees you.

Worship cannot continue unless you repent and experience the forgiving love of God (Read Psalm 51).

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About God’s Will and Right Sexual Conduct

So many youngsters are worried about finding God’s will. In today’s world they are more in confusion about right sexual conduct.

The Bible speaks about this in very clear terms.

Flee.

That means run away from sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18, 2 Tim 2:22). So do not stay in a place, situation or in front of your computer or mobile where you expose yourself to temptation. Joseph ran out of the house when he was tempted sexually (Genesis 39:12).

Avoid that Lustful Look.

The eye is the gate through which most sexual temptations are welcomed and entertained. Of course in today’s world you are confronted with sexually provocative pictures and images everywhere. It is possible to feast your eyes wrongly without anyone knowing it.

The argument is that you are not hurting anyone as all this is in your mind alone. But Jesus said,  “anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

Hide.

It is not hiding from God after you sin that is meant. It is hiding God’s word in your heart. That alone will help you not to sin against God (Psalm 119:11). Unless you store up God’s word how can the Spirit of God bring that to your remembrance (John 14:26) and help you to use it as a sword to defeat the devil (Ephesians 6:17)? The more you stay away from reading God’s word regularly, the more easy it is for you to lust.

Finally, Be Honest with God.

Talk to him honestly about your sexual struggles. Name them by its right name: Masturbation voyeurism, pornography, sexual fantasies, fetishes, incestuous thoughts, emotionally involved and sexually explicit chats, and so on. Why is this important?

It is important because you have in Jesus someone who is able to understand you fully, thoroughly, completely and absolutely like no one else. He was tempted while on earth; and that includes sexual temptations as well. So he understands the pressure in your mind as you struggle against temptation. Therefore he is able to help you when you are being tempted (Hebrews 2:18).

But Jesus never sinned. That also means that temptation is not sin. Some are so worried when lustful thoughts pound at your mind. It is only when you stop fighting against it that you open the door for sin to enter in.

Now the Bible encourages us to approach the throne of grace (please note it is not the throne of judgement) with confidence. Yes, with confidence. Some translations say “boldly”! So that you will receive mercy and find grace that will help you in your need which includes sexual temptation. (Read Hebrews 4:15, 16).

My dear friend, the simplest thing you can do now is to tell God your sexual struggle and ask, “Lord, help me.” David’s prayers when he had repented of his adultery is also helpful: “Have mercy on me, O God” and “Create in me a pure heart, O God” (Psalm 51:1, 10).

And never forget that the cleansing fountain (Zechariah 13:1) of the blood of Jesus shall cleanse you. Ask God to wash you clean by his precious blood (1 John 1:7). Right now.

Remember God loves you. You might have told God to give you one more chance for you to be good. And you might have failed a thousand times. Still God loves you. He does not approve of your sin but he loves you.

Run to Jesus every time you fall. Do not stay away from him. And you will experience his forgiving love. He will not give up on you. He says, “You are mine (Isaiah 43:1z)!

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Benefits of Obeying God’s Will

Is there any benefit in trying to understand and obey God’s will in your life? This question should be asked and its answer should satisfy. Otherwise you will never be sure why you are seeking God’s will in your life. Four benefits of seeking God’s will are enumerated here.

A Special Relationship:

Jesus was once told that His mother and brothers were standing outside and wanting to speak to Him. When He heard it He used that context to teach a lesson of great importance. He replied by pointing to His disciples and saying that they were His mother and brothers! It was a surprising reply. He went on to explain:

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother (Matthew 12:50 NIV, also Mark 3:35).

So Jesus has a special relationship with those who do the will of God. Isn’t it a great privilege to have such an intimate relationship with Jesus?

A Special Distinction:

Doing God’s will might never be easy because it might go against popular thinking. During those times of discouragement a thought can come to your mind: “It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty?” (Malachi 3:14b NIV). God listens and hears such complaints. The Bible says that “a scroll of remembrance” is kept in His presence wherein is written about those who fear the Lord and honor His name. And God says that He will spare such people just like a father spares his son who serves him. He will do this in compassion. And finally God says:

And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not (Malachi 3:18 NIV).

Yes, the day will come when the world will know that God makes a distinction in your life; for you serve Him and honor His name and do His will.

A Special Reward:

God rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Ref. Hebrews 11:6). For example, Paul writing to slaves asks them to serve their masters in this fashion: “Like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart” (Ephesians 6:6b NIV). He says further that they should be motivated thus because God was going to reward them:

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free (Ephesians 6:7,8 NIV).

Paul himself looked forward to the crown of righteousness that God would reward him with. He hoped thus because he had fought the good fight, and finished the race, and kept the faith (Ref. 2 Timothy 4:6–8). So, for you too, God has kept rewards in store. The day He awards them to you will be special. So be encouraged to keep on doing God’s will in your life.

A Special Happiness:

Faithfulness in one’s life and work is the best that God expects from you. Known or unknown, appreciated by others or not, if you continue to be faithful in what He has entrusted you with; that is doing God’s will. And God honors such faithfulness. He rewards such faithfulness with great joy—the fullness joy in His presence:

Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:21 NIV).

So the happiness comes along with a promotion too. Doing God’s will faithfully in this life will reward you with God’s own joy in the world to come. So be faithful!

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6. Higher Priorities Jesus Had

Jesus had higher priorities in life. It was seen in different instances.

For example, when He was hungry the disciples had gone to buy food. During that time He was having a conversation with the Samaritan woman by the well that proved life-changing and life-giving to her. The disciples came and urged Him to eat some food.

His reply was that He had food to eat that they knew nothing about. At this reply, the disciples wondered whether somebody had brought Him food. Then Jesus said: “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work” (John 4:34 NIV).

Here, Jesus was teaching that those who do God’s will wholeheartedly get more satisfaction in doing God’s will than in eating or drinking or having any of the basic needs of life met. So He gave higher priority to communicate God’s forgiving love to a person than eating food.

At another time, after Jesus had fed the five thousand, the people wanted to make Him king. But the Bible records: “Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself” (John 6:15 NIV).

This shows us that Jesus was not ready to play the game according to the rules set by the world. Here, according to worldly standards was a prophet who was doing fantastic miracles. So he should naturally be made their leader and king.

But Jesus went against that kind of worldly wisdom. So He gave higher priority to God’s plan than the plans that people had in mind.

One problem that a Christian faces in this context is the clash of priorities in life. His godly thinking would point in one direction while the world is moving in another direction. The conflict comes because they are moving in opposing directions.

Paul addresses this issue. He asks not to conform any longer to the pattern of this world but renew your mind. When you reject worldly thinking and renew your mind according to God’s Word, Paul says:

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:2b NIV)

James points out the same truth about worldly thinking and says: “Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4b,5 NIV).

Therefore, it is very clear from the life of Jesus and the writings of Paul and James that to do God’s will you need to be a non-conformist with the world. That means to have higher priorities in life. Then you can do God’s will best.

Summary: Doing God’s will involves having a higher set of priorities in life.

Table of Contents

Lessons of God’s Will from the Life of Jesus
1. Choices Jesus Made
2. Peace Jesus Enjoyed
3. Jesus Pleased God
4. Jesus was Purpose-Driven
5. Jesus’ Sense of Timing
6. Higher Priorities Jesus Had
7. Christ’s Perseverance

Prayer Life of Jesus Christ

A Beginner’s Introduction to the Holy Spirit

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5. Jesus’ Sense of Timing

The clock was Jesus’ slave. Never did Jesus get His sense of timing wrong. He always waited for the right time, the appropriate time; the time the Father had set for Him to act.

Jesus demonstrated this many times. To Mary, His mother, who told Him that there was no more wine at the wedding feast at Cana, He said: “My time has not yet come” (John 2:4b NIV).

When His brothers pointed out to Him that no one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret, He replied: “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right” (John 7:6b NIV).

Also when He was informed that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days (Ref. John 11:6).

He delayed on purpose on all these occasions because He had a sense of divine timing in His life.

But when the time had come for His final journey to Jerusalem, you find Jesus determined to go to Jerusalem. He does not wait.

Luke beautifully describes it thus: “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51 NIV). He sent messengers on ahead to a Samaritan village to get things ready for Him.

But the people there did not welcome Him, Luke writes, because Jesus was heading for Jerusalem. Here you find Jesus’ sense of timing and sense of purpose coincide.

From Jesus’ example you can safely assume that it is possible for people not to appreciate you when you try to follow God’s time and purpose in your life.

The lesson for you is to learn to wait for God’s perfect time. Then when God makes it known to you, act without wasting time.

Summary: Knowing God’s will often involves waiting for the right and appropriate time to act.

Table of Contents

Lessons of God’s Will from the Life of Jesus
1. Choices Jesus Made
2. Peace Jesus Enjoyed
3. Jesus Pleased God
4. Jesus was Purpose-Driven
5. Jesus’ Sense of Timing
6. Higher Priorities Jesus Had
7. Christ’s Perseverance

Prayer Life of Jesus Christ

A Beginner’s Introduction to the Holy Spirit

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4. Jesus Was Purpose-Driven

Jesus was always driven with a purpose. The great sense of the mission He had to fulfill was very strong in Him. In other words, He always referred to having been “sent” to this world by His Father:

“For I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me” (John 8:42b NIV). In other passages in the Gospel of John, Jesus repeats and emphasizes this fact continually (Ref. John 4:34, 6:29, 7:16,28,33, 12:44, 17:13, 20:21).

In the light of this fact, you need to remember that Jesus has sent you out into the world as He was sent to this earth by His Father. So if you can have a sense of purpose in your life then it is easy to do God’s will. That means you need to know for what God has sent you to this world for!

But understanding that purpose may take some time. Many people fail here. They try to do what others are doing. That kind of a work may not be God’s purpose for your life. So the first thing to seek out with God’s help is the purpose of your life.

I would like to borrow an illustration many have used for this purpose. What if the eagle wished to swim? And what if the fish wanted to fly? You consider it absurd; don’t you? But isn’t that what many Christians try to do.

Instead of rejoicing and being content with the unique abilities that God has given them, they try to be somebody else–imitate some other leader whom they admire or be jealous of somebody with different talents.

The will of God in your life as far as purpose is concerned is related to who you are; not what you wish you would have been like. God has fully accepted you in Jesus Christ. And therefore accept yourself as you are and let God fulfill His divine purpose through you.

It was this sense of purpose that enabled Jesus to say that He had to work while it was day. He knew His mission had to be completed within a specific period of time as determined by God the Father. Again, it was this sense of purpose that enabled Him to rebuke Peter saying, “Get behind me Satan” and set His face resolutely towards Jerusalem and the cross.

Blessed and happy are you, if you have a God-given purpose in your life. Then in spite of being hard pressed on every side, you will not be crushed; you will not be in despair even when perplexed; you will not think yourself abandoned even when you are persecuted and you will not be destroyed even when struck down (Ref. 2 Corinthians 4:8,9 NIV).

Paul was able to write this because he too like His Savior Jesus was driven by a purpose. He made that clear when he said: “I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven” (Acts 26:19b NIV). So have a God-given purpose in your life and you will be able to fulfill God’s will in your life in spite of all setbacks that come across your way.

Now what could possibly be the God-given purpose for your life? Does it mean that only missionaries have a God-given purpose? Absolutely not!

God-given purpose in your life could be to be a good driver, or be a loving mother, or an excellent organist, or be a faithful missionary. All these are examples of God-given purpose in a Christian life.

In all these areas of life a person can excel and thereby communicate God’s love and share the gospel of Jesus. For everyone has been sent in that respect.

Summary: Fulfilling the God-given purpose for your life is doing God’s will.

Table of Contents

Lessons of God’s Will from the Life of Jesus
1. Choices Jesus Made
2. Peace Jesus Enjoyed
3. Jesus Pleased God
4. Jesus was Purpose-Driven
5. Jesus’ Sense of Timing
6. Higher Priorities Jesus Had
7. Christ’s Perseverance

Prayer Life of Jesus Christ

A Beginner’s Introduction to the Holy Spirit

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3. Jesus Pleased God

The desire to please God was a dominant force in the life of Jesus.

Jesus once said: “The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him” (John 8:29 NIV) [author’s emphasis]. Jesus enjoyed a continuous conscious presence of God in His life because He always did what pleased God.

Therefore Jesus was never in doubt as to what God’s will is. His principle was simple: Please God! Even today this is the simplest guiding principle to do God’s will.

If you really want to do God’s will, eagerly desire to please God in all your thoughts, in all what you choose to see and hear and speak and in all what you choose to do. Then you will not have many doubts about God’s will.

But is it that simple when it comes to acting on the principle? Definitely not. Though Jesus always pleased God, we often find it difficult to do so.

Now the question is: “When does it become easy to please God? The answer is: “When you try to love Him!”

This is important since in life you try your best to please the person you love. You try to say and do things the way that person likes and appreciates. This is love in action. Similarly, you will naturally do things that please God if you love Him.

Jesus loved His Father and therefore chose to do what pleased Him. Taking an example from Jesus’ life, Paul prayed for the people in Colosse that God will fill them with the knowledge of His will so that they may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way (Ref. Colossians 1:9,10).

But the Bible warns that “Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God” (Romans 8:8 NIV). Therefore you should aim to have your life controlled by the Spirit of God in order to please God.

The Bible adds that anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God (Ref. Romans 14:18). In this passage, it specifically talks about having righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Ref. Romans 14:17).

There is not only a conflict between sinful nature and godly nature but also a conflict between pleasing men and pleasing God. Paul warns: “If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10b NIV).

It is often a big struggle to please God instead of pleasing men. Paul writes again: “We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:4b NIV).

He wrote again: “Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:11 NIV).

So, it is clear that you can please God more and more if you earnestly try to do so. And trying to do so is of great urgency and importance.

One practical example of pleasing God is to pray for those in authority so that you may live in peace and that the gospel may spread (Ref. 1 Timothy 2:1–4). Another example is children and grandchildren taking care of their parents or grandparents including those who are widows (Ref. 1 Timothy 5:4).

Yet another example is sacrificial sharing with others (Ref. Hebrews 13:16, Philippians 4:18). Also, the Teacher wrote, that the man who pleases God will escape her who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains (Ref. Ecclesiastes 7:26). These are some practical things that happen when you please God.

Finally, the Bible makes it clear that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Ref. Hebrews 11:6). So it follows that in order to please God you need to have faith in Him. You should believe that He exists and He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Summary: The simplest step to know God’s will is to ask whether what you decide to say or do pleases God.

Table of Contents

Lessons of God’s Will from the Life of Jesus
1. Choices Jesus Made
2. Peace Jesus Enjoyed
3. Jesus Pleased God
4. Jesus was Purpose-Driven
5. Jesus’ Sense of Timing
6. Higher Priorities Jesus Had
7. Christ’s Perseverance

Prayer Life of Jesus Christ

A Beginner’s Introduction to the Holy Spirit

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2. Peace Jesus Enjoyed

Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” (Ref. Isaiah 9:6). This was described in the great prophecy of the coming Messiah. And it was also said that there will be increase of peace when he governs (Ref. Isaiah (9:7a).

Therefore, when a person allows Jesus to govern his life, there will be an increase of peace in his life.

As we look at the life of Jesus, we find a calmness about Him at all times. Be it in the midst of crowds or out in the storm in the sea He is never seen to be disturbed. Outer circumstances did not disturb His inner peace.

This peace came from His intimate knowledge that He was walking in the perfect will of God.

This is a simple lesson that you can learn regarding God’s will. If you are able to take decisions according to God’s will, there will come about a peace in your heart.

This happens best when the Spirit of God intercedes for you. For only the Spirit of God knows the mind of God and His will for you (Ref. Romans 8:26, 27). When such prayers are made with thanksgiving, the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds secure in Christ Jesus (Ref. Philippians 4:6,7).

But there might be a certain struggle in the process of making decisions according to God’s will. You see that happens in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus struggled in prayer to such an extent that His sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood (Ref. Luke 22:44).

But the result of that decision He took that day was peace. He was full of calm as He went to the cross. That calmness was evident when He found time to heal the ear of the servant which was cut off by Peter (Ref. John 18:10, Luke 22:51) even though at that time His disciple Judas had betrayed Him with a kiss.

So the lesson is obvious. Peace from God often comes after a struggle. That struggle shouldn’t surprise you. The more important the decision to be taken, the greater the struggle. But still greater will be the peace that follows.

The world has no clue about this kind of peace. Even in the face of opposition, mockery, ridicule and humiliation this peace of God shall strengthen the heart of a believer.

This is the peace that Jesus left His disciples with: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. [author’s emphasis] I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).

You can also find strength from the fact that Jesus knows your struggles. Because He “was deeply moved in spirit and troubled” when he saw people weeping at the tomb of Lazarus. There Jesus wept (John 11:35). He also wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). These two instances prove how human He was.

And finally, on the cross, He cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46b NIV). These were some instances in Jesus’ life when His inner peace was tested to the limits. So He understands your struggles and longs to give you peace.

Summary: The peace that comes from God is one sure sign that you are moving within God’s will at that point in time.

Table of Contents

Lessons of God’s Will from the Life of Jesus
1. Choices Jesus Made
2. Peace Jesus Enjoyed
3. Jesus Pleased God
4. Jesus was Purpose-Driven
5. Jesus’ Sense of Timing
6. Higher Priorities Jesus Had
7. Christ’s Perseverance

Prayer Life of Jesus Christ

A Beginner’s Introduction to the Holy Spirit

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1. Choices Jesus Made

Doing God’s will is a choice. That is made clear by Jesus’ statement, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17 NIV).

Note the first part of that statement: “If anyone chooses to do God’s will.” It helps you to understand that you can make a choice in your life to do God’s will.

It is not a one-time decision alone. But it is a choice that has to be made again and again. These are choices that strengthen your decision to do God’s will.

For example, it is God’s will for a Christian to live a holy life and flee sexual immorality: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NIV). Job, in accordance with this principle decided that he will not look lustfully at a girl (Job 31:1).

But those who have been tempted in this area know that a one-time decision alone does not help. A person has to choose not to sin each time he is tempted.

So every time a temptation comes in, that man has to remember his decision to lead a holy life. Through each act of saying “NO” to a specific temptation, he supports and strengthens his decision to lead a holy life.

Thus he makes a choice to do God’s will each time he says “no” to, say, lust. So it is clear that doing God’s will involves a series of continuous choices to do right.

In this light, examine Jesus’ statement: “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38 NIV). It is interesting to note that Jesus also had to choose the right decision each time He was offered a different option.

For example, when Peter tried to turn Jesus away from the suffering of the cross, Jesus rebuked Peter and chose the cross (Ref. Matthew 16:23).

And at the Garden of Gethsemane, even though He was in intense agony, He chose to drink the cup of the suffering of the cross and obey His Father’s will (Ref. Matthew 26:39, 42, 44).

Thus, even for Jesus, doing God’s will required a continuous choice in life.

Summary: Doing God’s will is first a decision and then a series of continuous choices to do so.

Table of Contents

Lessons of God’s Will from the Life of Jesus
1. Choices Jesus Made
2. Peace Jesus Enjoyed
3. Jesus Pleased God
4. Jesus was Purpose-Driven
5. Jesus’ Sense of Timing
6. Higher Priorities Jesus Had
7. Christ’s Perseverance

Prayer Life of Jesus Christ

 

A Beginner’s Introduction to the Holy Spirit

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Lessons of God’s Will from the Life of Jesus

Introduction

Jesus is the only man who walked on earth and was able to do God’s will perfectly. Therefore He and His life is the best model from which we can learn.

Our lives will not be eventful like His life. Even then, in the quiet corners of our room or in the busy offices; in the kitchen or in the market place, it is possible to know and do God’s will.

This article focuses on certain principles from the life of Jesus that help us understand God’s will for our lives. These are general principles. If you can steer your boat by these guidelines given, many frustrations in life can have a meaningful conclusion. In other words it can have a God-directed end.

The Bible encourages us to do God’s will. For example, “The world and its desire pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17 NIV). And as an encouragement to pray, it is written: “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14 NIV).

Therefore it is highly desirable to know God’s will and live by it. And the life of Jesus will help us understand how to know God’s will and act according to it.

Table of Contents

Lessons of God’s Will from the Life of Jesus
1. Choices Jesus Made
2. Peace Jesus Enjoyed
3. Jesus Pleased God
4. Jesus was Purpose-Driven
5. Jesus’ Sense of Timing
6. Higher Priorities Jesus Had
7. Christ’s Perseverance

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Forgiveness is the Key to a Healed Mind

Forgiving someone is one of the hardest things to do. Preaching about it is very easy though. Yet when we try to forgive someone who has wronged us badly we feel an intense battle in our heart. So it is clear that we need God’s grace to forgive others.

One of the things that prevent us from forgiving someone is the hate that we carry within us towards that person. Now hate destroys not the person against whom it is directed; but destroys the person carrying it.

It bites into our entire being. It is ugly and venomous. It is poisonous.

And when it is carried within our heart we are slowly infected with it. It gnaws its way through until we cannot even think clearly. So getting rid of hatred is the key to forgiving others.

“But is that actually possible?” That question is genuine. The answer is “Not possible!” Yet there is a possibility. We need to stand at the foot of the Cross of Calvary and see Him bleeding there for you and me. “Why did He do that?”

To forgive you and me of all the sins we have ever committed. And as His children who have enjoyed His forgiveness, He expects us to follow His example. Let us honestly try to forgive others. That is the key to finding peace of mind.

One last question: “Are most of your prayers unanswered?” Then seek no further. The cause could be unforgiveness: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:24 NIV).

“But, But, But . . . ” Your concern now is about the painful memories. You are only asked to forgive. It is God’s business to take the sting out of the painful memories: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26: 3 NIV).

Therefore keep trusting God and waver not. He will unhook you from your past and give you peace!

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A Prayer for Confirmation

Chapter 19

Theme: A Prayer for Confirmation
Focus on: Gideon
Reading Portion(s): Judges 6
– Important Background Information
– Helps you find strength in God
What this article teaches you
We all have fears. Sometimes these fears affect the way we act. It affects us so much that we fear to act even when God tells us to do something. This is because we are not sure about what God spoke to us because of our fear. But these fears need not stop us from doing what God wants us to do. Because, if we ask God, He will confirm what He has spoken to us through some tokens of encouragement.

This can be learned from the life of Gideon. He was always in need of encouragement from God. He always asked God to give him sure signs that God was with him. And God always answered him. He will answer you too. So that you can be sure that God has indeed spoken to you. Then you can do what God wants you to do. Thus fear shall not prevent you from obeying God.

During the time of the Judges we find the people of Israel often turning away from God. When such periods came God allowed foreign oppressors to torment the Israelites. When their distress became unbearable the Israelites would turn to God and cry out to Him to deliver them. God in His mercy would heed their cry and raise up for them leaders who were called Judges. They in turn delivered the people from the hand of their enemies.

Usually when the Judge died, the people returned to their evil ways and did things as each one saw fit. We come across one such period when the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord that God gave them into the hands of the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites left no stone unturned in oppressing the Israelites. They totally destroyed their crops and did not spare their livestock. The Midianites thus deprived Israelites of every good thing.

At this point of time the Israelites cried out to the Lord in their distress. Then God sent them a prophet who rebuked the Israelites for not listening to God. Then we find an angel of Lord coming and sitting down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. There his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress. This was to hide this secret from the Midianites so as to save the wheat.

While Gideon was thus engaged in his business the angel of the Lord greeted him in a special manner. He was called mighty warrior and was told that God was with him. This surprised Gideon. He could not understand its meaning. So he asked the angel why all evil things had happened to them if God was really with them and what had happened to the wonders of God that their fathers had told them about. Gideon finally tells the angel that God has actually abandoned them now and given them over to the hands of the Midianites.

Then the Lord turned to him and told him to go in the strength he had and save Israel out of Midian’s hand for it was God Himself who was sending him. Again Gideon had his doubts. He asked the Lord how he could save Israel since his clan was the weakest in Manasseh and he himself the least in his family. The Lord again reassured him that he will strike down all the Midianites together since God was with him.

Yet Gideon was not fully convinced. So he asked for a sign. The angel of the Lord with the tip of his staff touched the meat and unleavened bread placed on the rock by Gideon. Then fire flared from the rock and consumed them. Then Gideon knew that the Lord had indeed spoken to him and then he was afraid. But God proclaimed peace to him. And Gideon built and altar and called it The Lord is Peace.

We find Gideon being afraid again when God asked him to cut down the altar to Baal and build a proper kind of altar to God and perform sacrifices. He obeyed. But he did all this at night because he was afraid of his family members and people of the town. In the morning the people had a fierce verbal encounter with him which his father effectively countered.

At this point of time the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces, crossed the Jordan and camped against the Israelites in the valley of Jezreel. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon. He blew a trumpet and called people to arms and they rallied to him.

Now we find Gideon still unsure about the success of his mission. This is surprising. The Lord had appeared to him and encouraged him. He had then asked for a sign which God provided. He also obeyed God though he did what he was asked to do at night. Now he was filled with God’s Spirit and he had rallied the people to fight against the Midianites. Yet he was unsure about his mission’s success.

So he prays for confirmation. So he says to God that he will place a wool fleece on the ground. If God will save Israel by his hand as promised then there should be dew on the wool alone and the ground should be dry. The next day Gideon rose early in the morning. He was so anxious to know the result of his prayer. And true to what he had asked of God there was dew only on the fleece and all the ground was dry. He squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew and there was a bowlful of water.

Still Gideon was not convinced! So he makes a second request for confirmation. He is afraid now whether God will be angry with him for keeping on asking for signs. He tells God to allow him one more test with the fleece. He reversed the conditions this time to make the confirmation doubly sure. He told God to keep the fleece dry this time and all the ground covered with dew. God did so this time also according to his prayer.

We may easily tell that Gideon was lacking in faith. But God did not think likewise. He was patient with Gideon and used him to give the Israelites a great victory over the Midianites. He was not angry with him for repeatedly asking for signs. This is a great encouragement for us. We also are at times like Gideon–very much afraid to act on God’s word unless we get signs as confirmation. Yet God is willing to answer our prayers for confirmation to encourage and strengthen us. He knows that we need encouragement and He does so by giving us visible signs in answer to our prayers.


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But When It Lifted, They Would Set Out

Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out (Numbers 9:21b, 22 NIV).

Think about a faithful dog in a home. Imagine that the dog is lying down in the living room. The members of the family are talking with each other.

Suddenly the Master of the house gets up to go to the lawn outside. As soon as he gets up; the dog also gets up. The faithful dog is ever watchful. At the first indication of movement it is also ready to go.

This is the readiness that should accompany a child of God. He should be ever watchful to know His Master’s moves. Then he can also follow. The Israelites, likewise, were ready by day or by night to move.

Secondly, the Israelites did not plan the agenda. It was God who decided when to move and when to encamp. This is a truth much lost to the Christian world today.

This has happened because the spirit of self-will so much taught in the secular world has penetrated the heart of a Christian. He feels compelled to act and do something soon.

Therefore he finds it difficult to wait for God. The difficulty is much severe in the modern context where everything is fast-paced. But remember that you don’t have a choice if you have trusted God to make the moves.

If at all you make the moves even after trusting God; that means you have a difficulty waiting for God.

Finally, where to go and where to encamp, was God’s decision again. See, God knows the mountaintops as well as the valleys. He knows the well-watered plains and also the parched desert sands. The choice of the next resting place would determine the direction God wants you to take.

So obedience is required from your part. In other words, when God directs, you follow. It is orders issued and orders obeyed; nothing more and nothing less.

To sum up, three things are mentioned here:

One, a readiness to move when God moves.

Two, leaving to God the decision of how long (a brief period or a lengthy period) to stay at one place.

Three, leaving to God the direction you are to take in life.

—
More Manna:

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

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Why Do You Say Nothing About Bringing the King Back?

So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back? (2 Samuel 19:10b NIV).

Where is your king? Have you sent him away and anointed someone else to be your king?

Look at history. King David had to flee because the people of Israel had made his son Absalom king. But Absalom died in battle. And the people were left without a king.

Is this your situation today? Where is God, your King? Has He been thrown out of the throne of your heart and someone or something crowned king instead?

Remember, the romance with the new ruler of your heart won’t last long. Soon the new ruler will disappoint. The Israelites found themselves in such a situation.

They had pinned their hopes on Absalom, a handsome guy. They had fallen for his appearance and were won over by his winsome behavior. Yet the people found their throne empty.

So, how long do you think your new ruler will last? Would he be able to meet your expectations? Even though things might look promising on the outside, do not be deceived. Instead, put the rightful King back on the throne.

Now the people started talking among themselves. They looked to their past. They reminded themselves of David and what he had done for them. They remembered that it was he who fought for them and rescued them from the hands of their enemies.

So you too, now think of your past. Who rescued you from the sinful mess? Who showed you grace and mercy? Was it not God, your King? Yes, think about the past when you had crowned Him King.

Finally, do not let this opportunity slip by. This is your chance to send word to the King. Tell Him that you need Him. Ask Him to come back and occupy the throne of your heart. Say, “Welcome, my Lord and my King!”
—
More Manna:

Wave the Sheaf of First Grain Before the Lord

You Are My Hiding Place

The Surging Sea Will Be Subdued

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Do Not Interpretations Belong to God?

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams” (Genesis 40:8b NIV).

The Bible deals much about dreams. The Book of Genesis and the Book of Daniel contains many references to dreams and their interpretation. Today, there is much talk about dreams in the Christian world too.

They quote the promise in Joel which speaks of old men dreaming dreams and young men seeing visions (Ref. Joel 2:28). That is fine. But sadly what is not emphasized today is the truth proclaimed by Joseph, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” Yes, it does!

First of all, it would be good to note that the servants of God mentioned in the Bible and who had dreams, never sought to have a dream. It was given to them. This is important because we live in a generation which is obsessed with dreams and visions.

The young man Joseph had dreams. But he never prayed to have a dream given to him. But God gave it to him in order to get him ready for the purpose that He chose to work through his life for the benefit of others. Therefore, do not seek to see to a dream or a vision.

Secondly, as you look through the pages of the Bible, you will find that only those who had an intimate relationship to God and had the fear of God in their heart were given the privilege of interpreting dreams.

On the other hand, you find Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, two kings who knew not God, not able to interpret dreams. Even Daniel had to seek God much in prayer to get the interpretation of dreams.

So fear of God, an intimate relationship with Him and an earnest prayer life are all needed to get the interpretations of dreams.

Thirdly, note that the Bible clearly says that each dream (which the chief cupbearer and the chief baker saw) had a meaning of its own. On the other hand, Joseph told Pharaoh that the dreams that he had were one and the same (see Genesis 41:25 and its reason in 41:32).

So, the interpreter of dreams has to have God-given wisdom to know when dreams have different meanings and when they point to the same thing.

Finally, if you look at Joseph, Daniel, or Joseph the husband of Mary; you will find that the dreams that God gave them had far reaching consequences in world history.

Surely, God has not given that kind of a role to no man or woman on earth today. You can be sure about that fact because God has given a blueprint of the outcome of human history in the pages of the Bible with its culmination in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
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Separate Those Who Lap the Water

So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink” (Judges 7:5 NIV).

Many come to serve God. But God does not choose all. He first of all finds those who are wavering because of fear. They are sent back.

Then again He continues to sift. He has His own methods to find out who belongs to His army and who does not. Here He asked Gideon to take them down to the water. He asked Gideon to keep with him the men who lapped the water with their tongue.

What is the point here? Why were those who knelt down to drink sent back? Those who lapped the water with their tongues had God’s priorities in mind even when they were satisfying their need. They knew that they were going on a divine mission to fight the Midianites.

That thought was uppermost in their minds. They did not allow even a basic need of satisfying their thirst distract them from the duty at hand. Remember that all of them had courage. That is why they passed the first selection. But then a great majority (97%) failed in the second test of priorities.

The important thing for you to note is that God is continuing His sifting process even today. But He does not announce to you beforehand that you are being taken to a test.

Therefore, if you wish to serve God, you have to be ever alert to such possibilities. Otherwise you will be left behind. You will then lose the privilege of serving God.

But there is still another sad truth to face. Those who pass the test will take over your provisions and trumpets (v.8). So when God passes on the responsibilities to others, you lose much in the process.

Therefore never lose sight of God’s priorities. If you do so, you will satisfy your need but lose the privilege of serving God. The times are difficult. And God needs men and women who are always alert to His priorities above their own needs.

Are you one lapping the water like a dog or are you one who kneels down to drink? The first shows an attitude of readiness and alertness; the second the attitude of easy-going self-mindedness. The choice is always yours. But the sifting belongs to God.
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You Are My Witnesses

You are my witnesses (Isaiah 43:10a NIV).

God repeats this statement in quick succession twice (Isaiah 43:12 and 44:8). That means God meant it to be taken very seriously indeed. So what does it mean?

First of all it means that you need to have an intimate knowledge of God. This is important because no on can witness to anything that he has no knowledge about. God is inviting you to know Him; believe in Him and understand that He alone is God.

He wants you to know His power and celebrate with awe and reverence the truth that He alone is God and there is none other than He. This knowledge helps you to become His witnesses.

If this knowledge is absent; when people cross-question (for example, “How intimately do you know God?) you, you will be found speechless.

Secondly, when God says, “You are My witnesses,” He is reminding you of your responsibility. For some reason known to God alone He has put the burden of telling others about Himself to His children. That includes you.

So God is reminding you today of your responsibility. God wants to demonstrate through your life and actions that He is God. He would like the world to know that He is a God who acts; and when He acts no one can reverse it.

He would like to demonstrate it to the world through your life. A changed life spreading God’s light in this world is the best witness indeed!

Finally, when God says, “You are My witnesses,” He is telling you to communicate the truth. The disciples of Jesus were not silent when they were asked to be His witnesses.

Of course, they were given power to do it (Acts 1:8) when the Holy Spirit came on them. That same power is available to you today. Then the question is what should you witness to?

The answer is found in the lips of the disciples themselves. They said repeatedly that they were bearing witnesses to His (Jesus’) resurrection from the dead (Acts 1:22, 2:32, 3:15, 4:33 and so on).

That is the message you are carry to others. Tell them that Jesus lives. Yes, He died for their sins, but now He lives for ever!
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Break Camp and Advance

The Lord our God said to us at Horeb, “You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance into the hill country of the Amorites … ” (Deuteronomy 1:6, 7a NIV).

Achievers for God don’t sit still for ever. They press forward. They do not make victories an occasion for rest. But they make it their base where they can plan to move forward.

Others, who like to enjoy their rest miss God’s biggest plans for their lives. They fail to see that God has marked out the Christian’s race to be one of progress; not of standing still.

You can be sure that God gives seasons of refreshing and rest. But then soon you will hear His voice saying: “You have stayed long enough at this mountain.” Are you hearing that voice today?

You might also note that Horeb represented the Presence of God. It might seem good to you to be near the mountain where God’s presence is seen. But God does not wish to make it a permanent camp for you.

He tells you to break camp and advance. His Presence will still go with you. Do not love too much the security of resting quietly in God’s presence. He is stirring your cozy nest like an eagle stirs the nest where its young ones are. His command is to break camp.

But then breaking camp is for a purpose. It is to cause you to advance. God has already planned for you. But you need to go forward and take possession what He has kept for you. You need to look forward. You need to take one step at a time.

His guidance will of course be there. But unless you move His guidance will not come. To advance means to leave behind your place of rest. It means a lot of struggle too.

That truth has also been mentioned here. They were asked to advance into the hill country of the Amorites and other neighboring peoples. That meant that they had a tough terrain to conquer. It was the hill country.

It meant hard work. Then they had to fight the enemies. That meant battle. So advancing meant conquering rough country as well as ruthless enemies. Not an easy job at all.

But God’s command is still the same. You have stayed long enough here. Now break camp and advance!
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Forming an Alliance, but Not by My Spirit

“Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin (Isaiah 30:1 NIV).

Alliances play an important role in life. They can help you or cause your ruin. So one should enter into alliances very carefully and with much prayer. Here, it talks about the stubbornness of the Israelites.

They refused to change their attitude towards wrong alliances. God had clearly warned them not to make alliances that were not according to His plans. But they were unwilling to listen.

Here lies the danger. It is not the absence of warning that is the problem; for God always warns us when we are about to enter into wrong alliances. But the problem is our refusal to listen to Him.

Know for sure that God does not acknowledge alliances made without His approval. He calls them plans that are not His. The question is, “Are you stubborn enough to go ahead with your plans without God?”

Another most important element is the role of the Spirit of God in your alliances. When godly alliances are made, the Spirit of God will give His approval. His favor and blessing will rest on it. He will cause things to work out for your good.

But when you make plans that are not from God and make alliances without His consent; then you will find God fighting against you. For example, God destroyed the fleet of trading ships of the godly King Jehoshaphat because he made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, who was guilty of wickedness (2 Chronicles 20:35-37)!

Finally, you have to note that God sees your making alliances without His consent as “heaping sin upon sin.” To depend on man’s strength is sin in God’s eyes.

Instead you should learn to depend on God. You should learn to consult God in important matters of decision though there is nothing wrong to receive help from others. But trusting them instead of God, like the Israelites who trusted in Egypt and Pharaoh’s protection, is sin.

Therefore make plans by consulting God. Make alliances that has got the approval of the Spirit of God. Then you will have success in life.
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I Desire to Do Your Will

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart (Psalm 40:8 NIV).

In this verse there is a prophetic reference to Jesus Christ’s passion to do God’s will (Hebrews 10:5–7). In fact, Jesus’ entire life was characterized by a desire to God’s will at all times and in all circumstances.

It is also to be noted that God’s will is always in tune with the Bible. And God’s law was always within the heart of Christ.

In this world, when Christians make a big fuss out of seeking God’s will; this verse helps you to understand two important components that help you understand God’s will:

The first one is a desire to do God’s will; and the second is a life shaped by the Word of God.

Now coming to the first element; it is this desire that is lacking in many. If you look at the lives of most Christians, they just have a desire to be happy, blessed, and active in the Church. But God’s will definitely, without any doubt, involves something more than this.

In fact, it involves a sacrifice of your privileges to move out to where the need is. If you read verse 7, you’ll find written, “Here I am, I have come.” Yes, in accordance to what is written here, Jesus came down from heaven. So the desire to do God’s will has to be expressed in action. So God’s will is not theoretical but practical.

Now coming to the second element; no one is enabled to do God’s will without having God’s law within his heart. Jesus’ life was fully in tune with God’s word; and therefore his entire life was an acting out of God’s will.

The practical lesson is that if you desire to do God’s will, then you have to saturate your life with God’s word. But many don’t have time for God’s word.

That means they are not very serious about their desire to do God’s will. For without being shaped by God’s word, no one can do God’s will. So drink deep of God’s word; then your desire to do God’s will, will be fulfilled.
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