Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. Colossians 1:24-29 NKJV

This is an amazing statement that God willed to make known to the Christ believers what the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is--Christ in you, the hope of glory. For this, Paul was called to reveal this mystery of the blessed God as a faithful steward. This mystery has been hidden for ages and generations even to our Old Testament saints like Abraham, David, Isaiah, many others, but now has been disclosed to His saints including just ordinary people like you and me. The mystery of God is the secret of life now and ages to come. We're not designed to live alone, running our lives by ourselves whatever it takes. No, no, we're not running our lives, but born to be possessed by someone whose name can only be God. We're made to possess Him and be possessed by Him. Christ Jesus the Lord died for us so that He may live within us eternally. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20 NKJV) Christ in you, the hope of glory!

A Revolutionary Change

"We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 John 5:18-21 NKJV

The long hidden mystery of God for ages and generations has been disclosed. It's "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Billy Graham said, "Christian conversion is like a revolution." It's indeed revolutionary. Those who are born of God have Christ Jesus within by means of the Spirit. Apostle John's dogmatic statement starts with "We know." Know what? We know that whoever is born of God does not sin, because Christ Jesus keeps himself and the wicked one the devil does not touch him. Those who are genuinely born of God cannot go on sinning. That's right. They cannot keep on sinning like keep on stealing if they are genuinely born of God. Instead, there shall be changes and transformations manifest because a great urge and desire arises in them to be like Him. That's the mark of born of God.

Also, those who are born of God have eternal life, Jesus Christ, the true God. John admonishes little children [Christians] to keep themselves from idols. It means to worship God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ only. Anything they rely other than Christ Jesus is idol including all the religious activities done without recognizing Christ Jesus the Lord in their midst. All our deeds will be tested by fire on the Day of the Lord. “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13 NKJV)

A New Way Of Living

"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me. Philippians 1:27-30 NKJV

Paul admonishes the saints in Philippi, the first city he preached the gospel in Europe, that their conduct shall be worthy of the gospel of Christ. What does it mean? Well, Paul tells here that they may stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. There is only one Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God. All genuine Christians are standing on the same ground and foundation which Christ Jesus has laid on the cross. That means, in every Christian's heart, Jesus Christ is living within by means of the Spirit. So, we are sharing one life of Jesus Christ in the Spirit. There is no other ground for Christians to live than that.

Why did Paul write this? It’s because there were quarrels among the saints in the church of Philippi (Philippians 4:2,3). He reminded them of a fact that they are standing on the same root of faith in Jesus Christ. They should not quarrel each other, but strive together for the faith of the gospel which is from God. In the epistle to the Ephesians Paul tells that we’re not fighting against flesh and blood but against the principalities of this age, the prince of the world and darkness, the devil. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV)

So, we are the soldiers of Christ (2 Timothy 2:3). Yes, we fight the good fight, but not against the people in the faith, fellow Christians. What we wrestle against is the devil, the master and father of lie, the murderer and his wiles. Satan is the enemy, not people. No matter how much we’re different each other, we’re friends and brothers in Jesus Christ the Lord. Jesus said this truth, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” (Matthew 12:30 NKJV) Are you gathering or scattering?

Now, what is the devil’s tactic? His famous tactic is to terrify us by any means especially through the failures and struggles in the faith. Who has not failed? The moment we fail there is the malevolent devil who attacks us to fear and worry as if we’re the losers. That’s not true. We may fail and will do, but there is a way out, Christ Jesus the Lord. Remember what Paul proclaimed victoriously. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1 NKJV)

By the way, why do we fear at all? The reason is because we tend to rely on our resources, like our experience, knowledge, career, position, and achievements. They are so-called human pride. Natural man tends to believe that he has what it takes. It happens even to Christians. We habitually believe and try to live with what we have. But that’s not the way Christians live from the first day in Jesus Christ. We’re living His life since we’re born again because Christ Jesus indwells within us. Whatever we do is to be done by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Spirit. That’s the secret of new covenant living—total dependence and continual reliance on the Person of Jesus Christ. Yes, we do fail and are stressed and pressured at times. That’s the tests of faith in our midst. Through the tests and disciplines we’re molded and equipped more and more for every good work of Him. So, as Hebrews tells us, we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2a).  

What happens when we’re not in any way terrified by our adversaries, not because we have what it takes but because we depend on Christ Jesus the Lord? This is to them [the adversaries] a proof of destruction, but to us of salvation, and that from God. The enemies realize the fact that they’re against God Almighty in the midst of true Christians. That’s how we live by faith in Jesus Christ who is everything what it takes. That’s the secret of authentic Christianity. “Everything is coming from God and nothing from me.” The situation that is forcefully terrifying us is dissolved when we completely rely on Christ Jesus in the Spirit.

Why then are there continual sufferings in our lives? Why doesn’t God just get rid of them all at once? He could, but he doesn’t. Paul answers in verse 30, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.” Just as our Lord Jesus Christ suffered much, so also do His disciples. The faith of the gospel has been granted to us on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Paul had gone through the same conflict all the way through his life. He is a model Christian.

Sufferings in our midst are not something for credit when we overcome, but part of our inheritance. We’re called not only to do what He did, but also to be what He is. It’s privilege to participate in the sufferings of Christ for His sake. That’s the faith of the gospel. “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5 NKJV)

Christ Is In Our Midst Now and Forevermore

"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:16-20 NKJV

It's called the great commission of the Lord Jesus Christ that He commanded His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. Now, you see that it is His agenda, not the disciples'. His followers are just vessels to carry out His order to all nations. To preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ of glory is the will of the Father. So no matter what, His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. Why so? Well, listen to what our Lord Jesus Christ says, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." The Father in heaven bestowed to His Son Jesus Christ all power, the power that far above all principalities and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (Ephesians 1:21)

Many may think that God and Satan are in duel by competing each other to win over. No, no, that's not true. Satan is in the level of creatures, but God is the Creator of all things. Satan works only under the rule and dominion of God. The devil's power is absolutely limited to the level that God allows to operate. So, the power of God and that of Satan are incomparable. That resurrection power of God is given unto the Son Jesus Christ. That's why our Lord shall accomplish the will of the Father no matter how the wiles of the devil are seemingly working in the world like murders, rapes, robberies, frauds, slanders, racketeering, deceits, wickedness, and most of all lawlessness.

Despite of all the ugliness and degradation in human society, there is a God who knows exactly what He is doing. Therefore, we can maintain peace and serenity when we trust in God in whom everything is under His sovereign dominion. He is the One who sent the Holy Spirit to fulfill His program completely and perfectly in due time. The key of the great commission is this: "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." In our very midst of stress and pressure, our Lord Jesus Christ is present among His followers by means of the Spirit. As He promised, He has come and been indwelling within us since we are born of God.

Do not forget that we are not running the course of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations but there is One who is in our midst does all things. Simply trust in His promise that He is in our midst no matter what happens, even when we badly fail or make mistakes. Practically it means to present our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord whenever He opens doors in our daily lives. That confidence and assurance we are privileged to have always, especially the fiery darts of the devil attack us out of nowhere (Ephesians 6:16). What a release it is! Christ in you, the hope of glory!

Truth and Reality of Life

"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 NKJV

This is a marvelous description of truth and reality for Christians what was really going on in their lives since they received the Lord Jesus Christ, the conversion. They welcomed and received the word of God not as the word of men but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in them who believe. Effectiveness! The gospel of God never comes in vain but works effectively in the lives of genuine believers.

What does it mean? Well, Paul tells us that the first century Christians in Thessalonica became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. What had happened to the churches [saints] of God in Judea? They were persecuted and oppressed by their countrymen who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets. This is remarkable. Why did His own people kill the Lord Jesus and their own prophets? By doing so, they thought that they would please God. But they did not please God and were contrary to all men, forbidding Paul, Silas, and Timothy to speak to the Gentiles.

Notice Paul's attitude toward the people who were persecuting both the Lord Jesus and them. Is he angry or upset at them? No, no. He plainly reveals the truth that they are always filling up the measure of their sins. The next statement is the most remarkable one. The wrath of God has come upon them to the uttermost. That's the reality and truth. That's what is really going on in heavenly places. We Christians do not need to be upset or angry against those who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets. It's because God is just and righteous that He knows how to handle them. Notice the present tense in that statement! It's happening now and no one can escape His wrath no matter how hard they're trying to pretend to be okay.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them." (Romans 1:18-19 NKJV) Our God is a realist!

Cannot But Rejoice In Hope

"But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 NKJV

Here Paul tells about Satan's hindrance which didn't allow him to go and see the saints in Thessalonica. It seems that Satan works independently. But it's not true. The devil never works that way, ever before and never will do. Simply it is impossible for the devil to work by himself without God's permission. Look up and read the book of Job. It tells clearly that Satan can work only within the premise of God. He is not an independent agent at all, but the servant of God. Although it seems Satan can harm or hinder the work of God, it is impossible to do so because all he does is part of fulfilling the will of God.

So, we can maintain peace persistently in the midst of the devil's oppositions. We do not see the whole picture yet what our God is doing, but trust in Him that He would fulfill the good work through all pains and sufferings. Anything happening in our lives has meaning and purpose in fulfilling of His will because without Him nothing happens. Connecting all the dots in our lives shall accomplish God's plan perfectly. 

What did make Paul hopeful, joyful, and rejoicing? It was even the saints who received the gospel of God in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming. Although his plan wasn't carried out by the enemy's hindrance, he had been remaining hopeful with joy because he believed that they would grow to maturity as God intended to be at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul expressed the same faith in other letter as well, "...that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6b NKJV)

The true hope of man is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why so? It's because in His  hands all things hang on operating and functioning without an iota of error (Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 1:17) It's our sure assurance of faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. Everything will be revealed what they are on the Day of the Lord. With that patience of hope, we live in doing works of faith and labor of love (1 Thessalonians 1:3). We know already something, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV)

Born To Be Holy and Blameless

"And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine." Leviticus 20:26 NKJV

We cannot make us holy [whole] by ourselves. God knows it better than we do. So, He promised to make us holy and blameless, even before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). He made a plan which has been manifested and disclosed by the Son Jesus Christ in the cross. Through the Son's death the Father purifies anyone who believes in the gospel of Christ Jesus. As soon as being born of God he is possessed by Him as a member of the family of God.

However, we don't feel anything particular but have been transformed inwardly and quietly. It’s just like a mother doesn't feel anything when she has conceived a new life. But it's real and now we have been adopted to the family of God. It’s called conversion or born-again. Just as a new babe does not grow to adult next day, so also a new born Christian doesn’t grow to mature Christian next day. It’s a process, sometimes long process until we grow to men and women God intended men and women to be.

We don’t need to worry about growth because we have God's promise that He will make us holy and blameless in His sight just He is holy. “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6b NKJV) What an encouraging promise for us who hasn’t yet been revealed what we shall be (1 John 3:2)! How can we grow? Keep on following Jesus by denying ourselves and taking up our crosses daily. Read the scriptures daily, understand the words of truth, and live by the faith in Christ Jesus. Keep on obeying Jesus Christ the Lord!

The Inner Voice of the Spirit

"Do not quench the Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 5:19 NKJV

The indwelling Spirit of God and the Son Jesus Christ the Lord quietly and gently says all the time that certain things you should do and certain things you should not do. This inner voice of the Lord is from the Spirit of the Lord if you are a genuine Christian. Things He is saying for you to do are to help the needy, care for the weak, love the unlovely, forgive one another, depend on Him in everything you do, shun from sexual immorality, and obey Him as He obeyed the Father unto death.

Things He is saying for you not to do are to neglect the opportunity to help the needy, hate one another, faction one another, love only those who love you, like those who are with the same thoughts and opinions, say a sharp words to families, neighbors, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus the Lord, and indulge in pornography. He is the forever inner Teacher for all God's children since the conversion experience.

Knowing and Doing

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:2-8 NKJV

When trials come at you, count it all joy, that is, consider it as gift from God. It's the testing of your faith which would produce patience. It forces your life of faith to manifest and demonstrate its real colors. They are God-given opportunities to display the power of faith in the midst of pressures. But do not try to get out of it prematurely, but let patience do its work perfectly and completely. Do not be anxious to be over nor overrun patience but stay under until it go through.

Who doesn't know that trials are not pleasant at all? Nevertheless, you know something that it produce perseverance. This is called knowledge. You learned something. For example, Jesus says His disciples, "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:11-12 NKJV) When you are reviled and persecuted, you can rejoice and exceedingly glad, not because it is pleasant, but because you know [learned something] that great is your reward in heaven.

Knowledge helps but there is another in want. Wisdom! Knowledge is truth known. Whereas, wisdom is truth manifest through obedience. God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ gives all lavishly and without reproach (remember this, without reproach!) if you ask. Thus, believe that He is able to deliver you from all circumstances because He Himself is the source of power for you to obey. There is a warning though. Don't miss it! If you doubt, you will not get what you ask for. Such a man is double-minded and unstable in all his ways.

Why Pray for Daily Bread?

"Give us day by day our daily bread." Luke 11:3 NKJV

Why do we need to pray to give us day by day our daily bread, clothes, and shelter? Do we need to pray to let Him know that we need our daily bread day by day? No, He knows already what we need even before we come to Him and ask. Then for whom we need to pray? It is for us to remind of the necessity of daily bread day by day. We need to tell Him that we're in need for us, not for Him. That's why Jesus taught His disciples ask daily bread day by day, not week by week, or month by month. Why so? It's because we have been made that way. Yes, we are completely dependent on the Father and the Son Jesus Christ the Lord not only life on earth but in heaven. So, we humbly come and ask the Father to give us day by day our daily bread.

Do we really pray every day for God to give us our daily bread, clothes, and shelter? Are we thankful for all that He provides day by day?

Remember Where You Have Fallen

"“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”'" Revelation 2:1-7 NKJV

Jesus Christ our Lord revealed and unfolded the truths regrading churches throughout the centuries beginning from the first century. There are seven churches (seven golden lampstands) mentioned here in the Book of Revelation. However, it doesn't mean that there are only seven churches. It means that there are seven types of church. Church never and ever means physical building, but people who received Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. So, as John saw in a vision that the Son of Man was in the midst of seven lampstands, Jesus Christ the Lord Himself has been running and operating all churches throughout the ages in order to fulfill the will of the Father.

The first church Jesus unfolded here is the church in Ephesus which Paul planted. They practiced good works patiently and sincerely, holding on to the truth that they could not bear evil, wrong teachings, without becoming weary. They persevered patiently and labored for His name's sake. Nevertheless, Jesus pointed out one thing lacking in them that they had left their first love.

What is the first love? It's obviously the love of God and the Son Jesus Christ poured out into the hearts by the Spirit when they received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, which resulted in such a mighty liberation from the bondage of sin and death, a heavenly peace deeply penetrated into their hearts, and an irresistible joy overflowing from within! What a wonderful freedom were they given freely through faith in Jesus Christ! Such a love was the first one they received. Now, Jesus scolded their falling from the first love. "Remember therefore from where you have fallen."

What's the remedy? Repentance which means they shall agree with the Lord and do the first works. It means that they shall not do the works mechanically or habitually, not realizing a significant fact that Jesus Christ is in their midst. They shall continue to do the works of faith just as they did the first works when they received His love the first time. What would happen if they did not repent? They would maintain the form of church, but lose the lampstand, light bearer. They shall lose capability to light unto the world although they might maintain all the forms of being religious. Our Lord Jesus Christ is serious about maintaining the first love to the end, because only that kind of works last and endure forever.

There is another warning to heed, the Nicolaitans. These people are sexually immoral and idolaters like Balaam who seduced the people of Israel to fall into sexual promiscuity and idolatry. Sexual immorality destroys the body and idolatry corrupts the spirit by worshiping other gods. U.S Supreme Court made a historical move to legalize homosexual marriage. Paul calls this generation is crooked and perverse and deprived (Philippians 2:15). Yes, there are struggles and sufferings for us to live in this dark time and age.

However, to those who overcome will be given full access to the tree of life, rivers of living water, the throne of grace any time and any where and eat and drink. That's the indwelling Spirit of God within us. It's available to all the believers of the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, maintaining the first love means complete reliance and dependence on Jesus Christ the Lord who is in our midst now and forever. No matter what happens in our lives, whether failures or mistakes, God is not against us but understands and loves us with the Father's compassionate heart. Since there is nothing we can contribute to gain access to the throne of grace, we continue to live by the faith grounded and rooted in the love of God through the Son Jesus Christ. So, we shall remember a fact that God loved us first and continues to love us to the end through the Son Jesus Christ because the love of God has been shed abroad into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). 

What Is Prayer Anyway?

So He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. Luke 11:2 NKJV

Prayer is not our fervent appeal or even protest for God to do our wish list. Prayer is not a tool to let our Father in heaven know what we want desperately. Prayer is not an emergency call to God when some urgent matters develop in our midst. When we read carefully what our Lord Jesus taught how and what to pray, we find amazing truths. Most of all, we find what really prayer means to Christians.

First and foremost of all, Jesus moved quite a revolutionary step by calling God as Father in heaven. Think of that! We have that kind of God as Father who takes care of His children with intimate and unconditional love and chastening and discipline whenever necessary. He is our God and the Father in whom we live as His dear children in this age and ages to come. That kind of intimate relationship of Father-and-children we have now and forevermore. So, we call him "Abba, Father!" "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'" (Romans 8:15 NKJV)

Notice the pronouns used here like "Your name," "Your kingdom," and "Your will." It means we pray for His name, His kingdom, and His will, not for my name, my kingdom, and my will. That's significant. Christianity is not promoting something planned and designed by humans at all. I think many a church are confused in this area. No, we're not seeking our names to be recognized from the world, but His name to be honored and glorified, His kingdom to come, and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Heaven never means some place in space where a Christian dies and goes. It's the invisible realm of reality where God rules. Heaven is right here in our midst. Isaiah says, "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool." (Isaiah 66:1a NKJV) Seeking God for His name, His kingdom, and His will is what God intended man to do, even before the creation of the world.

Therefore, praying is to live. As Luke tells us we're either praying or fainting (Luke 18:1). One or the other. We're either alive through continuous prayer or dead. Praying is our expression of faith that we only can live by reckoning on God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ the Lord. Prayer is a way to respond to God's love. It is our continual reliance and rest on God.

Ye Ransomed Sinners, Hear - Charles Wesley

Ye ransomed sinners, hear,
The prisoners of the Lord;
And wait till Christ appear
According to His Word.
Rejoice in hope; rejoice with me.
Rejoice in hope; rejoice with me.
We shall from all our sins be free.

In God we put our trust:
If we our sins confess,
Faithful He is, and just,
From all unrighteousness
To cleanse us all, both you and me;
To cleanse us all, both you and me;
We shall from all our sins be free.

Surely in us the hope
Of glory shall appear;
Sinners, your heads lift up
And see redemption near.
Again I say: rejoice with me.
Again I say: rejoice with me.
We shall from all our sins be free.

The Word of God is sure,
And never can remove;
We shall in heart be pure
And perfected in love.
Rejoice in hope; rejoice with me.
Rejoice in hope; rejoice with me.
We shall from all our sins be free.

Then let us gladly bring
Our sacrifice of praise;
Let us give thanks and sing
And glory in His grace.
Rejoice in hope; rejoice with me.
Rejoice in hope; rejoice with me.
We shall from all our sins be free.

The Sands of Time Are Sinking - Samuel Rutherford

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams of earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Oh! Well it is forever, Oh! well forevermore,
My nest hung in no forest of all this death doomed shore:
Yea, let the vain world vanish, as from the ship the strand,
While glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

How To Be the Same Mind in the Lord

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11 NKJV

This is demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ and shows how we get along among brothers and sisters in the congregations in the midst of differences. The letter to the Philippians was written to admonish two women who were in quarrel each other. "I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord." (Philippians 4:2) 

What our Lord Jesus Christ did two things - renunciation and submission. He was God and yet he renounced all of His rights as King of kings and Lord of lords. He emptied Himself and became a human being just like us. It doesn't mean that He denied the Lordship as God. He was still God and yet he denied the rights of God. That was the first step. He stepped down from the highest to the lowest because our Lord knew it was the will of the Father. 

Next our Lord Jesus Christ did give His life in order to meet the need of the Law of God. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). The Son obeyed the Father to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Although He was born as a human, He didn't have to die because there was no sin in Him. He was transfigured into a glorious image which He was in the beginning (Matthew 17:2). It indicates that He could enter into glory without death. But Jesus died not because of the devil's plot, nor by the Romans' power, but because He loved the Father. He said to His disciples during the Upper Room Discourse. "I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do." (John 14:30-31 NKJV) 

Then God the Father exalted the Son Jesus Christ and gave Him the name which above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of the in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. He received all power and authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18) and seated at the right hand of God. 

This is the way to be of the same mind in the Lord among brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus said to the followers of Him so plainly, which exactly complies what He did to the Father. "Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 16:24-25 NKJV)

A Searching Light

"And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Luke 21:1-4 NKJV

This is an unusual story of our Lord Jesus Christ. It reveals a great truth which reveals what is really going on in the kingdom of heaven. We would have never been known the truth unless it wasn't told. The Bible is not necessarily written in chronological order, though it is in part. All Scripture is inspired by the Holy God and good for teaching, reproach, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:17).

The theme of this story is not money but motive in heart. God is Spirit, so He knows where our hearts are (John 4:24). The clue to understand this is given before and after the story. In the previous chapter of Luke's Gospel, Jesus warned the scribes who wanted to gain honor and respect from men. Right after it, the author of the gospel, Dr. Luke, put the teachings of the Lord Jesus on the signs of end times, dreadful and perilous times. In between the warning and the teachings on the end times, Luke puts this tiny story of our Lord Jesus.

God is not in want of any materials that we may bring. All are His. So, no matter how much the rich put into the treasury on a Sabbath morning, it didn't impress Jesus at all. But there was one who drew our Lord's attention so powerfully, a poor widow who put two mites. Widow in the scriptures is the symbol of poverty. What she had all offered God out of her poverty. It's far from the truth if we think that she didn't concern tomorrow. She did concern of her well-being. She understood what it meant to offer two mites.

It isn't too difficult to imagine how the two put  money into the treasury. Obviously, the rich was proud of putting a pretty big amount as Jesus described in the previous chapter. It was quite a social norm for the rich that they were paid attention by the crowd and put the money. Whereas, the poor widow was not adequate, feeble, and trembling as all she had was little. 

Dr. Luke recorded another story Jesus told that two men came to pray -- one Pharisee and one tax collector (Luke 18:9-14). In that story of our Lord Jesus, the Pharisee stood in the midst of people and looked toward into heaven with two arms stretched and prayed arrogantly with himself, not with God. Whereas, the tax collector couldn't even raise his eyes to heaven, standing afar off and beating his breast, and cried out for mercy, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" Our Lord Jesus added a comment on this, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14)

Do you see the point? God searches for the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3). Those who have reached to the point of bankruptcy in spirit are the poor. Paul reached to the spiritual bankruptcy, saying "What a wretched man I am!" (Romans 7:24) We shall not pretend what we aren't. What God is after is a broken and contrite heart, not the sacrifice of burnt offering. "For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;You do not delight in burnt offering.The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:16-17 NKJV) When we are poor in spirit, we shall be found by God. Jesus says, "Blessed are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3 NKJV)

God is interested in our attitude and motive as much as deeds through faith. No one has ever seen God who is invisible (1 John 4:12). But He is real and searches where our hearts are with the mighty searching light, the word of God. So, we fear the Lord with respect and honor and humbly ask for His mercy. A wise man says, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all." (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NKJV)

The Key for Life

Jesus said to his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion, "Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33b NKJV) How did Jesus Christ overcome the world? By love, yes, by the love of the Father. 

The love that heals the hurt, wounded, and depressed, that fills the poor, that comforts the lonely and sorrowful, that strengthens the oppressed and outcast, and that reaches out the obscure, is the most powerful means to save people. To love God is to obey His commandments. Those of God obey Him. Love enables to obey God because it is of him. Love enables the saints to love the unlovable because we are loved first by God. Remember that we didn't love God first. 

God is invisible and no one has ever seen Him (1 John 4:12). But people can see God in the Son Jesus Christ who demonstrated the unfailing love of the Father on the cross as a public spectacle to the whole world (Colossians 2:15). The love of God was manifested in Him and that is the true love. Therefore, those born of God can love one another. That's the mark of Christians. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35 NKJV)

John gives us great exhortations in the letter of 1 John regarding love.

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."  (1 John 4:7-16 NKJV)

What's happen?

The Scripture declares that we're liberated from the bondage of sin and death through faith in Jesus Christ. "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference." (Romans 3:21-22 NKJV) Yet we still experience temptations and failures at times in the midst of daily commonplace lives. Is the declaration of the Scripture contradictory? By no means! The word of God is flawless and holy. The problem is our lack of understanding. 

Humans are three fold beings -- body, soul, and spirit. A natural born is without exception inheriting the Adamic nature which is called the flesh, the seat of evil. The alien evil is deeply embedded in our human nature since the fall of Adam. "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." (Romans 5:12 NKJV) All natural born of humans are inevitably invaded by the vicious and malevolent evil one in body, soul, and spirit. 

As a result, all humans are doomed to submit completely and totally to the devil unless we're redeemed by someone with greater power than that of the devil. We were all dead and became the children of wrath. "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others." (Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV) Notice that the whole being of human -- body, soul, and spirit were affected dead seriously. 

That's who we were and what we were in Adam. We did not have no other choice but to succumb to the power of Satan. "For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one." (Romans 5:17a NKJV) Believe it or not, it is true and real in every human life. We couldn't help but sin in Adam.

Right there, the good news has come in due time to humanity. A God became a human being and died on a rugged cross just as the Scriptures has promised, so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). We didn't make us alive or more precisely, we couldn't. God made us alive in Jesus Christ the Son by blood. We're cleansed and washed away from the iron grip of sin and death. 

What's happen? The moment of having faith in the Son's works on the cross is the moment of deliverance and liberation. The evil formula has been broken down that anyone who trusts in God who sent his Son may be liberated. The unwanted and inevitable marriage bond with the Adamic nature was broken by the death of the Son and the desperately wanted new marriage bond with Christ Jesus has been established and sealed by the Spirit (Romans 7:1-6). That's the good news.

Then why there are still struggles [sins] among the saints? Apostle John made an amazing statement in his epistle. "Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." (1 John 3:9 NKJV) We, if genuinely born of God, cannot sin. Wait a minute! It's a very difficult truth to grasp. Agreed. What does it mean? It means we cannot continue to sin any more if we're truly born of God. Of course, there are temptations and failures down the road. However, Christians cannot simply continue to go on sinning, because something radical has happened -- Christ came into the hearts of believers by means of the Spirit. The indwelling Spirit of God in the saints is the key to understand this truth.

What's happen is that the human spirit has been freed [cleansed and washed away] by the blood and declared as righteous once for all. Those who are justified by the blood of the Son Jesus Christ has now peace with God and access to the throne of grace at anytime and anywhere. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2 NKJV) At the last of the Tabernacle Feast, Jesus invited people who thirst and hunger and promised to give the indwelling Spirit within the hearts of true worshipers. "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39 NKJV)

Although we struggle, as Paul proclaims boldly and confidently in the letter to the Romans, there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). It's because though we fail and will fail at times our spirit has consciously been cleansed by the blood once for all. Jesus Christ doesn't need to die twice (Romans 6:9). It's an eternal and timeless event. So, now we can overcome the flesh since God has pronounced the good news that we're justified by the Son and can stand righteously before His presence. "... much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17b NKJV) What is saying is this: In Adam we cannot help but sin, but in Christ we cannot help but be righteous all the more. 

But our human body has not yet been redeemed. Human body is the seat of evil. The evil has still access to our human body and soul, so we're often tempted. Paul reveals a wonderful truth about nature which groans for the liberation from the bondage of corruption by the coming of the children of God. Not only so, we humans also groan for the redemption of our body (Romans 8:23). We may and many ask this question. "Why did God not redeem our body and soul as well?" Well, that's the mystery of God. But we believe that there should be purpose and meaning which God doesn't disclose everything at least now. 

There should be the purpose and meaning of delaying the redemption of our body and soul. Perhaps that's why God allows us to live about seventy years or eighty years on earth. "The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years." (Psalm 90:10a NKJV) Every one is given life to live in order that we may learn the secrets [mysteries] of life step by step. Our God is generous and patient for each of us to grasp the truth of life. 

Now, what do we do with our body? Do we get rid of it? By no means! God loves our bodies. Don't miss the exhortations of the Spirit written in the Scripture. "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present our members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:12-14 NKJV) 

It's our struggle that it may take a while to learn this truth. But it shall not take too long to learn it. The secret of presenting our bodies as living sacrifice to the Lord is that we not under law but under grace. What does it mean? We cannot do it by trying hard to keep the law, but can do by relying on the Person of Jesus Christ. That's meaning of the phrase, "We are not under law but under grace." That's the reason Paul said quite boldly, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 NKJV) That's the good news, is it not?

God's Elect

"Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48 NKJV

Paul preached the gospel at Antioch in Pisidia and his sermon is recorded in the thirteenth chapter of Acts (Acts 13:13-41). The next Sabbath, almost the whole city came out to listen to the words of the Lord. The Jews were so disturbed by the nerve-breaking statement Paul made that the law of Moses cannot justify them, but the gospel of Jesus Christ can. "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39 NKJV) No one can stand before the Holy God without being justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. All humans are thoroughly and completely inadequate to keep the law of Moses no matter how much they try hard.

The Jews stirred up the people not to listen to him any longer. "Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, 'It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.'" (Acts 13:46 NKJV) When they heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord. The next statement is a great revelation. As many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. This reveals what is really going on in the invisible realm, that is, how God works. It does not say they believed and then had eternal life. But it says the other way around. Those who were appointed to eternal life believed. Isn't that amazing?

When the words of the Lord was falling unto the hearts of the people, those who were elected and chosen before the creation of the world responded to the drawing of God by faith. Here, we can see the wonderful mixture of the divine activity of God and human response. The Father God is always drawing his people through the words of the Lord and His chosen ones are responding to the Father's love. This happens when we open and read the scriptures. If there is any encouragement, any comfort, any consolation, any joy, any gain while reading the word of God, then it is the evidence of responding to the Father's love because it overflows from the rivers of living water within. This is happening now and forevermore.

One Place to Start Over

If any bitterness, any sore, any wound, any resentment from whatever cause, then there is one place to come and start over again. That is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. There our Lord Jesus was humiliated and cursed in our place. There our Lord Jesus obeyed the Father unto death, embracing shame and guilt in our place. There a new life blossoms and overflows endlessly, so we can obey the Lord's commandment of loving one another without any bitterness and complaint. 

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35 NKJV 

In Christ Jesus, a whole new relationship has begun under the new terms that we're no longer the sons of darkness but the sons of light. We're no longer under the law, but under grace. The Spirit of Christ Jesus indwells within us, which is a staggering truth and revelation that we have what it takes to live the life which God intended us to live before the creation of the world. There is a way out provided to all believers that we don't have to give in to evil anymore, because we're of God and He has made his home [residence] in our hearts [spirits]. 

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:35 NKJV 

This is how we handle differences among brothers and sisters in Christ. We're sanctified [made whole] by the Spirit for every good work of God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We're called to manifest Him and His works in the midst of struggles and troubles of normal lives. Remember the Spirit-filled living starts where Jesus Christ died in our place, the cross of Calvary. 

"Most assuredly, I say to you,unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain." John 12:24 NKJV

Make Friends by Unrighteous Mammon

"So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.“And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Luke 16:8-13 NKJV 

In this unusual story of Jesus, many may be puzzled by what this parable mean. There is no question that the manager is wasting, unrighteous, and shrewd. Here the theme of story is not the man but money, more specifically how to handle money. Money is not evil, but the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Money is necessary commodity for living. But as we came forth to earth with nothing, so will we be back to earth. However, there is a lasting thing depending on how to handle the money. It's friends which survive death. 

In this parable, Jesus is revealing a crucial and fundamental truth with regard to money. Money is an elementary thing God provides in order for us to learn a very important truth. There is close tie between money and spiritual realm. Do we use it for making friends, or for storing on earth? Jesus taught his disciples in the sermon on the mount regarding our attitude on treasures [money]. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV)

The whole revelation of story is given in this phrase, "Where your money is, there your heart will be also." No man can serve two masters, money and God. It's the royal law which reveals the naked reality of life. If we love treasures on earth, whatever they are, then we are hating [less loving] God. For many, it may be difficult to capture the truth. But it is true just as our Lord Jesus underscores here. 

What do you think of making friends? What do you think of laying up for yourself treasures in heaven? 

Love God Intelligently

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another  Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you wand will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. John 14:15-18 NKJV

What is of loving God? It's a bit absurd especially when we're not uplifted and don't feel at all of loving God. This is a serious problem for many Christians. They wanted to feel first something encouraging and fantastic on God and then they think that it could be possible to love God. No, it's exactly opposite. Understand first of the love of God. Use your intelligence and thinking power to digest what kind of love you have received from God the Father in heaven. John says in his epistle, "We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19) Paul say in his epistle to the Romans, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) 

When we're assured of His love, our hearts are filled with His love, joy, and peace and we can obey His words. Loving God should not be expressed in words only but be accompanied by deeds as well. It has fully and completely been demonstrated through the Son Jesus Christ. Without deeds, it's not true love at all, only fake. "If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" (1 John 4:20)

The possibility of loving God lies on not ourselves but the Holy Spirit within. If we are truly born of God and became members of God's family, then we received the Spirit from God, the Spirit of truth. The worldly people cannot receive Him because they don't understand this truth at all. Notice that the Spirit is called the Spirit of truth. He reveals the true reality because He knows the mind of God. That truth the Spirit teaches and reveals we humans are desperately in want. So, when we're guarded and guided by the Spirit, we can know the truth that sets us free. He is the Helper, the Comforter, the Advocate, and the Counselor. 

Jesus continues to say and don't miss it. "The Spirit never leaves you orphans." This is addressed to the eleven disciples in the Upper Room during the Passover Fest and to us as well. The moment we received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior was the time for the Spirit to come in our hearts and stays forever. 

Not Under Law But Under Grace

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:12-14 NKJV

Something must has been done for the believers of Jesus Christ the Lord. That is the death of Jesus Christ in our place! We're blessed by God-given faith to believe in His work of the cross, which leads us into a completely new life that we do not have to give our members of body to sin any more, but can submit them to God as instruments of righteousness. This is the good news. Yes, there is a way out provided for only believers to escape from the bondage of sin. We're liberated and set free from yielding to the power of sin and death through the faith in the works of Christ Jesus.

It practically means that we don't have to choose to sin any more. In the past, before coming to Christ, we cannot but sin at all. There was no other choice lie ahead of us but to sin. But now, in Christ, we don't have to sin. More bluntly, John tells in his epistle that we cannot sin (1 John 3:9). That's a revolutionary statement. It's true to all Christians.

Now we admit that we struggle at times and fail miserably because our bodies are still unredeemed. However, here is our source of encouragement now and forever that sin shall not have dominion over us, because we are not under law but under grace. At times, when we fail we are condemned with guilt and shame by law. Even so, remember that we're under His grace forever because we're born of God. We're untied with Christ through the faith in His death, burial, and resurrection. We're grafted unto Him by faith. 

What is grace? Grace is God's enrichment at Christ's expense. We have a special relationship with God and the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, God is not against us or hostile to us, but understands us even when we fail. And He knew that we fail. All He wants us is to come to Him and take what He is and has done for us. This we may do again and again. 

Therefore, no matter what, we don't have to give in ourselves to sin any more because we're in Jesus Christ and sin shall not have dominion over us. 

The Lord's Prayer

"Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. John 17:1-5 NKJV

This is the prayer uttered by our Lord Jesus Christ just a few hours before the arrest and within 24 hours before his death through crucifixion on a cross. Is there anything gloomy in His prayer in such a dire circumstance? Is it not full of glory although He knew that He was going to go through a terrible ordeal? Do you not see Him who is in charge of everything even in the midst of the culmination of His upcoming suffering? It's because the Son Jesus Christ had never doubted the Father who sent Him to manifest glory. The Son fully and completely put his trust in the Father who runs the course of history in time and ages to come. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ made the most significant statement of all time. He defined what eternal life is. Eternal life is to know God, the only true God, and the Jesus Christ whom He sent. It doesn't simply mean to know it as knowledge. It means to believe in Jesus Christ personally as Lord and Savior. It also means to live on that basis that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. It further means to obey Him in all circumstances. 

The Lord Judges Now

"Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 NKJV

Here is the full job description of pastors, ministers, shepherds, elders, or whatever position who are in the ministry of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The main thing, right the main thing, is to be stewards of the mysteries of God. Expound and explain the mysteries of God faithfully! Explain what the mysteries of God mean to people in congregation, bible study, meetings, online media, right in our midst. One requirement of doing this is faithfulness. That's all. Put off all things behind, especially what the people say back to you. Paul says that it's a small thing (little thing, NIV) that he should be judged by the church in Corinth or by a human court [culture, philosophy of the world]. Even he didn't judge himself because there is the One who judges him and all others. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, he exhorts us not to judge before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Jesus Christ sees even the hidden things of our hearts. He doesn't need to wait until we ask something, because he knows already what is inside of us. That's what it means the Lord judges now. What we shall do is the main thing which is to reveal the mind of God, expounding the mysteries of God faithfully in our own appointed places. God then will praise each one according to His justice and righteousness. Praise never comes from humans. 

You Will Be Where I Am

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 NKJV

We are bound to troubles and difficulties one after another. No one is without exception from this law of life. Simply and plainly speaking, it is not possible to avoid but go through. Not alone many troubles in human relationships in the midst of daily ordinary lives, no one is free from the fear of death, a formidable foe for humanity. That context is the theme in this tiny scripture in the Gospel of John written by the one whom the Lord loved. 

The Eleven Disciples were troubled in hearts due to the daunting announcement of the betrayal and departure through means of death uttered by Jesus. What is our Lord's treatment for the troubled disciples (including us)? 

First, Jesus says, "Let not your heart be troubled." Why so? It's because as they believed in God who made the promises for them in the Old Testament, now they shall believe also in Jesus Christ the Lord. It's the commandment of the Lord Jesus Christ for His disciples to believe in Him who came not only to save us but to impart His life. In Jesus Christ, we're now living under the new covenant which is a whole new arrangement for living. "Everything coming from God, nothing coming from me!" 

Jesus details why let not our hearts be troubled. "In My Father's house are many places for you. I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Where was He going? Was He not going to the Father in heaven all but through the cross of shame, guilt, and death. It implies from His agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Judas' betrayal kiss and arrest, the mockery and beating before the Sanhedrin, the terrible scrounge by Roman soldiers, and finally to the crucifixion. 

The mystery of Christ has been disclosed on the cross where God demolished the formidable power of sin and death including all the sins of shame and guilt and at the same time God raised and highly exalted the Son Jesus Christ above every name in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. The glorious morning of the resurrection followed according to the scriptures. That's how our Lord Jesus Christ went to the Father in heaven. 

What's next? He says, "I go to prepare a place for you and will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." This is the assurance of His second coming. In fact, He has already come into the hearts of His disciples by means of the Holy Spirit. In the Spirit, we're in Him and He in us just as He was in the Father and the Father in Him during His earthly ministry (John 17:21). 

When are we going to physically see Christ Jesus in His coming with the armies of angles at the mighty trumpet call? When we breathe the last breath on earth, each one shall see the Lord Jesus Christ in His majestic coming in the cloud with the archangels. Paul describes this event in 1 Corinthians as the momentary without any delay at all. "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep,but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NKJV) 

So, we will be with the Lord Jesus Christ forever. It doesn't necessarily mean the future. It's true that we will be with the Lord forever after this life. But it is also true that we're with Him now in the Spirit. Jesus says this when the two Greeks came to see Him. “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." (John 12:23-26 NKJV)

Notice what Jesus says, "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also." Where is now our Lord Jesus Christ? He is in glory, seating at the right hand of God. In the Spirit, we're also seating with Him now. "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7 NKJV)

That's how our Lord Jesus Christ made the special treatment for His disciples including us when their hearts are troubled. Is it not encouraging you?

Sin Shall Not Have Dominion Over You

"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 NKJV

In Christ, it has happened for all genuine believers that sin shall not have dominion over them. A way out has now been provisioned by the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord. By grace we are possessing Christ the Lord within us and we are possessed by Him through the blood on the cross. In the New Testament, it is called the mystery of Christ which was hidden for generations and ages and has been now unlocked by His coming as a Babe in the obscure town of Bethlehem some two thousand years back in time and space. The mystery of Christ rests on the cross where He died in our place as an act of propitiating once for all for sinners like us who were still the enemies of God. Christ Jesus was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. 

Jesus didn’t die for Himself, but for the world. Jesus didn’t die in vain, but for the redemption of all who believe in Him. Jesus Christ didn’t die just for the forgiveness of our sins though it is true. He gave His life on the cross in order to impart His new life to His church in which He indwells by the means of the Spirit. Do not misunderstand that church is building. Church never be building, but people just like you and me whoever believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ living in us is the mystery of God. Therefore, sin shall not have dominion over us. We’re always in Him and His grace, not under the law. That iron bondage to sin and death has now been shattered down, so it has no longer dominion over authentic Christians. Isn’t it good news? So, we live now on that basis by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.