A Lamp On A Stand (Mark 4:21-25)

Why does Jesus speak in parables? There are many parables spoken by the Lord Jesus. These parables reveal the secrets of the kingdom of God. The parable of the sower, the parable of the weeds, the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast, the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl, and the parable of the net. Those are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 13. Parable is a condensed story which plainly explains the things in it like how it is, why it is, what it is. It is like a double-edged sword. It may trigger the sense of hearers that they want to know more what the hidden deeper meanings are. Or, some might just pass by, thinking that they know already it. We shall not be the latter because we cannot simply pass by. It is designed to deliver the significant messages and revelations on the kingdom of heaven. One phrase repeated many times here is “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” It means that we shall be carefully attentive to what the Lord says. We may miss a meal. We may miss a TV show. We may miss a vacation. But we cannot miss his words of truth which tells and reveals the mysteries of the kingdom of God. How do we do it in the midst of challenges and difficulties? Life is not a joke, nor a game. It is a serious matter. The Scripture says so. Our Lord Jesus tells the parables for humanity to learn the secrets of life designed and made by God in his infinite wisdom and knowledge. Why do we not, then, paying careful attention to what he says?

“He said to them, ‘Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.’ ‘Consider carefully what you hear,’ he continued. ‘With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.’” (Mark 4:21-25)

It is obvious that no one puts a lamp under a basket or a bed. Instead, everyone puts it on its stand. The lamp is to shine and give light in the darkness. What does it tell? It tells a significant truth. Some may think that they could hide something all the way to the tomb. Not so. Why cannot anyone hide anything at all? Because God is light. Light reveals all things as in the daylight. All things include not only the visible but the invisible. In fact, the visible things are all but the manifestation of the invisible things. God sees and knows our hearts and minds. He knows the deep things of humanity. God’s eyes are like blazing fire in whom nothing is hidden and concealed. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) Our Lord Jesus says, “What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.” (Luke 12:3) That is what the lamp is for. It reveals all things. Nothing can be hidden or unknown in the sight of God.  

What is the lamp then? In the parable of the sower, Jesus tells that he sows the seed which is the word. The word of God is the lamp. “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 119:105) God sows his word in the hearts of mankind to listen and pay careful attention what it is and why it is and how it is. Because it tells the reality and truth of humanity. It tells that we are helplessly lost and fallen. It tells that we are poor and inadequate in spirit. It tells that God loves us so dearly. It tells that Jesus Christ is the Messiah God sent. It tells that there is the end of the world and the beginning of the new beginning. It tells that we shall rejoice even in the sufferings and trials. It tells that Christ in us, the hope of glory. It tells that as the Son in the Father and God in the Son, so also we in Christ and Christ in us. It tells that we are born again and united with Christ through the blood and share his glory as heir of God and co-heir with Christ. it tells that there is an evil who has rebelled against God. it tells that the devil is not in the league of God but a creature made by him who rules and reigns all things. It tells that no one has seen God except Christ the Son who is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of him, sustaining all things by his powerful word. It tells that God created the heavens and the earth in the beginning. Without the lamp, it would have not been known. That is why the Scripture is given. It is a gift from heaven above for those who read, understand, accept, and obey the precepts and statues.

“Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3)

Why is the lamp given? TO MEASURE! So, we shall measure what we hear. How shall we measure? How shall we understand and accept the word of God? How shall we read, study, and take it? How shall we carefully hear it? It is so significant how to measure it because with the measure we use it will be measured to us and even more. The Amplified Translation writes this way, “Then He said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond]--and more will be given to you besides.’” (Mark 4:24) The right way of measurement in our study of the Scriptures is that we accept and put them into practice in our midst. James says so pertinently on this matter of acting on the truth we learn in the Epistle to the saints. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:22-25) So, we shall respond to the word by obedience to the Lord!

What is God’s blessing to those who respond and obey the Lord? “Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” (Mark 4:25) The Amplified Bible translates as this. “For whoever has [a teachable heart], to him more [understanding] will be given; and whoever does not have [a yearning for truth], even what he has will be taken away from him.” A teachable heart is the heart that is willing to venture out in obedience to the Lord. The commandment of God is to love one another, embracing each other, loving the unlovable, and forgiving the unforgivable. Everyone knows loving enemies is not an easy thing to do, even to the mature. But it is the commandment of God. So, we shall obey just as our Lord Jesus Christ obeyed the Father even to the point of death. However, it is not possible to obey God with our flesh and blood—dedication and commitment whatever they are. It is only possible in the way our Lord Jesus demonstrated on the cross, giving his whole body to the Father on behalf of the sin of the world. Jesus bled and died for our sins and transgressions just as it was prophesied in the Scripture. Christ obeyed the Father even to the point of death because it was the will of God. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) This is called the mystery of Christ.

This section, “A lamp on a stand,” is followed by the parable of the sower. There are four kinds of field which the seed is sown. Except the good soil, the three fields bear no fruits at all. The lamp is used to examine and test what kind of heart is. Our God is generously and faithfully sowing the seed for us to examine our hearts. The seed is good and ready to bear fruits. But the other fields will not bear fruits except the good soil. The word is sown in the hearts of mankind, but only a few understand and accept it and bear fruits. It depends on how we measure it. The stubborn heart bears no fruit, being taken away what has been sown. They are like passers-by. They are unteachable because of the hardened heart. Others have no root. They are consumed by the worries of lives, duped by the deceitfulness of wealth, choked by the covertness of other things in the world. God is unfailing and faithful in keeping his promises. They cannot bear fruits as long as they do not pay careful attention to the word as the standard measurement of truth. They cannot but experience all but the emptiness and boredom and meaninglessness in the midst. It is called the wrath of God.  

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20)

However, those who have good soil, receiving the word and responding by obedience to the Lord, will bear abundant fruits, thirty times, sixty times, and one hundred times. Here it indicates that the blessings of God is increasing, not the other way around. Jesus says more will be given to those who measure rightly and put them into practice. What will be given more? The fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit teaches the revelations of the Scriptures, which gives understandings. It goes on and on as the blessings of heaven. Thirty times, sixty times, and one hundred times! It indicates the blessings of heaven aren’t coming stingily but abundantly. What a promise!

April 22, 2018

© 2018 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

A Living Stone (1 Peter 2:1-10)

Why doesn’t God bring his beloved children into his kingdom immediately after the rebirth in Christ? Instead, why does he leave them on the earth for a while? So, why does he let them struggle and suffer quite a while in this earth? Jesus says that he is sending his disciples among the wolves. Is it not too dangerous to put his sheep among wolves? Yes, it is dangerous and perilous and risky to live in the world. No doubt. But God remembers his children and knows how to protect them from all sorts of dangers and perils. In fact, he is in charge of taking care of them because he has sent them out all over the places in the world. He is the commander in chief and takes full responsibility for the safest passage to salvation though we may not see and understand how he is. Jesus Christ promises his disciples that he will always be with them, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). The reason God let us stay in the earth for a while as sojourners and strangers is to learn how to handle lives in Christ. Trials and sufferings in our midst are divinely and even mysteriously designed by the hand of God even before the creation of the world. We have so many things to learn on earth to prepare for the ages to come, especially the mysteries of God. Apostle Peter teaches us that we are all a holy priesthood in Christ, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Once we were in darkness, but are now in wonderful light. Once we were lost and blind, but now are found in Christ. One we were not his people, but now we are his beloved children.

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:1-4)

This is essentially part of the previous chapter. Having been redeemed and transformed with the unfathomable price of the blood of the Son, we ought to rid ourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Of course, we know that it is not possible to do all that with our flesh and blood but only possible in the Spirit. It will be so natural that we’ve been made and able to knock down all the evils in Christ for the power of God has been given to us. But it is not an easy passage to learn this truth. It is a long process in time and space to grow up in our salvation which we will experience the fulfillment of God’s promises. Growing in the faith of Christ is solely dependent on God according to his divine program even before time began. What we need is to keep on craving pure spiritual milk, the words of truth. Babies grow just like that. There is no other way for the salvation of lives than the total reliance on Christ and his work on the cross and the resurrection from the dead. If anyone builds a house on other grounds than Christ Jesus, they will be ashamed when storms strike. Anyone in Christ may have tasted that the Lord is good if truly born again through the blood of Christ. The Lord is good doesn’t mean that he is like a good uncle or neighbor who seems nice always, but that he is always holy and righteous. The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is not changing case by case, though different infinitely person by person. He remains the same as a holy and righteous God. So, no one can escape the wrath of God whenever and wherever and whatever violated the supreme laws of God. On the other hand, if we keep the commandments of God, we will have peace and rest in him.

“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:5-10)

Jesus is the living Stone which was rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him. The language ‘Stone’ is used to indicate and impress the sense of immovability and fixedness. A building is relied on a cornerstone to stand up straight and firm. If anything in the building doesn’t depend on the cornerstone it wouldn’t be able to escape the severe loss. That’s what it means Jesus is the living Cornerstone. If anyone doesn’t believe in him, they will not be able to escape the righteous judgment of God on the Day of the Lord. People who reject him cannot find a way out on the last day. Anyone, however, trusts in him will be saved safe and secure in the midst of challenging and dangerous lives on earth. “For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) The Messiah came to the world according to the Scriptures. But when he came into the world, into his own people, they didn’t recognize him, nor accepted him as the Promised One to come. Despite of the evidences which could prove him that he was, the people rejected and handed him to the hands of the Gentiles to crucify him on a cross. Indeed, they crucified the Blessed Lord Jesus Christ. But the Lord crucified was raised from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures. The power of death couldn’t get hold of the Lord in the cold tomb. On the third day, the resurrection power of God made the dead alive forever. That much power has secured the cornerstone into its right place forever. So, how much are we supposed to rely on Christ? Everything, from A to Z. Why? Because he is the giver of all things, life, love, peace, joy, power, authority, praise, honor, glory. He created all things that has been made for him and through him. He is the head of all things. He is the beginning and the end. He knows all and all things will be united through him. “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’” (John 14:6-7)

As we come unto him, the cornerstone, we also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In Christ, we also are like living stones because we are being built into a house where our God indwells forever. The image of stone is used to indicate the irrevocability of God’s high calling (Romans 11:29). Our God is steadfast and faithful to keep all of his promises. With what purpose are we called as living stones? To be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Levitical laws teach what the work and service of priesthood is. The priests offer sacrifices on behalf of the people who bring the gifts and sacrifices to God. Only the Levitical priesthood can serve the Lord, entering into the holy place to offer sacrifices acceptable to God. Only the high priest is allowed to enter into the holy of holies once a year. No ordinary man is allowed to enter the holy place. If they attempt to try to enter the forbidden place in the Tabernacle, they should pay the price of life. Why does God strictly forbid non-priesthood to enter into the holy place at all? Because he is holy. Without the help of priesthood, no one can come to the Lord according the Law of Moses.

That’s why anyone in Christ is called a holy priesthood. Without being made a royal priesthood and a holy nation, no one can access to the holy resident of God. The Holy Spirit of God has made his holy resident in our hearts at the most exquisite moment of conversion experience through the blood of Christ Jesus. We’ve been cleansed and purified by the blood, and so God has made his indwelling place within us. We’ve been delivered and liberated from the bondage of darkness and blindness deceived by the father of lie, the devil. We’ve been called into a marvelous light and become his sons of light. Every believer in Christ has become his holy temple. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) So, now every person in Christ is a holy priesthood and God’s special possession, which enables to enter into the holy of holies through the faith in Christ. What does it mean by that in practice? Romans Chapter 5 explains the practical application of entering into the holy of holies as a royal priesthood. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2) When Jesus Christ was crucified and died on the cross, the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom, giving the access to enter into the throne of grace, the holy presence of God through the faith in the Lord Christ. In Christ, we are able to enter into the throne of grace ten times, one hundred times, even one thousand times a day. But not without going through the way of the cross! No cross, no resurrection. No death, no life. In practice, it means we accept and believe the fact that we died with Christ and were buried with him and on the third day raised from the dead with him. Jesus is still telling, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24) Our merciful and graceful Lord Jesus gave a Samaritan woman a living water welling up the eternal life. It indicates the Holy Spirit within us. The word of God is in our mouth and heart. Whenever needed, we quickly and speedily run for him who indwells within us forever.

“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

April 4, 2018

© 2015-2018 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Be Holy, Because I Am Holy (1 Peter 1:13-25)

What should be like a life after being converted and transformed in Christ? There may a thousand and one different answers to that. But one thing to which everyone surely agrees is that it shouldn’t be the same as before. Something must be different from the past. What is it? Apostle Peter says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” How can we be holy? That’s a big challenge. Note that it is a commandment, not an option, but requirement. That makes us more challenging to be holy. Here holiness means not outward appearance, but wholeness, standing firm and secure in all circumstances. One thing many a Christians have been confused is that they blindly try harder to keep the commandments of God, thinking that it would results in being holy. The commandment of “Be holy” originates from the Law of Moses. “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.” (Leviticus 20:26) It is true that if we don’t keep up with the Law of Moses we cannot live but be punished to die. That’s what the Law says. But the problem is that there is no one who can keep up with it. Violating one law out of the hundreds and thousands makes anyone a lawbreaker, even though keeping all the rest. Nevertheless, the Scripture is firmly telling us that we shall keep up with all the laws of God. That’s the meaning of saying, “Be holy because I am holy.” It is a mystery of God which tells how we may able to keep them. Let’s listen to Apostle Peter who is telling us how.

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:13-25)

No one can keep up with the Law of God. Then, why did God give them? To tell us that the Law of God must be kept in perfection and that we may realize the reality and truth that we are totally inadequate to meet the law requirements. Something has terribly gone wrong in humanity since Adam fell. So, trying harder to keep the laws never works, never will. Then, there should be a new way in keeping the commandments of God, which comes from heaven above. It is the way of the cross which our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated on the cross of Calvary. On the cross Christ shed his blood and died to atone the sins of the world. He did not die for himself because he was sinless. He died for the sin of Adam and paid the full ransom price to reconcile with God. Through the faith in Christ Jesus we’ve been made new and changed because we died to sin and no longer under the law and remain forever under his grace. The things which we cannot do have been done by the blood of Christ and the faith in him. In Adam, all humanity fell into the darkness and blindness deceived and trapped by the devil. The seriousness of fallen race is that they do not even know that they are lost and fallen, thinking that they can fix the world and build a paradise on earth. History tells simply it is not true. The same old problems are recurring over and over again. What man cannot do has been done by God in his infinite wisdom and faithful love and grace through the Son Jesus Christ. He took up the transgressions and iniquities of humanity upon himself and died to pay the price for the redemption of mankind. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) The Son’s death was not for himself. There is no reason to die for the Son of God. But he died for us, the sinful world because only his blood can quench the wrath of God and hence deliver from the bondage of deep dark evil. So, Christ’s death is our death, his burial is ours, and his resurrection is ours. By faith only! By faith, we believe that Christ died, was buried and raised from the dead on the third day instead of us who are in Christ. That’s the way how we’ve been made completely new and transformed in Christ.

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” (Romans 6:1-10)

God has done a wonderful and marvelous thing for all humanity to be able to keep up with the Law in holiness and perfection. It is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus Christ is. It is not working and never will do by any means other than Jesus and the work done on the cross. In fact, all humanity desires to live a holy and fulfilled life. But they don’t know how because of blindness and darkness since Adam fell. The blindness and darkness of man must be lifted up to have a true life which God intended man to have before the time began. The life has been hidden and veiled for ages and generations, but now revealed in light by Christ Jesus the Lord. It is the mystery of Christ which is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The old has gone in Christ and the new has arrived in God. The good news has come! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! “ (2 Corinthians 5:17) Since we’ve been made new and transformed from the enslavement of blindness and darkness by the power of God, we can now live a new life. The new life is from heaven above, not from the earth. It is not purchasable with money or status. Nor is obtainable with all-in commitment and dedication.

How can we show that we have been changed and transformed? What is the manifest of a new life in Christ? So that, we are obeying God to be holy as he is holy. To love one another. That’s right, the four words. The Ten Commandments are summarized into two by the Lord Jesus Christ—first, love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and second, love your neighbors as yourself. Jesus gave his disciples the new commandment which is the same as the old one except the phrase, “as I have loved you.” It is recorded in John’s Gospel Chapter 13. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) Love one another means just like that. Love our enemies, says the Scriptures. Truly it means loving the unlovable and forgiving the unforgivable! How can we love our enemies? It is impossible with the old nature. Just try it! Try to love someone who annoys you with no cause or no reason to think of. We do not want to love our enemies. In fact, we cannot. However, our God so loved the world that he sent his Son and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. God demonstrated his unfailing love while we were still sinners, God’s enemies. Instead of punishing mankind, the fallen race, he let his Son die in our place. Jesus shed his blood for man as the atoning sacrifice. Jesus Christ not only died but also rose again from the dead on the third day by the power of resurrection. No power, even death cannot hold of him in the tomb. In Christ, we’ve been clothed with the righteousness of Christ and the power of resurrection through the faith in him. So that, we may live a revolutionary life in God on earth and in heaven forever.

That’s how God has made man new and transformed in Christ. Demolishing the old and creating a new life in them. Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." (John 2:19) The old was destroyed on a cross and the new was born with his resurrection as the firstfruits. Apostle Paul says in the Letter to Galatians, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Our old self has died through the faith in Christ and the new self has come through the grace in God. It’s new, a revolutionarily new life, completely different from the old. The old has in entirety no value or credit before God. There is no one righteous in the sight of God. All is guilty and wicked and evil under the sun. The old must be demolished in order to create the new. The old was cursed and condemned under the law but the new has been freed from the law and put under the grace of God forever. “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:11-14)

So, we can love one another with the power of God given through the faith in Christ. That’s the only way! In fact, in Christ, we live and do all things through the power of resurrection. From washing dishes, working all day long, going vacation, traveling to loving one another, we do all with the power of God. It is possible because we’ve been made new and given access to the throne of grace anytime anywhere forever. Jesus was giving a Samaritan woman the living water welling up to eternal life. “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14) Jesus is the living water. That’s how we live now and forevermore in Christ. Keep on drinking the living water through the faith in him, ten times, hundred times, even thousand times a day. It is true that we’re struggling in obeying the new command, “Love each other.” But we know that there is no partial obedience in loving one another like we love all but someone. We must obey Christ and love everyone including our enemies. Someone who hurts us. Someone who accuses us. Someone who cheats us. Even someone who strikes us. There is no exception. That’s what God did. He so loved the world that he gave his Son and that whoever believes in him should not be punished but have eternal life. The Son died for us while we’re still his enemies. So, God has equipped us with the power of resurrection by sending the Holy Spirit into our hearts. Truly loving one another can be done not by us but by the Spirit. What we do is to let the Spirit who indwells within do and manifest his unfailing love.

How can we be sure of this after all? We are all foreigners and sojourners on the earth, preparing and being ready for the life to come, eternal life. The word of God is imperishable and eternal. It will be fulfilled, even not a single letter would fall to the ground. Whereas, mankind is like the flowers of the field and grass. It works, will work because the word of God says so. The word of God is true and faithful forever. “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-19) It is confirmed again in the Last Book of the Scripture, the Revelation by John. That’s why we can trust and believe in God. It takes a while, most likely our whole life long days. It is worthwhile and only acceptable to God that we invest our time and mind to learn how to obey the new command step by step, buying out the opportunities and times in the midst of trials and sufferings.

“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” (Revelation 22:18-19)

March 19, 2018

© 2015-2018 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved. 

Given New Birth Into A Living Hope and Inheritance Kept In Heaven (1 Peter 1:1-12)

Who is Peter? What does he say in his letter to the saints, exiles scattered around the world? Why does he say so? He is one of the Twelve and spent time in his young age with the Lord Jesus Christ and faithfully obeyed and followed the Lord till he gave his life on a cross. He was a fisherman in Galilee and called to be a fisher of man. He is known as one of top disciples along with John and James. He is the one who walked on the water and protested against the Lord when he said that he would suffer and die by the Pharisees and elders of the people. Most of all, he denied the Lord three times on the night when the Lord was arrested and tried by the Sanhedrin and rushed going outside and wept bitterly and loudly. Though he failed miserably, not keeping his words, Jesus still loved him, helping to catch a large number of fish and cooking a breakfast on the shore, and entrusting Peter as a shepherd for his sheep. Jesus raised Peter as a pillar of his church in the first century and beyond, enabling him to follow the Lord Master in the midst of fierce persecutions against the saints scattered in Judea, Samaria, Asia minor, and other places. He faithfully taught and preached the gospel of Christ as entrusted by the Lord. His letter to the saints has been empowering and strengthening the readers who understand and practice his revelations and exhortations throughout the centuries. In a way, we’re all like Peter, making mistakes and blunders often though wanting not to. Here is Peter and behind him there is always Jesus. He could remain as a faithful servant because Jesus the Lord embraced, walked and accompanied with him from the beginning to the end. This Peter is saying that we may rejoice in the Lord while enduring all kinds of trials and sufferings because we’ve been given a living hope which is shielded by God’s power until it is to be revealed in the last days and also inheritance kept in heaven which never perish, spoil, or fade. Apostle Peter says that’s what we are in Christ. We have confidence and even boldness to stand before throne of grace whenever and wherever because we’ve been made so in Christ.

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” (1 Peter 1:1-2)

Peter introduces himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ, nothing more, nothing less. He could have added much more things about himself. But he doesn’t because it is more than enough credentials as an apostle called by the Lord Jesus. There is no need of more explanations because God called Peter to make him so. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16) That’s his identity before the Lord, so are we. We’re called and sent out by the Lord to bear his name in the midst of all trials and sufferings. God’s calling is irrevocable, so he will keep his servants with his mighty hands from all troubles and difficulties and from evils and dark powers of the wicked one till the hope of salvation arrives. That’s the confidence and power of all believers.

Peter is writing to God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the world, every corner of the land where people live. God put his beloved and redeemed saints according to his infinite wisdom and grace wherever he wants to. Christians are all over the places, all levels of lives, all professions and careers. It never be true that Christians are geographically supposed to gather together in one place wherever it is, being separated and secluded from the world. No, Jesus sent out his disciples among the wolves, meaning that the believers live among people in the world (Matthew 10:16). Abraham did so as well, living among the Amorites. As a matter of fact, he was called to leave his home country and live in a foreign land as a stranger and exile throughout his lifetime. The gospel of Christ was reaching out to all kinds of people in many parts of regions and countries through the testimony of Christ believers, especially through their changed and transformed lives. Peter is writing to these Christians who received the Lord Jesus. They are called God’s elect whom God foreknew even before the time began. The people are called God’s elect who have acted to accept the heavenly invitation when they heard of the good news of Jesus Christ according to the foreknowledge of God. Those who have responded to accept the Lord Jesus are sanctified by the Holy Spirit. All believers in Christ have received the gift of the Holy Spirit as promised. We’ve been made as the holy temple of God, the resident of the Holy God. Jesus says, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” (John 14:23) We’ve been so loved and delivered from the bondage and slavery of evil one in order to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled by the blood of Christ. God called us to obey his commandments, loving one another. What truly makes Christians different from the world is not the outward fit like sanctimonious and religious languages and gestures, but the inner change from loving self to loving others. To love our neighbor as ourselves is to obey God. This obedience is demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ who obeyed the Father even to the point of death. The way of obedience for the Son Jesus was to take up the cross and shed his blood for the sin of the world, which was the will of the Father. So did we die with Christ and was raised from the dead with him. No cross, no crown. No death, no resurrection. Obedience to God means our death of old self with Christ because it is the way to love others. Then, with the resurrection power given by God, we can love others.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

Who are the exiles and strangers scattered in all corners of societies and communities? What’s happened in Christ? In God’s great mercy, we’ve been born again through the cleansing blood of Christ. We’ve been changed and redeemed in Christ, which is called a new birth. The new birth has brought us a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Man is made as eternal being from the beginning, so we do not die. There is the second death after the judgment of God. We will be living forever with God and the Son Jesus Christ in heaven as demonstrated that our Lord rose again on the third day from the dead by the power of God. The new birth is only the beginning and much more to come, sealed and guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. The thing seen and taken is not our hope at all but the unseen is. “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:24-25) We had long been going after something that never be the true hope in this world out of ignorance and unbelief. In those days we were hopeless and in darkness and fantasy. Only through the new birth in Christ, our eyes are open to see the true hope in heaven, knowing that we were fallen and lost in Adam and have now been rescued and reconciled with God through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the cleansing blood of Christ. Though we still live in this world as God scatter and put, we live in hope, the genuine and real one. This is not a fantasy but the reality and future for humanity, because this life is not all but much more to come, a glorious and eternal life.

Also, the new birth has brought us into inheritance kept in heaven and never perish, spoil, or fade. The inheritance through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is to be revealed in the last time. Our inheritance will be fully revealed when we are clothed with the resurrection body. Since the new birth in Christ, we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:117) We cannot touch or see the inheritance except through faith. Abraham did so in his days and stayed in the land where he lived as a stranger and foreigner among the natives. “If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:15-16) Our inheritance in Christ is shielded by God’s power, so it is truly safe and secure and nothing can touch a bit. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39) The inheritance is surely a future commodity which we will be holding up in all eternity. At the same time, it is available now for those who believe and take it through faith. Our Lord gave the promise to his disciples, saying “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:12-14) Through faith, we may even experience and take our inheritance that our Father is willing to give whenever needed and wanted. Do we take an action to take it through faith?

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.” (1 Peter 1:6-12)

So, we rejoice, greatly rejoice always. In the meantime, we have to go through all kinds of trials like financial pressure, health issues, relationship difficulties, social injustices, and so on. But only for a little while. There is an end of trials, which I believe indicates the end of our earthly days. There is no exception. All man is under pressure and stress till the last breath of air. That’s the way it is and how it is. But it will not go on forever. There is an end. So, our trials are numbered for sure. Why are then trails for all man, especially the believers in Christ and God? It is a test of the proven genuineness of our faith. If not tried and tested, how can it be proved? Suppose everything is going well, who wants to live by faith? The truth is that no one can claim that they are able to run their lives. If so, he is lying and blinded in darkness. In fact, the trials are out of God’s infinite wisdom and love. Why so? Because through trials and difficulties in the midst, man may learn that they are in need of help, God’s loving kindness and blessings. So, God disciplines his children, allowing all kinds of trials and challenges to happen, because he is love. “And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.” (Hebrews 12:5-8)

How much worth is the proven genuineness of our faith? It is greater worth than gold which perishes. Gold is known as an unchanging material, long lasting, so it has long been considered as a precious commodity and symbol of wealth. But Peter says that gold perishes. It means there is nothing in the world will last forever, even gold, but the faith in Christ Jesus the Lord. It produces and multiplies praise, glory, and honor when Christ appears. Knowing the fact that it will produce fruits, how to endure hardships until Christ is revealed? Trials and sufferings are not easy to bear but difficult and easy to give up. Many a people fall behind in following Jesus Christ because it is tough and hard. It’s possible only through the faith in Christ Jesus. Through faith, though we haven’t seen him, we love him, obeying his commandments. Through faith, though we do not see him now, we believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. Are we truly believing it? Are we truly rejoicing greatly, even always? Why do we love him and believe in him? Because we are receiving the end result of our faith, the salvation of our souls. Praise, glory, and honor are waiting for us as reward for those who endured the trials through faith. Our Lord Jesus will give us the crown of life. “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” (1 Peter 5:4) The trials and sufferings are not unfortunately given but purposefully working together in molding and equipping us to be fit for his kingdom. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) So, we live and face all kinds of trials, holding on to this hope of the great salvation. Praise be to God who is able to keep his promises.

Concerning this salvation, the prophets spoke and prophesied about the coming of the Messiah and his sufferings and the following glory, the resurrection from the dead. They searched intently and with the greatest care to try to find out the time and circumstances, not for themselves but for us. The gospel preached to us by the Holy Spirit from heaven has brought the salvation, which angles long to look into these things. The patriarchs and prophets foresaw and predicted the suffering servant revealed by the Spirit of Christ, but did not see his coming. The Promised Messiah came and fulfilled the promises of God. He bled and died on the cross of Calvary according to the Scriptures. He rose from the dead by the power of God and ascended into heaven and seated at God’s right hand. The death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ has brought us a living hope shielded by God’s power and inheritance kept in heaven, which never perish, spoil, or fade. God will keep his promises for his name’s sake for he is holy. He will not fail us in any case for his holy name’s sake. Since it is true and will be fulfilled, why not greatly rejoice in the midst of trials and challenges, holding on to the living hope and inheritance in Christ. Hang tight until Christ is reveled. Faith counts. Faith matters. Through faith, love one another as Jesus loved us first.

“To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)

February 27, 2018

© 2015-2018 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved. 

Love Never Ends (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

How can church grow? Church never means building but people like you and me who are in Christ. Are we growing or not in him? It is a enormously significant question for us to examine ourselves whether in growth or not. Love is the secret for growth. There are many kinds of gifts given to church, the body of Christ. The gifts are for common good to equip the saints, so that they may be growing strong and firm in the Lord. How are we supposed to use the gifts of the Spirit? What is the most excellent way? In fact, the First Corinthians Chapter 13 begins at the end of the Chapter 12. It says, “And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” In the previous chapter, Apostle Paul says that there is one Spirit who dispenses with different kinds of gifts whoever and whenever and wherever he wanted to. Church was born after the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ like through the birth pain. It is made and built on the foundation and bedrock of the blood of Christ. It is not made by human hands but by God, so it shall be run by him and it has been running by the Lord himself who is the head of church. “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Colossians 1:18) God sent his Spirit to lead the church, having equipped the saints with the gifts of the Holy One as he pleases. Each receives the gifts of the Spirit for common good, not for boasting or promotion. How are we ought to use the gifts of the Spirit? Apostle Paul explains the most excellent way.

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,  but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

What does it mean by with love or without love? The gifts of the Spirit are given for common good, so shall be used for others. There is nothing wrong with the gifts of God as some understand that way. Speaking in tongues, prophesying, mountain moving faith, and giving to the poor are all legitimate and authentic gifts the Spirit has appropriated for the church. So, using the gifts is the right thing to do. It is not right if not using them. They have been given freely, so shall be used rightly. They have not been given for boasting or looking down on others, which causes divisions and quarrels. This is not the way it is. If anyone boasts about the works manifested by the power of the gifts of the Spirit, they are nothing, no gain, no reward. They have already been rewarded on the earth, so nothing left in heaven. No, the gifts of the Spirit is never meant to be puffed up and boast of. Rather, they shall be administered according God’s grace to build up the church. Be cautious and watchful in doing all things whether church service, administrative duties, or any chores because all believers in Christ are always ministering the gifts of God. Our old self died to sin with Christ, so we no longer live but Christ lives in us. The life we live now in the body, we live by faith in Christ, who gave himself for us as an infallible token of love (Galatians 2:20). Our flesh has no value before God. It must be put away in doing all things in Christ. As a matter of fact, we are not doing any thing but Christ in us does all things. What we do is to let him do by denying and submitting ourselves to him. Then, Christ in us does all things by the power of God, which raised Christ from the dead. Yes, nothing can be done without the power of God. This is what it means by manifesting the gifts of the Spirit with love. ‘Without love’ implies being boastful of the gifts of the Spirit like children. Even though the power of God may be released, without love it is nothing, no gain. Love is inherently obedience without self to God. The genuine love of God has been demonstrated by the Son of Man who selflessly and voluntarily offered his body as the ransom sacrifice on that cross. He became nothing in the first place by being born of a woman in the likeness of man. Then he obeyed the Father even to the point of death (Philippians 2:6-8). That is God’s holy love (John 3:16).

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

What is love? Here the love means agape, a selfless love, the sacrificial love of God. Two descriptive words for love are positive and eight of them are negative. What love is exactly what the Spirit does. What love isn’t precisely what the flesh does. The desires of the Spirit and the flesh are hostile each other. “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8) Living by the love of God is possible and experienceable for those who are born of the Spirit. But it is not an automatic cruise in exercising the agape love one another since the rebirth in Christ, but a long process in learning how to love each other as Christ loved us first while we’re still sinners. We’re now in the realm of the Spirit in Christ. “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9) Currently what we’re experiencing is more failing and being defeated in the flesh than being victorious and winning in the Spirit. So, we cry just as Apostle Paul agonizes, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24)

Instead of being patient, we’re apt to lose temper, easily being fallen into temptation to give up. Instead of being kind, we’re prone to care self, closing the eyes not to see the other’s need. Furthermore, we often do envy, wanting to get what it doesn’t have. We often do boast, being arrogant and self-righteous over others. We’re often proud and do force itself on others, dishonoring them. We’re often self-seeking, being “me first.” We’re easily angered, flying off the handle. We often keeps record of wrongs, keeping score of the sins of others. We often revel when others grovel, being delighted in evil. We often fail to rejoice with the truth. We’re the lump of failures and trespasses, miserably down falling in keeping the commandment of the law, the new covenant, “Love one another!” The good news is that it is not what we are any longer. That’s what we were. The old has gone and we are new creation in Christ. We died to sin and now live for God in Christ. We’ve been long accustomed to live the old way of life, so it takes a while, probably lifetime to learn how to live a new life in Christ. This is truly our hope in God, putting up with anything, trusting God always, always looking for the best, never looking back, but keeping going to the end (Eugene Peterson).

Since it is impossible for us to keep the commandments of God, Jesus Christ died for our sins and transgressions once for all. Christ’s death is our death, so we died with him. Not only so, but also we were buried with him and rose again with him from the dead on the third day. We now live his life by the power of the resurrection. This is the new way of living in Christ. Nothing from me, everything from God, from a single breath of air to loving each other. Though our experience doesn’t often meet the promise of living in love, it is still God’s promise for us to reach to the point where we will meet all the demands in love. We know that we’re not doing all in love all the time. That’s true and real. It is also true that we have a help available immediately when we recognize our total failure and inadequacy, even wretchedness. Apostle Paul asserts, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” (Romans 7:25) Furthermore, there is the promise of assurance through the word of truth. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2) Though we bump and make mistakes, God is patient and kind till we reach the mature manhood in Christ. We’ll be there because it is the promise of God. The mystery of Christ has been revealed, which was hidden for generations and ages. It is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)

Love never fails! Love never ends! This is not a mere slogan, but a true statement. There is one body of truth in which there are many truths. We know some bits and pieces of the truth. We cannot know all. Prophecies will cease, tongues will be stilled, knowledge will pass away. It doesn’t mean those are meaningless and wasteful at all. Rather, it means that there will be a time for the whole truth unleashed and known as a bright day. When the day comes, all prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will be adding up piece by piece, bit by bit as part of the glorious whole truth. Those should be ceased and stilled when the whole picture comes into realization visibly to our eyes. All the mysteries of lives will instantly explained and known about the pains, heartaches, struggles, frustrations, choices, ups and downs, everything. What and how we have done all those years in this earthly time and space will be laid bare as daylight. It will be surprise and surprise, a big one to all just as told in the parable of sheep and goats recorded in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25 Verses 31 through 46. Both aisles are completely surprised and lost when told what they did and didn’t by the Son of Man in glory. The righteous and the unrighteous are expressing their surprise, knowing the fact that they did or didn’t do things like giving, visiting, and helping the needy. Love never ends! God is faithful in love forever. We see and know in part, but will see and know in whole on that day. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” (Revelation 21:3-4)

Every born in Christ begins with the stage of childhood. But they ought to grow to adulthood, leaving behind childhood. Talking, thinking, reasoning are no longer like child when grown up. The Corinthian church was still in the infant stage, having jealousy and quarreling among them, not growing into mature manhood. “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) Grown-ups eat solid food, being able to digest and understand the hard teachings of the Scriptures, even loving the enemies. It is a stark warning that the entire congregation of Israel had wondered around in the wilderness forty long years and perished except two men, Caleb and Joshua. We now see a reflection as in a mirror, but will see the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. “Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2) So, we shall keep on growing, leaving behind childish things like boasting about the gifts. What is seen is part, what is unseen, whole. God is love forever. So, we live now in his love, faith, and hope. These three, love, hope, and faith will pass through death. “But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.” (Eugene Peterson) This is the excellent way of using the gifts of the Spirit, which is to do it all with love, the agape love of God.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

February 10, 2018

© 2015-2018 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

One Spirit, Many Gifts like One Body, Many Parts (1 Corinthians 12:1-31)

Why are there many divisions and quarrels in our midst, especially in churches? Is church supposed to be united in harmony and love each other? No doubt about it. However, it has often been a laughingstock for the world, let alone be salt and light. It is sad but true. Yet all the churches are still the Lord’s. The Lord Christ Jesus owns all of his church bodies on earth and in heaven. He is the head of church. In the church, there should be differences in language, culture, race, way of thinking, pattern of life, wealth, and much more. It is not the only area of difference. There have been many different spectrums in translating and interpreting the Scriptures because there are many levels of understandings and revelations just like different stages of growth—child, young man, and adult. It should be so, says Apostle Paul. “No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.” (1 Corinthians 11:19) We are in need of understanding and realization of the work and presence of the Spirit of God in our midst. Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the Spirit of God. He is the Spirit of truth. He searches and knows even the deep things of God. “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ — the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10) Jesus promised to send another advocate to hep his disciples and be with them forever. “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:15-19) All believers in Christ Jesus has received the Holy Spirit as promised through which we’ve been baptized with Christ. That’s the fact and truth. Anyone in Christ is the holy temple of God where the Spirit indwells within forever.

“Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

The First Corinthian Letter teaches about the gifts of the Spirit and we should be well taught and informed. Because without the Spirit, no one can say, “Jesus is Lord.” In Christ, we’ve been liberated and redeemed from the empty way of life, ignorantly and blindly going after one mute idol after another. We’ve been saved and delivered in his glorious and immeasurable riches of grace and mercy through the blood of Christ and received the Spirit as promised. So, we say, “Jesus is Lord,” through the Holy Spirit. He is Lord of all creations. He made all things that have been made. There is nothing that has been made without him. He is holding everything together. He is the firstborn over all creation. He is the owner of all things. “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Colossians 1:15-18) People ask, “If he reigns, why are there injustices and wickedness on the earth, even relentlessly rampant and seemingly prevailing?” Not so. That’s not true. He reigns and rules in love and justice from the beginning to the end as Lord and King in the heavenly places. He is faithful and true that God is giving them many opportunities to change their minds and come back to him. Apostle Paul argues, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4) Every man shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ for he is Lord of lords and King of kings. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) Our Lord Jesus Christ rules and reigns in love and justice now and forevermore. He sent the Spirit of God to all believers according the promise. 

How is church supposed to work and function? By the Spirit of the Lord! When Paul and Barnabas were set apart for the missionary journey, the church in Antioch fasted and prayed for them. It is recorded in the Book of Acts Chapter 13, saying “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” (Acts 13:2) They were not going for promoting Antioch or Jerusalem church’s agenda to evangelize the world but set apart and sent for the Spirit and the work to which he had called them. Yes, the Holy Spirit sets, leads, guides, protects the servants whom he has called for his work, the work of the God the Father in heaven. That’s how church shall be working. By the Spirit of God and of Jesus Christ. Strategies and tactics if you will are all set by the Spirit. We’re the servants of God, obeying and following what the Holy Sprit calls, leads, and speaks. “This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.” (1 Corinthians 4:1) We have been called and invited to join and share his work as our service to the Lord with his grace and mercy. We share his glory and his sufferings by partaking this holy work of God. The Holy Spirit has been orchestrating and conducting the impeccable task for delivering the world from its bondage and slavery into liberty. It is glory and honor to be part of this holy business of the Lord God.

One example is recorded in the Book of Acts Chapter 8. It is the ministry of Philip in Samaria. He was one of the seven deacons in the church in Jerusalem. As the persecution broke out in Jerusalem, he went down to a city in Samaria and preached the good news of Christ Jesus and a great ministry occurred, healing the sick and driving out impure spirits, bringing great joy in that city. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaritans accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria and prayed for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. While a great ministry was still going on in Samaria, the Holy Spirit set apart Philip to go down to the south in the desert to meet an Ethiopian eunuch who came to Jerusalem to worship and on his way home. “Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means ‘queen of the Ethiopians’). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’” (Acts 8:26-29) The Holy Spirit closely led Philip to preach and explain the gospel of Christ Jesus which was prophesied by Prophet Isaiah and led him to Christ by giving him baptism on the road. That was it Philip was assigned to do and no more. Like Philip, we have been called to do his work set by the Spirit. 

How does the Holy Spirit lead and guide the servants of Christ? By giving the gifts of the Spirit. One Spirit and yet different kinds of gifts, one Lord and yet different kinds of service, and one God and yet different kinds of working. Life is complicated and complex, so is the work of church. Functioning as church the way it should be is challenging and difficult just as our lives are tough going everyday throughout lifetime. There should be different services and activities to meet the needs of church. The Holy Spirit dispenses and equips the saints with different kinds of gifts for the common good. No one is left out in receiving the gifts of the Spirit. Every person is given something to do that shows who God is and everyone gets in on it, and everyone benefits. The gift of wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. They are different gifts handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what and when. Yes, the Spirit of God determines what and when. So, no one can boast of their gifts of the Spirit because it doesn’t belong to them and isn’t for their benefits but for others. Jesus says what the servant’s attitude should be in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 17 Verse 10, “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” We are the receivers of the gifts of the Spirit and God is the giver of all things forever. We do return to the Lord what we have been entrusted as our work and service. 

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?” (1 Corinthians 12:12-30)

First, since it is the gift of the Spirit handed out for the common good, there should not be any comparisons each other. All gift is equally important and significant. Our body is a good example, says Paul. There are many parts, limbs, and cells. It is so complicated and complex that no one can fathom its intricacies and sophistications. All members of the body are working and cooperating together in harmony and order under the control of head, brain. If any member is not functioning as it’s supposed to be, it’s called incapacitated or disabled. There are so many different kind of diseases discovered for our body. As Apostle Paul demonstrates, members of the body are all equally significant that no member can say it’s superior over another. Eyes to see, ears to hear, noses to smell, mouth to taste and eat, each is assigned to unique function and work, supporting each other. Even seemingly weaker parts in the body are indispensable. Without eyes which is highly regarded and embellished, man can live, but without stomach no one can do. It is truly a mystery, the work of body how it is and what it is and why it is. No doubt that human body is made for us to learn and understand how the church is working and functioning. Likewise, each gift of the Spirit is not the object of comparison with other one. All members of the body are necessary and essential, so are all members of the church to whom the gifts of the Spirit are given per his will and purpose. No gift is superior over another. All gifts of the Spirit are valuable and purposeful for the church. In God, there is no favoritism. All are brothers and sisters under one head, Jesus Christ. 

Second, one body and many parts. One Spirit and many gifts. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. And if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. If one feet was wounded, you cannot go free of no pain with every other part except feet. All feels the same pain and suffering with feet. Likewise, one member of the church suffers, everyone in the church suffers with him. The parts of the body are inseparable, so are the members of the church. They are all united together through the Spirit of God. There is no division in the body, nor in the church. There is no difference either Jews or Gentiles, slave or free because there is only one new man in Christ Jesus the Lord. The new man is created when we’ve been liberated and redeemed by the blood of Christ and baptized by One Spirit. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17) A revolutionary change has been made for those who are in Christ, being demolished our old self and created with the new self. The change is breathtakingly glorious and unbelievably true that we’ve been made be the new creation, a whole new life and way of living, the eternal one. With these understandings and revelations, we may see other members of the church respectfully and love them as Christ loved us first. 

Third, the Spirit reveals that God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Not all apostles. Not all prophets. Not all teachers. Not all miracle workers. Not all healers. Not all speaking tongues. Not all interpret. Helping and guidance are the essential services in the church. These are not hierarchy nor ranks in the church, though some and even many interpret that way. Rather, it is chronological. Jesus called the Apostles to lay down the New Testament like John, Paul, Peter, Matthew, and more. The prophets are those who reveal and explain the mysteries of God like Luke, Mark, and many others. The teachers are the Scripture tellers and pastors. One of the dangerous practices in the church is playing games in competition like who is superior, who knows much, what skills they have, and the like. That’s exactly how the world does, bloody brutal competition like deceiving and killing others. That’s not how the church runs at all because they are the given gifts by the Spirit per need. The gifts of the Sprits are given to equip the saints for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach in unity and become mature to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, says Apostle Paul. “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: ‘When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.’ (What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:7-13)

Fourth, how do we know what gift received and how do we experience the power of the gift of the Spirit in the midst? Remember no one is left out in receiving the gift of the Spirit. Every believer has received the Spirit as promised. “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9) In addition, the Spirit gives each one different kind of gifts for everyone’s benefits. Search the heart and mind and reason what gift God has dispensed for us. We may ask other members of the body about our gifts. The truth is each one has been apportioned the gifts of the Spirit. So, we shall ask and find them. Experiencing the harmony and accord in the church on this earth may be much different than the understandings and revelations of the teachings about the body of Christ, church. Often, it is hard to get along with other members of the church. So divisions and cliques are visibly manifested in every church. What is missing? Even if it seems divisive and contentious each other, it is not for God. That’s why the Spirit has dispensed the different kinds of gifts to everyone. Pastor teachers shall continue to explain and reveal the mysteries of God in patient endurance because they are entrusted the treasures of the kingdom. Helping, administrating, serving shall be done without being gotten weary and tired because all labor in the Lord is not in vain, says Paul. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) It will take a while, maybe lifetime. It is a long process, being constructed as mature manhood, established and rooted in the Lord ever deeper and firmer. But the Lord will do so, as promised. 

January 22, 2018

© 2015-2018 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.