LOVE IS THE NEW COMMANDMENT (28)/ CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!

Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached a sermon titled ‘Christ is Risen indeed’. Her scriptures were taken from the book of John 20:1-19 and 1Corinthians 15:1-19.

INTRODUCTION

Today, together with the Christians all over the world, we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Most people call this day Easter. Christmas and Easter are the two main holy days Christians celebrate yearly. On Christmas we celebrate the birth of our Lord and at Easter we celebrate His resurrection from the dead. According to the Bible, Jesus was crucified and died on ‘Good Friday’. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. On the third day, which is Sunday, He rose from the dead and we celebrate His victory over sin and death.

Easter is considered the most important and joyful celebration in the Christian calendar. It is a time to reflect on the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice. The resurrection is a central doctrine of Christianity, emphasizing the hope and redemption offered through faith in Christ. The resurrection of Jesus has been called ‘The greatest event or miracle in human history’.  Because of persecution, the Christians in the early church did not celebrate Easter. They continued to partake in the Holy Communion to identify with the death of Jesus Christ. The word ‘Easter’ does not appear in the Bible. It comes from an old German name given to ‘the goddess of springtime’, they believed to be in charge of the season of new beginnings. Initially, Easter was connected with this pagan festival. But from the second century AD, the Christians replaced this festival with the celebration of Christ’ Resurrection. Easter is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after the initial full moon (any Sunday between March 21st to April 25th).

The significance of Easter is Jesus Christ’s triumph over death. His resurrection means that eternal life is granted to all who believe in Him. The purpose of Easter also means the full confirmation of all that Jesus taught and preached during His three-year ministry. If Jesus had simply died and not been resurrected, He would have been just another teacher or prophet. However, His resurrection rebuked all that and provided final proof that He was the Son of God and that He had overcome death once and for all. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, signifying the fulfillment of God’s plan for redemption and offering believers the promise of eternal life. Easter is a day of great joy and hope, as Christians celebrate the victory of light over darkness, life over death, and the triumph of God’s love for humanity. It is a reminder of the power of faith and the message of hope that resonates throughout the ages.

The power of resurrection manifested even in the Old Testament. These are instances when a dead man came to life again. These are symbols of the Resurrection of our Lord. *Resurrection of the widow’s son in Zarephath thru Elijah’s prayer (1Kg 17:17–24) *Resurrection of the Shunammite’s son thru Elisha’s prayer (2Kg 4:17–37) *Resurrection of the dead man thrown into Elisha’s grave (2Kg 13:20, 21).     

THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT (Matt 28:1-20; Mk 16:1-18; Lk 24:1-49; Jn 20:1-29).

According to the New Testament accounts, Easter Sunday began with the dawn of a new day, following the sorrowful crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday. As the sun rose, the women who had followed Jesus, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, made their way to the tomb where the body of Jesus had been laid. Upon arrival, they discovered the stone rolled away from the entrance and the tomb was empty. This extraordinary discovery was accompanied by the appearance of angels who proclaimed the astounding news: “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matt 28:6). Overwhelmed with wonder, the women rushed to share the incredible news with the disciples. Meanwhile, Jesus himself appeared to Mary Magdalene near the tomb, and later to other followers, including two disciples on the road to Emmaus and to the gathered disciples in Jerusalem.

JESUS PROPHESIED HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION 

For the sake of argument, let us assume that Jesus did not rise from the dead. What will that mean? Most men accept the idea that Jesus was a good and godly man, who helped the people. But if He did not rise from that grave, it means that He was a man like any men.  And He died like any man dies. His great dreams to save sinners have died with Him. His greatest promises He gave to men are all connected with His resurrection. It means He cannot be our Savior. Lastly, if Jesus did not resurrect, it means that He was a liar, a deceiver. The following are three examples when Jesus referred to His death and resurrection, but the people did not understand His words.

When Jesus drove away the money changers in the Temple, the Jews confronted Him saying:  “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body” (Jn 2:18-21). Jesus was telling them about His death and resurrection, but they did not understand. They thought He was speaking about the Temple built by Herod in Jerusalem. If Jesus did not resurrect, then all these words are lies. But His words are true. Jesus indeed died and rose from the grave, as He said it!

Later, the Jews asked Jesus for a sign to prove His authority. “He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt 12:39, 40). Jesus refers to the story of Jonah who was in the stomach of the whale for three days until he repented. Then God commanded the whale to vomit Jonah on dry land, to preach God’s Word to the sinners in Nineveh. Jesus says that He will be in the heart of the earth, dead and buried in a tomb. After three days, the tomb will ‘vomit’ Him out to preach God’s Word. He clearly describes His death and His resurrection.

Jesus said that He is the good Shepherd who is ready to die to protect and save the sheep. He said: “Therefore, My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father” (Jn10:17,18). He claims that He has the power to die and to resurrect from the dead. These promises make no sense if Jesus did not resurrect from the dead. It means that the wolf (the devil) will kill all the sheep and there is no hope for any sinner on earth. But indeed, Christ lived, died, and resurrected to become the first fruit of life from the dead. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and our Great High Priest in heaven who intercedes for us even right now.

WHAT IF JESUS CHRIST DID NOT RESURRECT? (1 Cor 15:1-19)

To know the value of an event, sometimes you need to study the opposite. Apostle Paul was a wise teacher. To help us understand the purpose and the value of Christ’ resurrection, he takes us on a journey, to imagine what could have happened if Christ did not raise from the dead.  Simply said, this is the Gospel: Jesus died and rose again for me. The Resurrection of our Lord is vital in the preaching of the Gospel. During the early church (and even today), some people were saying that Jesus did not resurrect. Apostle Paul declares that on the third day after the Cross, Jesus indeed rose from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus was an event that really happened. He is telling us that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, three basic elements of Christianity cannot exist: The preaching of God’s Word, saving Faith, and the Testimony of believers. When Paul wrote these words, it was just a generation after the Cross and the Resurrection. We live more than two thousand years since then. We have even more confidence to declare that the Resurrection of Jesus was a real event because Preaching, Faith in Jesus and the Testimony of the believers have not only survived all persecutions and the passing of time, but the Church is getting stronger all over the world.

1-PREACHING- If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty. In Greek, the word ‘empty’ means useless, without foundation, in vain, worthless, void, or having no meaning. But after two thousand years, we witness that the preaching of God’s Word is still powerful to change lives, and to inject faith in men’s souls. The world mocks preachers and rejects their sermons. But the preaching still goes on. Preaching produces results. It is not useless. Eventually, some will believe the Gospel. The Holy Spirit touches those who have been predestined to be saved before the foundation of the world. The special grace of God helps them believe the Gospel so that they can be saved. “So, then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1Cor 1:21-25). “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2Tim 4:1,2).  Therefore, we declare that because the Preaching of the Gospel did not stop in two thousand years, Jesus Christ has resurrected from the dead. Praise the Lord!

2-SAVING FAITH- If Christ is not risen, then our faith in God is also empty or futile. In Greek, the word futile means unreal, having no profit and no effect on anyone. If Christ is not risen, then our faith in Christ is just an imagination, or a man-made idol. It means that not only our faith is spiritually useless, but we are idolaters, worshiping a dead man who is still in the grave. That type of faith will make Jehovah God angry with us. If our faith is useless, it means that we are not saved, we are still living in sin, and we shall go to hell. It means that there is no resurrection for those Christians who are dead and buried. Without faith in Christ, there is no hope for glory, or for heaven. But in these past two thousand years, the Christians have proven that faith in Christ is as strong as life itself. In the early church, they were ready to die than to deny their faith in Christ. Saving faith believes in Resurrection and confesses it. Saving faith is also a proof that Jesus resurrected from the dead. “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom 10:9). By faith in Christ alone, sinners got saved having the fruits of the Spirit to prove their conversion. By faith in Christ alone, the sick got healed, and the oppressed got delivered. Faith removes mountains and obstacles in the path of progress as we run the race to the end. Nothing is impossible for those who believe in Jesus. Our faith is enough proof that Christ is risen from the dead. Praise the Lord!

3-THE BELIEVERS’ TESTIMONY – If Christ is not risen then we are of all men most pitiable. In Greek the word ‘pitiable’ means to be miserable, wretched, worse off than all men. Paul says that if the early Christians suffered so much persecution for nothing, being deceived that Christ will lead them to a heaven that does not exist, then they are the most foolish people in the world. They are to be pitied because they are men who choose to suffer in this life with no hope after the grave. But the truth is that the Christians are not miserable. We reject the pity of the world! If we suffer persecution, it is because the world persecuted our Lord too. We know that these present trials do not compare with the glory that will be revealed to us and in us. We are worshipers of Jesus, who died and rose again for us. We sing and dance for Jesus. In fact, the world, because it is sad and confused, is to be pitied, and not us. If you travel all over the world, there is no music as beautiful as the praise and worship coming out from churches. No symphony orchestra can compete with the music in the church. The Church’s gift to the world is the pure celestial music that touches and opens the hearts of men. The testimony of the millions of believers, overcoming obstacles, living this life by the power of the Holy Spirit, dying to sin, and becoming godly people, is true and none can deny. We are not pitiable. We are more than overcomers, thru faith in Jesus! Witnessing this rejoicing army of worshipers is enough proof to know that Christ is risen from the dead! Praise the Lord!

LESSONS AND APPLICATIONS

Let’s say that I am a lawyer in the court. You are the jury. Based on Biblical evidence alone I want to convince you that Christ rose from the dead. I will present four ‘exhibits’: The empty tomb, the clothes of Jesus left behind, Jesus appeared to people, and the total transformation of the disciples.   

THE EMPTY TOMB

The women went early in the morning to finish preparing the body of Jesus, with spices, according to the Jewish method of honoring the dead. The first Christians had no problem in believing that the tomb was empty (Matt 28:1-8). They could see it for themselves. Later, false rumors were circulated that the tomb was not empty. Some said that the women went to a wrong tomb that was empty. But these women have seen where the body of Jesus was laid. Others said that Jesus did not die but fainted and later woke up and met the women. This is a lie. The Roman centurion testified that Jesus was dead after a solider punctured the chest of Jesus and water and blood poured out. The centurion could not have been deceived. Jesus could not have survived for three days and nights in a tomb, wounded and weak, with no water or food. He could not have pushed the stone. Impossible! Pilate sealed the tomb. Peter preached a sermon that Jesus died and rose from the dead. He could not have lied. Some said that the Jewish leaders stole the body of Jesus. Later, when they interrogated Peter, they could have brought the corpse to prove Peter wrong, that Jesus did not resurrect. But none could find any corpse. So, in the end, why is the empty tomb important? Its primary importance is that it points to the bodily resurrection of Jesus, that death could not hold him. And, secondarily, because Jesus has risen, we can look forward to our own resurrection as well. The empty tomb demonstrates that death is not the end of life’s journey. Because of Christ, in life and death, we have a living glorious hope!

THE FOLDED LINEN CLOTHES

“Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead” (Jn 20:6-9).

What convinced the disciples about the resurrection was not only the empty tomb but that the linen clothes that wrapped the body of Jesus were folded and left in the tomb. They saw the clothes and they believed. The Jews wrap the head of the corpse in a separate cloth. When Jesus resurrected the clothes were left exactly as they were, like an empty cocoon left behind by the butterfly. The folded clothes are another proof that the body could not have been stolen. Why will they steal the body and leave the clothes, folded like that?

THE APPEARANCES OF CHRIST

The resurrected Christ appeared about ten times to different people. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, to the disciples, to 500 people, and later, to apostle Paul. “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time” (1Cor 15:3-8). To dismiss all these testimonies is not easy for none of them was mentally sick. 

THE TRASNFORMATION OF THE DISCIPLES

This is the best exhibit. The disciples were all mourning the death of their leader. They were all so depressed when Jesus died. After the resurrection they suddenly became joyful and started preaching the Gospel. See Peter on the Day of Pentecost, boldly preaching Jesus crucified and resurrected. Peter was a new man. He was a coward who denied Jesus just few days ago. Now, he is bold as a lion, ready to die for Jesus. The only explanation for this sudden dramatic change is that Peter saw the resurrected Christ with his own eyes. He was convinced beyond any shadow of doubt that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and the Lord of all. He said:  “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it… 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (Ac 2:22-24, 32). Amen!

Another great example was Saul who became the great Apostle Paul. He persecuted the believers to death. On the road to Damascus, Paul saw not just a vision, but the resurrected Christ Himself. He became blinded and humbled. Christ restored his sight and used him as one of His greatest servants. Read the Book of Romans and see the great revelations Paul has received from Christ. Apostle Paul went on missionary trips, started churches, wrote ¾ of the New Testament letters and died a martyr’s death. No man can change so dramatically by himself. It was the resurrection power of Christ! The life of Apostle Paul is one of the greatest proofs of resurrection!  

If you deny the Resurrection, Christianity makes no sense. Some say that the disciples invented the story of the resurrection. But that is not true. When Jesus was crucified, we are told that “all of His disciples abandoned Him and fled” (Mk 14:50; AMP). Judas betrayed Him and Peter denied Him. After Jesus died and was buried, all the disciples were mourning and were very sad. None remembered His promises about the resurrection. When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, His disciples were all shocked. They did not believe her. No one was praying to see Him alive again. None believed in His resurrection. None had the power to invent such a story. This is another proof that the disciples did not invent the story of resurrection just to convince people that their leader is not a liar but true to His words.

If Jesus did not resurrect then the Church cannot exist. The truth is that Jesus died, was buried, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. He promised to send the Holy Spirit who came on the day of Pentecost and Baptized all believers into one New Body called the Church, or the Body of Christ. The Church has survived many persecutions. Christ is the Head of the Church, its Builder, and Defender. Jesus promised that the Church will be indestructible. He said: “on this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades (death) will not overpower it [by preventing the resurrection of the Christ]” (Matt 16:18; AMP). The Church is marching on, and no power of hell can stop its growth and progress. Most Christians acknowledge the Sabbath Day on Sundays, to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ. Since Pentecost, millions of people have believed unto salvation, and have become members of the Body of Christ. The testimonies are too many to ignore. From one generation to another, thanksgiving rises to heaven, to the Lamb who died for the sins of men, and lives forever.

The high priest and the Pharisees warned Peter and the disciples not to preach again in the name of Jesus. But they could not stop the power of resurrection moving and building the Church. Before the religious council, Peter boldly spoke: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him” (Ac 5:30-32). When Peter declared that “we are witnesses to these things” he did not just say that they have seen something. He was saying that the believers are the witnesses, the proofs, and credentials of Jesus on earth. For as long as you see the born-again Spirit filled Christians, you must accept that Jesus rose from the dead and He is working in them and thru them.

After Peter and John healed the lame man at the Beautiful gate, he said: “But you denied the Holy One and the Just and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all” (Ac 3:14-16). It is faith in the resurrected Christ that healed the lame man and heals us from all diseases. Without resurrection there is no salvation and no healing. Peter and John were arrested by the Jews because they preached the resurrection of Jesus as the basis of faith for salvation and healing (Ac 4:1-4). Here you see clearly that faith in the resurrected Christ divides the people. Some believe and are saved. Other reject it and are condemned. “And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:7-13). Peter’s faith in the Resurrection of Jesus made him supernaturally bold. The Jews tried but could not deny the healing miracle and could not stop the powerful anointing upon Peter. There is no other explanation why some people get saved, get healed, boldly preach the Gospel, and love Jesus today except for the fact that Jesus died and rose again for them. Glory!

Apostle Paul is before King Agrippa and witnesses to Him about Jesus. He tells the King that the Old Testament prophesied about the death and resurrection of the Messiah. “Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” (Ac 26:8).

FROM LOVE TO FAITH (Jn 20:1-19)

The Resurrection of Jesus was not a dramatic event like His birth, announced with songs, trumpets, and angels. It was a quiet, family intimate event done in the presence and power of God the Father and God the Son. Human eyes were not allowed to see it. “Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father” (Rom 6:4). After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to different people. In the past, He was seen by crowds, both friends and enemies. But now, He always choses the people personally, the place and the timing of His appearances.

Mary Magdalene is a special person in the story. She was the first person to see the resurrected Christ. She found the empty tomb. She ran to tell the disciples. They did not believe her initially, but later, seeing the quiet evidence of the empty tomb and the folded clothes, they finally believed that Jesus resurrected bodily. Because she was the first to see Christ and told the disciples, Mary Magdalene is called ‘Apostolus Apostolarum’ (translated The Apostle to the Apostles). She loved Jesus more than the others. See how Love leads to Faith. When after seeing the empty tomb Peter and John went home, she lingered behind. She saw two angels in the grave. Jesus was crucified between two robbers. Now, two angels are sitting in the tomb were His body laid. Mary wept so much that when she saw Jesus, she thought He was the Gardner. She begged Him to let her carry the body of her Savior. To her, that is the last work of love and honor to her Lord. Then the ‘Gardner’ called her by name: Mary! The voice had the tenderness and the authority of resurrection. She then turned towards Him. She saw Jesus. This is the turning of Faith. From sight to faith. She called Him ‘Rabboni’, My teacher. She tried to cling to Him. She wanted to go back to the past, as Jesus was on the earth. But Jesus forbids her to cling to Him. He changes the clinging into ministry. He sends her to ‘His brethren’ to tell them the good news that He has conquered sin and death on their behalf. This is the first time that Jesus calls them ‘brethren’. The word ‘brethren’ comes with resurrection power. Halleluiah!      

By His resurrection Jesus did not only break the grave, and death, but all earthly limitations, and weakness, on our behalf. May we never lose our wonder to worship Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for us! Worship the Lord!  

FINALLY…

Finally, what is your verdict? You have heard the evidence. Did Jesus Christ rise from the death or not? If you are not saved, give your life to Jesus because you will meet Him one day, as the Lord of the Living and the Dead, and the Judge of all. If you are saved, then you are in Him. You are eternally safe. Rejoice! Christ’s sacrifice is all that we need to have eternal life. When Christ died, we died with Him. When Christ rose, we rose with Him, spiritually. One day, we shall rise from the graves. Our bodies shall be changed and become like His own. We shall be with Him, we shall be like Him, and we will worship Him forever. This is our hope of glory! Worship the Lord!

‘He arose, He arose,

Halleluiah, Christ arose!

He proved to be my victory!

There rose a Lamb in Jerusalem!’

(Kyla Rowland)

LOVE IS THE NEW COMMANDMENT (27)/ MATTERS OF LOVING INDIFFERENCE (10)

This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures were taken from the books of Romans 14:12-23; 1 Kings 13:1-34;

THE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD

Love is the greatest word in the Bible. In Greek, there are three words for love. Eros refers to sexual love. Philio refers to friendly attachment. Agape means unconditional sacrificial love. In the New Testament, the word Love appears about 200 times, and it is almost always ‘agape’ love. This Love is not just a feeling. It is the highest, most pure form of love, born not out of natura or obligation, but a willful choice and a command to be obeyed.  It is the unselfish, pure, powerful, and sacrificial love that desires the best in another person. This love is best expressed as the Fatherly Love of God for human beings. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). This is the Gospel: God the Father sent God the Son to become a Man and die on behalf of sinners. The unbelievers may be religious, but they do not know this agape love. Love is a gift given only to the children of God, who are saved by grace and thru faith in Christ. This love saves and restores face of sin and death. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Because we are born sinners, agape love does not come naturally to us. Agape love requires faithfulness, commitment, courage, strength, wisdom, faith, and sacrifice. Agape love is the magnet God uses to attract the world to Jesus! It was so in the early church, and during all the revivals in the history of the Church! To know the measure of Love you must know how much Love gives. Just think of this Love: God the Father gave us His only begotten Son, to save us! God the Son gave up His Live, His Blood, to pay for our sins! There is no greater Love than that!!! “Love thinks no evil… Love never fails” (1 Cor 13:5, 8). The preaching of God’s Word brings love, healing, and deliverance. “He sent out His word, and it healed, and from their corruptions it freed!” (Ps 107:20; Fenton translation)  

MATTERS OF LOVING INDIFFERENCE (Romans 14:1-23)

The Book of Romans is a masterpiece. It is considered the best Book in the Bible and the greatest piece of literature in the world. It is written by the great Apostle Paul. Many great men of God became born again by studying this Book. It contains the major doctrines of the Gospel. In the first 11 chapters, the Apostle writes about the doctrines of salvation. From chapter 12 to the end, he writes the application of these doctrines. The first two verses in chapter 12 are the basic scriptures on the application of doctrine. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:1,2).  We see that the Christian life is a life of sacrifice for the sake of Christ, to give glory to God! By faith in God’s Word, our minds are renewed and transformed. From starting as ‘babies’ in Christ, we become strong in the faith. Becoming spiritually mature is the aim for every believer. Agape Love is the engine of this transformation. The New Law of Love takes over obedience of the Law as found in the Old Testament.

In chapters 14 and 15 we find the practical application of the Gospel especially in the relationships between believers. Theologians call these principles ‘matters of indifference’ or ‘grey areas’. These are important teachings, but they are not essential to our salvation. They apply to the type of food Christians eat, the mode of dressing, the type of entertainment, the types of baptism, the type of prophecies, the importance of days and how we celebrate our faith. The major doctrines of the Bible cannot be argued about.  As Christians, we all must agree on the major doctrines in the Bible, but we can lovingly disagree on these matters of indifference. If something is forbidden, it is sin. There is no need to discuss it. For example, the Bible says that adultery is sin. We cannot debate that. We now study things that are not clearly forbidden in God’s Word and our attitude to them. Over the years these things have bought much confusion, pain, and division in the Body. The church is made of many believers; some are spiritually strong, and others are spiritually weak in the faith. The first lesson we must learn is that the Body is One!!! The strong ones are commanded not to despise. Not to look down on the weak ones. The weak are commanded not to judge the spiritually strong. Lesson: Matters of indifference should never become central doctrines. Any form of division and segregation based on your Bible knowledge is wrong. We study these teachings so that we behave better, we love without quarreling or causing division in the Body. Selah!

LAW OF LOVE- NEVER BE A STUMBLING BLOCK TO ANYONE

In Greek, the word ‘stumbling-block’ is ‘skandalon’. It means an offence, a hidden snare, a trap-stick to catch animals in the bush. The animal is unaware of the trap because it is covered with leaves and grass. There is a bait hanging there. The animal makes one step towards the bait and touches a stick that moves the trap. The animal is caught alive in the snare. Except a man comes to free it, the animal will be killed and eaten by the hunter. Spiritually, by falling into such a snare, the weak in the faith goes astray or backslides. This Greek word is the origin of the English word ‘scandal’. The word ‘stumbling-block’ has two meanings: the first, is an obstacle on the way, like a tree that fell on the road, and blocking it. The second meaning is deception that leads you away from the road of faithfulness and truth. Both these meanings manifest as ‘verbal traps’ to lure someone in an argument that will end in defeat and destruction. For example, a Lawyer starts an argument with an illiterate man. The lawyer is setting a trap, building a stronghold in the man’s path. The lawyer has no love for the man! Another example of evil is when a pastor starts an argument with a baby Christian. Selah!!!

Stumbling blocks always delay the progress of a believer. The strong in the faith is warned not to use his freedom in becoming a wicked hindrance towards the weak. Knowing that we shall all be judged by Christ, we should be careful that we do not offend others with our words and deeds. Do not discourage, intimidate, or manipulate the weak to act in doubt, fear, or against his conscience. Lesson: Do not think only of yourself. Think of others and the effect your words and deeds have on them. As they say, ‘no man is an island’. No man lives or dies to himself. We are all God’s property, and He will judge all we say and do! Selah!

“Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!” (1 Cor 9:19-23; TM)

Another great principle is the Law of Love: I should never be a stumbling block for anyone, especially in my relationships with other Christians. Some Christians abstain from some types of food they consider unclean. Thru the study of God’s Word and prayer, the mature Christians have discovered the freedom given to them in Christ. For example, they do not need to fear eating pork or catfish. But the believer who is weak in the faith feels guilty about eating these forbidden food items. Paul says that the strong Christian should not force the weak to eat this food. The weak needs Bible teaching to educate his mind and conscience to experience deliverance. It is wrong for the strong Christian to totally ignore the fears or superstitions of the weak and to eat pork in his presence. We are told that because of your liberty, the weak may be ‘grieved’ (Rom 14:15). The word ‘grieved’ means to be offended, hurt, pained, or sad. Putting a stumbling block in the way of the weak believer, hurting him, and making him sad, especially concerning these matters of indifference (food, drinks, fashion style…) is wrong. It is always a sin against love. It damages the conscience of the weak believer and also your reputation. Your testimony as a Christian is ‘a good thing’ you possess. It takes many years to build it. “Therefore, do not let your good be spoken of as evil” (Rom 14:16). Freedom is good, but it should not be used to damage the faith of others. By exercising your freedom, you may hurt others who are weak in the faith, who misunderstand your choices. If freedom leads to pride and selfishness, then don’t insist on it. It is spiritual maturity to remain humble and loving and even to deny the rights to your personal freedom, all for the sake of Christ! Selah!

Let us make a practical application: You are invited to a poor family. You know that they cannot afford to buy meat. You have enough money to go to a restaurant and buy fried chicken or suya. You decide that you cannot punish yourself to eat only rice with vegetables in their house. You carry your food along. When they invite you to the table to eat, you open your pack of fried chicken and eat it in front of them. Then you preach to them that God loves them. You tell them that they should give their lives to Christ. Your sermon will fall on deaf years and closed hearts. You may preach very well, but your selfish attitude has hurt them and become a stumbling block to them. It is true that you have the freedom to eat your own food that you bought with your own money. You are not a thief, but you are not a lover. Eating fried chicken at the table of poor people who cannot afford it is a sin against agape love. A Christian is saved by grace and thru faith. A Christian is free and free indeed. These are all true statements. But it is also true that for as long as we live, we remain servants, bondslaves to our Master, Jesus Christ who died on the Cross to give us freedom. This freedom purchased with His Blood should never be used to hurt weak brethren or to damage His great name. Doing ministry is a sacrifice. Love is never selfish. Love is always wise and humble, flexible to all situations, but still remaining strong, holding to the anchor of the Cross. Once people see you as proud, uncaring, and selfish person, it is very hard to build your reputation again. If you repent, God forgives you. But people are very slow in forgetting the hurt you have caused them as a Christian. Be jealous over your testimony and ministry! Lastly, look unto Jesus. Have the mind of Christ!

SUPERSTITION IS A STRONGHOLD

Superstition is a belief in the supernatural, not based on human reason or scientific knowledge but connected with old religious ideas about witchcraft. Superstition results from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic, pagan ideas, or a false conception of cause and effect. The following are the countries that have the greatest number of superstitious people: India, China, Greece, USA, Japan, France, and Mexico. One reason why people believe in these things is because they feel a sense of control over their destiny. Superstition is a negative stronghold that affects your will, your power to make decisions, and leads to anxiety and depression.

Superstitions in Nigeria

*If a woman has many miscarriages or her children his young, she is cursed to suffer by a witch.

*Nigerians fear the time of the night. They believe that witches attack mostly at night. That is why they wake to pray in the night.

*If you whistle in the night, you attract snakes to your house.

*Nigerians believe that owls are witches. If an owl is seen and heard on the rooftop, they believe that someone will die in that house.

*They believe that cats in general and black cats in particular are witches and trouble will happen if a black cat crosses your path.

*If a man (woman) eats in the dark, or in the dream, he invited demons to eat with him and that leads to sickness, miscarriage, or death.  

*Itchy hands are a good thing because it is a sign of money coming to you.

*If a man plans to travel and he hits his left foot to a stone, he takes it as a bad sign. He will not travel that day again.

*If a man crosses a pregnant woman’s legs, the baby will be born resembling that man and not his real father.

*If you spit on the ground and someone steps on it, you will be sick with a sore throat.

*If your food falls to the ground, do not pick it, and eat it because the devil has eaten it. As a Christian, belief in superstition will hinder your faith and delay your spiritual growth. You need to repent and renew your mind based on God’s Word. Amen!

THEY FAILED TO ENTANGLE JESUS (Matt 22:15-22)

The Pharisees did not have the courage to attack Jesus directly, especially as the general public loved Jesus. They decided to use deception by setting a trap, to entangle Him in His words. The word ‘entangle’ is the same as a snare, or a trap, to catch an animal in the forest. This snare is a stronghold. They sent ‘spies who pretended to be righteous’ (Lk 20: 20). In other words, they sent ‘false brethren’ to find fault with the words of Jesus, to arrest Him. They flattered Jesus saying that He is a true teacher who does not care about anyone, who does not show favoritism. Jesus saw their wickedness. He avoided the trap by speaking the truth. He told them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt 22:21). He said that Christianity is not an enemy to civil government. Jesus spoke God’s Word. This is another example: When the Pharisees brought the adulterous woman to Jesus, they asked Him to judge her. “They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger” (Jn 8:6; NLT). Both His friends and His enemies were amazed at His wisdom. But His enemies refused to obey or submit to the power of His words. They did not believe that Jesus is God and God cannot be tempted or deceived by men. “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren” (Jam 1:12-16).

THE YOUNG AND THE OLD PROPHET (1Kings13:1-34)

This story happened in the city Bethel, during the reign of wicked King Jeroboam. Bethel was the place where Jacob slept and felt the presence of God. He saw the ladder that went to heaven (Genesis 28). In this holy place, king Jeroboam made a calf idol and told the Israelites to worship it instead of going to the temple of Jerusalem to worship Jehovah God. The word Bethel means ‘the house of God’. Jeroboam turned the house of God, the gate to heaven, into a gate of hell. God sent the young prophet to prophesy against the king.

There was a young prophet called ‘a man of God’. Less than ten men in the Old Testament were called like that. Among them were Moses, Samuel, David, Elijah, and Elisha. God sent him to King Jeroboam to prophesy disaster against him. The young prophet was a man of faith and prayer. God immediately performed the word he spoke. The altar split and the ashes poured out. Wicked king Jeroboam opposed him like Elymas opposed Paul. God intervened and the king’s hand got paralyzed. The king saw that the young prophet has power with God in prayer and begged him to pray for his healing. The young prophet prayed, and the king’s hand was healed. The king invited him to his palace to give him food, drinks, and a reward. The young prophet categorically refuses saying that God commanded him not to go to the house of anyone and not to return by the same road. The young prophet was obedient to God’s Word. He received power to prophesy and do miracles. He did not compromise. He was a man of character. He rejected the king’s bribe. He was bold. He did not fear the threats of the king but trusted God for his protection.

An old prophet who was living in Bethel. He is not called ‘a man of God’. He is only called ‘an old prophet’. He has settled into this place of hell, of false religion. He does not prophesy against Jeroboam. Like Lot in Sodom, he has settled in compromise with idolatry. He was crafty. He lied easily. He deceived the young prophet to backslide like him. When he heard about the story, he ran after him. He said that God told him to invite the young prophet to his house to eat and drink. But he was lying to him. The young prophet was deceived and went back to the house of the old prophet to eat and drink. The old prophet then prophesies that because he disobeyed God’s command, the young prophet will die an untimely death. Going home, the young prophet was killed by a lion who did not kill the donkey and did not eat the corpse. The old prophet goes to bring the body to be buried in his own tomb, acknowledging that the young man was a true prophet.

Why did the young prophet refuse the offer of the king, but he accepted the offer of the old prophet? It is possible because he respected the old prophet and his age. “He said to him, “I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water.’ ” (He was lying to him.)” (1 Kg 13:18). Many young believers are intimidated when an older ‘man of God’ talks to them. The young prophet did not discern the stronghold, the religious snare, the trap of lies set by the old prophet. Flattery is a common form of a religious snare. “A man who flatters his neighbor [with smooth words intending to do harm] Is spreading a net for his own feet” (PV29:5; AMP). Flattery is insincere praise, and it is a common stronghold and snare. The flatterer speaks only positive words. He does not speak truth, does not correct another when necessary and out of love. By lying to the man, the flatterer prepares a net just the way a hunter catches an animal in the forest. The Holy Spirit encourages and the devil flatters. There is a mighty difference between these two. God leads to freedom and the devil brings you in bondage. Truth sets free!

SOME LESSONS

*To be a man (woman) of God you need to be faithful, obedient, and bold. It is easier to be deceived by religious people, or men who you may admire in your field of work. After any great success, the devil will attack. Watch and pray to the end!

*From the young prophet we learn that you can start well and end badly. He gradually stopped listen to the Holy Spirit and went away from the safe road of obedience to God. This is a warning to all Christians, especially to the younger ones. If the young prophet obeyed God to the end, he would not have died an untimely death. The young man was resting under an oak tree when the old prophet found him. It is normal to rest but not in ‘a war zone’. He was resting instead of rushing home. There is danger before, during and after the battle. No time to rest and relax until you arrive home. Many young Christians start well. Then they decided to sit under the shadow of an oak tree of education, jobs, marriage or trusting men. Many young people fell into the trap of the old backsliding Christians and are now hurt and disappointed at the church. The young man stopped seeking God for himself. He allowed the old prophet to become God’s voice to him. Trusting man and not God is fatal in ministry. We need to also beware of leaning on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5,6). Gideon, Samson, King Saul, and King Hezekiah, they all did that. They all started out well, but they didn’t end well. There is always danger when we stop seeking God or trusting God by ourselves and depend on people only for wisdom.

*Some people take God’s grace for granted. They refuse to repent until they die. Even after receiving mercy, King Jeroboam did not repent, and God destroys his family. 300 years later, King Josiah, from the line of David, does exactly what the young prophet had said (2 Kg 23:15-20). He kills all the false prophets on that cursed altar. This is one of the greatest and most accurate prophesies in the Bible.  

*Another lesson is taken from the old prophet. He began badly. He lived a life of compromise. But he ended well. He repented and came back to God. He feared God again. He started serving God again. I read that during the Second World War, the fighter pilots made the most mistakes when flying back to the land, after the battle. Why? Because they relaxed. They thought they were free from danger. Then they crashed. An old Christian, Harry Ironside, used to pray like this: ‘O God, keep me from becoming a foolish old man’. Here is one of the best ways you can end well: invest your life and the rest of your future in young people. Mentor and disciple the younger Christians! Worship the Lord!

LOVE IS THE NEW COMMANDMENT (26)/ MATTERS OF LOVING INDIFFERENCE (9)

This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures were taken from the books of Romans 14:1-13; Ac 13:6-13).

THE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD

Love is the greatest word in the Bible. In Greek, there are three words for love. Eros refers to sexual love. Philio refers to friendly attachment. Agape means unconditional sacrificial love. In the New Testament, the word Love appears about 200 times, and it is almost always ‘agape’ love. This Love is not just a feeling. It is the highest, most pure form of love, born not out of natural attraction or obligation, but a willful choice and a command to be obeyed.  It is the unselfish, pure, powerful, and sacrificial love that desires the best in another person. This love is best expressed as the Fatherly Love of God for human beings. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). This is the Gospel: God the Father sent God the Son to become a Man and die on behalf of sinners. The unbelievers may be religious, but they do not know this agape love. Love is a gift given only to the children of God, who are saved by grace and thru faith in Christ. This love saves and restores humanity in the face of sin and death. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Because we are born sinners, agape love does not come naturally to us. Agape love requires faithfulness, commitment, courage, strength, wisdom, faith, and sacrifice. Agape love is the magnet God uses to attract the world to Jesus! It was so in the early church, and during all the revivals in the history of the Church! To know the measure of Love you must know how much Love gives. Just think of this Love: God the Father gave us His only begotten Son, to save us! God the Son gave up His Live, His Blood, to pay for our sins! There is no greater Love than that!!! “Love thinks no evil… Love never fails” (1 Cor 13:5, 8).

MATTERS OF LOVING INDIFFERENCE (Romans 14:1-13)

The Book of Romans is a masterpiece. It is considered the best Book in the Bible and the greatest piece of literature in the world. It is written by the great Apostle Paul. Many great men of God became born again by studying this Book. It contains the major doctrines of the Gospel. In the first 11 chapters, the Apostle writes about the doctrines of salvation. From chapter 12 to the end, he writes the application of these doctrines. The first two verses in chapter 12 are the basic scriptures on the application of doctrine. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:1,2).  We see that the Christian life is a life of sacrifice for the sake of Christ, to give glory to God! By faith in God’s Word, our minds are renewed and transformed. From starting as ‘babies’ in Christ, we become strong in the faith. Becoming spiritually mature is the aim for every believer. Agape Love is the engine of this transformation. The New Law of Love takes over obedience of the Law as found in the Old Testament.

In chapters 14 and 15 we find the practical application of the Gospel especially in the relationships between believers. Theologians call these principles ‘matters of indifference’ or ‘grey areas’. These are important teachings, but they are not essential to our salvation. They apply to the type of food Christians eat, the mode of dressing, the type of entertainment, the types of baptism, the type of prophecies, the importance of days and how we celebrate our faith. The major doctrines of the Bible cannot be argued about.  As Christians, we all must agree on the major doctrines in the Bible, but we can lovingly disagree on these matters of indifference. If something is forbidden, it is sin. There is no need to discuss it. For example, the Bible says that adultery is sin. We cannot debate that. We now study things that are not clearly forbidden in God’s Word and our attitude to them. Over the years these things have bought much confusion, pain, and division in the Body. The church is made of many believers; some are spiritually strong, and others are spiritually weak in the faith. The first lesson we must learn is that the Body is One!!! The strong ones are commanded not to despise. Not to look down on the weak ones. The weak are commanded not to judge the spiritually strong. Lesson: Matters of indifference should never become central doctrines. Any form of division and segregation based on your Bible knowledge is wrong. We study these teachings so that we behave better, we love without quarreling or causing division in the Body. Selah!

Knowing that each believer will stand before the Bema seat of Christ, we must practice agape Love among us. These are some lessons:

*Examine yourself! Be sure that you are born again! Humble yourself! The Holy Spirit, by God’s Word, prepares us for the final judgment.

*Life is a journey and a testing ground. The Christians are the only people who walk in the consciousness of their eternal destiny!

*Let us pay the price for spiritual maturity. Let us study the Bible, fast, pray, help the needy, and serve God in the local church.

*It does not matter what other men think of us or what we think about others. What matters is what Christ thinks of us! Selah!

*Church discipline is not ruled out. The Word of God tells us how to discipline unrepentant brethren. The Church must be kept pure. But observe that Church discipline applies to sins committed that affects the church in general and not to matters of indifference.

*Do not take God’s kindness, grace, mercy, love, and patience for granted. It is clear that God’s patience with men has a limit.

*By judging others, you trespass into God’s domain and His sovereign authority to judge. Be careful!

*Jesus is our Savior, Lord, and Judge. In every battle, there is a winer and a loser. God can never lose. In His own time, God gives His people the victory by destroying their enemies. We submit to His authority. Rebellion is a terrible sin in the church.

*When Jesus died, He made us His brethren. Do not despise or judge one another. Our opinions in matters of indifference are less important than keeping the unity of the Spirit in all our relationships in the assembly. We are to love, help, and pray for other brethren.

NO STUMBLING BLOCKS!

“So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 Then let us not criticize one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block or a source of temptation in another believer’s way. 14 I know and am convinced [as one] in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean [ritually defiled, and unholy] in itself; but [nonetheless] it is unclean to anyone who thinks it is unclean. 15 If your brother is being hurt or offended because of food [that you insist on eating], you are no longer walking in love [toward him]. Do not let what you eat destroy and spiritually harm one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is a good thing for you [because of your freedom to choose] be spoken of as evil [by someone else] … 21 It is good [to do the right thing and] not eat meat or drink wine or do anything that offends your brother and weakens him spiritually” (Rom 14:12-16; 21; AMP).

“Then let us not criticize one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block or a source of temptation in another believer’s way” (Rom 14:13; AMP). In this sentence, the word ‘criticize’ and the word ‘determine’ are the same in Greek. Apostle Paul puts them side by side. They both mean to try or judge another, to condemn, or to punish. In other words, Paul is saying: ‘Don’t judge your brother. But if you feel like judging, then judge yourself to make sure that your attitude is not an obstacle, a stumbling-block, or a source of temptation to another, to make him fall. Be wise and redirect your judging’.

In Greek, the word ‘stumbling-block’ is ‘skandalon’. It means an offence, a hidden snare, a trap-stick to catch animals in the bush. The animal is unaware of the trap because it is covered with leaves and grass. There is a bait hanging there. The animal makes one step towards the bait and touches a stick that moves the trap. The animal is caught alive in the snare. Except a man comes to free it, the animal will be killed and eaten by the hunter. Spiritually, by falling into such a snare, the weak in the faith goes astray or backslides. This Greek word is the origin of the English word ‘scandal’. The word ‘stumbling-block’ has two meanings: the first, is an obstacle on the way, like a tree that fell on the road, and blocking it. The second meaning is deception that leads you away from the road of faithfulness and truth. Both these meanings manifest as ‘verbal traps’ to lure someone in an argument that will end in defeat and destruction. For example, a Lawyer starts an argument with an illiterate man. The lawyer is setting a trap, building a stronghold in the man’s path. The lawyer has no love for the man! Another example of evil is when a pastor starts an argument with a baby Christian. Selah!!!

Stumbling blocks always delay the progress of a believer. The strong in the faith is warned not to use his freedom in becoming a wicked hindrance towards the weak. Knowing that we shall all be judged by Christ, we should be careful that we do not offend others with our words and deeds. Do not discourage, intimidate, or manipulate the weak to act in doubt, fear, or against his conscience. Lesson: Do not think only of yourself. Think of others and the effect your words and deeds have on them. As they say, ‘no man is an island’. No man lives or dies to himself. We are all God’s property, and He will judge all we say and do! Selah!

One of the characteristics of Christianity is its gentleness towards the weak. These are warnings not to set stumbling blocks to make others fall: “You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the LORD” (Lev 19:14). “Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!” (Deut 27:18). “Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good” (PV28:10). Selah!

“Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble” (Ps 119:165). The same word ‘stumbling bock’ is used here. What is the solution to avoid and defeat stumbling blocks? It is to Love God’s Law! By studying God’s Word and applying it daily, you shall have ‘great peace’. In Hebrew it is the word ‘shalom’ which means peace, prosperity, health, wealth, favor, and friends. The believers who pay the price to study and preach God’s Word, will be blessed in two ways: they have an overflowing peace with God and man, and they have the wisdom to avoid stumbling blocks. In other words, loving God and His Word is the way to make fast and sure, spiritual and physical progress in life. Selah!

“For the Lord has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the Lord your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you. 11 Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the Lord your God. 12 Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, 13 know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the Lord your God has given you” (Joshua 23:9-13). The words translated ‘snares and traps’ are the same as stumbling blocks. Joshua tells the people that God has driven away great and strong Canaanites from the Promised Land so that they can occupy it. But they should be careful to stay spiritually pure. They should not marry or become over friendly with the remnant of the pagan nations. That leads to idolatry. If they yoke themselves with the pagans, God will not defend for them again. The pagans will become stumbling blocks to torment them until they perish from the good land. Lesson: pay the price to be holy as God is holy. Don’t become emotionally intimate with unbelievers, even if they are your relatives! Do not marry unbelievers! If you do that, you will suffer, you will punish yourself. God cannot help you the way He wants to. Ask for wisdom and mercy. You should marry a mature believer! “Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, But a prudent wife is from the LORD” (PV19:14). When a man wants to marry, his parents can give him money, wisdom, and prayers. But God alone gives a man the gift of a prudent wife. To be prudent is a type of wisdom that detects dangers ahead and avoids them. A godly wife sees dangers ahead and helps the husband to avoid making mistakes. Praise the Lord!

“Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on things of God, but on things of man” (Matt 16:23; AMP). When Jesus told His disciples that He will die on the Cross, Peter rebuked Him. But Jesus rebuked Peter, hearing the words of Satan in Peter’s mouth. To avoid the Cross was a total failure for Christ’ ministry. He came to die for the sinners, to set them free. Jesus commanded this evil religious spirit of man’s ideas of salvation, to go ‘behind’. Lesson: devil’s agents are specialists in building strongholds on the way to our progress. By dying to the flesh and to the religious ideas of men, by trusting the Gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected, by carrying our cross daily, following Jesus, we defeat all strongholds on our way to heaven.

“Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?” Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you” (Mk 12:15; NLT). The hypocrites are religious people who do not practice what they preach. They look good to men but are an offence to God. Hypocrisy is a stronghold in the path of many. Be careful! Trust only the genuine Christians!

Jesus warned against wicked acts against children who are a type of the Christians who are weak in the faith. He said: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! 8-If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire” (Matt 18:6-9).

God punishes those who give others alcohol to drink, to disgrace and corrupt them. This crime is especially wicked when the victims are young people. Pedophiles give alcohol to children so that they get drunk and naked themselves. It is also a great sin to give alcohol to a lawyer, a judge, a doctor, or a driver, to corrupt his good judgment. “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness!” (Hab 2:15). “Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks, 23 who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent” (Is 5:22, 23).

THE PARABLE OF THE WEEDS (Matt 13:24-30; 36-43)

“The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matt 13:41-43).  At the end of time, Jesus will send His angels who will uproot and gather together all spiritual offenders, those who not only sin, but who set stumbling blocks for others to fall into sin. These are called ‘the sons of the devil’. They will be cast in the lake of fire. There is no mercy for those who make Christians to fall. Jesus Christ is the Judge of all. He will punish the wicked and reward the faithful who will ‘shine forth as the sun’. Lesson: this is a strong warning! Never spread sin! Never deceive others to make them backslide. Selah!

ELYMAS THE SORCERER – THE STUMBLING BLOCK (Ac 13:6-12).

“Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord” (Ac 13:6-12).

Apostle Paul and Barnabas went on their first missionary trip to Paphos, a port in Cyprus. They wanted to preach the Gospel to Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul in that area. But a man called Bar Jesus, or Elymas, ‘withstood’ them. He was a Jewish false prophet and wizard who became a mentor to the proconsul. The name Bar Jesus means the Son of Jesus (or the son of salvation, healing, prosperity, or victory). He was a false prophet who deceived the proconsul that he is able to save, heal, and bless him. The word ‘withstood’ means to stand against, to oppose, or resist.

Generally, there are three types of sins: 1- The sins of the ignorant, of the childish. For example: a child enters the house with mud on his shoes. This is a childish sin. 2- The sins of the religious hypocrites. For example, a man comes to church with his wife, but he is involved in adultery. He hears the Word of God, but he ignores it. He fears God but not enough to stop the affair. 3- The sins of the wicked. This is a Biblical fool that says there is not God (Psalm 14:1). He believes that there is God, but he does not fear God. He actively mocks God, The Bible, and the Church. Jesus said about Judas: “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born” (Matt 26:24). Elymas belonged to the third group. He was a Jew. He clearly knew about Jehovah God. But he opened up an evil spirit. He was using witchcraft to make the proconsul his spiritual slave. Though Sergius Paulus was an intelligent man, spiritually he became foolish. Elymas placed a veil of darkness upon the mind of the proconsul. In other words, a spell is a stronghold! But the grace of God manifested in that room. The proconsul became attracted to the Word of God and wanted to hear it. The devil in Elymas panicked. He became jealous on the influence of Paul over his student. He knew that if he does not stop Paul from preaching God’s Word, he will soon lose his victim.

Sensing the opposition, Paul confronted Elymas and declared spiritual warfare against him. Paul did not lose his temper. He did not insult Elymas. He was calm and full of faith. He called him one ‘full of deceit and fraud, a son of the devil, and an enemy of righteousness’. He exposed him as one who constantly perverts the truth and sets stumbling blocks on the straight ways of God. Becoming angry against the devil, Paul placed a temporary spell of blindness to restrain Elymas. Paul remembered how on the road to Damasus, Jesus made him blind for a season, to humble him, so that he becomes converted. In other words, using the authority of Christ, the Judge of all, Paul removed the spell of darkness Elymas has placed upon the proconsul and placed it upon Elymas. Blind and confused, Elymas declared defeat before the true God of Paul. This was Paul’s first miracle. He lost his influence over the proconsul and over the city. This blindness was not only a punishment, but also a form of mercy because Elymas could have died on the spot. The Old Testament says that no wizard should live. “A man or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them” (Lev 20:27; KJ). The blindness was a warning sign from Christ the Judge, that Elymas has a window of mercy to repent of his wickedness. We are not told is he did. What Satan lost in the external battle he succeeded in the internal battle. John Mark, a younger believer who came along to assist Paul and Barnabas, left them, and went back to Jerusalem (Ac 13:13). Why? It is possible that he became afraid seeing ministry as dangerous.   

Lessons: As Christians, we don’t hunt demons, but we confront them. When you sense an evil spirit, you need to stand in the power of God’s might. Like David faced Goliath, you must rise to the moment! Fear not! Lift your shield of faith. Don’t be emotional. Trust God for the miracle of deliverance. Trust God’s promise that no one can oppose you successfully (Josh 1:5). Remember to Give God all the glory!

HOW TO DESTROY THE STRONGHOLD OF WITCHCRAFT

A witch is defined as a woman who has magical powers and claims to use them for good or for bad. The male witch is called a wizard. Genuine witches are able to contact the spirits of the dead, or evil spirits in general, who give them information from the spirit’ world. Fake witches are entertainers and make money out of that. Some are ‘professional’ witches and are known for exercising their gift on behalf of others. Not all witches are known to the public and not all are practicing their skill. Witchcraft (or sorcery) is one of the works of the flesh, the part of man that is not under the influence of the Holy Spirit. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal 5:19-21). We are all born sinners and have the capacity to behave wickedly, to manipulate and deceive others for our selfish desires. Investing time and energy in this work of the flesh will attract the demon of witchcraft. In Christ, we are commanded to crucify the flesh that we might live. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:13). Selah!

How do you know someone is involved with the spirit of witchcraft?

*Wickedness- she rejoices when others fail or fall; gossip to bring down people; speaks foul, rude, or negative language.

*Manipulation (controlling someone or something to your own advantage, often without no one knowing it). Desire to control and oppress others; getting angry when challenged. Manipulative behavior occurs when a person uses controlling and harmful behaviors to avoid responsibility, conceal their true intentions, or cause doubt and confusion. Manipulation manifests as emotional abuse, lying, blaming, criticizing, and shaming.

*Jealousy, selfish ambition; Rebellion against true authority in the church. Emotionally cold. “Jealousy is as cruel as the grave” (SS 8:6).

*Religious hypocrisy (the witch comes to church, but her character never changes. God’s Word has no influence over her).

*Pride (the witch thinks highly of herself- makes friends and serves only the leaders or the wealthy people).

*Hatred of the light of God, truth, God’s Word, the living churches, and the genuine pastors.

*The witches hate repentance. They are getting worse. “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Tim 3:13).

A witch cannot kill a true Christian, but can place a spell, especially on the weak in the faith and the backsliding Christians. The spell is a stronghold against progress in life. Spiritually and physically the victim becomes slow. These are some of the signs of a possible spell:

*A sudden strange and medically incurable sickness

*Losing money or possessions

*Experiencing accidents in the home

*Poverty that goes on and on despite hard work and prayers.

*Depression, loneliness (even in a crowd), suicidal thoughts. Things are getting worse…

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?” (Gal 3:1-4). Bewitching is another word for setting a spell. Apostle Paul is warning the believers, not the unbelievers. It is possible to be born again and be under a bewitching spell. The effect is spiritual blindness (you can’t see Christ Crucified and the price paid for you on the Cross), foolishness (making unnecessary mistakes), suffering in vain with no progress in life.  

What is the solution? Give your life to Christ. Fast! Pray in English and in tongues. Confess and repent of all known sin. Submit to God and the devil will flee from you (James 4:7). Submit to the delegated authority in the church. Ask your pastors to pray deliverance for you. Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Serve God in your local church, with humility and faithfulness. Then do spiritual warfare! “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Cor 10:3-6).

LESSONS

There are many wicked people in this world, some of them are ‘famous men’ and others are attending to them. The devil sends his agents to keep men in spiritual darkness. That is why many political leaders, champions, and wealthy men are resistant to the Gospel. The devil and his victims hate the light of God. As Haman looked good to King Xerxes and became his prime minister, so Elymas looked like a good religious counselor to the proconsul. It was the anointing of the Holy Spirit as God’s Word was preached that exposed him to be a wizard. It is only the power of the Gospel that is able destroy the power of the devil! Sergius Paulus was astonished at the power of God’s Word working in his own heart and at the authority that Jesus gave to Paul to restrain evil. This astonishment led to faith in Jesus. A witch or a wizard are ‘full of deceit and fraud’. In other words, the man who lies habitually, who rejoices at the success of evil in this world, opposes the Truth, and hates the preachers of the Gospel, he is an agent of the devil. Preaching God’s Word attracts opposition. We are to expect it and prepare for it. In Christ, we are not afraid of the devil. In Christ, we always win!

Repent of every known sin. God’s Word brings light into the soul. Study the Bible and pray. Do not make friends with haters. These are spiritually blind, wicked, and dangerous.  Never be the reason why another Christian stumbles and falls. Do not rejoice when Christians fall into sin. Behind that sin, there may be another Christian who contributed to it. Be careful with your words. Never speak in anger. Do not judge (criticize) another brother (sister) in Christ, especially in these matters of indifference. In the Church, Grace rules like King and Love rules like Queen. Even if your opinion is right, if the spirit behind it is anger, selfish ambition, jealousy, greed, or any other fleshly desire, then you are wrong. Personal opinions must bow to the greater Law of Agape Love. The unity of the Spirit is by far more important than our personal opinions. Worship the Lord!

“And He (Jesus) was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind,

To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20 Then He closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4:17-21).

May the Gospel work salvation and deliverance in you! Have faith 100% in Jesus Christ, the Lord and Judge of all! Worship the Lord!

This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures were taken from the books of Romans 14:1-13; Matthew 7:1-5.

THE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD

Love is the greatest word in the Bible. In Greek, there are three words for love. Eros refers to sexual love. Philio refers to friendly attachment. Agape means unconditional sacrificial love. In the New Testament, the word Love appears about 200 times, and it is almost always ‘agape’ love. This Love is not just a feeling. It is the highest, most pure form of love, born not out of natural attraction or obligation, but a willful choice and a command to be obeyed.  It is the unselfish, pure, powerful, and sacrificial love that desires the best in another person. This love is best expressed as the Fatherly Love of God for human beings. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). This is the Gospel: God the Father sent God the Son to become a Man and die on behalf of sinners. The unbelievers may be religious, but they do not know this agape love. Love is a gift given only to the children of God, who are saved by grace and thru faith in Christ. This love saves and restores humanity in the face of sin and death. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Because we are born sinners, agape love does not come naturally to us. Agape love requires faithfulness, commitment, courage, strength, wisdom, faith, and sacrifice. Agape love is the magnet God uses to attract the world to Jesus! It was so in the early church, and during all the revivals in the history of the Church! To know the measure of Love you must know how much Love gives. Just think of this Love: God the Father gave us His only begotten Son, to save us! God the Son gave up His Live, His Blood, to pay for our sins! There is no greater Love than that!!! Our Lord says: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent” (Rev 3:19).

MATTERS OF LOVING INDIFFERENCE (Romans 14:1-13)

The Book of Romans is a masterpiece. It is considered the best Book in the Bible and the greatest piece of literature in the world. It is written by the great Apostle Paul. Many great men of God became born again by studying this Book. It contains the major doctrines of the Gospel. In the first 11 chapters, the Apostle writes about the doctrines of salvation. From chapter 12 to the end, he writes the application of these doctrines. The first two verses in chapter 12 are the basic scriptures on the application of doctrine. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:1,2).  We see that the Christian life is a life of sacrifice for the sake of Christ, to give glory to God! By faith in God’s Word, our minds are renewed and transformed. From starting as ‘babies’ in Christ, we become strong in the faith. Becoming spiritually mature is the aim for every believer. Agape Love is the engine of this transformation. The New Law of Love takes over obedience of the Law as found in the Old Testament.

In chapters 14 and 15 we find the practical application of the Gospel especially in the relationships between believers. Theologians call these principles ‘matters of indifference’ or ‘grey areas’. These are important teachings, but they are not essential to our salvation. They apply to the type of food Christians eat, the mode of dressing, the type of entertainment, the types of baptism, the type of prophecies, the importance of days and how we celebrate our faith. The major doctrines of the Bible cannot be argued about.  As Christians, we all must agree on the major doctrines in the Bible, but we can lovingly disagree on these matters of indifference. If something is forbidden, it is sin. There is no need to discuss it. For example, the Bible says that adultery is sin. We cannot debate that. We now study things that are not clearly forbidden in God’s Word and our attitude to them. Over the years these things have bought much confusion, pain, and division in the Body. The church is made of many believers; some are spiritually strong, and others are spiritually weak in the faith. The first lesson we must learn is that the Body is One!!! The strong ones are commanded not to despise. Not to look down on the weak ones. The weak are commanded not to judge the spiritually strong. Lesson: Matters of indifference should never become central doctrines. Any form of division and segregation based on your Bible knowledge is wrong. We study these teachings so that we behave better, we love without quarreling or causing division in the Body. Selah!

JESUS CHRIST IS JUDGE OF ALL

“For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Rom 14:9-13). Because Jesus died and rose again, He became the Lord of the living and the dead. He is the Savior of only the believers, but He is the Lord of all, of the believers and the unbelievers. Those who love Him and go to heaven and those who hate Him and go to hell, all must bow before Jesus. Bowing before somebody means to publicly acknowledge that person’s authority over you. We bow to kings and queens on earth, but the greatest bowing is reserved for Jesus alone, the Lord, the Judge, and the King of kings.

In the Old Testament, God the Father is proclaimed as the Judge of all men. “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked” (Ecc 3:17). Abraham calls Jehovah God ‘the Judge of all the earth’ (Gen18:25). In the New Testament, we see that The Lord Jesus Christ becomes the Judge of all because God the Father gave Him that authority. He said: “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (Jn 5:22, 23). Love delegates authority. Because God the Father loves God the Son, He has given His Son the authority to judge all men. As the Judge of all, men must submit to the authority of Jesus and honor Him. The Father rejects anyone who worships Him directly, without honoring His only begotten Son. Apostle Paul quotes from the prophet Isaiah. This scripture applies to God the Father. But Paul quotes it as applying to God the Son. This is another proof that Jesus Christ is God. “I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath” (Is 45:23).

“It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27). In the Bible, God’s judgment is revealed in three forms:

1-In this life, God judges the believers so that they repent and walk in a holy way. This form of judgment manifests as trials, sickness, or untimely death (the meaning of the word ‘sleep’). “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world” (1Cor 11:28-32). Not every sickness is a chastisement from God, but some are. “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Heb 12:5, 6). The danger during trials is forgetting that God’s love can manifests as chastisement, to despise His love coming to you in this way, and to become discouraged. Lesson: during trials, repent and go back to God!

2-After death, believers will be judged for their works at the Bema Seat of Christ (2Cor 5:9-11). All true believers will surely go to heaven. They cannot lose their salvation, but they can lose rewards. “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” (Rev 14:13). Our works for Jesus, good or bad, will follow us to heaven. “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (Jam 3:1). All people in authority, Parents, Bible teachers and preachers, shall receive a stricter judgment on how they used that position of authority and influence.

3-After death is final judgment for all unbelievers who will be sent to the lake of fire. This is the second and eternal death (Rev 20:11-15).

THE JUDGMENT OF BEMA SEAT OF CHRIST

“Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth] or away from home [and with Him], it is our [constant] ambition to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities, and abilities]. 11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord [and understand the importance of obedience and worship], we persuade people [to be reconciled to Him]. But we are plainly known to God [He knows everything about us]; and I hope that we are plainly known also in your consciences [your God-given discernment]” (2 Cor 5:9-11; AMP)

A Christian’s main desire is to live, work, and die in a way that is pleasing to God. In Greek, the words translated ‘the judgment seat’ of Christ are ‘Bema’ seat of Christ. This picture is taken from the Roman Olympic games. At the end of the games, the athletes come before Ceasar and receive their victor’s crowns (or medals). It is a moment of joyful celebration. They receive gold, silver, or bronze medals. Others, receive only a handshake. They have finished the race but there is no crown for them.   

All believers must appear before the Tribunal Bema seat of Christ. They are not judged about their eternal destinies if they go to heaven or to hell. That judgment was done already when they became born again. For the Christians, judgment for sins was placed on Christ, when He died on the Cross on their behalf. By faith, the Christian has passed from death to eternal life. Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life” (Jn 5:24). Loving the brethren and not judging them is a sign that you are saved. “We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death” (1Jn 3:14). When Christ died our sins were forgiven and wiped away by God. “He will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19).  As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions8 from us” (Ps 103:12). “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” (Rom 8:1). The word ‘condemnation’ also means judgment or punishment. We are therefore free from eternal judgment! Amen!

The judgment here is about our works done on earth from the time we became saved and the rewards concerning these works. The word ‘appear’ means that all believers must be present in person before Christ, the Judge on His seat. It is a public trial. Nothing is hidden. Even the motives of our actions shall be displayed like on a screen, and all will see it. The judgment concerns the actions the believer did while he was ‘in the body’. None shall be judged for actions done after death. Christ will judge our works done after we became saved, and not when we were in sin. He will judge how we have used the gifts and opportunities He entrusted to us. He will judge and reward each believer accordingly.  This is not a probation. There will be no arguments. It is a final judgment concerning eternal rewards. The Bible reveals that in heaven are different levels of authority and reward among the worshippers. The rewards reveal how close the worshipers are to the throne were Jesus sits. Around the throne of Jesus, there are 24 elders who also sit on smaller thrones. They are dressed in white robes and have crowns of gold on their heads. They worship The Lamb upon the throne by bowing on the glassy floor, casting their crowns before Him (Rev 4:4,10). In the distance, there are many other worshippers in heaven, who are also dressed in white robes but do not sit on thrones, and they do not have crowns. They worship Jesus with palm branches in their hands (Rev 7:9, 10).

As King Solomon judged the two prostitutes using the sword, so Christ will judge all believers by using God’s Word. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Heb 4:12, 13). The resurrected Christ has a sword in His mouth, a symbol for the Word of God. John said: “Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength” (Rev1:12-15). God’s Word is the only instrument that can separate flesh and spirit and expose everything. Judgment will be done on how we honored and obeyed God’s Word.

The judgment of works at the Bema seat of Christ will be done with fire. The eyes of the resurrected Christ are like fire. Apostle Paul said: “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 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. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor 3:10-15). The believers who pay the price for spiritual maturity, are the ones building with gold, silver, and precious stones. These materials resist the fire. They shall have great reward. Gold stands for God. Silver stands for redemption. Precious stones represent the living stones that build the church. In other words, the highest reward goes to those we worship God in spirit and in truth and save souls for Jesus. Love rewards the Lovers of Jesus. But the believers who remain babies in the faith, their works are compared with wood, hay, and straw. These are selfish works done for money or personal fame. These are combustible materials. They will be burnt. These believers are barely saved and shall receive no reward. They will worship Jesus in heaven but from a distance. Selah!

Lesson: The destiny of each man is decided on earth. At the point of death nothing can be changed. As Judge of all, Christ rewards His friends and punishes His enemies. God’s children will love the judgment and God’s enemies will hate it, but none can escape it. We see that some believers shall be disappointed in themselves. To avoid this eternal shame, we must be responsible Christians and pay the price for Love. We do it for Christ’ sake and for the sake of our eternal joy being rewarded by the Judge of all. “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love” (1Jn4:17,18). This is God’s eternal unchanging law: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Gal 6:7). God here is Christ the Judge. Knowing how terrible the judgment towards the unbelievers is, we should fear God, not as slaves but as His children. We should remember that all good things we do now, must be for the glory of God and for the good of the Church, the Body of Christ. Thru words and works, a Christian’s life should be devoted to Christ and serve Him in love.  

The Lord Jesus said that the Christians will be judged for the way they do ministry. This warning is given especially to the church leaders and pastors. Jesus commands us to feed the sheep. In other words, the pastors must prepare and preach God’s Word. This is spiritual food to the people. To be careless in this area, is a serious matter. “And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more” (Lk 12:42-48). To be a faithful Christian worker is the foundation for eternal joy. Paul commands Timothy: “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2Tim 4:1,2). Preaching God’s Word is a great privilege and responsibility. God judges preachers in a special way. “Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have accomplished together, but that you may receive a full and perfect reward [when He grants rewards to faithful believers]” (2Jn 1:8; AMP). God’s warning is a sign of Love! Selah!

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE OF GOD

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev 20:11-15). This is the last judgment. All the unbelievers shall be judged by God the Son who is seated on a white throne. God has many books. He records all men’s secrets. The books shall be opened. Men will be judged for their deeds and words spoken on earth. “But I (Jesus) say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment” (Matt 12:36). The judge cannot be manipulated of bribed. “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops” (Lk 12:2, 3). Even if you have forgotten the words you spoke, God remembers everything! Anyone whose name was not found in the Lamb’s Book of Life, will be cast into the lake of fire, where Death and Hades (Hell) are cast too. This is the second eternal death.

The throne is great and white. Great speaks of power and white speaks of purity. Jesus Christ seats upon that throne. He is the Judge. Jesus is both the Savior and the Judge. He is the Lamb and the Lion. He is fearful. Even earth and heaven flee from Him. Before that throne, there is no begging. If you want mercy, you give your life to Christ now and He will give you mercy. Look at the people who will be judged there. They are very many. They are ‘small and great’; it means ordinary and famous, poor, and rich. The sea, Death and Hades gave up their dead. When a sinner dies, his body goes to the grave. Death claims it. His soul goes to Hades (Hell) where he waits in torment until this last judgment. The sinner cannot be judged immediately. Because his sins have affected generations even after his death. Some died long ago, and others died recently. Some were the good religious people and others were the criminals. They were all judged according to their works done on earth. There was no difference among them. This is a public judgment also. Nobody can hide from God. “In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel” (Rom 2:16). The people in front of that throne are the clear sinners, the religious churchgoers who are still unbelievers, and the procrastinators. Church is wonderful. But Church is not the way to heaven. Faith in Christ is! God’s judgment is always just. No man can complain that God did not judge him right. Heaven rejoices when God judges and punishes the wicked. God’s judgments lead to greater worship of God in heaven (Rev 19:1-6). I pray for you! I hope that you do not have to stand before this throne! Give your life to Christ now! Tomorrow is not promised to anyone!

JUDGE NOT!

“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matt 7:1-5).

Many Christians live careless lives. They take salvation for granted. Many pastors do not preach about God’s judgment and hell for fear that they will be criticized and will lose people from their congregations. But Biblical truth must be thought no matter the consequences. 

This command is part of the Sermon of the Mount and it given by the Lord to the believers, and not to the unbelievers. What does it mean not to judge others? The Lord does not say that we should never have an opinion about any Christian. The main reason for this command it to be careful not to be entangled with the religious spirit of hypocrisy, which characterized the Pharisees in the time of Jesus. This proud evil spirit is a troublemaker and faultfinder. He loves to argue and to criticize others, especially concerning matters of indifference. He despises and judges the brethren in the church. It causes much harm among the believers, destroys relationships, and splits churches.

The reason why we are commanded not to judge others, is because we fear God and we are aware of God’s judgment, both in the present and in the future. Another reason is because by judging, we set the standard for God to judge us. There is a saying: ‘you will be paid back with the same coin’. If you speak wicked words to others, God will allow others to speak wicked words to you. Your mouth sets the standard for your own judgment. A judge must be fair and impartial. If a judge is too close to the accused, he is disqualified from being the judge. Often, we hate others, and we judge them. We fail to differentiate between the person and his actions. We are supposed to judge based on Biblical principles and not to attack the person directly. A true Christian should judge another’s actions and not slander him, destroying his character or his testimony. We are supposed to help others and not bring them down. But often we are hypocrites. We point sins in others, and we are blind to the same sins in our lives. ‘To speak the truth in love’ (Eph 4:15) is a very difficult ministry. To chastise another believer so that he can see the truth and repent, is as delicate as eye or brain surgery. Words spoken in anger can damage his spirit for life. But rebuke done in love, fearing God, applying the bandage of mercy on the wound, brings great rewards.

LESSONS FOR US:

*Examine yourself! Be sure that you are born again! Humble yourself! The Holy Spirit, by God’s Word, prepares us for the final judgment.

*Life is a journey and a testing ground. The Christians are the only people who walk in the consciousness of their eternal destiny!

*All men will be judged by Jesus. Prepare for the judgment!  

*Let us pay the price for spiritual maturity. Let us study the Bible, fast, pray, help the needy, and serve God in the local church.

*It does not matter what other men think of us or what we think about others. What matters is what Christ thinks of us! Selah!

*Church discipline is not ruled out. The Word of God tells us how to discipline unrepentant brethren. The Church must be kept pure. But observe that Church discipline applies to sins committed that affects the church in general and not to matters of indifference.

*Do not take God’s kindness, grace, mercy, love, and patience for granted. It is clear that God’s patience with men has a limit.

*By judging others, you trespass into God’s domain and His sovereign authority to judge. Be careful! (Rom2:1-4)

*Jesus is our Savior, Lord, and Judge. In every battle, there is a winer and a loser. God can never lose. In His own time, God gives His people the victory by destroying their enemies. We submit to His authority. Rebellion is a terrible sin in the church.

*When Jesus died, He made us His brethren. Each one of us are connected to Him ‘vertically’ and we one to another, horizontally. Do not despise or judge one another. Our opinions in matters of indifference are less important than keeping the unity of the Spirit in all our relationships in the assembly. We are to love, help, and pray for other brethren. Worship the Lord!

This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures were taken from the books of Romans 14:1-13.

THE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD

Love is the greatest word in the Bible. In Greek, there are three words for love. Eros refers to sexual love. Philio refers to friendly attachment. Agape means unconditional sacrificial love. In the New Testament, the word Love appears about 200 times, and it is almost always ‘agape’ love. This Love is not just a feeling. It is the highest, most pure form of love, born not out of natural attraction or obligation, but a willful choice and a command to be obeyed.  It is the unselfish, pure, powerful, and sacrificial love that desires the best in another person. This love is best expressed as the Fatherly Love of God for human beings. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). This is the Gospel: God the Father sent God the Son to become a Man and die on behalf of sinners. The unbelievers may be religious, but they do not know this agape love. Love is a gift given only to the children of God, who are saved by grace and thru faith in Christ. This love saves and restores humanity in the face of sin and death. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Because we are born sinners, agape love does not come naturally to us. Agape love requires faithfulness, commitment, courage, strength, wisdom, faith, and sacrifice. Agape love is the magnet God uses to attract the world to Jesus! It was so in the early church, and during all the revivals in the history of the Church! To know the measure of Love you must know how much Love gives. Just think of this Love: God the Father gave us His only begotten Son, to save us! God the Son gave up His Live, His Blood, to pay for our sins! There is no greater Love than that!!!

MATTERS OF LOVING INDIFFERENCE (Romans 14:1-13)

The Book of Romans is a masterpiece. It is considered the best Book in the Bible and the greatest piece of literature in the world. It is written by the great Apostle Paul. Many great men of God became born again by studying this Book. It contains the major doctrines of the Gospel. In the first 11 chapters, the Apostle writes about the doctrines of salvation. From chapter 12 to the end, he writes the application of these doctrines. The first two verses in chapter 12 are the basic scriptures on the application of doctrine. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom 12:1,2).  We see that the Christian life is a life of sacrifice for the sake of Christ, to give glory to God! By faith in God’s Word, our minds are renewed and transformed. From starting as ‘babies’ in Christ, we become strong in the faith. Becoming spiritually mature is the aim for every believer. Agape Love is the engine of this transformation. The New Law of Love takes over obedience of the Law as found in the Old Testament.

In chapters 14 and 15 we find the practical application of the Gospel especially in the relationships between believers. Theologians call these principles ‘matters of indifference’ or ‘grey areas’. These are important teachings, but they are not essential to our salvation. They apply to the type of food Christians eat, the mode of dressing, the type of entertainment, the types of baptism, the type of prophecies, the importance of days and how we celebrate our faith. The major doctrines of the Bible cannot be argued about.  As Christians, we all must agree on the major doctrines in the Bible, but we can lovingly disagree on these matters of indifference. If something is forbidden, it is sin. There is no need to discuss it. For example, the Bible says that adultery is sin. We cannot debate that. We now study things that are not clearly forbidden in God’s Word and our attitude to them. Over the years these things have bought much confusion, pain, and division in the Body. The church is made of many believers; some are spiritually strong, and others are spiritually weak in the faith. The first lesson we must learn is that the Body is One!!! The strong ones are commanded not to despise. Not to look down on the weak ones. The weak are commanded not to judge the spiritually strong. Lesson: Matters of indifference should never become central doctrines. Any form of division and segregation based on your Bible knowledge is wrong. We study these teachings so that we behave better, we love without quarreling or causing division in the Body. Selah!

SOME LESSONS ON HOW TO RELATE TO OTHERS CONCERNING MATTERS OF INDIFFERENCE

*The command to receive a weak brother applies only to the church setup. God gives His grace to welcome the weak in the faith only to the Body of the local church. This command does not apply to all other religious organizations, traditional gatherings, or family meetings.

*This command works only when applying the power of agape love. The power of the flesh and human sympathy will fail in this regard.

*The matters of loving indifference apply to both the weak and the strong’. Both despising and judging are wrong!

*As we welcome a brother who is weak in the faith does not mean that automatically, the weak one becomes a leader in the church.

*All of us are sinners saved by grace. The same Blood of Jesus saved us all. Even the ones who are strong in the faith are not yet perfect. We all make mistakes. Stay humble and be quick to repent when we fail the law of Love and pay the price to grow in the faith.

*Never allow your Bible knowledge to build pride in you! Each one is responsible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the Body. The strong is not to ‘to despise the weak’ and the weak should not judge the strong. A Christian should never quarrel. The world loves to argue, debate and quarrel. Any Christian who cannot control his emotions or his words, should not give his opinions in public about anything. Speaking in anger does great damage to your testimony and hurts others!

*Learn the difference between a dialogue and a debate. A dialogue brings two willing parties together. Love is the key. They both want to come to a common understanding of the problem and finding a common ground is the goal. Debate is oppositional. Hatred and anger are there. The two parties oppose one another, each trying to prove that the other one is wrong. In debate, wining is the goal. Debate does not care about other’s feelings, love, or the future of the relationship. Christians should engage in dialogue and never in debate! This law applies to the marriage set up and to the church fellowship. If you cannot behave as Christians with others, better keep quiet!

*Apply the rules of teaching in your relationships with people, especially with those weak in the faith. Teaching is a science and an art. These are some guidelines: First, a good teacher is a patient person. He is also humble and wise. He knows his subject, but he also knows and loves his students! He must be ready to face many challenges. He must learn to gain the trust of his students. He teaches especially by being a living example. These rules about being a good teacher apply to parents, pastors, and leaders in the church.

*In all relationships, thru words and actions, be conscious of the glory of God. We are vessels of honor pleasing to our Master.

WE LIVE OR DIE TO THE LORD

“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord, he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Rom 14:5-8).  All this time, Apostle Paul was talking about application of doctrine. Suddenly, he proclaims one of the greatest doctrines about the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Henow connects these matters of indifference with our relationship to the Lord. This is a greater revelation of who our Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing Him means Loving Him and others. This is the highest motive of why we love one another, why we receive the weak in the faith. Basically, the Christian lives and dies in God’s presence. He wants to make Christ happy. It is for Christ’s sake why he chooses to love others, why he does good deeds, why he does not quarrel, why he tolerates others who are different than him. Because Christ is the Head of the Church, the Christian behaves in such a way as to honor the Head.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (1Cor 10:31-33). Here Apostle Paul explains that the Christian does everything to the glory of God. He does not ‘give offence’, he does not put a stumbling block in any man’s way so that all may see he is a child of God. It is only a Christian that can love and live like this. An unbeliever is basically selfish and does not care about God’s approval or His glory. He does not care if others are offended or not at his words and actions. The unbeliever says: ‘I don’t care what men say about me’. He is always selfish, seeking his own pleasure, trying to fulfill his ambitions by oppressing others. He lives in this world only for his own pleasure.

But the Christian is loving and kind, because ‘love does not seek its own’, and is never selfish (1Cor 13:5).  For all the days of his life the believer lives for the pleasure and glory of God. That includes his last breath, his death. For a believer, the idea of suicide is totally forbidden. A Christian does not say: ‘I wish I was dead’ or ‘I don die finish’ (Naija). He trusts God every moment of his life including the time and manner of his death. Lesson: we should not be anxious about our life or our death. We must always trust God, every moment, including the last second on earth. Our death is God’s decision, not ours. Jesus controls our life and our death. He promised to be with us to the end of this life and forever! This is the faith of a true Child of God.

Read what the resurrected Christ tells Peter: “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 20. Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true” (Jn 21:18-24). In this passage, our Lord reveals Himself as the Lord of life and death. He just got reconciled with Peter and He tells Peter the way he will die in the future. Peter will die as an old man, and in a painful manner. When Jesus was arrested, because of his fear of death, Peter betrayed his Lord. But when Peter dies, he will remain faithful to the end. This prophetic word came to pass. According to church tradition, Peter died as a martyr. He was crucified as an old man. He told his executioners to crucify him upside down, for he was not worthy to be killed like his master, Jesus. On that Cross, Peter continued to praise God until his last breath. Seeing that Jesus knows the future, Peter became curious about the way John will die. But Jesus gently rebukes Peter, telling him it is not his ‘business’. Out of the original apostles, John is the only one who died as an old man, in a peaceful manner. Lesson: how we die, or how others die, is not our ‘business’. Reject the fear of death! Trust God!

“Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn 11:23-26). Martha believed that Jesus is the Christ and He will rise her brother Lazarus from the dead in the future, at the last day. Jesus corrects her error. Jesus says that He is the Source of both Resurrection and Eternal Life. In other words, there is no Resurrection without Jesus and no Eternal Life without Jesus. He not only gives Life, but He is Life! Martha saw time and death as insurmountable obstacles. Martha thought: ‘It is too late to save my brother. He has already died, and his body is smelling. We now must wait until the last day to see Lazarus. But for Jesus, both time and death are not obstacles. Martha thought of resurrection as an event in the future. Jesus tells her that Resurrection is a present Person, Himself. Glory to God!

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” (Rev 14:13). The Holy Spirit confirms that those who are born again, when they die, they go to heaven and their good deeds will ‘follow’ them. These will not be lost but will accompany them to heaven to receive their reward. “Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Rom 14:8). In life and in death, we belong to Jesus! Glory!

DOCTRINE: JESUS CHRIST BECAME THE LORD OF ALL BECAUSE HE DIED AND ROSE AGAIN

“For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living” (Rom 14:9).

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 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. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 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, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:5-11). Apostle Paul prays that we may know “what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality 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. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph 1:19-23). “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Rev1:17,18). “Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt 28:18). Halleluiah!

From all these scriptures we see that Christ’ death and His resurrection are the reasons for His promotion as Lord over all, dead or alive!!! It follows that if Christ did not become a Man to be able to die, He could not have become the Lord of all. From eternity, Christ was co-equal with God the Father. Both are Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent. But with all this eternal power Christ could not make Himself the Lord over death except when He died as a Man on the Cross. When He was living as a Man on earth, He was the Lord of the living but not the Lord of the dead. At the Cross, the sinless Christ willingly humbled Himself to become sin, so that God’s wrath will fall on Him, and die. He died on our behalf. If He did not die, He could not have become our Savior. He saved us not thru His teachings or His miracles, but thru His very death on the Cross. Now, thru His death and resurrection from the dead, Christ became the Lord of both the living and the dead. When Christ rose from the dead, He defeated the grave, death itself and the devil, who had the power of death. Death is an enemy to man. “The last enemy that will be destroyed is death” (1Cor 15:26). This is the power of the Gospel: Christ has conquered the last enemy. The Christian can now look at death face to face and say: ‘O death, where is your boast? “So, when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor 15:54-57).

Death came thru sin, and sin came thru Adam’s disobedience. “Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Rom 5:12). Because of sin, there was no man or woman who could avoid or defeat death. Jesus died for sinful men. After three days in the grave, Jesus rose from the dead. It is the power of resurrection, that is the basis for Christ’ authority over all the living and the dead. Peter said:  “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it” (Ac 2:22-24). The word ‘held’ means to have power to seize and retain. Death failed to seize and retain the Lord Jesus in the grave! Halleluiah! His victory is ours!

Jesus became our Eternal High Priest not because as a Man He was born in a Levitical family. He became the High Priest thru the power of resurrection, the power of endless life: “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb 7:14-17). This eternal appointment was not made on earth, but in heaven. Glory!

Before Jesus died and rose from the grave, death was totally barren. Death could not produce any fruit to give glory to God. But now, everything has changed. Praise the Lord! Christ is called ‘The First fruits from the dead’! “Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles” (Ac 26:23). “But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (1Cor 15:20-23). “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth” (Rev 1:5).  Men like Enoch and Elijah were taken to heaven, but they did not pass thru death. Lazarus was called back from the dead by the Lord Jesus, but he did not resurrect. He came back to continue to live his life on earth and he later died like any mortal man. Jesus Christ is the First Fruit that rose from the dead! That is why He is the Lord of all!

Here we see the need for the incarnation of the Son of God. He has always been God but now, He needed to be a true Man, so that He can die. If Jesus is not Man like us, then He cannot be our Savior. This is the Gospel of salvation. Jesus rose from the dead for His own glorious testimony and on our behalf. He is the first fruits from the dead. The believers in Christ are His harvest. He has conquered the grave, death, and the devil, on our behalf.  “Therefore, since [these His] children share in flesh and blood [the physical nature of mankind], He Himself in a similar manner also shared in the same [physical nature, but without sin], so that through [experiencing] death He might make powerless (ineffective, impotent) him who had the power of death—that is, the devil” (Heb 2:14,15; AMP). It is the will of God the Father, that salvation for us should be won by His Son, Jesus Christ. Salvation was won by the Son for the other sons. This salvation, this victory from sin, bondage, and fear, could only be won by the means of death. And only Jesus could have done it! Glory!

The devil ‘had (or has) the power of death’. What does that mean? It does not mean that the devil decides when we die. That is the domain of God alone. For example, when Satan asked God for the permission to attack Job, God allowed him but set boundaries. Satan could make Job sick but could not kill him. “And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life” (Job 2:6). The devil does not have the power, or the authority to decide when we die. Selah! So, how does the devil have (or had) the power of death over men? Because he is the author of death thru sin. In the Garden of Eden, he convinced Adam and deceived Eve to eat from the forbidden fruit. God has already said that disobedience will bring death. Adam sinned and God’s word came to pass. Death entered humanity thru sin. Jesus said that the devil “was a murderer from the beginning” (Jn 8:44). The devil introduced death thru sin. He introduced the sting or death that hurts us and makes us afraid of death. The devil is called ‘the god of this age’ (2Cor 4:4). The whole world is in bondage to the devil. “We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts]” (1Jn 5:19; AMP). In Christ we are free from the grip, from the control of the devil. But the world around us is still under his control. Each unbeliever you meet, ignorantly or not, is a victim and an agent of the devil. That is why we cannot make friends with the world. The unbelievers fear death because they see hell in the future. Unbelievers do not have the hope of glory, like us, to go to heaven.

Note that Jesus did not ‘destroy’ the devil. He did not annihilate the devil. By His death, Christ made the devil powerless over God’s children. Like a cobra that kills with its poisonous bite, Christ has removed the teeth and the poison of the cobra, for us. This victory over death and the devil applies only to the Christians. “We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him” (1Jn 5:18; AMP). Jesus totally protects us from the devil. The word ‘protect’ means to watch over, to keep safe, to guard, to keep in custody, to retain (in His hand). The devil cannot ‘touch’ the believer. The word ‘touch’ means to lay hold of, to attach itself to another, or to intimately connect with another. The devil cannot ‘rape’ or possess a believer. The devil roars like a lion, but it cannot touch or kill the believers. Selah!

How did Christ save us from the fear of death? By dying for us, by becoming a curse on our behalf. Christ has delivered us from the curse of the Law. If God’s Law is broken, or obeyed partially, the penalty for that is death. If a man obeys all the laws, but breaks one law, he enters under the curse of the Law. He must be punished with death. “Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS [crucified] ON A TREE (cross)” (Gal 3:13; AMP). As sinners, the Law was our unmerciful Master. We all failed to obey God’s Laws. But now, Christ is our Master.

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose]” (1Cor 15:56-58; AMP).

By His death on the Cross, Christ has satisfied God’s Law. He has finished obeying the Law and fulfilled all its demands. Christ is the only Man who fully obeyed God’s Law. He did that on our behalf. We are now free from the bondage and the curse of the Law. The Law is not our Master again. We have a new Master, Jesus Christ, who reigns thru Grace. Because of His victory, death has no terror to a Christian. Listen to the promise of Jesus: “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if anyone keeps My word [by living in accordance with My message] he will indeed never, ever see and experience death” (Jn 8:51; AMP). The Gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected has brought eternal life to us who believe. This is the work of King Grace. “But now [that extraordinary purpose and grace] has been fully disclosed and realized by us through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who [through His incarnation and earthly ministry] abolished death [making it null and void] and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2Tim 1:10. AMP). The revelation of grace and glory in Christ is available only to the believers in Christ. The unbelievers do not have this hope, or this power. The pagans do not believe in a heaven. They fear life and they fear death. Making friends with unbelievers will add fear and anxiety to you. Be careful!

The final proof that the believers have conquered death and its fears, is that now, in Christ, death is our property and our servant. Read this: “Therefore, let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1Cor 3:21-23). The unbelievers boast in men. We boast in God. Death does not hold us. We hold death! Death must say ‘yes, sir’ to us! Death is the servant that opens the door for the believer to go to heaven. Only Christ could have done such a miracle! Glory to God!

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Rev1:17, 18)

What Jesus meant was, ‘Don’t be afraid of Me’. He said that because John was afraid. Seeing the Lord Jesus risen and glorified was a frightening sight. All the prophets and saints who have seen God in glory have always fallen down in fear and trembling before him. But Jesus reassures John, saying, ‘Don’t be afraid’. By this He means that God is our friend, not our enemy; He is for us, not against us. Apostle Paul says, If God be for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31). “Be content with such things as ye have: for he has said, I will never ever, never ever leave thee nor forsake thee. (Heb13:5 KJV). Now that is the great promise which Jesus makes here to John.

Jesus then says, I am the first and the last. I am the living one. That means that He is at the beginning and at the end of everything in everybody’s life. He is the living one, all the way from conception, thru death, to heaven. He is always with us. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the A and the Z of life’. The present tense is used all the way through. Jesus is the One who goes with us through everything. Many saints have been helped during trials by remembering that the Lord was with them! These reassuring words are intended to comfort those who feel alone, and who want somebody to stand with them through difficult times. We look to each other for that, but oftentimes human beings fail. But Jesus will not fail. This is His word to us: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One!’ Amen!

Finally, let us declare: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:35-39). Glory!

THE HEIDELBERG CATECHISM

Question: What is your only comfort in life and death?

Answer: “That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life 9 and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him’.

PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR US:

1-The highest motive why we love the brethren is loving, knowing, and submitting to Christ, who is the Head of the Church.

2-In Christ, we live and die in God’s presence!

3-For the believer, the idea of suicide is totally forbidden.

4-Because Jesus promised to be with us forever, we should never be anxious about our lives or deaths, including the lives and deaths of others. How and when we die is not our ‘business’. It is the Lord’s ‘business’.

5-Because Jesus died and rose again, He is the Lord over the Living and the dead. He has totally defeated on our behalf the grave, death itself and the devil! We are free from the sting (the hurt) of death! We totally reject the fear of death!

6-Jesus totally protects us from the devil!

7- Death was our enemy. Now, in Christ, death has been defeated and has become our property and servant. Death says to you: ‘yes, sir’! Death opens the door to heaven for you! Halleluiah! Worship the Lord!