Taken from Dear Sisters, Letters of Hope and Encouragement by Gisela Yohannan
Challenged and blessed by this letter on unity as a wife, in ministry and among my co-workers.
WE ARE TO REFLECT GOD'S NATURE.
More than anything else, unity based on love, as described in 1 Cor 13:4-8, demonstrates the nature of God to a world that is torn into thousands of pieces by strife, wars, and hatred. All these directly result from men's selfishness and pride, their demanding and fighting for their own rights at the expense of others.
God on the other hand, is a Trinity that exists in perfect unity. God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit never compete with each other for anything. God's plan is that when people watch our lives, they should see a true reflection of His nature in us. That's why Jesus prayed for His followers just before He went to the cross: "that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us." (John 17:21).
UNITY VALIDATES OUR GOSPEL MESSAGE
Jesus clearly expresses in the very next statement of His prayer that the believability of the gospel message will depend on our unity among each other: ..."that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me" (John 17:21.
It's a very sobering truth. We generally think that preaching confirmed by healing and miracles will cause people to believe in Jesus. But now we discover in Jesus' prayer that unless God's work is backed up by our unity, we actually destroy the credibility of the Gospel. That should alarm us enough to honestly examine our home life, our teamwork and our relationships with our husband, co-workers, leaders and church members.
UNITY TRANSFORMS US INTO A MIGHT FORCE
Imagine a cart with a heavy load on it and 20 people each trying to pull it into a different direction. How successful will they be to get to the next village? They will never make it unless they make up their minds and everyone pulls in the same direction. Similarly, if people unite together in a cause, nothing will be impossible for them. That's what God said in Gen 11:6 about the ungodly people who set out to build the Tower Of Babel. How much truer should this statement be of us, whom God has called to build HIS KINGDOM!
Much frustration and lack of success in our ministries can often be traced back to the fact that our hearts are not united. If there is any resentment in your heart toward your leader, your co-worker, your husband or the ministry- even if you never express it in words- you have created a roadblock for God's Spirit to move.
UNITY DOES NOT COME WITHOUT A PRICE
It starts with a deliberate decision on our part to humble ourselves as Jesus did, to willingly lay down our rights and desires and submit to the will of God WITH ALL OUR HEART (Philip 2:5-8).
If we struggle to hold onto something we count so dear, let us consider this: Our life here on earth is so short. Unless we make our decisions with eternity in mind, we will definitely miss God's plan.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Friday, December 7, 2012
Exodus-by Faith
But without FAITH it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Heb 11:6
My husband and I have been reading through Exodus where God delivered the Israelites from years of slavery and bondage. We have been parked in Ex 12 and Heb 11. As Passover is approaching I am thinking of the faith it took for Moses to tell each family to dip hyssop in basins of blood and apply the blood to the doorposts. Obeying the Lords voice in faith saved the first born males from death. The Jews were protected by the blood.
Here are a few notes from the commenaries that have ministered and encouraged my faith.
Faith means we cannot see the outcome, we are not sure what lies ahead but we are convinced of the reality of God.
Faith simply means that we rely on God and obey His word, regardless of feelings, circumstances or consequences.
Faith means clinging to the hope that God will eventually triumph; He will come back to earth in judgement to reward those who have sought after Him. And so we obey. We do God's bidding, even when submission is hard. Sometimes we just have to do things feeling afraid.
Those who do not have faith cannot see past the physical world around them. They are limited by their temporal circumstances and are blind to what God is doing. But those who open their spiritual eyes can see the spiritual realities that transcend this world. Their hope is in God's stength, depending on Him and His faithfulness.
Faith is never easy.But the more convinced we are of the reality of an all-good, all powerful God, the more our trust will grow, and the less overwhelmed by doubts and temptaions.
It was faith in God's word that had brought Moses back to Egypt to lead his people out of slavery; it was faith that took him out of Egypt and it was faith that separated him and his people from Egypt as they crossed the Red Sea. No matter what our circumstances may be, we can trust God to bring us out and take us through.
Faith that saves us from eternal separation from God comes by placing our faith in Jesus sacrifice at the cross.
My husband and I have been reading through Exodus where God delivered the Israelites from years of slavery and bondage. We have been parked in Ex 12 and Heb 11. As Passover is approaching I am thinking of the faith it took for Moses to tell each family to dip hyssop in basins of blood and apply the blood to the doorposts. Obeying the Lords voice in faith saved the first born males from death. The Jews were protected by the blood.
Here are a few notes from the commenaries that have ministered and encouraged my faith.
Faith means we cannot see the outcome, we are not sure what lies ahead but we are convinced of the reality of God.
Faith simply means that we rely on God and obey His word, regardless of feelings, circumstances or consequences.
Faith means clinging to the hope that God will eventually triumph; He will come back to earth in judgement to reward those who have sought after Him. And so we obey. We do God's bidding, even when submission is hard. Sometimes we just have to do things feeling afraid.
Those who do not have faith cannot see past the physical world around them. They are limited by their temporal circumstances and are blind to what God is doing. But those who open their spiritual eyes can see the spiritual realities that transcend this world. Their hope is in God's stength, depending on Him and His faithfulness.
Faith is never easy.But the more convinced we are of the reality of an all-good, all powerful God, the more our trust will grow, and the less overwhelmed by doubts and temptaions.
It was faith in God's word that had brought Moses back to Egypt to lead his people out of slavery; it was faith that took him out of Egypt and it was faith that separated him and his people from Egypt as they crossed the Red Sea. No matter what our circumstances may be, we can trust God to bring us out and take us through.
Faith that saves us from eternal separation from God comes by placing our faith in Jesus sacrifice at the cross.
Monday, December 3, 2012
In Christ
"In Jesus you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you being dead in your tresspasses and the uncircumcision of the flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you ALL trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it the the CROSS. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." Col 2-11-15.
Commentary; Those who are in Christ have put off the power of sin and the flesh, they have received new life, have been forgiven and delivered from the requirements laid down by human traditions. They have been freed from the powers of spirit beings. There is nothing that the Christian needs to add to what was received in Christ at the time of conversion.
Christian circumcision is the spiritual removal of sin from the heart taking part in the New Covenant of JESUS CHRIST.
Not only were our personal sins forgiven at the Cross, but those rules that condemed us have also been removed by the death of Christ.
Jesus thank you for dying for my personal sin and the new life I have in You through faith. No human effort can obtain any favor or forgiveness. In Christ alone is redemption and forgiveness.
Commentary; Those who are in Christ have put off the power of sin and the flesh, they have received new life, have been forgiven and delivered from the requirements laid down by human traditions. They have been freed from the powers of spirit beings. There is nothing that the Christian needs to add to what was received in Christ at the time of conversion.
Christian circumcision is the spiritual removal of sin from the heart taking part in the New Covenant of JESUS CHRIST.
Not only were our personal sins forgiven at the Cross, but those rules that condemed us have also been removed by the death of Christ.
Jesus thank you for dying for my personal sin and the new life I have in You through faith. No human effort can obtain any favor or forgiveness. In Christ alone is redemption and forgiveness.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Be Still and Know that I am God
Waiting on God by Andrew Murray
"That Christ may be fully formed within, and that we may be filled to all the fullness of God."
Everything that is salvation, everything that is good and holy, must be the direct, mighty work of God himself within us.
God says: 'Be still and know that I am God.' There is no stillness like that of the grave. In the grave of Jesus, in the fellowship of His death, in death to self with its own will and wisdom, its own strength and energy, there is no rest. As we cease from self,and our soul becomes still to God, God will arise and show Himself...
There is no stillness like the stillness Jesus gives when He speaks. 'Peace be still."
"That Christ may be fully formed within, and that we may be filled to all the fullness of God."
Everything that is salvation, everything that is good and holy, must be the direct, mighty work of God himself within us.
God says: 'Be still and know that I am God.' There is no stillness like that of the grave. In the grave of Jesus, in the fellowship of His death, in death to self with its own will and wisdom, its own strength and energy, there is no rest. As we cease from self,and our soul becomes still to God, God will arise and show Himself...
There is no stillness like the stillness Jesus gives when He speaks. 'Peace be still."
Monday, November 19, 2012
Quietly
Taken from Waiting On God by Andrew Murray
"Take heed and BE QUIET: fear not, neither be faint-hearted." "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." Such words reveal to us the close connection between quietness and faith. They show us what a deep need there is of quietness, as an element of true waiting upon God. If we are to have our whole heart TURNED toward God, we must have it TURNED away from man...
As long as the waiting on God is chiefly regarded as an end toward more effectual prayer, and the obtaining of our petitions, this spirit will not be obtained. But when it is seen that waiting on God is itself an unspeakable blessedness- one of the highest forms of fellowship with the Holy One- the adoration of Him in His glory will of necessity humble the soul into a stillness, making way for God to speak and reveal Himself. Then, it comes to the fulfillment of the precious promise, that all of self and self-effort will be humbled: 'The haughtiness of man shall be brought down, and the Lord alone be exalted in that day...
Take time to be separate from all friends and all duties, all cares and all joys; time to be still and quiet before God. Take time not only to secure stillness from man and the world, but from self and its energy. Let the Word and prayer be very precious...
The quietness is a confession of our meekness. It will be done with all our willing and running, with all our thinking and praying. We must receive it from God. It is the confession of our trust that our God will, in HIS time, come to our help-the quiet resting in HIM alone. It is the confession of our desire to sink deep into our nothingness, and let HIM work and reveal HIMSELF..."
"Take heed and BE QUIET: fear not, neither be faint-hearted." "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." Such words reveal to us the close connection between quietness and faith. They show us what a deep need there is of quietness, as an element of true waiting upon God. If we are to have our whole heart TURNED toward God, we must have it TURNED away from man...
As long as the waiting on God is chiefly regarded as an end toward more effectual prayer, and the obtaining of our petitions, this spirit will not be obtained. But when it is seen that waiting on God is itself an unspeakable blessedness- one of the highest forms of fellowship with the Holy One- the adoration of Him in His glory will of necessity humble the soul into a stillness, making way for God to speak and reveal Himself. Then, it comes to the fulfillment of the precious promise, that all of self and self-effort will be humbled: 'The haughtiness of man shall be brought down, and the Lord alone be exalted in that day...
Take time to be separate from all friends and all duties, all cares and all joys; time to be still and quiet before God. Take time not only to secure stillness from man and the world, but from self and its energy. Let the Word and prayer be very precious...
The quietness is a confession of our meekness. It will be done with all our willing and running, with all our thinking and praying. We must receive it from God. It is the confession of our trust that our God will, in HIS time, come to our help-the quiet resting in HIM alone. It is the confession of our desire to sink deep into our nothingness, and let HIM work and reveal HIMSELF..."
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