Ideas Have Consequences

 Ideas Have Consequences

The aim of our charge is love. (1 Timothy 1:5)

Victor Frankl was imprisoned in the Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Dachau during the Second World War. As a Jewish professor of neurology and psychiatry he became world renowned for his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, which sold over eight million copies. 

In it he unfolds the essence of his philosophy that came to be called Logotherapy — namely, that the most fundamental human motive is to find meaning in life. He observed in the horrors of the concentration camps that man can endure almost any “how” of life, if he has a “why.” But the quote that stirred me recently was this:

I am absolutely convinced that the gas chambers of Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Maidanek were ultimately prepared not in some ministry or other in Berlin, but rather at the desks and in the lecture halls of nihilistic scientists and philosophers. (“Victor Frankl at Ninety: An Interview,” in First Things, April 1995, p. 41.)

In other words, ideas have consequences — consequences that bless or destroy. People’s behavior — good and bad — does not come out of nowhere. It comes from prevailing views of reality that take root in the mind and bring forth good or evil.

One of the ways that the Bible makes plain the truth that ideas have practical consequences is by saying things like, “Whatever was written in former days was written . . . [that] we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). The ideas presented in the Scriptures produce the practical consequence of hope. 

Again, Paul says, “The aim of our charge is love” (1 Timothy 1:5). The imparting of ideas through a “charge” or through “instruction” produces love. 

Hope and love do not come from nowhere. They grow out of ideas — views of reality — revealed in the Scriptures. 

Another way the Scriptures show us that ideas have consequences is by using the word “therefore” (1,039 times in the NASB). “Therefore” means that what follows comes from somewhere. For example, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Or: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Or: “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34).

If we want to live in the power of these great practical “therefores,” we must be gripped by the ideas — the views of reality — that go before them and stand under them. Ideas have consequences. So, let’s bring all our ideas under the authority of God’s word.

BELIEVERS’ INHERITANCE IN CHRIST! - PART 2.

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2025.

SUBJECT: BELIEVERS’ INHERITANCE IN CHRIST! - PART 2.

Memory verse: "And raised us together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2 vs 6.)

READ: Ephesians 1 vs 17 - 23:

1:17: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

1:18: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

1:19: and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to working of His mighty power

1:20: which He worked in Christ when He raised Him up from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

1:21: 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.

1:22: And He has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

1:23: which His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

INTIMATION:

In the first three chapters of the apostle Paul's epistle to the church in Ephesus, he enumerated the consummation of Christ's substitutionary work for the believers regarding Satan and his cohorts —the demons. His heart intent is that we come to the full knowledge of what we are in Christ.

In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus, and the prayer is applicable to all believers to this day. The apostle Paul prays that our eyes be opened or enlightened, that we may know what is the richness of the glory of Jesus’ inheritance in the saints—in the substitutionary work accomplished for us believers, and what the exceeding greatness of His ability on our behalf who believe.

He clearly stated that, it is according to the working of the strength of the mightiness of God, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him up from the among dead.

He declares the same ability that wrought in the dead body of Jesus when He was raised to immortality, is at work in us. Yes, undoubtedly so, because the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is indwelling us by grace (unmerited favor) of God.

Now see how the apostle Paul made known this fact to the saints in Rome; "And if the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall also quicken (or heal or strengthen) your mortal bodies." (Romans 8 vs 11). The heart can hardly take it in that the same might, the same ‘Resurrection Power’ that wrought in the dead body of Jesus is ours today. That same Spirit that embodied the power is indwelling us today, and with the same power. 

Now, consider deeply the mystery in our memory verse, "And raised us together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Reconcile it with this, "And He made Him to sit at His right hand in the heavenlies, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come." An everlasting authority, isn't it?

You must always keep in mind that we were raised together with Him, and He made us to sit with Him in the heavenlies; so representatively, we are seated on the Throne with Christ, and all the authority in His seat, and position, is made available to us seated with Him. And He also has given us the “power of attorney” to the use of His great name. 

Remember, Jesus Christ is the head of the body. The body and the head are one entity. We are members of the body—the church. So if the head is exalted, the body is exalted with it. If He has been given all authority, that authority belongs to His body—the church, for its benefit. If He conquered all the forces of darkness and left them paralyzed and broken before He arose from the dead, it is as though we had accomplished the mighty work. It is reckoned to our credit.

Notice carefully the 22nd and 23rd verses:

"And He has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." We are His body, therefore, all these malignant, wicked influences are beneath our feet. We have been made masters of them all. He did not defeat them for Himself, but for us. He did not fight that battle for His glory, but for our good. 

This knowledge should become as common to us, and as usable as the multiplication table. And when this is done, ‘Believers’ will spend less or no time glorying the devil, instead of using the time to glorify Jesus Christ for His triumph over Satan and his cohorts, on our behalf. If you embrace this truth, you will hardly give the devil any room to minister his usual lies to you because, by God's grace, you have known what you are in Christ!

The big question still remains, “When will the hearts of all Christians embrace this ‘Truth,’ and their minds become fruitful with this mighty unveiling of what we are in Christ?” 

Prayer: Abba Father, all that is within and in me is thanking and praising You for Your unparalleled love for me, and the riches of the glory of my inheritance in Christ. Endue me continually with the spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge, and understanding of You, and to know the hope of Your calling, in Jesus’ most wonderful Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

At the Bottom of It All

 At the Bottom of It All

In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. (Ephesians 1:4–5)

The experience of Charles Spurgeon is not beyond the ability of any ordinary Christian.

Spurgeon, who lived from 1834 to 1892, was a contemporary and friend of George Mueller and Hudson Taylor. He served the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London for over thirty years as the most famous pastor of his day. 

His preaching was so powerful that people were converted to Christ every week. His sermons are still in print today and he is held up by many as a model soul winner. 

He recalls an experience when he was sixteen that shaped his life and ministry for the rest of his days. 

When I was coming to Christ, I thought I was doing it all myself, and though I sought the Lord earnestly, I had no idea the Lord was seeking me. I do not think the young convert is at first aware of this. 

I can recall the very day and hour when first I received those truths [the doctrines of sovereign, overcoming grace] in my own soul — when they were, as John Bunyan says, burnt into my heart as with a hot iron, and I can recollect how I felt that I had grown, on a sudden, from a babe into a man — that I had made progress in Scriptural knowledge, through having found, once for all, that clue to the truth of God. 

One weeknight, when I was sitting in the house of God, I was not thinking much about the preacher’s sermon, for I did not believe it. 

The thought struck me, How did you come to be a Christian? I sought the Lord. But how did you come to seek the Lord? The truth flashed across my mind in a moment — I should not have sought Him unless there had been some previous influence in my mind to make me seek Him. I prayed, thought I, but then I asked myself, How came I to pray? I was induced to pray by reading the Scriptures. How came I to read the Scriptures? I did read them, but what led me to do so?

Then, in a moment, I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, “I ascribe my change wholly to God.”

What about you? Do you ascribe your conversion wholly to God? Is he the bottom of it all? Does this cause you to praise the glory of his sovereign, overcoming grace?

BELIEVERS’ INHERITANCE IN CHRIST! - PART 1.

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MAY 13, 2025.

SUBJECT: BELIEVERS’ INHERITANCE IN CHRIST! - PART 1.

Memory verse: "But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered  into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (First Corinthians 2 vs 9.)

READ: First Corinthians 2 vs 7 - 12:

2:7: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,

2:8: which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

2:9: But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered  into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

2:10: But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 

2:11: For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in Him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

2:12: Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

INTIMATION:

When I think of the believers inheritance in Christ, I always feel a chill rush through my spine, because the knowledge is exceedingly amazing. The major problem of believers is the lack of that knowledge, and understanding of the fact. Hence, the devil’s domination of many people. The Scripture, in Hosea 4 vs 6 notes, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.....” In the coming days we shall X-ray our true identity or inheritance in Jesus Christ.

Jesus gave the greatest revelation of Himself, and also, the believers inheritance in Him, to the apostle Paul who, in writing to the church in Corinth in the passage we read today, said that these things have been revealed to us by the Spirit of God who is in the heart of believers. Eventually, the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (See First Corinthians 2 vs 14).

The knowledge of the "deep things of God" refers to God's un-fathomable nature and His wonderful plan —Jesus' death and resurrection, and the promise of salvation to those who believe in Him, who it has been given to know all they need to know to be saved. The mystery of salvation was revealed directly from God. This was the plan of God to save man. It was in the mind of God before the creation of the world (Revelation 13 vs 8.)

The knowledge, however, can't be grasped by even the wisest people unless they accept God's message. All who reject God's message are foolish, no matter how wise the world thinks they are.

This knowledge wasn’t made known to the rulers and wise men of Jesus’ days on His earth walk. The principalities, the powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, who are under the headship of Satan—the ruler of this world, never in their wisdom, knew Christ's mission. He was misunderstood and rejected by those whom the world considered wise and great. 

He was put to death by the rulers in Palestine: the high priest, King Herod, Pilate, and the Pharisees, Sadducees, and all the Jewish unbelievers. They were dominated by their sense knowledge, and they thought that killing Him will achieve their aim of dominating the world. They had no part in the spiritual wisdom and revelation given to believers in the knowledge of Him. 

Unfortunately, most Christians are in their infancy in the knowledge of “the Truth.” Even many of our leaders have never passed beyond that. They are still dominated by their senses in the flesh. They are big men in the sense knowledge in the flesh. Very little is known by many so called Christians of "spiritual wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him."

The obvious truth is that the believers have been blessed with every spiritual blessings in the heavenly realm, which was purchased in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. All that Jesus did and accomplished were for us—the body of Christ. As a Deity, He has no need for them because they are His from the beginning!

To be continued.

Prayer: Abba Father, forever I will offer my praise and thanksgiving to You for all You wrought for me in redemption.Give me the grace to fully harness the heavenly blessings which You have blessed me with in Christ through the revelation of the knowledge and understanding of this mystery, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Why We Should Love Our Enemies

 Why We Should Love Our Enemies

“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)

There are two main reasons why Christians should love their enemies and do good to them.

One is that it reveals something of the way God is. God is merciful. 

He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45) 

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:10) 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32) 

So, when Christians live this way, by God’s power, we show something of what God is like.

The second reason is that the hearts of Christians are satisfied with God and are not driven by the craving for revenge or self-exaltation or money or earthly security. 

God has become our all-satisfying treasure and so we don’t treat our adversaries out of our own sense of need and insecurity, but out of our own fullness with the satisfying glory of God. 

Hebrews 10:34, “You joyfully accepted the plundering of your property [that is, you didn’t retaliate against your adversaries], since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.” What takes away the compulsion of revenge is our deep confidence that this world is not our home, and that God is our utterly sure and all-satisfying reward. We know that we have “a better possession and an abiding one.”

So, in both these reasons for loving our enemy we see the main thing: God is shown to be who he really is as a merciful God and as gloriously all-satisfying. 

The power to be merciful is that we have been satisfied with God’s mercy toward us. And the ultimate reason for being merciful is to glorify God, that is, to help others magnify him for his mercy. We want to show that God is magnificent. We want our love, by God’s mercy, to make God look great in the eyes of man.

THE COMMUNION!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY MAY 12, 2025.

SUBJECT: THE COMMUNION!

Memory verse: "For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” (First Corinthians 11 vs 26.)

READ: Luke 22 vs 17 - 22:

22:17: Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves:”

22:18: for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.

22:19: And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of Me.

22:20: Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. 

INTIMATION: 

The Communion is a Christian sacrament commemorating the Lord’s Supper by consecrating bread and wine. It is a religious ceremony conferring a specific grace on those who receive it. Whatever name your church uses for this event (Communion, Lord’s Supper, or Eucharist) and on whatever schedule you celebrate it, the importance is that through celebrating ‘Communion’ together believers experience the presence of Christ. 

The celebration of Communion: (1) humbles us before God. We confess our sin and restate our need for Christ to guide us. (2) reminds us that we are forgiven. We remember that His shed blood paid the price. (3) expresses our oneness in Christ. We are unified in our faith. (4) encourages us to recommit. We are reminded to pledge ourselves to serve Him who died for us. 

Each name we use for this sacrament brings not a different dimension to it. It is the ‘Lord’s Supper’ because it commemorates the Passover meal Jesus ate with His disciples. It is the ‘Eucharist’ (thanksgiving) because in it we thank God for Christ’s work for us. It is ‘Communion’ because through it we commune with God and with other believers. As we eat the bread and drink the wine, we should be quietly reflective as we recall Jesus’ death and His promise to come again, grateful for God’s wonderful gift to us—the gift of salvation, and joyful as we meet with Christ and the body of believers. 

Christians differ in their interpretation of the meaning of the commemoration of the sacrament (Lord’s Supper, Communion or Eucharist). There are three main views: (1) The bread and wine actually become Christ’s body and blood; (2) the bread and wine remain unchanged, yet Christ is spiritually present by faith in and through them; (3) the bread and wine, which remain unchanged, are lasting memorials of Christ’s sacrifice. 

No matter which view they favor, all Christians agree that the sacrament (Lord’s Supper, Communion or Eucharist) commemorates Christ’s death on the cross for our sins and points to the coming of His kingdom in glory. When we partake of it, we show our deep gratitude for Christ’s work of this on our behalf, and our faith is strengthened. 

Christians participate in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice at the Lord’s table when they eat the bread and drink the blood from the cup, symbolizing His body and blood. Jesus asked His disciples to always partake of the sacrament (Communion, Lord’s Supper or Eucharist) to remember Him. He wanted them to remember His sacrifice, the basis for forgiveness of sins, and also His friendship, which they could continue to enjoy through the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus death for us on the cross seals a new covenant between God and us. The old covenant involved  forgiveness of sins through the blood of an animal sacrifice (Exodus 24 vs 6 - 8). But instead of a spotless lamb on the altar, Jesus offered  Himself, the spotless Lamb of God, as a sacrifice that would forgive sin once and for all. Jesus was the final Sacrifice for sins, and His sacrifice sealed the new covenant between God and all believers. Now all of us can come to God through Jesus, in full confidence that God will hear and save us from our sins.

Although the exact meaning of Communion has been strongly debated throughout church history, Christians still take bread and wine in order to remember their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Do not neglect participating in the Lord’s Supper. Let it remind you of what Christ did for you. However, the sacrament is not to be taken lightly; this new covenant cost Jesus His life. It is not a meaningless ritual, but a sacrament given by Christ to help strengthen believers faith. 

The apostle Paul gives specific instructions on how the sacrament should be observed. (1) We should take it thoughtfully because we are proclaiming that Christ died for our sins. (First Corinthians 11 vs 26). (2) We should take it worthily, with due reverence and respect (First Corinthians 11 vs 27).  (3) We should examine ourselves for any unconfessed sin or resentful attitude and be properly prepared (First Corinthians 11 vs 26). (4) We should be considerate of others, waiting until everyone is there and then eating in an orderly and unified manner (First Corinthians 11 vs 33).

In reality, no one is worthy to take the Lord’s Supper. We are all sinners saved by grace. This is why we should prepare ourselves for Communion through healthy introspection, confession of sin, and resolution of differences with others. These actions remove the barriers that affect our relationship with Christ and with other believers. Awareness of your sin should not keep you away from Communion but drive you to participate in it. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the sacrament of the body and blood of Jesus offered to us in commemoration of Your Supreme Sacrifice on the cross to pay the debt we owed as sinners in need of a Savior. My desire is to partake of sacrament worthily at all times, and that the blessings wrought in the body and blood of Jesus will find full fulfillment in my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Go on to the Meal

 Go on to the Meal

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! (Psalm 34:8)

To you who say you have never tasted the glory of God, I say, you have tasted many of its appetizers. 

Have you ever looked up at the sky? Have you ever been hugged? Have you ever sat in front of a warm fire? Have you ever walked in the woods, sat by a lake, lain in a summer hammock? Have you ever drunk your favorite drink on a hot day or eaten anything good? 

Every desire is either a devout or a distorted enticement to the glory of heaven.

You say you haven’t tasted God’s glory. I say, you have tasted the appetizers. Go on to the meal. Go on to God himself.

You have seen the shadows; look at the substance. You have walked in the warm rays of the day; turn and look at the sun itself — yes, through the protective and sharpening lens of the gospel. You have heard echoes of God’s glory everywhere; tune your heart to the original music.

The best place to get your heart tuned is at the cross of Jesus Christ. “We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). 

If you want the most concentrated display of the glory of God, look at Jesus in the Gospels, and look especially at the cross. This will focus your eyes and tune your heart and waken your taste buds so that you will see and hear and taste the glory of the true God everywhere.

That is what you were made for. I plead with you: don’t throw your life away on shadows. God made you to see and savor his glory. Pursue that with all your heart and above all else. You have tasted the appetizers. Now go on to the full banquet.