Thursday, August 5, 2010
What is Your Life - 2
Now, you tell a man that “you are searching for God”, he wouldn’t agree. When they tell you that “we are searching for the meaning of life”, in effect they are searching for the creator because man, apart from his creator has no reason for his existence. Most are on the lookout for something without knowing it.
We find a picture of this in the Old Testament of the Bible. Turn to the 2nd chapter of the book of Daniel. Here’s king Nebuchadnezzar who saw a dream and wants the interpretation. He doesn’t tell the dream for the fear of empty interpretation that you get from most learned men. So he demands that the dream be told and as well the interpretation be revealed.
26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?"
The King is a picture of the world. The world wants you to tell them what they are searching for and as well reveal the mystery. Could Daniel reveal the mystery and as well tell the king his dream? No sir. He couldn’t. Look at him reply the king in the very next verse.
27 Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about,
Daniel is the picture of the Church/Christians today. Can the Christians reveal the mystery to the world? No, they can’t! Who can? See Daniel's reply in Vs 28. Only God in heaven can reveal mysteries.
28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.
Only God can reveal mysteries. The Christians cannot interpret the mystery on their own just Daniel couldn't on his own.
This story is the picture of the world and the New Testament Christians today. The world is waiting for someone to reveal the mystery. That’s why there’s a craze for all kinds of self-help gurus and books. People are searching for something unawares. Who can reveal the mystery? Only God can. Whom does he use? He uses the Christians just like he used Daniel.
Why did God reveal the mystery to Daniel? Daniel gives the answer in the 30th verse -
30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
The only reason God revealed it to Daniel was that so the king may know the interpretation. The only reason that God reveals his mysteries to the Christians today is that the world will come to know the interpretation. Look at the exact parallel passage of this in the New Testament. Turn to Colossians1:26,27
26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
It is the exact parallel passage to that of Daniel 2nd chapter. The mystery is now disclosed to saints just like it was made known to Daniel. That they may make known the mystery to the gentiles/world. What is the mystery? The mystery which is “Christ in you the hope of glory”. Christ in us is the gospel.
Let me paraphrase it for you the verses – 26The mystery that was kept hidden till Jesus came to this earth is revealed to you the Christians. 27God has chosen you to reveal this to the world. Reveal what? This, that Christ lives in you and that because of that you have a hope of eternal life.
This is our duty. To reveal to the world the Christ life. When the world sees us it needs to see this mystery revealed. It needs to see Christ in us. That’s the only reason God saved us and revealed this life in us.
What is your life?
Monday, July 12, 2010
What is your life?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Reckless Abandon (contd.)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
God requires holiness from HIS men
Friday, February 19, 2010
Our Sufficiency is in HIM
When Pharaoh asked Joseph whether he could interpret dreams Joseph replies (Gen41:16) "I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." Remember Joseph by then had experienced success at everything he set his hand to. Hear Jesus in John 5:19 - "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself;”. Jesus when he uttered these words was sought after for his miracles. But each of them showed total dependence on God while at the top of their game. This is what God is looking for in the man he chooses. Total dependence upon Him in everything. We are too reliant on our abilities that we handicap God to work through us. Leonard Ravenhill cried out “Brethren, our abilities are our handicaps, and our talents our stumbling blocks!” He was right because today we have smart men doing great things without God. For example with some eloquence and humour you could deliver a perfect sermon that would satisfy a crowd. You could make your church go back to their homes thinking that they worshipped God with some nice, slow, soulish music and some husky voiced singing. We are reliant on our equipment and endowments rather than the El-Shaddai. We are reliant on our own will power to overcome sin. We are reliant on psychology and crowd dynamics to ‘move’ the people and thats why our preaching is filled with gimmicks and antics. Oh for a man like John Baptist who would serve the plain diet of repentance hot to his cold hearers! Oh for a man like Paul whose religion was Christ and Christ only.
Jim Elliot entered this in his journal on October 27, 1948 – "Sufficiency in myself is a persistent thought, though I try to judge it. Lord Jesus, Tender Lover of this brute soul, wilt Thou make me weak? I long to understand Thy sufficiency and my inadequacy, and how can I sense this except in experience? So, Lord, Thou knowest what I am able to bear. Send trouble that I might know peace; send anxiety that I might know rest in Thee. Send hard things that I may learn to rely on Thy dissolving them. Strange askings, and I do not know what I speak, but “my desire is toward Thee”—anything that will intensify and make me tender, Savior. O desire to be like Thee, Thou knowest."
Lord, let me be constantly reminded of my insufficiency and of thy all-sufficient grace.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Stephen the forerunner to Paul
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Make Me Thy Fuel
From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.
From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary,
O Lamb of God, deliver me.
Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that will burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod:
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.
- Amy Carmichael