Fighting Sin

Galatians 5:16-17, 22-25
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Freedom in Christ if not clearly explained might mislead us and therefore Paul clarifies the spiritual freedom we receive as a people saved by the grace of God. As humans, we like to establish boundaries to know where we can operate and what is out of bounds. While this might be the case, as broken as we are, some of us like to work on the edge of these boundaries and when challenged argue our way out of it. For example when we have a speed limit on the road, the purpose is to ensure safety of all who use the public road and the keyword stated with the speed limit is ‘Maximum’. However, we like to use it as a gauge of what speed we can drive at and we generally drive around that speed or higher, seldom lower. How then does the spiritual freedom operate and how do we exercise it?

Overcoming sin such as that mentioned above is a real challenge because as hard as we try, we fail. However, when we are saved by the grace of God, we are in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit and it steers us away from sin because it desires to serve God and not Satan. The fruits of the Holy Spirit evident in us are listed in the passage above and it shows that there is no room for sin. When we are confronted by sin, we know it because we are reminded by the Holy Spirit and our response should be to run away from it because if we court sin, we cannot serve God. When I am reminded by the Holy Spirit about doing something that is not pleasing to God, I submit myself into God’s hands and run from it. Satan attacks us in very subtle ways and walking close to God helps us hear His voice which directs us away from sin. This is hard for me to talk about because I know my brokenness and my propensity to sin but I also know that Christ has won the victory and as long as I am His, I am protected.

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Romans 8:5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Freedom or Slavery

Galatians 4:21-23, 28-31
Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise… Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

As I continue to seek God through His word, I realize that every word written is worth it’s weight in gold because of how it reflects the character and nature of God. Quoted in verse 30 are words spoken by Sarah in anger when her son Isaac was being mocked by Hagar’s son (Born of Abraham) and even though it sounded crude at that time, God told Abraham to comply because it was through Isaac that Abraham’s offspring would be established. Isaac was born because of God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah whereas Ishmael was born because they decided to take matters into their own hands. While all of this might be good and true, what does it have to do with us today who cannot draw any direct lineage to Abraham and are being called free?

I was born an Indian national and it might seem strange to some that I was saved by the grace of God in India because it is not in any way connected to Israel. God calls the Israelites His people and I call myself a Christian but I’m not Israelite and is there a problem? Our rebirth or the experience of being born again is not a physical one but spiritual and baptism is the physical act of obedience we follow to understand this transformation. When we submit our lives to Jesus Christ, God enters us through His Holy Spirit, cleanses (sanctifies) us of our sins, transforms our hearts and minds to be able to communicate with Him, and calls us His own which makes us Abraham’s offspring. We are not slaves to the law anymore but are now reborn free in Christ who conquered sin and death and gave us life eternal with Him and God the father. Are you still a child of slavery or the child of a promise?

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Spiritual Drifting

2 Corinthians 11:2-4
I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

After days, I have been able to sit with the study again and the reason is laziness. Yes, laziness of mind and body which caused me to spiritually drift and lose my bearings for many days. This is such a strange feeling and I am not proud or glad for having slipped but I thank God for waking me up and placing me back on my feet. I tried to write yesterday and it was futile because I was doing it in my own strength and wisdom, not the Lord’s. What caused it I wondered and this morning, as I drove into work and talked with God, He revealed it to me.

As we go along in life, we tend to take things for granted and God is someone we most easily manage to take for grated because we don’t see Him and therefore reprioritize our time with God because we think He will understand. This is the same issue that God warned the Israelites about when He gave them the Ten Commandments. Jesus is real and truly alive and deserves our complete time and attention. When we take Him and God the father for granted, we lose our footing and suddenly we realize that we are in the middle of an ocean of meaninglessness and we are desperate to be saved from it. That is what I felt this morning and God threw me a lifeline to bring me back to him. Are you being led astray by the serpent’s cunning or do you have your feet on the solid ground called Jesus? 

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Hosea 2:19 “I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, In lovingkindness and in compassion

Godly Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:1, 9-11
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God… yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

Start of another new week here in Vancouver and as time flies, so do missed opportunities to serve God and I thank God for His patience with us even as we sluggishly serve Him. This morning, my passage of scripture was a confirmation yet again about the purpose of suffering in our faith walk. Many will disagree with me and I ask the many to seek God in His fullness just as I am learning to. First Paul talks about what our faith walk must be like by saying that we should cleanse ourselves mind, body and spirit of everything that prevents us from doing so and we should become holy in reverence for God. This is quite the ask and is impossible for us to do on our own. How then does God accomplish this in us?

Suffering is something we have always looked down upon, prayed against, and begged God to take away from us. Yet God permits suffering in our lives and we wonder why? Paul in his 1st letter to the Corinthians was very harsh and in doing so brought about a revival in the church that glorified God. For God, purifying us to become like Him is what counts as we are going to share eternity in His presence. For Christ to live in God’s presence every moment, He has to be holy and has to love God beyond everything else. This is the same for us and to change us, God uses trials and tribulations because this life is the training grounds for the wonderful life after. Are you sorrowful, hurting, suffering? Get on your knees now and ask God to reveal what changes He wants in you to make you more like Him. Stop looking at suffering as an issue but instead look at suffering as an opportunity to learn and grow in the Lord.

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Romans 6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification

Freedom Unveiled

2 Corinthians 3:6, 15-18 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life… Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

My hair stands on end when I read each new chapter in this letter of Paul because of how clearly the wisdom of God is shown to us through it. Paul was but a broken person transformed by the Holy Spirit that spoke God’s words through him and I hope we do not worship Paul but rather worship the one Paul glorified, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As you read this passage above, I hope you ask the questions, what is this letter that kills and what freedom do we actually gain?

The Israelites were give the 10 commandments by God and it was impossible for anyone then and even today to fulfill these commandments and meet God’s basic requirement for righteousness because of our carnal sinful nature. This law was given new life through Christ because through His death, we now have a secure hope of being found righteous in God’s eyes and are not held back by trying to fulfill the law. We are filled with the Holy Spirit when we turn to the Lord and are freed from the captivity of sin, being now transformed by the Holy Spirit into the likeness of Jesus Christ so that we can live forever in His presence glorifying Him with our all. We are purposed to showcase God’s glory in us to give hope to the lost and to transform humanity from the captivity of sin to an eternal freedom in Christ!

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Gifts From Above

1 Corinthians 14:1-4, 39-40
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church… Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

With our feet based on a foundation of love, Paul encourages us to eagerly desire spiritual gifts. He clearly explains that the gift of prophecy is of more value than the gift of tongues because of the basic fact that it edifies the church rather than self and our goal is to love others as God loves us. Rather than getting into which gifts, what they are and how to use them, God’s direction to me from today’s chapter was the whys of spiritual gifts. Why are we given spiritual gifts?

Our spiritual gifts are given to us to edify the church through the working of the Holy Spirit in us. We are reminded in 1 Peter 4:10 ‘Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.’ Again in 1 Cor. 12:7 we are reminded that these gifts are for the common good. We now know that God has given all believers spiritual gifts, that we should desire them and when they are given to us that we should use them to serve Him to the world. Paul also reminds us about using these gifts in an orderly and fitting way because they are from God and God is orderly, not chaotic.

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Unity in Diversity

1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 12-13, 27
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good… For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit… Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

Paul writes much about gifts of the Holy Spirit in this chapter and I recommend you read it well to understand it. The Bible tells us that we are filled with the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit is at work in us transforming us from inside out to make us like Jesus and empowers us to serve God in many ways. Different believers have different gifts that collectively serve God and Paul weeds out the confusion regarding this gifting because in our paradigm, we think each one should have the same gifts and don’t appreciate the variety that adds up to glorifying God collectively.

Yesterday we reflected on communion which is a symbol of the body and blood of Jesus. In 1 Cor. 10:17, Paul reminds us that ‘Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread‘. We are all different in our cultures, colors, languages, etc. but we all are bound in love by Jesus that makes us family. Similarly in our gifting, we are all differently gifted but collectively serve God to glorify Him alone. No one of us is greater or lesser because of our gifting and also Jesus reminds us in Luke 9:48 that whoever is the least among us is the greatest. Let us seek our spiritual gifts from God to use it for His glory and lets work together to build His kingdom.

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Human Vs Holy Spirit

1 Corinthians 2:11-13
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

Understanding the Holy Spirit was one of the hardest aspects of my faith walk. I often wondered what it looked like, what changes occurred in me, what others saw in me to show fruits of the working of the Holy Spirit in me and so on. For someone who is still at the foot of the faith mountain, I am learning the hard way by asking, reading, seeking, praying and God who is the most patient teacher helps me understand Him bit by bit, day by day. Today as I read Paul’s letter to the Church in Corinth regarding the Holy Spirit, my eyes opened to one more truth.

The fragrance of a rose is always going to that of a rose. Plant it among sunflowers or in the forest and it’s fragrance should be that of a rose. We as humans will continue to operate as humans, sinful in our thinking and always causing more damage to ourselves and our environment. However, when we are no longer driven by the same spirit that drives us to act like humans, things change. This is not possible naturally because by nature, we are still human. However, when we are born again by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are filled with God’s own spirit, which transforms us from the very core. We are no longer driven by human desire but by God’s heart. We still have the ability to choose and sometimes make bad choices but the spirit burdens our conscience which brings us back on our knees before the Lord asking for forgiveness. Paul here reminds us that we are driven by this spirit, the Holy Spirit, and therefore our wisdom is God’s wisdom and our understanding is His. Praise God for His goodness to us!

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Spirit of Unity

Romans 15:5-6
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As I read the above passage of scripture, I dwelt upon how Paul talks to us as individuals and as a team, giving us direction. In recent times, watching sport has caught my fancy courtesy the winter Olympics and Paralympics that took place here in Vancouver a few weeks back. Several events were individual and the rest were team events. Every medal was a joy whether individual or team but what it all added up to was victory for the country they represented.

The Church is supposed to mean the body of Christ (Not the building) and we are the bride to the most wonderful and perfect groom, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. In our daily walk, we are ambassadors for Christ in our homes, communities, schools, workplaces, etc. and we are called to serve Christ’s love for all to all. We are therefore individual and team players and are called to be united under the banner of Jesus Christ. Our goal is to serve Him because of what He did for us and not to dwell on our differences. Our joy is to revel in the joy of serving the King of Kings and not to argue like the disciples about who is to sit and the right or the left of Jesus in heaven. I pray we are encouraged to simply serve Jesus!

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy

Hope In The Unseen

Romans 8:22-25
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In a world where success needs to be measured, I often get caught up in the rat race even when it comes to my spiritual life. This morning was one of those days when I prayed asking God to enhance or improve my ministry of His Word because I felt that I was not effective and lives didn’t seem to be touched. I was corrected by Him immediately as He let me know that I was serving him and he was the one who determined success, not me. God orchestrates human thought and creates opportunities for the lost to hear his voice and we as servants of God are called to serve him faithfully. Why is it so hard for me to understand for I have often visited these crossroads in my faith walk?

As the earth quakes and groans in anticipation of the coming King, all mankind seem to be asking and wondering who or what is in control and what next? We Christians know the truth and are eager to be redeemed from the darkness of this world and have our hope in Jesus’ return. If our hope shifts from an unseen goal (His return) to measureable goals as I had this morning, there seems to be nothing to look forward to and we are soon lost like the world. We therefore need to refocus our hope in Jesus’ coming and serve him faithfully without counting the cost or measuring the results.

In His Loving Service,
ServantBoy