Archive for the ‘Growing in God-kind of Character’ Category

Fruit or Gifts – Part 1

Posted by apostolicrevelation on September 12, 2008

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Fruit or Gifts, which is more important? –

Part 1

By Abraham Israel

Both the fruit and gifts that we receive from God are given through the chief executive agent of heaven who is the Holy Spirit of God. In other words without the Spirit of God you cannot experience either the fruit or the gifts which comes from God the Father who is the source of all good things (James 1:17). This is the reason the Bible calls these things ‘fruit of the Spirit’ and ‘manifestation [gifts] of the Spirit’ (Gal 5:22; 1 Cor 12:4-11). The other meaning of ‘fruit’ in this context is ‘the pleasant or successful result of work or actions’. There must be somebody working in us 24/7/365 to produce all the pleasant and successful actions in our soulish realm. That somebody is the person of the Holy Spirit who works all these successful actions in us. We don’t have to strive to produce these works; we just have to be attached to Jesus in Heaven through the Holy Spirit who connects us in the now-realm of time (John 15:5). Jesus directly works from heaven to produce these works in us through the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18; Mark 16:19-20; John 14:13-14). These varieties of successful actions or work by the Holy Spirit in our soul are listed in Galatians 5:22-23 as, “…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” If we are experiencing these works in our lives because of the God-connection we have through the Holy Spirit, it shows that we are living in the glorious realm of God’s Kingdom (Rom 14:17). This is the type of works or outward evidence of the inward work of God that Apostle James demanded from those who professed themselves of having faith (James 2:15-16, 21,25). He in fact said to them “….faith without works [i.e. fruit or character of God in manifestation] is dead…” (James 2:26). The works described here in the above verse is God’s character manifestation in us because of whole heartedly yielding our will to Him by His strength. It also means ‘the actions we do in obedience to His voice even though it might be dangerous or risky to our natural soulish mind, just by depending on the goodness of God’.

These fruit of the Spirit which we have seen is the very essence and character of God. In other words, as you allow God to control your soul more and more, His purity and holiness will begin to manifest through your life as His child. Just as a child in the natural world develops its character when it grows under the guidance and discipline of its father, we too as God’s children are disciplined and guided by God (John 1:12), so that all these above character of the Father God will begin to manifest in us (Heb 12:9-11). When the child grows up to be an adult it will begin to be a reflection of its father’s character (John 14:9). This fruit of God’s character that you bring forth in your life will only bring true glory to God and only this quality will make you inherit as much of God’s property of wealth both in the now and future realm (John 15:8; Rev 21:7). These fruit cannot be seen in an instant. Does a baby child grow to become a mature adult in a day? The baby grows under the comforting care of its mother and the discipline of its father for years constantly until it becomes a mature adult. In the same way these fruit will grow in us as we work together with Jesus [Jesus is metaphorically describing this relationship of believer’s life to Himself with a vine branch [i.e. believer] attached to a main stem [i.e. Jesus Himself] which is the reason for the production of fruit in the branches. Jesus also speaks and emphasizes this growth attachment of the believer’s life to Himself using the word ‘abides’. “…He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit…” (John 15:5). The Greek root word for ‘abide’ is ‘meno’ which means ‘to remain, abide a) in reference to place { to sojourn, tarry, not to depart, to continue to be present , to be held, kept, continually } b) in reference to time { to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure, of persons – to survive, live} c) in reference to state or condition {to remain as one, not to become another or different, to wait for, await one}’. This word ‘abide’ points to a continuing living relationship of the believer with Jesus like the disciples had relationship with Jesus two thousand years ago when He was present on the earth. Just as a branch grows when the sap flows in to it giving it life and vitality, the words of Jesus spoken to our hearts personally from heaven will invigorate us with the fresh life and energy of God, cleansing us from all impurities constantly (John 15:3; Heb 12:24-25)] under the comforting care of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; Acts 9:31) and the discipline of God the Father (Heb 12:9,10) on a day to day basis for years together until we really become as a mature spiritual adult or son of God. The more we will yield our life to Him willingly, the faster we will grow and become as the sons of God.

We must not forget that the devil is also waging war against our soul 24/7/365 to destroy it completely though fleshly lusts, if we give space to him by not abstaining from it (1 Peter 2:11; John 10:10). These fleshly lusts which are demonic seeds when conceived through us will produce fleshly fruit, which will be bad in its taste and characteristics. If we yield our will to the earthly, sensual and demonic suggestion’s and let it influence our soul rather than be guided by the Spirit of God who resides in our inner spirit man intentionally and in a perpetual manner, we will soon be set in the pathway of the eternal destruction of our soul (James 3:14-16; Galatians 5:19-21). This is the essence of the message that Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthian believer’s who were playing with sin carelessly by exhorting them saying, “Do you not know that the unrighteous [i.e. those who willfully enjoy and practice sinning (Is 55:7)] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals [i.e. of a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness], nor sodomites [i.e. homosexuals and lesbians (Rom 1:26-27)], nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor 6:9-11). In the above verses, the literal Greek word for the English word ‘unrighteous’ is ‘adikos’ [pronounced ä'-dē-kos (Key)

] which means ‘descriptive of one who violates or has violated justice and is unjust, unrighteous, sinful, of one who deals fraudulently with others, deceitful’. This clearly describes a person who knowingly, intentionally and deceitfully practices and continues in sin, without a least bit of repentance, regret, remorse or godly sorrow for doing it. In other words Apostle Paul was saying to these sinning believers, ‘Let not the devil deceive you to sin habitually and willfully by saying that God will look over your sin even if you continue sinning. Instead know you were washed from all sin when Jesus was baptized taking all your sin upon Himself, making you free from the guilt of sin and because of Jesus, God has declared you to be righteous.’

From the above clear exposition, we see that God has freed us from evil and sin to help us live victorious lives and not to be again entangled in sin which is a bondage which leads to death spiritually, soulishly and physically (Gal 5:1). This is the reason Paul also asked the Roman believer’s this question, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom 6:1-2). In other words a true believer in Christ will hate to continue in sin because he cannot sin without restraint. The soul will feel convicted because of the guilt that will come to him from his spirit man the moment he sins (1 John 3:9; John 16:7-11). Guilt is a God-given natural mechanism that will make us and nudge us to confess the wrong things we do to God immediately, thus making us feel accountable to God (Deut 19:13). God is not mocked if a person decides to walk intentionally in sin by his own wrong willful recurring choices, because he is already deceived in to thinking that God does not care even if he sins intentionally (Gal 6:7). The enemy, who supplies those evil thought seeds to that person, will surely come to harvest it after a period of his deceitful lullaby is over. He will have absolute rights over that person at that time because it is his evil seed that has come to fruition harvest. After that time that sinning person will be used as a pawn by Satan to fulfill his wicked destructive intention from which that person cannot come out like Judas was, until he finally died in his wickedness (Matt 13:24-30;13:36-43; John 12:3-8; 13:21-30; Matt 27:3-10). Those who knowingly sow their strength, money, talent and time to the flesh “…will of the flesh reap corruption…” (Galatians 6:8). The corruption reaped in that sinning person’s life will be manifested openly during the harvest season, which will bring disgrace to him, his family and to the God whom he had professed, unless and until he humbles himself before God and repents by the mercies of God. “…Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 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). Sin is like a deadly poisonous serpent which will bite and inject its deadly venom in to the body of those who play with it thinking that it is harmless as long as they handle it rightly and will cause them to die one day suddenly.

Christianity is not a religion to just profess with one’s mouth, it is a relationship that needs to be continued in order to inherit the kingdom of our Heavenly Father. This relationship with God the Father will grow in greater intimacy as we receive more and more of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God has pre-planned a kingdom for his children who will rule over the earth in the future as the spiritual replicas of Himself who is ruling over the heavens and the highest heaven (Ps 115:16; Luke 12:32). So only when the rich young ruler asked Jesus, “16 …Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have [i.e. inherit (Mark 10:17)] eternal life?” (Matt 19:16). Jesus answered to him saying “….Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God…” (Verse17). Jesus in other words told to him that we cannot be good and perfect unless we become the Heavenly Father’s children. And then Jesus pointed him to keep the commandments. When he again asked Jesus, “…Which ones?”. Jesus did not immediately point him to the vertical commandment of loving God which is the first and the greatest commandment which fulfills all commandments. Instead Jesus pointed to the horizontal commandments of loving his fellow men because Jesus wanted the young man to understand his inability to fulfill God’s commandments based on his own religious workings apart from God’s strength. Jesus wanted the rich young ruler to also understand that only with a relationship with God as His children, he will be able to inherit the kingdom of God and its power to do good things (Luke 10:25-28; 12:30-34; 11:20; Acts 10:38). Jesus pointed this rich young ruler towards horizontal commandments [i.e. vertical commandments (Man towards God) => loving God with all its related commandments, horizontal commandments (Man towards Man) => loving man with all its related commandments] because his deceptive wrong thinking was trying to do things for God rather than be in love with God as a loving Father. Actually Jesus knew that this young man’s heart was not in love with God and instead he loved his riches more than God (Matt 19:21-22; 6:19-21).

This young ruler was trying to justify himself and his thirst for God’s eternal life within him with his wrong thinking and religious pious life of doing for God. He knew in his heart that he was missing God inside him despite his strictly religious life from his childhood. He has become blinded to the truth that man can only have relationship with God as his children, because of his covetous heart attitude which blinded his view of God. When this young rich ruler somehow wanted to justify himself he said to Jesus, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect [(Matt 5:58; 6:9-13)], go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” (Matt 19:20-22). Only perfect people can enter the kingdom of God. Those who have received Jesus Christ in to their hearts as their Lord [One Master (Matt 6:24)] and Savior of their life, and follow Jesus everyday are those who are considered as perfect by God because of a divine exchange of substitution that happened at the baptism of Jesus and got culminated at the cross. These are the people who will really love God in spite of the circumstances and the hardship they go through in their daily lives as the members of the family of God (Matt 19:23-30). Those guys who are truly living a religious life with riches have the last and least probability of getting qualified in the kingdom of God because of their utter dependence on their wealth and doings rather than in God. But with God working with them in their lives, it is possible for them to change their attitude towards God even being rich, but only if they seek after God (Matt 19:23-26; 6:31-33).

Only a true son or a daughter can inherit his father’s property in the future (Rom 8:14, 19; Gal 4:1-7). It is also the same with God. Heaven, salvation and its benefits cannot be earned because it is God’s property that can only be inherited [Note: Cannot be earned by working our way which always demands wages to those who have worked]. To inherit is to be legally born in a family or be adopted in to a family and then develop in the same characteristics of the Father of the house and become pleasing to him so that at the end because of his own benevolence he will give his property to his children as he wills. In the same way we can only inherit [Note: not earn our way as though God in indebted to us] the kingdom of God because Father God has only a family and not a religion. So only as the Bible says, We have been adopted in to the Heavenly Father’s family and He expects us to grow in His likeness so that at the end, he will reward us with his property which is the kingdom of God which will be established in the future (Rom 8:14-17,29-30; Matt 25:34). Jesus was the first person who exhibited the perfect character of the Heavenly Father on earth for us to follow after Him and be like Him in the family of God (John 14:9-11; 17:20-23; Rom 8:29; Heb 2:10-11). Jesus became like us humans physically [i.e. the image of the man of the dust] so that we can become like Him spiritually [i.e. the image of the heavenly Man] (Heb 2:17-18; Phil 2:5-11; Eph 2:5-6; 1 Cor 15:42-49). In other words Jesus put upon Himself an earth suit of dust so that we may be able to wear a heavenly suit of revived, God-connected dominion-spirit inside of us. This is the reason that the character of our Heavenly Father must be lived out by us essentially rather to just serve Him with the gifts [i.e. possessions] which He has given us. It is the Father’s character genes in us which gives us the right to enter His home in heaven as His very own child (Luke 15:11-32). To be separated [i.e. dead v32] away from our Heavenly Father symbolically represents those of us who practice sinning which God hates which is the state of the Heavenly Father’s Lost son before he was found alive, and those of us who live with the heart attitude of repentance everyday are those who are the once lost son who are found and are alive again (Luke 15:32; I John 3:9). The repentant son of God will not again go in to the sinning mode of life rejecting all the restraint of the restrainer who is the Holy Spirit of God (Ezekiel 36:27; 1 John 3:6-8; Gen 6:3; 2 Thess 2:7), leaving the Heavenly Father again who hates sin but loves the sinner (Isaiah 59:2).

The repentant sons who have returned to the Father God will start to hate sin and will start to love their Heavenly Father’s character (Prov 8:13; 14:2; 2 Cor 6:16-18). One has to start loving the head of the family and his loving character in order to continue in the adopted family which the father runs and provides. We too as the sons of our Heavenly Father need to train ourselves to love our Father’s character of righteousness and hate soulish evil, wickedness and lawlessness of Satan which He hates (Heb 1:9; 1 John 3:4,8). In this way, loving the character of our Heavenly Father and letting it out of our spirit to influence our soul is more important than using his gifts [i.e. gifts of physical, soulish and spiritual ability] and possessions that He has given. As we see that this character of our Heavenly Father is supplied by the Spirit of the Father who lives in us (James 1:17; 3:17-18; Matt 10:20). This is why the most essential thing in the life of a believer as a part of God the Father’s family is to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit for the glory of God the Father. This is the reason Jesus emphasized that He as the keeper of the vineyard of God revealed that God has come seeking through Him for fruit [Note: God distributed gifts of sustenance and nourishment for the growth of the tree though Jesus, but was seeking for fruit in return] in the nation of Israel (Luke 13:6-9). When God did not find fruit till the end of the ministry of Jesus, the nation of Israel got symbolically cursed by God through Jesus for not at all bearing fruit by rejecting Jesus as their Savior and Messiah (Mark 21:18-22, 42-43). In the same vein Jesus emphasized the need for fruit in John 15: 1-2, 5-8 saying, “1 I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit….4 As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me…5 He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” When we abide or dwell in the words of Jesus, we will bear much fruit. As the followers of Jesus, only when we bear much fruit, our Father is glorified. The branch [i.e. believer] that does not bear fruit, God the Father takes it away from the Vine and he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they [i.e. angels of God (Matt 13:40-42)] gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned (Matt 7:17-20). Every branch that bears fruit Father God will prune and cut it further. In other words the person who is obedient to God may find the going tough in His spiritual journey. But the tough goings will be working together for good in the life of a God-lover because he is called by God according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). As a true Father corrects his children in the natural world for his good so does Our Heavenly Father will allow trials in the life of His obedient children for building them up further spiritually (Heb 12:4-11). This will bring forth still much fruit in the lives of the sons of God. So we come to the conclusion that fruit bearing [i.e. God-kind of character development] in each person’s life is more important than the manifestation of gifts through their ministry in the Body of Christ. Praise the Lord!

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Holiness is a command !

Posted by apostolicrevelation on February 13, 2008

Holiness is not an Option, It is a command
By Abraham Israel

1) The Lord is the one who sanctifies us. We cannot do it on our own. As God Himself declares, “Keep my statutes, and do them; I am the LORD who sanctify you.” (Lev 20:8). Religion tries to do it on its own and it is a man made substitute that man has produced to satisfy his conscience which cries out for God and his holiness and sanctification. God will always reject that which He has not initiated.

2) The tabernacle of God is our body in the New Testament, and it is sanctified only by the glory of God appearing in it which is the Holy Spirit of God. Only through the glory of God appearing in us and through us, God meets His people. (Exod 29:43; 1 Cor 6:19-20).

3) If we resist by the power of God against the urge to sin by depending on God, we will of course suffer in our soul for a little while, but the ultimate result and the fruit of it will be, the sin that has ruled us will lose its power over us. Praise the Lord! (1 Peter 4:1, 2).

4) What we feed will grow, what we starve will die (Rom 13:14; 7:5, 6; Matt 3:6-11).

5) It is for our safety that he commands us to be Holy because when the enemy comes to attack us, only if we maintain our holiness by keeping the camp clean, then only He will fight for us. God cannot break His word and hence His nature (Deut 23:14; 2 Cor 6:16-7:1).

6) We need continuous cleansing by the blood of Jesus, through continuous fellowship with God. Apart from Him we cannot maintain our personal holiness in our soul and life. With out Him involved all our striving is futile. Through receiving His thoughts from His Spirit we learn to think rightly as a righteous person and hence will speak rightly (Heb 9:14; 1 John 1:7, 9; Rom 7:18, 19; Prov 12:5; Ps 139:4; Matt 12:37).

7) He did not command just to be holy in the Old Testament only, but equally in the New Testament (1 Peter 1:15-16; Lev 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7-8). With out Holiness no one can see the God (Heb 12:14). In other words you cannot experience the activity of God in your life or through your life continiously, if you are continuing with out Holiness [i.e. set apartness of your life for God or surrendering your will to God].

When the unholy thoughts gets imposed over your mind “…bring continuously every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). Especially every high thing and arguments that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, these are the strongholds which can be pulled by using the weapons of warfare which are mighty in God (2 Cor 10:4-5). You must have an attitude which is ready to punish all disobedience, when God directs you to perfect obedience in your daily life (2 Cor 10:6).

9) The season of the figs means, it is the season when the fig fruit is fully ripe to be eaten deliciously in its original taste. However, the fig fruit comes first even before the leaves spring out or with the leaf indicating that when the leaves were seen there must be some figs [not necessarily fully ripened figs] without fail. This is what Jesus was expecting from the nation of Israel in Mark 11:12-14, 20-21. It got cursed because of its uselessness. Jesus is also looking for fruit of Holiness even in our lives too and God has no favorites, this will happen to us if we too are not at all giving fruit as Jesus expects for the glory of God.

God has kept us in this planet earth, not to be useless Citizens of the Kingdom but to be fruitful Citizens who will cause the Heavenly Father to be glorified by bearing much fruit (Matt 3:10, 12; John 15:8). These fruits of Holiness are described in the Bible as ‘the fruit of the Spirit’ and these fruit will be seen in our lives naturally when we are attached and connected closely with the Lord Jesus through His Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23; Rom 6:22; Heb 12:10, 11). The fruit will be seen more and more only through pruning and chastisement (John 15:1; Heb 12:11). So always be joyful when you go through these painful processes, telling yourself and encouraging yourself saying, ‘This too will go and it will not be forever’ and affirming yourself that you are on the path to maturity and fruitfulness in Christ (James 1:2, 3; 5:10; Rom 5:2-5; Acts 5:41). This can be termed as destiny-long sightedness. The opposite of this is short sightedness which will bring much trouble in to ones life because of unholiness (2 Peter 1:9).

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Word Study – Holiness

Posted by apostolicrevelation on February 13, 2008

Word Study – Holiness

To be Holy means ‘to be set apart’. Holiness – in the highest sense belongs to God (Isaiah_6:3; Rev_15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God’s service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom_6:19,22; Eph_1:4; Titus_1:8; 1_Pet_1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1_Cor_1:30; 2_Cor_7:1; Eph_4:23,24). (See SANCTIFICATION.)

Sanctification – involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Rom_6:13; 2_Cor_4:6; Col_3:10; 1_John_4:7; 1_Cor_6:19). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1_Cor_6:11; 2_Thess_2:13).
Faith is instrumental in securing sanctification, inasmuch as it

1. secures union to Christ (Gal_2:20), and

2. brings the believer into living contact with the truth, whereby he is led to yield obedience “to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.”

Perfect sanctification is not attainable in this life (1_Kings_8:46; Prov_20:9; Eccl_7:20; James_3:2; 1_John_1:8). See Paul’s account of himself in Rom_7:14-25; Php_3:12-14; and 1_Tim_1:15; also the confessions of David (Psalm_19:12,13; Psalm_51), of Moses (Psalm_90:8), of (Job_42:5,6), and of Daniel (Job_9:3-20). “The more holy a man is, the more humble, self-renouncing, self-abhorring, and the more sensitive to every sin he becomes, and the more closely he clings to Christ. The moral imperfections which cling to him he feels to be sins, which he laments and strives to overcome. Believers find that their life is a constant warfare, and they need to take the kingdom of heaven by storm, and watch while they pray. They are always subject to the constant chastisement of their Father’s loving hand, which can only be designed to correct their imperfections and to confirm their graces. And it has been notoriously the fact that the best Christians have been those who have been the least prone to claim the attainment of perfection for themselves.”, Hodge’s Outlines.

Sanctification, Sanctify

A. Noun
hagiasmos
B. Verb
hagiazo

A1. Sanctification, Sanctify [Noun]

hagiasmos “sanctification,” is used of

(a) separation to God, 1_Cor_1:30; 2_Thess_2:13; 1_Pet_1:2

(b) the course of life befitting those so separated, 1_Thess_4:3,4,7; Rom_6:19,22; 1_Tim_2:15; Heb_12:14. “Sanctification is that relationship with God into which men enter by faith in Christ, Acts_26:18; 1_Cor_6:11, and to which their sole title is the death of Christ, Eph_5:25,26: Col_1:22; Heb_10:10,29; Heb_13:12.

“Sanctification is also used in NT of the separation of the believer from evil things and ways. This sanctification is God’s will for the believer, 1_Thess_4:3, and His purpose in calling him by the gospel, 1_Thess_4:7; it must be learned from God, 1_Thess_4:4, as He teaches it by His Word, John_17:17,19; cp. Psalm_17:4; Psalm_119:9, and it must be pursued by the believer, earnestly and undeviatingly, 1_Tim_2:15; Heb_12:14. For the holy character, hagiosune, 1_Thess_3:13, is not vicarious, i.e., it cannot be transferred or imputed, it is an individual possession, built up, little by little, as the result of obedience to the Word of God, and of following the example of Christ, Matt_11:29; John_13:15; Eph_4:20; Php_2:5, in the power of the Holy Spirit, Rom_8:13; Eph_3:16.

“The Holy Spirit is the Agent in sanctification, Rom_15:16; 2_Thess_2:13; 1_Pet_1:2; cp. 1_Cor_6:11. … The sanctification of the Spirit is associated with the choice, or election, of God; it is a Divine act preceding the acceptance of the Gospel by the individual.” [ From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 115,271.]
For synonymous words see HOLINESS.
See also : hagiasmos in other topics

B1. Sanctification, Sanctify [Verb]

hagiazo “to sanctify,” “is used of

(a) the gold adorning the Temple and of the gift laid on the altar, Matt_23:17,19;

(b) food, 1_Tim_4:5;

(c) the unbelieving spouse of a believer, 1_Cor_7:14;

(d) the ceremonial cleansing of the Israelites, Heb_9:13;

(e) the Father’s Name, Luke_11:2;

(f) the consecration of the Son by the Father, John_10:36;

(g) the Lord Jesus devoting Himself to the redemption of His people, John_17:19;

(h) the setting apart of the believer for God, Acts_20:32; cp. Rom_15:16;

(i) the effect on the believer of the Death of Christ, Heb_10:10, said of God, and Heb_2:11; Heb_13:12, said of the Lord Jesus;

(j) the separation of the believer from the world in his behavior — by the Father through the Word, John_17:17,19;

(k) the believer who turns away from such things as dishonor God and His gospel, 2_Tim_2:21;

(l) the acknowledgment of the Lordship of Christ, 1_Pet_3:15. “Since every believer is sanctified in Christ Jesus, 1_Cor_1:2, cp. Heb_10:10, a common NT designation of all believers is ’saints,’ hagioi, i.e., ’sanctified’ or ‘holy ones.’ Thus sainthood, or sanctification, is not an attainment, it is the state into which God, in grace, calls sinful men, and in which they begin their course as Christians, Col_3:12; Heb_3:1.” * [* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 113,114.]

Holiness, Holy, Holily

A. Nouns
hagiasmos
hagiosune
hagiotes
hosits
B. Adjectives
hagios
hosios
C. Adverb
hosios
D. Verb
hagiazo

A1. Holiness, Holy, Holily [Noun]

hagiasmos translated “holiness” in the AV of Rom_6:19,22; 1_Thess_4:7; 1_Tim_2:15; Heb_12:14, is always rendered “sanctification” in the RV. It signifies

(a) separation to God, 1_Cor_1:30; 2_Thess_2:13; 1_Pet_1:2;

(b) the resultant state, the conduct befitting those so separated, 1_Thess_4:3,4,7, and the four other places mentioned above. “Sanctification” is thus the state predetermined by God for believers, into which in grace He calls them, and in which they begin their Christian course and so pursue it. Hence they are called “saints” (hagioi). See SANCTIFICATION.
Note: The corresponding verb hagiazo denotes “to set apart to God.” See HALLOW, SANCTIFY.
See also : hagiasmos in other topics

A2. Holiness, Holy, Holily [Noun]

hagiosune denotes the manifestation of the quality of “holiness” in personal conduct;

(a) it is used in Rom_1:4, of the absolute “holiness” of Christ in the days of His flesh, which distinguished Him from all merely human beings; this (which is indicated in the phrase “the spirit of holiness”) and (in vindication of it) His resurrection from the dead, marked Him out as (He was “declared to be”) the Son of God;

(b) believers are to be “perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” 2_Cor_7:1, i.e., bringing “holiness” to its predestined end, whereby

(c) they may be found “unblameable in holiness” in the Parousia of Christ, 1_Thess_3:13.

“In each place character is in view, perfect in the case of the Lord Jesus, growing toward perfection in the case of the Christian. Here the exercise of love is declared to be the means God uses to develop likeness to Christ in His children. The sentence may be paraphrased thus:– ‘The Lord enable you more and more to spend your lives in the interests of others, in order that He may so establish you in Christian character now, that you may be vindicated from every charge that might possibly be brought against you at the Judgement-seat of Christ;’ cp. 1_John_4:16,17.” [ From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 108, 115.]

A3. Holiness, Holy, Holily [Noun]

hagiotes “sanctity,” the abstract quality of “holiness,” is used

(a) of God, Heb_12:10;

(b) of the manifestation of it in the conduct of the Apostle Paul and his fellow-laborers, 2_Cor_1:12 (in the best mss., for haplotes).

A4. Holiness, Holy, Holily [Noun]

hosits is to be distinguished from hagiotes, as denoting that quality of “holiness” which is manifested in those who have regard equally to grace and truth; it involves a right relation to God; it is used in Luke_1:75; Eph_4:24, and in each place is associated with righteousness.

Notes:

(1) In Acts_3:12, the AV translates eusebeia, by “holiness,” RV, “godliness,” as everywhere, the true meaning of the word. See GODLINESS.

(2) In Titus_2:3, AV, hieroprepes, which denotes “suited to a sacred character, reverent,” is rendered “as becometh holiness,” RV, “reverent.” See REVERENT.

B1. Holiness, Holy, Holily [Adjective]

hagios akin to hagiasmos and hagiosune, which are from the same root as hagnos (found in hazo, “to venerate”), fundamentally signifies “separated” (among the Greeks, dedicated to the gods), and hence, in Scripture in its moral and spiritual significance, separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred.

(a) It is predicted of God (as the absolutely “Holy” One, in His purity, majesty and glory): of the Father, e.g.,

Luke_1:49; John_17:11; 1_Pet_1:15,16; Rev_4:8; Rev_6:10; of the Son, e.g., Luke_1:35; Acts_3:14; Acts_4:27,30; 1_John_2:20; of the Spirit, e.g., Matt_1:18 and frequently in all the Gospels, Acts, Romans, 1 and 2 Cor., Eph., 1 Thess.; also in 2_Tim_1:14; Titus_3:5; 1_Pet_1:12; 2_Pet_1:21; Jude_1:20.

(b) It is used of men and things (see below) in so far as they are devoted to God. Indeed the quality, as attributed to God, is often presented in a way which involves Divine demands upon the conduct of believers. These are called hagioi, “saints,” i.e., “sanctified” or “holy” ones.

This sainthood is not an attainment, it is a state into which God in grace calls men; yet believers are called to sanctify themselves (consistently with their calling, 2_Tim_1:9), cleansing themselves from all defilement, forsaking sin, living a “holy” manner of life, 1_Pet_1:15; 2_Pet_3:11, and experiencing fellowship with God in His holiness. The saints are thus figuratively spoken of as “a holy temple,” 1_Cor_3:17 (a local church); Eph_2:21 (the whole Church), cp. Eph_5:27; “a holy priesthood,” 1_Pet_2:5; “a holy nation,” 1_Pet_2:9. “It is evident that hagios and its kindred words … express something more and higher than hieros, sacred, outwardly associated with God; … something more than semnos, worthy, honorable; something more than hagnos, pure, free from defilement. hagios is … more comprehensive … It is characteristically godlikness” (G.B. Stevens, in Hastings’ Bib. Dic.).

The adjective is also used of the outer part of the tabernacle, Heb_9:2 (RV, “the holy place”); of the inner sanctuary, Heb_9:3, RV, “the Holy of Holies;” Heb_9:24, “a holy place,” RV; Heb_9:25 (plural), of the presence of God in heaven, where there are not two compartments as in the Tabernacle, all being “the holy place;” Heb_9:8,12 (neuter plural); Heb_10:19, “the holy place,” RV (AV, “the holiest,” neut. plural), see SANCTUARY; of the city of Jerusalem, Rev_11:2; its temple, Acts_6:13; of the faith, Jude_1:20; of the greetings of saints, 1_Cor_16:20; of angels, e.g., Mark_8:38; of apostles and prophets, Eph_3:5; of the future heavenly Jerusalem, Rev_21:2,10; Rev_22:19.
See also : hagios in other topics

B2. Holiness, Holy, Holily [Adjective]

hosios akin to hosits, signifies “religiously right, holy,” as opposed to what is unrighteous or polluted. It is commonly associated with righteousness (see hosits). It is used “of God, Rev_15:4; Rev_16:5; and of the body of the Lord Jesus, Acts_2:27; Acts_13:35, citations from Psalm_16:10, Sept.; Heb_7:26; and of certain promises made to David, which could be fulfilled only in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, Acts_13:34. In 1_Tim_2:8; Titus_1:8, it is used of the character of Christians … In the Sept., hosios frequently represents the Hebrew word chasid, which varies in meaning between ‘holy’ and ‘gracious,’ or ‘merciful;’ cp. Psalm_16:10 with Psalm_145:17.” [ From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, p. 64.]

Notes:

(1) For Acts_13:34, see the RV and the AV marg.; the RV in Rev_16:5, “Thou Holy One,” translates the most authentic mss. (AV “and shalt be”).

(2) For hieros (see hagios), subserving a sacred purpose, translated “holy” in 2_Tim_3:15, AV (of the Scriptures), see SACRED.

C1. Holiness, Holy, Holily [Adverb]

hosios akin to hosits, and hosios, “holily,” i.e., pure from evil conduct, and observant of God’s will, is used in 1_Thess_2:10, of the conduct of the Apostle and his fellow-missionaries.

D1. Holiness, Holy, Holily [Verb]

hagiazo “to hallow, sanctify,” in the Passive Voice, “to be made holy, be sanctified,” is translated “let him be made holy” in Rev_22:11, the aorist or point tense expressing the definiteness and completeness of the Divine act; elsewhere it is rendered by the verb “to sanctify.” See HALLOW, SANCTIFY.
See also : hagiazo in other topics

Hallow

hagiazo “to make holy” (from hagios, “holy”), signifies to set apart for God, to sanctify, to make a person or thing the opposite of koinos, “common;” it is translated “Hallowed,” with reference to the name of God the Father in the Lord’s Prayer, Matt_6:9; Luke_11:2. See SANCTIFY.

Hallow – to render sacred, to consecrate (Ex_28:38; Ex_29:1). This word is from the Saxon, and properly means “to make holy.” The name of God is “hallowed”, i.e., is reverenced as holy (Matt_6:9).

First-born, Sanctification of the – A peculiar sanctity was attached to the first-born both of man and of cattle. God claimed that the first-born males of man and of animals should be consecrated to him, the one as a priest (Ex_19:22,24), representing the family to which he belonged, and the other to be offered up in sacrifice (Gen_4:4).

Consecrate

Note: In Heb_7:28 the verb teleioo is translated “perfected” in the RV, for AV, “consecrated;” so in Heb_9:18; Heb_10:20, enkainizo, RV, “dedicated.” See DEDICATE, PERFECT.

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The New Creation!

Posted by apostolicrevelation on February 13, 2008

Knowing the New Creation in you!
By Abraham Israel

1. You are a new creation in Christ because the Spirit of God dwells in you (2 Cor 5:17; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 3:16).

Say it out loud now, ‘Iam a new creation in Christ because the Holy Spirit of God dwells in me’.

2. You should serve the Lord in the newness of the Spirit (Rom 7:6). The purpose we have been redeemed and adopted as His dear children is to serve Him by being conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ (Gal 3:13; Rom 8:15-17, 29; Exod 4:23).

Say to the Lord, ‘Lord Jesus, Help me to serve you in the newness of the Spirit’s power. Thank you my dear Lord for working in me continuously and changing me more and more in to your beautiful image daily.’

3. Sin dwells in the soulish realm of every man, but victory and deliverance comes to us through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 7:17; Mark 7:21-23).

Say to the Lord, ‘Thank you Lord for helping me be victorious by the power of your resurrection that works in me mightily by your Spirit and for delivering me whenever I call on you at the time of my need. Thank you for the power of your name which is my tower of strength. Bless your holy name Jesus!’

4. The new person should be fed with the word of God and must be allowed to influence us and renew us to see the transformation to be noticeable to us and to others (Phil 4:8; Rom 12:2). The Greek word used here in Rom 12:2 for transformed is ‘metamorphoo’ from which the English word metamorphosis come, which means ‘ a complete change, the process by which the young form of insects and some animals, such as frogs, develops into the adult form’. The word transformed mean ‘to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure, Christ appearance was changed and was resplendent with divine brightness on the mount of transfiguration (Mark 9:2; 2 Cor 3:18)’. It is the same way we get changed like Jesus from glory to glory. Hence it gives us the idea that as a cocoon after it grows by resting inside it and after a while it struggles with all its might to come out, we too after eating the word of God in our spirit we rest in God by faith and we struggle to get out of the shell of unbelief that surrounds our life by soulish influence of the world. Hence after the struggle each time its muscles grow strong gradually until one day the worm becomes powerful enough to be transformed as a colorful butterfly to fly out in liberty. Our spirit muscle also grows as we struggle out of the soulish influence to become strong with spiritual muscle to fly high in the spirit realm. This brings us in to liberty of the Spirit in our life as the children and mature sons of God (Rom 8:14, 21). As our struggle goes on, we soon end up flying higher and higher as a butterfly in the air totally at liberty!

Ask the Lord, ‘Dear Lord help me be a warrior like you (Ex 15:3), help me to exercise my spiritual muscle daily by believing in your mighty name [Jesus!] and use your name verbally against my enemies [Satan and his demons] and defeat them, help me feed and meditate on your word and have communion with you always so that I will begin to fly higher and higher as days goes by, strengthen me to fly with wings just like a young eagle full of strength and vitality (Is 40:31). Thank you for answering my prayer in Jesus Name. Amen.’ Praise the Lord!

5. When you do these things, you will become a blessed man in this planet earth, God will make all your ways to prosper (Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8-9). God’s word is the same universally and eternally. Hence it will be as powerful in your life as it was and is in other apostles, prophets, women and men of God lives.

Pray to the Lord, ‘Dear Heavenly Father, I Thank you for prospering me in all my ways, help me do these things which I have learned today and inculcate these things in to my life. Thank you for making me a blessed person in this planet earth by setting me apart through your word in me. Amen and amen!’

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Love of God

Posted by apostolicrevelation on February 12, 2008

Greater Love has no one than this!
By Abraham Israel

The New Testament part of the Bible was originally written in Greek and it has four different words to describe different aspects of the same word ‘Love’ in English. The four different Greek words for ‘Love’ are ‘Agape, Philia, Storge and Eros’.

Agape is the pure unconditional love that is only with God and from Him (Rom 5:5). The Holy Spirit pours out this God’s unconditional love in to our hearts who desire after Him. This is purely an impartation from God. God commands us to love Him and others only through this Agape love (Mark 12:29-30;Rom 13:8-10). This is the purest form of Love which is Divine Love. This can be received and expressed only when we have a spirit connection with God (1 Cor 6:17).

Philia is the cherishing love between a husband and a wife. It comes from the Soul of every human. This can be received and expressed only when there is a soul connection through commitment in marriage. It is a love based on similarities and commitment to one’s partner.

Storge is the love parents have for their children and vice-versa. This can be received and expressed only based on physical blood relationship. It is a love based on affection and obedience.

Eros is the love of physical passion. It is the ‘hot and unendurable desire’. It can only be expressed and received through the union of one man with another woman. It is designed by God to be used with in a committed monogamous boundary of marriage [i.e. between a husband and wife].

From this we know that God’s love for us never changes. God says in His word, “I have love

d you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3). No matter who we are and what we have done and where we are from, the good news is God loves us continuously. Because of this everlasting love God sent His only Begotten Son Jesus Christ in to the world to free us from the power of evil through which we are bound naturally. God’s love for us is unique, precious and unselfish. It starts from the depth of our being. The world’s view of love is mostly Eros. Even the English dictionaries meant it that way. Eros is mostly without self control and always looking to fulfill its own strong desire which is called lust. This Eros should be ruled by us and it can be done only through the power of the Holy Spirit. The world [people who live in this earth] can realize and receive the Love of God only through the Holy Spirit who is from God, who acts as an executive agent in the God-head of the Trinity. We cannot receive it unless we turn to God’s love letter and operation manual of our Creator and see what He says about it.

The Bible is a love letter from God. The Bible says that God is in love with His creation. The God who is the creator of all things says that ‘He loves us irrespective of our upbringing, status, race, tongue, regionality, nationality, color, religion…..’ (John 3:16). Especially God says that He “…. is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” (Psalm 34:18). If you are a broken man or a woman who has no one to look to or even speak to, good news is He is near you. If you take today’s world, the whole creation is suffering because of the curse of one man’s disobedience. The word of God says, “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;” (Acts 17:26-27). Every one of us come from our forefather Adam who disobeyed God and as a result of it, the whole humanity has lost favor of God and favor with God.

Even though our forefather Adam disobeyed God and lost the favor of God, still God loved humanity. His love for humans has never changed from the day He created human on day one. Though God loves man, man by his own choice of disobedience has taken the side of God’s enemy Satan who hates every human because God loves him so much [infinitely]. So God felt that the only way to make man understand that He loves man is to become one among them, so that man can understand God and relate to Him in love. When man voluntarily took the side of Satan by His own choice in the garden of Eden, man became sinful to the core of his being and became irrevocably sinful (Gen 3;Ps 51:5; Rom 3:23). Sin is lawlessness and anything that is less than perfect from the absolute lawfulness of God (1 John 3:4). God never has broken His Word even once in all ages [past, present and future]. And this is known as the lawfulness of God and His Holiness [set apartness] (Num 23:19). In fact, He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Man could not continue in this relationship with an absolute perfect God with his imperfectness of having sinful nature in him.

As a result God decided that if by one man the world has fallen in to sin trap, then by and through one perfect man [Jesus Christ], He decided to redeem [to make someone free from the power of evil] man from the evil of Satan and his tyrannical cohorts [demons] who have started influencing man in rebellion against a God who loves man. So God became a man in Jesus Christ.

In order for ma

n to understand this concept He wrote His love letter to Humans and proclaimed it through many prophets He chose in the times past [i.e. before Jesus Came to this earth], before He became man two thousand year ago (Matt 11:13). And the prophets wrote all the Bible as a love letter from God your creator. The Topic of the Love letter is “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.” (John 3:16). In other words because God loved all the people of the world, He sent His Son [for what?] to die for your sins so that you can be forgiven from all your sins [past, present and future (Eph 4:32;Col 2:13)] by believing in Him [Jesus Christ] as your substitute sacrifice. What does Jesus the Son of God say about His Love toward you, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13). Simply Jesus is saying to you ‘I Love you’. This love He showed to everyone [i.e. before men and angels] by dying for you on the Cross publically. Oh what a Love!

Finally this love letter that this Father God who has been writing to his sons [us humans], got culminated when Jesus Christ God’s only Begotten Son visited this planet earth for one purpose, that is to restore back the love relationship between God and human that has been cut off, to be continued through Himself [Jesus Christ]. That why the Bible calls Jesus Christ as the repairer of the breach (Isaiah 58:12).

The only thing that this God-man Jesus Christ expected was for the people to believe Him as one sent from God to take away their sins, so that the same relationship that Adam our forefather had with God could be experienced through Jesus Christ (Matt 1:21; John 1:29; 14:11;3:17-21). Still today all we need to do is to believe Him as our substitute for all our sins and believe that we are forgiven through what He has achieved for us on the Cross. The Cross is a symbol of curse. Hence Jesus Christ on the Cross symbolizes that, He has taken all our curses that are rightfully ours because of the sins that we have committed against God and His righteous Law (Galatians 3:13). And now if we are presently a believer in the atonement [compensation that Jesus Christ paid for us on the cross to God] of Jesus Christ, we are blessed by God based on what Jesus Christ has achieved for us on the Cross (Galatians 3:14). Oh what a Blessedness! Thank you Jesus!

The Bible says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1). This Word is none other than Jesus Christ our Mediator with God. He Himself is God who became man for the sake of us, out of love. Now we who believe in Jesus Christ are free from all the curses of Satan and his Demons [evil influence of rebellion against God] who are the instigators of such curses in our life (John 10:10), even though it is God’s law that justly curses a breaker of His righteous Law (Galatians 3:10;James 2:10). If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you don’t have to be fearful of any evil. Satan will not touch you as you keep yourself in a constant communion with God through His Spirit (1 John 3:8;4:4;5:18;Numbers 23:23). Satan does not touch you if you keep yourself in God through what Christ has achieved for you, because he does not have the right to touch you who is cleansed by the precious blood of the lamb (1 John 5:18;1:7,9;Numbers 23:21).

Now we can live a blessed life of having communion with God through Jesus Christ. Never forget that God our creator is a God of Blessing and not Curse (1 Peter 3:9-12). Good News! Those who have always considered themselves hopeless, weak and fearful can now live a hopeful, peaceful, joyful and a blessed life of love relationship with the God of Blessing through faith in His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 4:15-19). Never think that it is you who loved God first by choosing Him, it is by the love that he had for you that He sent His Son Jesus Christ for you and saved you from all the curses that are rightfully yours. Read His Love letter and know more and more about the Father God’s love for you. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

This love letter has no end because the God who wrote it is the end. And whatever has b

een written in the love letter is being fulfilled day by day. But there is a climax to this love letter which also says that there is danger ahead if you do not heed its warning and turn back and believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:17-21).

A loving father in this natural world will always warn his son if there is any danger in the way that he is going. If the son loves the father’s advice and turn himself from the dangerous path that he is travelling, he will be saved from that disaster ahead. Our heavenly Father God also has lovingly warned through His love letter the Bible ever since men were on earth to believe in Jesus Christ to escape the danger ahead. He is also a gentle Father who never forces His sons to submission as a tyrannical father does. Because He is full of love for you, He says in His word, “I [God your Father] do not behave rudely, [I] do not seek … [My] own, [I am]… not provoked, [I] think(s) no evil [about you or for you];” (1Cor 13:5;1 John 4:8, Paraphrased).

This is the reason in the times past God did not behave rudely when men rejected His love in the times past. God and His love never changes even for those who have rejected his love (Malachi 1:2;3:6). But the same loving Father God, who is Love, is also the God of judgment and justice who executes His Judgments without any partiality towards anybody (Malachi 2:17;Rom 2:11,2-3;Ps 9:16;Heb 12:25,29). Hence those who reject His love will be thrown in to Hell fire because of God’s righteous judgments, this hell fire was originally designed for Satan and His Demons, where the fire does not stop burning (Matt 25:41). There is a time that God has appointed for this judgment to happen and it is at the end of the ages and it is called as the white throne judgment, until then He waits patiently seeing what is happening because He has given the earth in to the hands of human beings (Matt 5:45;Ps 10:14;115:16;Prov 15:3;Eccl 3:18;Rev 20:11-15).God does not judge and slay any human beings now, but rather the wicked are caught up in their own wicked trap of their boss the Devil (Prov 5:22;2 Cor 4:4).The Bible is still the same Love letter that Our Heavenly Father has written to us as an operation manual for our lives. Your Heavenly Father is still saying, ‘I love you, Danger [death and eternal destruction] ahead because of sin in humankind’s lives My sons and daughters!’. Will you respond to His Love Today! If yes, you are a Blessed person to take such a decision believing in the Love of your heavenly creator who is God your Father! Praise the Lord!

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Forgiveness

Posted by apostolicrevelation on February 12, 2008

Forgiveness, the open door to receiving God’s Blessings
By Abraham Israel

How many of you want to get blessed in this year?

If your answer is yes, you need to have a forgiving heart which is the heart of God in order to get blessed by God and to be a blessing to others.

Why God cannot bless unforgiving people?

1) Matthew 6:7-9, 12 -> Only when we have a forgiving heart, we will have the confidence to ask God to forgive our wrong doings. This confidence that you will have in God is faith. So the level with which you can forgive others also depends upon the capacity of your faith, the more you have confidence in God the more you will forgive others (Luke 17:1-6; Mark 11:22-26).

2) Matthew 18:34 -> If you don’t forgive, God will deliver you to the devil that will torture you without peace (v35). This will happen until you take a decision to forgive all others whom you have grudge with and have a heart of forgiveness in you. Ex: Story of a little boy dying in sickness.

3) Eph 4:26-27, 29-30, 32.

a) Be angry, do not allow that anger to continue. If you allow it, you have already given place to the devil.

b) You will grieve the Holy Spirit and slowly you will lose hearing his voice.

c) Slowly you will start speaking badly about others and even yourself.

d) Only hurt people will hurt others. Ex: The Story of a little boy who said to his mommy, “How can I keep the sun from going down?”(Eph 4:26).

e) We are responsible for our own attitudes.

f) The will of God is that, you become more and more like Christ [not the devil].

4) Matthew 5:21-22.

a) Jesus said, “…whoever is angry with his brother or sister without a cause will be in danger of Judgment [verdict when found true is equal to murder]”.

b) Every murder happens because of unforgiveness and jealousy. Ex: The story of a man who died and came back alive.

c) Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting others to die.

5) Matthew 6:14, 15 -> If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses [Our loving Father is also the God of justice (Malachi 2:17)].

The heart of Jesus is full of forgiveness that is why in Luke 23:34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Receive the heart [mind] of Jesus Christ [where? It is already in the inside of us. Then? Only believe and obey the word and the voice of God] and live a life-style of forgiveness. You will surely be blessed by God when your life style is patterned like this with forgiveness rooted deep in your heart as the basis of your relationship with people and with God. Be blessed to the full and overflowing with your heart of forgiveness!

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Fear of the Lord

Posted by apostolicrevelation on February 12, 2008

Do you like to live in satisfaction?
By Abraham Israel

We will see how we can live such a life of satisfaction.

Satisfaction -> Fulfillment of a need, demand, claim, desire, etc…

Seek God early in your life (Eccl 12:1).
Ex: Daniel (Daniel 1:8; 6:3, 10) and Joseph (Genesis 39:8-10).

Daniel believed God’s ability to answer and reveal hidden things and he went through life threatening trials with the fear of God (Daniel 1:8, 9; 4:24-27; 6:26), as a result he lived in satisfaction all through his life.

Joseph believed in God’s dream and had the fear of God even when he was in his teen years. Joseph was a satisfied man even from the prime time of his life to his end, even though he went through trials and tribulations in his early teen years.

a) The fear of God means the Spirit of the fear of the Lord resting and abiding in you (Isaiah 11:2).

b) The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom (Prov 15:33; James 1:5). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom because it is the Lord who increases and gives wisdom to man (Prov 1:7; Dan 1:17; Isaiah 28:23-29).

c) The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Prov 8:13; 16:6).

d) The fear of the Lord will bring good health and will strengthen your body (Prov 3:7, .

e) The fear of the Lord will bring God’s provision and favor in every area of your life (Exodus 1:20, 21).

f) The fear of the Lord will cause God to hear your prayers to be heard without fail (Heb 5:7).

g) When you are zealous [zeal – eagerness to do something] for the fear of the Lord, there is a great future and a hope which will bring the presence of God in to your life (Prov 23:17, 18; Heb 6:19).

h) The fear of the Lord will cause you to live in satisfaction (Prov 19:23; Ps 23:1).

i) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom because it is the Lord who increases and gives wisdom to man (Prov 1:7; Dan 1:17; Isaiah 28:23-29).

Is there any specific area [church premises] or specific time [Sabbath] to fear the Lord?
The Bible says, “Be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.” (Prov 23:17).

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