Chapter 27 - The supreme sacrifice

Freedom from Captivity

Chapter 27

The supreme sacrifice

We continue to ponder on Psalms 77:11-12, “I will remember your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders you did in the past. I will think about all that you have done; I will meditate on all your mighty acts.” (GNB)

The Psalmist made it his ambition to remember and recall, all of the great deeds and wonders that the Lord had performed in his life. The Bible records the mighty wonders that God did the past, so that we too can ponder and meditate on them, thereby comprehending all of the awesome acts that God accomplished for His people, and the miraculous ways in which He led them. Often we think much about our present and future, but seldom do we reminisce about the past, to recall the marvelous deeds the Lord has done for us. If our thoughts are entangled only with the present and with apprehension about the future, we will certainly end up with a whole load of cares and worries.

As we read, consider and meditate on all the awesome acts of God as recorded in the Bible, not only will we comprehend who God is in a deeper way, but as we compare them with our life situations at present, we too will be strengthened in our faith, and be rid of all our fears.

The sacrifice that God provided Abraham

In Genesis 22:13, we read, “Abraham looked around and saw a ram caught in a bush by its horns. He went and got it and offered it as a burnt offering instead of his son.” (GNB)

As we delve deeper into the background of the above mentioned verse, not only we will understand who God really is, but also be able to comprehend the significance of the sacrifice that Abraham made.

Abraham was called by God to come out from a land and from a people, who did not know the Lord. God called Abraham to leave all of this behind him, to go to the place that He promised to give him. God also promised Abraham that He would bless him, make his name great, and cause him to become a mighty nation. Abraham had to leave everything and move forward, completely trusting in God, in order to be the recipient of God’s promised blessings.

There was a time when Abraham’s wife Sarah was taken by a foreign king, but even there the Lord intervened and protected Sarah. This was only because Abraham took the step of faith to go where God wanted him to. Abraham had to encounter many ups and downs, but through it all the Lord was faithful and never let him down. By asking Abraham to step out in faith, the Lord was teaching him to place his complete faith and trust in Him alone.

God promised Abraham that the blessings would be through his offspring, but as Abraham and Sarah waited for many long years, they got impatient and decided to find a solution through Hagar, which brought untold trouble to them. Abraham failed to realize that the God who promised, was a God who would always keep His word.

For those of us who wonder, if God could not have blessed Abraham right where he was and what was the purpose of calling him out, it is a lesson that the Lord chooses to bless us only when we decide to be those set apart for God. It was the same for Noah too. It was only when he obeyed and walked into the ark, did he receive God’s protection. Many are coveting God’s blessings on their lives, but are unwilling to make any changes to stand out as those who are called out for God. Like Abraham if we trust in the Lord fully, we are assured that we will never be put to shame, no matter what difficulties or perils may befall us, for the Lord will be there to safeguard us at all times.

God has given us wisdom, and it is only in being obedient to His word in every area of our life, doing what is required from us to do, can we experience the true blessings of God in our life. In times of trials, instead of giving up or finding our own solutions we must persevere in prayer, believing that the Lord is faithful to keep His promise, and not try to run ahead like Abraham did. The Lord is able to accomplish great things for us that are far beyond our thinking and understanding.

Isaac, the son of promise

When Abraham was a hundred years old, he saw the fulfilment of God’s promise when he blessed him with Isaac, whose name meant ‘laughter’. God removed the pain of all those years of waiting and turned them into sheer joy by giving Isaac to Abraham and Sarah, thereby filling their home with unimaginable joy and laughter.

If we could wait on the Lord, He is able to fill our lives too with joy and laughter. Instead, sadly many find temporal merriment in front of their television sets, listening to comedians who are generally making fun of others. The joy we receive from the Lord comes because He intervenes to solve our problems, thereby bringing us lasting happiness. The word of the Lord teaches us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. It is an erroneous belief for many that laughter is averse to our Christian faith, as it is not a holy thing. On the contrary our life must be full of joy and laughter, as all good things comes down from our God, who is faithful to keep His promises, and fills us with His amazing gladness.

The call to sacrifice Isaac

In Genesis 22:2, we read,"Take your son," God said, "your only son, Isaac, whom you love so much, and go to the land of Moriah. There on a mountain that I will show you, offer him as a sacrifice to me." (GNB)

If we study the above mentioned verse there are five significant aspects of this command that God gave to Abraham. Firstly, God asked Abraham to take his ‘son’. Secondly he specified that it was ‘his only son Isaac’. God reiterated the fact that it was Isaac and not Ishmael who was the son of the promise. In fact God did not even recognize Ishmael as Abraham’s son as he was born out of the will of God. Thirdly he referred to Isaac as ‘the son whom Abraham loved so much’. Fourthly, he was to take him to the mountain that the Lord would show him and finally offer Isaac up as a sacrifice to the Lord.

Let’s looks at Genesis 22:4-5, “On the third day Abraham saw the place in the distance.Then he said to the servants, "Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there and worship, and then we will come back to you.” (GNB)

Genesis 22:6, “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt-offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife: and they went both of them together.” (Webster)

Genesis22:7 ..“where is the lamb for the sacrifice?" (GNB)

We take note of a few important points from the above mentioned verses. Abraham spotted the place on the third day. Abraham was a wealthy man with many servants. When he saw the place of sacrifice at a distance, he instructed his servants to stay there with the donkey while he and Isaac travelled on the place where the sacrifice was to be made. In Genesis 22:5, we observe the words of faith that Abraham spoke to his servants, when he told them that he and Isaac would go over to worship, and that both of them would return. If Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac, the chances are that he would have to return alone, but Abraham is commended as a man of faith only because he had complete faith in God who promised. He believed that God could save his son, and that he would not ever let him end up with loss.

Abraham laid the wood for the burnt-offering on his son Isaac. Many scholars assume that since Isaac was able to carry the load of the fire wood, he would probably have been a young man around 20 years of age or so.

When the Lord calls us to sacrifice some of things in our lives or some relationships so as to follow Him, many are hesitant fearing they would lose out, but the truth is that like Abraham when we are willing to lay it all at the altar, only then can we see the glory of God.

Abraham was probably around 120 years old. As Abraham and Isaac walk towards the mountain to sacrifice, Isaac observed that his father had with him the wood, the knife and the fire. He therefore asked him, in Genesis 22:7, ‘where is the lamb for the sacrifice?’ It is obvious from the question that Isaac was of an age where he full well knew all that it took to make a sacrifice. He was a young man who willingly went with his father, and was totally obedient to his father’s instructions.

Abraham built the altar, placed his beloved son Isaac on it, piled up the wood and was about to sacrifice him. Isaac had such faith in his father that he willingly laid himself down to be the sacrificed, knowing full well that his father loved him immensely, and he believed that his father would never intend to harm him in any way. Abraham on the other hand, greatly honored God and had an unshakeable faith in Him that he did not question or argue with God, but simply obeyed. The question is ‘Did Abraham sacrificed his son or not?’

Let’s look at Hebrews 11:17-19,“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, had offered up Isaac, and he that received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was spoken, "In Isaac your seed shall be called," considering that even from the dead, God was able to raise him up, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.” (EMTV)

When we study the above mentioned passage from Hebrews, it is clear that Abraham when tested by God, by faith, certainly offered Isaac up as a sacrifice. When Abraham made the decision to sacrifice Isaac in his mind and took him along, it was as good as the deed being done. Abraham was willing to give up anything, as he believed with all his heart that whatever God did would be for Abraham’s good. Abraham literally received Isaac back from the dead as it were, because he willingly offered his son on the altar. Abraham’s love for God far surpassed the love he had for his son Isaac.

That’s what happened in Job’s life too. He was wealthy, had everything and a very large family too, but when he lost it all he still could be thankful, his faith in God unwavering as he said, in Job 1:21, The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”(ESV)

Have you noticed how before we actually engage in any action, the thought and decision is first made up in our minds? That is why what we think is of utmost importance, as they decide the kind of actions that spring forth.

We too must like Abraham, place our trust in the Lord who is the giver of all blessings and not on the blessings we have received. Only then, can we like Abraham come to that point where we can place anything and everything on the altar, without any questions whatsoever. If on the other hand, we put our trust in our jobs, our children, our family, material possessions or any other earthly thing, we will be totally devastated when they are taken away from us.

I love the testimony of a mother, who sent her son abroad for higher studies. The son took ill and the mother of the boy rushed to be with him. As she stayed with some of her son’s friends out of necessity, they shared the love of Jesus with her and she began to believe and pray to Jesus. After four months of hospitalization in four different hospitals, her son passed away but her faith stood firm. By this time, she had committed her heart to Lord Jesus and even though her son’s loss was very painful, she held on the Lord. What an amazing testimony!

We usually hear of testimonies of those who believe only because God answered their prayers, but the real testimony is of one who can say, in spite of unanswered prayers, I still choose to believe in the Lord Jesus. The Lord is looking for such people who will believe in Him no matter what. God has given us children and family to love and cherish, but our love for them must never exceed our love for God. Everything in this world is temporary, and only the Lord is our permanent inheritance.

Jesus the ultimate sacrifice.

Let us look at a few verses from the New Testament about Jesus

Luke 1:32, we read, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God.” (GNB)

John 3:16, we read, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son” (KJV)

Matthew 3:17, says, “Then a voice said from heaven, "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased." (GNB)

In John 19:17, “He carried his own cross and went out of the city to a location called The Skull. (In Hebrew this place is called Golgotha.)” (GNB)

In Luke 24:7 saying, “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.'” (EMTV)

If we study the above mentioned verses, we see the words of the angel to Mary in Luke 1:32 where Jesus is referred to as the ‘Son’ of the Most High God. In John 3:16, Jesus is referred to as the ‘only begotten son’. In Matthew 3:17 at the baptism of Jesus the voice of the Father attested that he was ‘his own dear Son with whom He was well pleased’. In John 19:17 Jesus carried his own cross and in Luke 24:7 Jesus clearly predicted to his disciples that he would be crucified and would rise again on the third day.

If we compare this to the sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham, all the aspects that were mentioned in Genesis 22 are all evident in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Jesus was indeed the ‘Son’, the ‘only begotten son’ whom the Heavenly Father loved dearly. He too like Isaac had to carry the wooden cross by himself, and just as Abraham saw the place of sacrifice after three days, and told his servants that he would be back with his son after the sacrifice, Jesus too predicted that He would rise again on the third day.

The major difference between the sacrifice of Isaac and Jesus was that, when Abraham brought the knife down to sacrifice his son Isaac, the angel of God forbade him to do so, and commanded him to stop and provided him a ram in his stead. However, when God the Father offered His only begotten Son Jesus on the cross of Calvary, he did not stop Jesus from being crucified. By that greatest sacrifice, God paved the way for us to be reconciled to Him.

The heart of God the Father must have been in deepest agony as He saw His beloved Son Jesus being sacrificed for the sins of the world. The first words of Jesus that resounded on the cross was the intense cry as recorded in Luke 23:34, “Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."(EMTV). In the middle we see the agonizing cry of Jesus to His Father as He cried out with the unexplainable anguish saying Matthew 27:46 ...."My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

This was because the sins of the whole world were laid on the sinless Lamb of God. By doing so, God the Father, the Most Holy One, had to break his relationship with His Son Jesus, at that point as Jesus took on Himself the sins of the whole world. That was why Jesus cried out in great anguish to His Father saying, ‘My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” The Lord Jesus willingly surrendered Himself to excruciating pain, agony, was separated from God the Father and made to taste death, so that none of us should experience that sense of abandonment by God in our lives because of our sins. Jesus has completed it all on the cross of Calvary, by shedding His precious blood for our sins and having His body broken for our wholeness. All that is required of us, is to believe on the finished work of Jesus Christ, and walk in obedience to Him every day of our lives.

That is why we need to ponder on the wondrous deeds of God from the past, as Abraham sacrificing Isaac, was only a shadow of what God the Father would do by sacrificing His only son Jesus on our behalf. There are so many people who are unwilling to believe this way of salvation that Jesus offers us so freely citing traditions, society, superstitions and family as a reason for not wanting to take this step of faith. Like the prodigal son none of us are worthy to be called the sons and daughters of God. Jesus paid an enormous price with His own life, thereby removing all fears and that is why we have the boldness to call God ‘Abba Father’, because by His sacrifice Jesus broke down the wall of enmity between God and men. It cost Jesus His all as he was bruised and broken on our behalf. Let us not hesitate for a moment to accept this supreme sacrifice that God the Father gave through His Son Jesus Christ because of His immense love. When we are willing to surrender to the Lord with all our heart, He will never let go of us or fail us till the very end. Let us offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord, and cleanse our bodies to become the temple of the Holy Spirit who will live in us and be glorified through us.

Prayer :

My gracious and loving heavenly Father, thank you for showing how Isaac is a shadow of our Lord Jesus. Am so grateful that the same Father, who stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son Isaac, did not stop when Your own son, Jesus, was crucified on the cross. I understand it was all for me. Lord, I lay on the altar everything that is mine and declare that You are the Lord and Master over everything that I own. In the name of Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Chapter 26 - Recall the wonders of God

Freedom from Captivity

Chapter 26

Recall the wonders of God

We read in Psalm 77:11-12, “I will remember your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders you did in the past. I will think about all that you have done; I will meditate on all your mighty acts.” (GNB)

There are many who are held in bondage to all sorts of fears. The fears that constrain them are those of the past, present, future and often there is no basis for many of their fears. The fear that the Bible encourages us to have is that reverent fear for the Lord, which is considered the beginning of wisdom.  However, the worldly fears that grip and control us are most certainly a serious form of enslavement.

We studied in details about the wondrous works of God in the previous chapter. We understood the truth that God exists, that He is the originator of all of creation and that He is the one who sustains the world, even today. The Psalmist also mentioned the fact that he recalled the wonders that God performed in the past.

Recalling the wonders of the past

The word of God records all the wonderful acts and deliverances of God, so that we can meditate on them and learn from them. However, often we are so familiar with these accounts, we scan through, failing to perceive the mighty hand of God that is portrayed in every narration, which should in reality fill our hearts with awe and wonder. It is only when we study the word of God this way, can we comprehend the greatness of the God we believe in, and thereby be rid of all our apprehensions.

The wonders of God in Noah’s life

We read in Genesis 6:17-18, “For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.” (RSV)

When God looked down on all of His creation, He was distressed to see that the wickedness and sins of mankind had increased beyond measure. God came to a point where He could contend with mere humans no longer, and therefore decided to destroy all of the earth that He had created with floods. There was only one man Noah, and his family who found favor in the eyes of God. This was because Noah was a righteous man in his generation and he walked with God. Though the Lord resolved to totally destroy all of His creation, He established his covenant with Noah and his family that they would be kept safe.

As Noah was surrounded by torrential rain, wailing, death and destruction all around, the Lord was true to His covenant that He made with Noah. He kept Noah and his family safe and secure in the ark. Noah had every right to be afraid of the unknown, but He chose to obey the Lord and enter into the ark as the Lord commanded him.  There was death and devastation all around, but in the ark was the assurance of God’s divine protection.

All of us who believe in the Lord Jesus, are participants of the new covenant that was established through Jesus.  It was confirmed by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, when He willingly went to the cross, for the redemption of the sins of all mankind. We are joyful members of this superior covenant and therefore have absolutely no need to be fearful of anything. That is why Paul says in Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”(NKJV)

The Lord has called us to be His children, not to destroy us but to be kept safe in the ark called Christ. The ark in the Noah’s time is a reminder to us that we have a far more secure place when we abide in Christ. That is the reason why we need to meditate on all that is recorded in the Bible, as they enable us to not only ponder on the marvelous deeds of God, but also can be translated to our life as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

We read in Psalm 91:7-8, “A thousand may fall dead beside you, ten thousand all around you, but you will not be harmed. You will look and see how the wicked are punished.” (GNB)

We live in days where there are numerous unforeseen dangers lurking all around.  Every day we hear of new diseases and untold calamities that befall people everywhere. As we read and hear all of these unpleasant news, without our realization we too are gripped with fear and trepidation. Here’s the word of God from Psalm 91 that assures us that though everything may go haywire around us, we are secure in His hands, as we are children of the new covenant. The Lord will not allow any evil to come near our dwelling, and we must practice speaking words of faith, instead of doubt.

We read in Genesis 7:19, “The water rose very high above the earth. It covered all the high mountains everywhere under the sky.” (GW)

The rains were so heavy and consistent for 40 day that the waters rose above the mountains. However, Noah was protected in the ark which floated high above the waters.

In Isaiah 54:10, we read, “The mountains may move, and the hills may shake, but my kindness will never depart from you. My promise of peace will never change," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”(GW)

The word of God affirms that though the mountains are moved and the hills are shaken, the Lord will not fail in His kindness, because He is a covenant keeping God. If we can comprehend the elevated position that the Lord has established us in, there will be no room for fear in our lives.

The analogy of baptism from Noah’s ark

We read in I Peter 3:20, “In this ship a few people-eight in all-were saved by water.” (GW)

Though the world was filled with numerous people, only eight people were saved. Noah and his family obeyed the word of God and entered the ark.  As long as Noah was preparing the ark, preaching to the people about the impending doom, the door to the ark was kept open. However when Noah and his family entered the ark, the Lord Himself shut the door of the ark, so that no one from inside could go out and none on the outside could enter in.

The Lord was content to save just a few people; eight in all. We must be reminded that our God does not look for numbers or majority. The Lord only favours those who walk in obedience, in fear of Him and His word. Like in the days of Noah, these are days when the doors are open and we would be wise to enter into the salvation that Jesus freely offers, while there is still time.

We read in 1Peter 3:21, “which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you. It is not the washing off of bodily dirt, but the promise made to God from a good conscience. It (baptism) saves you through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (GW)

Many of the incidents recorded in the Old Testament find major significance in the New Testament. The event of Noah and his family being saved in the ark, is a symbol or representation of baptism that is established in the New Testament.

The baptism that the Lord commands us to go through, is not for the washing away of bodily dirt, but for the cleansing of our sins from within, so that we could lead lives here on earth with a good conscience. This is the new covenant that the Lord is inviting each of us into. A good conscience implies that one knows what is right and wrong. That is the reason why child baptism is worthless, as a baby will never be able to discern what is right and what is wrong. God in his foresight knew that the ark was a symbol of the baptism in the new covenant and no wonder then it seems that all of the eight people who were in the ark were only adults.

It is only when one as an adult repents, believes the gospel of Jesus and goes through the waters of baptism, is it considered the true baptism that the Lord approves of. This is not a tradition of men but a command based on the word of God. The word ‘Baptizo’ is from the Greek which actually means to immerse. In the Tamil translation the word is translated as ‘Gnanasnanam’ which implies going down into the waters with the wisdom and revelation from God. This is the wisdom that we are sinners that Jesus died for our sins, that He is the only way for our redemption, and we are in need of His cleansing.  Baptism is that act of witness which affirms this wisdom that we received from God.

Noah’s Life: A warning of the end of days

Jesus referred to this event of Noah for yet another reason.

We read in Matthew 24:37- 39, "When the Son of Man comes again, it will be exactly like the days of Noah. In the days before the flood, people were eating, drinking, and getting married until the day that Noah went into the ship. They were not aware of what was happening until the flood came and swept all of them away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man comes again.”(GW)

The event of what transpired before the destruction by the floods during the time of Noah, is compared to what it would be like during the second coming of Jesus.  In verse 38 we read that everyone during the time of Noah was eating, drinking and getting married.  This must have been the case for Noah too.  Noah too must have eaten, drunk, had his children married like anyone else.  So what was it that made Noah different from those around him? Though Noah was also involved with the mundane daily tasks, he was attentive to the voice of God and walked in obedience to God. God communed with Noah warning him about the impending danger, which Noah gave heed to and got busy building the ark. Many people might have come and even labored in building the ark, but only for a mere wage.  When the floods came and the ark lifted up on the waters, there may have been many who begged Noah to let them in, some of whom also helped to build the ark, but there was no way for them to enter as the Lord had shut the door from without.

In verse 39, we read that the people in the days of Noah were not even aware of what was happening, until the floods overwhelmed them. Though Noah preached and warned them of what lay ahead, no one heeded his voice. When the rains began and the floods rose, it was then that they wanted to escape the peril, but it was too late.

Many are so busy with work and caught up with a myriad of earthly responsibilities, that they have no time for God or His word. If we are like those people who spend all of our time for this temporal life and wages, we too will come to that place where we will lose out on eternity with God. We have no qualms in spending loads of time for work, social media and entertainment, but make no time for God, for prayer, reading of the word and for fellowship at church.

Noah heeded the Lord’s voice and was saved, whereas those who went about with their earthly duties and cared nothing about God, lost it all. They lost everything; all of their worldly wealth and lost their lives as well.

When God commanded Noah to take all the animals in pairs into the ark, Noah did not have to go searching for them. Noah and his family got into the ark and the animals and birds came in pairs on their own accord, in obedience to the voice of God.  While animals and birds walked in obedience into the ark, isn’t it a mournful thought that it was men and women who were rebellious and disobedient, who turned a deaf ear to the preaching of Noah as they stood outside, mocking the man of God.

We must seek the Lord while he may be found, because there will come a time when even though people seek him they will not find Him. These are days when the door is wide open, but if we continue heedless and negligent there will come a day when the door will be shut, and we will miss out on eternity.  The Lord is constantly speaking to us, and when He does it would be wise to be attentive and set things right in our lives.

We must not be like the prodigal son who went and wasted all of his father’s wealth, only because he did not stay where the Lord wanted him to be.  He was reduced to becoming a keeper of pigs, and it was only when he came to his senses that he returned to his father. It is true that the father lovingly restored him back, gave him his robe, sandals, ring and threw a feast, but the fact remains that He wasted all that belonged to his father. The inheritance that he should have enjoyed, he completely threw away because of his rebellion.

The incidents in the life of Noah is recorded so we too will give thought, to be ready and prepared, instead of being disobedient and rebellious. It is not optional but critical for one to repent, believe in the Lord Jesus and go through the waters of baptism.  This is not a tradition of men, but the command of the Lord.

May the Lord help us to change our priorities in life (repent), turn towards God, spend time with God and His word.  We are called to understand who Jesus is, believe in Him, take baptism and lead a holy life with the help of the Holy Spirit. The second coming of Jesus will be sudden and unexpected, therefore we must always be prepared to meet Him. The same waters that destroyed the rebellious, also saved Noah and his family of eight, who totally believed and obeyed God. May God help us and our families to be found ready to meet the Lord Jesus when He comes again in all His glory.

Prayer:

Our loving and heavenly Father, we thank you for teaching us about the time of Noah.  We understand that the door for our salvation is still open today and there is a time coming when it will not be open anymore.  Thank you for teaching us the importance of baptism, we will obey according to the Word of God.  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Chapter 25 - Remember the wondrous works of God

Freedom from Captivity

Chapter 25

Remember the wondrous works of God

We live in a day when everyone has such busy schedules that many are struggling, especially to give time for things pertaining to God. Many have come to a place in their lives, where God has been forgotten. Many believers don’t even start their day with God in prayer and reading of His word.If our lives are so busy that we forget to give God the due prominence, we will soon come to a point where we get dissociated in our relationship with God.Have you noticed how we make time for those things that we think are important to us? We make time to be on social media to check WhatsApp or Face Book and we are always on schedule on matters that pertain to our work and well-being. If we continue this way, there is a danger that we will gradually become a generation that does not remember God, and for whom God becomes a nonentity.

We read in Psalm 77:11-12, “I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” (KJV)

The Psalmist says in the above mentioned passage, “I will remember the works of the Lord.”Notice how he mentions three things about God; His works, His wonders and His doings, all of which he would remember, ponder and meditate upon. It is only when we read God’s word, and meditate on it will we truly understand who God is.

What are the works of God that we should remember?

1. God Exists

In Genesis 1:1 we read, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”(KJV). The origin of this world and everything in it is with God alone, for He alone was at the beginning.

So also in our lives, we must set God foremost as we begin each day. If we don’t discipline ourselves this way we may soon come to a place, where we even stop believing in the existence of God. Sadly many young people today have concluded that there is no God, and their premise is that, since they can’t see Him, they cannot believe He exists.

If we think about it, we don’t see the wind, but all of us believe it is there, because we feel it. A professor went to a little girl and told her ‘there is no God’ and when she questioned him as to why he believed so, he said, ‘you can’t see God, and we don’t believe anything that we can’t see with our eyes’. The little girl thought for a second and retorted back to the Professor, ‘Uncle, I don’t think you have brains.’ The professor was aghast and asked her why she thought so, to which she replied promptly, ‘because I too can’t see it with my eyes’. There are many things that we believe in that we can’t see with our physical eye, but when it comes to believing in God, sadly many demand for proof to do so.

If we take a moment to observe all of the created world, we will not doubt for a moment that there is a great creator God, who has created and sustains this universe. This world which was created thousands of years ago, is still a mystery to every scientist and scholar who are researching these things.

The wonders of God are all revealed in His word, and the more we read it, the better we understand who our God is. In times of hardships and confusion instead of running to men, we would be wise to run to the Lord, searching out His word, which can assuredly guide us and deliver us from all our trials.

We read in Psalm 14:1, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”(ESV) The word is clear-cut that only a foolish person will conclude that there is no God. There are those who may not openly declare that there is no God, but their life styles distinctly depict that they do not believe in the existence of God. For instance, this is evident when someone gets entangled in an extramarital affair, for they are outright denying the word of God which admonishes us against adultery. The Lord will never forcefully pull us out of some situations, because He has already given us explicit instructions in His word. When we choose to willfully disobey God’s word, oftentimes the Lord will remain silent.

When Eve took the forbidden fruit, the Lord was watching, but He did not prevent her from doing so, as He had plainly instructed Adam and Eve not to take and eat of it. God’s word is categorical that a man should not commit adultery. So, when David went ahead and disobeyed the word of God, God did not stop him, but David had to face all the consequences of his sinful action later on.

Our actions most vividly signify if we do believe in a God who is living and Almighty. That is why we must be cautious that in our relationships with the opposite gender, in matters pertaining to the use of social media or cell phones, we must constantly check to see if we are walking in obedience to God’s word and living in ways that glorify God alone.

2. God is the originator of this world

Everything began with God, and He alone is the creator of the world and all that is in it. Many do not want to accept that there is a God who exists, and that He is Almighty for fear of the fact that this would mean they stand accountable to Him.

We read in Colossians 1: 16-17, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities orpowers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”(NKJV)

All things that are visible and invisible, seen and unseen were all created by God. When Jesus taught at the synagogue we read in Mark 1:24 a man with an evil spirit cried out saying, “What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God!”(BSB)

This was because the evil spirit inside the man recognized the Holy Spirit who was indwelling Jesus. Our physical sight is limited, but it is good to remind ourselves, that there is a spiritual world that our physical eyes are unable to see and envision. The spiritual world existed before this physical world was created, for it was God’s word that made into a reality, this physical world that we see and experience. As believers in the Lord Jesus we must be aware that not only is the Lord watching us, but there are principalities and powers of darkness also who are observing our lives. Everything that was created in heaven and on earth were all created through Christ, and for Christ alone.

There are lots of theories that have been promulgated to explain the origin of the world. There are some who believe that there was a chemical reaction billions of years ago. There are other theories that refer to a lightning, deep sea or glacier as the reasons for the origin of the earth. The most popular one however, that is being taught to children in schools is Darwin’s theory of evolution. Though this was not proved, children are being made to believe that they were not created by God, but evolved from monkeys. The thought of God and godliness is progressively and deliberately being erased from the minds of our children.

This is one of the reasons why Christian parents have the great responsibility to teach the word of God to their children. We take enormous efforts to encourage our children to excel in their academics, but it is far more important to teach them to be outstanding in their knowledge of God and His word. We make school attendance compulsory for our children, but often make church and Sunday school optional. Education is good for our children for their life here and now on this earth. But, for their souls to be saved, to live on with God in eternity, the word of God and their relationship with God is paramount. Let us give preeminence to teaching the word of God to our children, lest they grow up to become those who even deny God’s existence.

For instance, if one generation chooses to give God an hour and a half on Sundays alone, having no time for him all through the week, the next generation will be content to give God just three days in a year, namely be at church on Easter, Christmas and New Year. The generation that follows them will maintain their church membership for convenience sake, to conduct all their ceremonies, and the next generation will completely forget about God.

If we fail to teach and disciple our children when they are young and lead them to the Lord, it will become an indomitable task later on. When we study the life of Moses, he was a nursing baby when he was handed over to his mother by Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses was just weaned and then sent back to the palace to grow up as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. However, in those brief years Moses spent with his mother, she instilled such godly teaching that Moses knew for certain who he was, and understood his purpose and calling. Children are most receptive to the word when they are very young, and it our duty as parents to teach our children all we can about God and His word at that tender age.

Here’s the instructions of God in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children” (KJV)

The word of God must primarily be rooted in our hearts. Our children must observe us reading and meditating the word of God. We must diligently teach our children the word of God. Many are content with just reading a few selective Psalms or just a verse or two a day. We should discipline ourselves to read the word of God, as much as we can. Someone said, ‘a well-read bible is the sign of a well-fed soul’. Only if we read the Bible and enjoy meditating on it, will our children be motivated to follow suit. When challenged with difficulties many are tempted to complain, simply because the word of God is not ingrained in their hearts. It is the promises in God’s word that encourage us and guide us through all the harrowing experiences in our lives.

As we keep hearing the word of God, our faith in God grows, for we read in Romans 10:17, “so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” When Jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, he overcame all of the temptations entirely by declaring the word of God. As David says in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”, our hearts must be replete with the word of God, so we can lead the holy lives that the Lord desires of us.

Each day has its own challenges and it is only when we begin the day with God and His word that we have the assurance of His presence, guidance, counsel, exhortation for all that we encounter through the day. The more our hearts are filled with the word of God, we will find that God’s word through the Holy Spirit, will constantly remind us how to handle the various temptations and trials that confront us daily, enabling us to walk in triumph.

3. God is the sustainer of this world.

In Colossians 1:17, we read, “And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.] (AMP)

God is the sustainer of this world. The world is not like a watch that God wound up and set it running. The question that may arise then is that if God is the one preserving the world, why is there still so much of trouble and chaos?

The world that God created with His word, was perfect and good in every way. God created Adam and Eve in His own image, and gave them a single commandment to not eat of the fruit, from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They disobeyed God out of their free will, which was the commencement of sin and trouble for all mankind. Man misused the freedom God gave him, and had to face the consequences of his disobedience. God did not stop Eve from taking the fruit from the forbidden tree, though He knew what Eve and Adam were doing, only because God respected the free will He had gifted to man. In spite of their disobedience, God still gave them hope and continues to uphold all of creation with His word.

Man has mismanaged God’s creation, resulting in pollution, global warming, outbreak of various widespread diseases, man-made disasters, drought, floods, earthquakes etc., all of which man is now trying desperately to set right. Despite this fact, if it were not for God and His sustaining power, nothing would exist in this world.

As we recall Psalm 77:11-12, “I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” (KJV). Daily let us remember the wonderful works of God; the awesome truth that God exists, that He is the originator of this world, that He out of His immense love sustains this world and all of us.

Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father, we thank You that You have given us the privilege to know You. You are the originator and sustainer of this world. I will remember Your works O Lord and I will meditate on all Thy words and doings. Thank You for giving me this knowledge about You. In Lord Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Chapter 24 - Cry out to God

Freedom from Captivity

Chapter 24

Cry out to God

Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus

We read in Mark 10:51, Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man answered, "Master, I want to see!" (CEV)

In the above mentioned incident in Mark 10, there is a conversation that transpired between Jesus and a blind man, named Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus being blind, sustained himself by begging from those who passed by. Those who took pity on him, gave him some form of aid for his livelihood, but no one’s help could bring about any sort of permanent change in his life, as human assistance is always limited and temporary. Only the Lord Jesus had the power and ability to transform an impossible situation, to one of liberation and healing.

Have you noticed how, when encountered with an adverse situation, our minds instantaneously goes searching for someone who can assist us through the crisis? For instance, if our problem is a concern related to the law, we pursue the help of an affluent official in the police department or a renowned lawyer who can help get us out of our predicament. We must consciously work on this tendency of ours to constantly seek support from men, rather than looking to the Lord. The important truth is that it is the Lord alone who can bring about permanent solutions to all the hardships we encounter, and therefore He is the one we must turn to when confronted with any difficult circumstance.

That is why the Psalmist said in Psalm 118:8,“It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man.” (BRENTON)

When the Lord encountered Bartimaeus, He knew his condition full well but He still asked him this question, ‘what do you want me to do for you?’ Some may wonder as to why Jesus asked this question to Bartimaeus; was Jesus not aware of his condition and if He knew his problem, why did He ask Bartimaeus the obvious?

We go way back to the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil that God forbade them to. As Adam and Eve hid in fear and shame from the presence of God, we read in Genesis 3:9, “But the LORD God called out to the man, "Where are you?"(GNT)

It was not that God did not know where Adam was, for He knew that Adam and Eve had disobeyed and were hiding from Him. It seemed that God had to check with Adam, where they were in their relationship to Him, as God knew that their disobedience had broken the fellowship and intimacy they had with Him. As God called out to Adam, He awaited to hear the response He would receive from them, as they hid from His presence.

So also Jesus knew what Bartimaeus needed, but he wanted to hear him confess and acknowledge what he expected from Jesus. When Jesus posed the question to Bartimaeus, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ his immediate response was ‘Master, I want to see!’ To other men who sought to help him, Bartimaeus only asked for assistance for his temporal sustenance, but when he knew it was the Lord Jesus, he asked him for healing from his blindness.

The word ‘Rabboni’ which Bartimaeus used for Jesus in Greek has the meaning of ‘My Great Master’. There were two people in the New Testament who referred to Jesus this way; one was Bartimaeus and the other was Mary Magdalene, who on meeting with the resurrected Lord in the garden near the tomb, called him ‘Rabboni’. It is indeed amazing that blind Bartimaeus, had such a divine revelation of who Jesus was. A blind man who was just a beggar had extraordinary understanding and faith in Jesus that was far greater than even that of the disciples of Jesus.

Though he was blind, his hearing and all other faculties were functioning marvelously.  As Bartimaeus heard of the wonderful miracles that Jesus performed and all that Jesus taught the people, his faith in Jesus also grew. No wonder then that when Jesus asked Bartimaeus what He wanted him to do, he had no hesitation to ask Jesus for the impossible. He had faith to believe that Jesus was definitely able to restore his sight back to him.

Believers in the Lord Jesus should not only speak words of promise and faith when in fellowship with other believers, but must be disciplined to speak those words of faith even when alone and challenged with hard times.  To illustrate, if we confess that our God is Jehovah Rapha, (the one who heals us) we must exercise our faith to believe that God is indeed able to heal, when confronted with any sort of sickness.

Like Bartimaeus we too must desire to know the Lord more intimately, for it is as we grow in our knowledge of who the Lord is, will we begin to experience the mighty wonders of God in our lives. Faith comes from hearing the word of God and that is the reason why one must read the word of God over and over again, which alone enables our faith to grow, resulting in a victorious life.

A father cried out to Jesus for his son

We read in Mark 9:22 -23,"Many times the evil spirit has tried to kill him by throwing him in the fire and into water. Have pity on us and help us, if you possibly can!"   "Yes," said Jesus, "if you yourself can! Everything is possible for the person who has faith." (GNB)

A father brought his son to Jesus who was suffering with evil possession. The boy was tormented by the evil spirit that often threw him into the fire and into water with the intention to destroy the boy. This father unlike Bartimaeus, was not so sure if Jesus could really help.  He came to Jesus and said, ‘Have pity on us and help us, if you possibly can!’ and it was to this man that Jesus said, if you yourself can! Everything is possible for the person who has faith."

Many of us come to the Lord like the father mentioned in the above incident.  We approach God with doubt, instead of with faith and boldness.

When the Lord answered Bartimaeus, Mark 10:52, "Go," Jesus told him, "your faith has made you well." At once he was able to see and followed Jesus on the road. (GNB)

When Bartimaeus approached the Lord with faith, the Lord spoke words of faith to him and not only did Bartimaeus receive his sight instantly, he also began to follow after Jesus. The father of the boy on the other hand, who received healing for his son, went away to his own life.

We must never be among those who draw near to the Lord only to have our various requests granted and walk away from Him when the answers are received. A lot of it depends on who we perceive Jesus is in our day to day lives. There are those for whom Jesus is just a good man, to others He’s a great prophet, to others He’s the Saviour who came to set them free from all their sins but only to a few Jesus is ‘Rabboni’, ‘Our Great Master’ who owns, rules and reigns over every area of their lives. There are those who are content with having Jesus just for their Sundays, and care to have no relationship with Him throughout the week.

It is good for us to evaluate ourselves to recognize, if we are those like Bartimaeus who on receiving his sight decided to follow Jesus or like the father of the boy, who received healing for his son went back to his own life.

The thieves who cried out to Jesus

When Jesus was crucified on the cross of Calvary, there were two thieves who were hung on either side of Him. One of them sneered at Jesus saying,‘if you are the Christ, save yourself and us’.  All that he wanted was to be freed from his pain and agony to get back to his old life.  Even on the cross, he wanted to use Jesus for his own benefit. To this man Jesus gave no reply, but remained silent. However, the other thief who hung on the other side of Jesus, recognized who Jesus was and he said to him ‘Jesus remember me when you come in your kingdom.’  Even in his dying moments, he acknowledge Jesus as the Lord and King of his life, and Jesus assured him that he would be with Him in paradise.

Just like the thief who mocked Jesus got no response from Him, often our prayers are met with silence from the Lord because our motives in asking are not right. The world comprises of two groups of people, those who come to Jesus just to have their physical and material needs met, and the other group who sincerely seek the Lord, to be the Lord and master of their lives.  To the latter group the Lord promises eternal life with him, just as He assured the thief who called out to Him in faith.

Bartimaeus cried out and never gave up

In Mark 10: 46 -47,  we read, “They came to Jericho, and as Jesus was leaving with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!" (GNB)

Mark 10:48-49 says, “Many of the people scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me! Jesus stopped and said “Call him”. (GNB)

Bartimaeus’ healing and deliverance did not come easy for him. As Jesus passed by, Bartimaeus began to shout to Jesus, begging Him to have mercy. He kept on shouting and calling out to Jesus because he desired healing and deliverance. The crowds who were with Jesus, scolded Bartimaeus tried to silence him, but nothing could deter him from crying out even more loudly to Jesus.  When the people tried to stop him, he shouted even more. Hearing the voice of faith of blind Bartimaeus, Jesus stopped and attended to his cry. Jesus moved from there only after Bartimaeus received his healing.

There are so many areas one can be in bondage to; addictive habits, wrong relationships, news and serials on television, cell phone and a whole list of things. An accurate way to know if we are addicted to something is when that thing is withheld or taken away from us for whatever reason, we are overwhelmed with a sense of loss and agitation then it is sure sign that we are addicted to it. God’s will for us is to set us free from every bondage, but for that to materialize we must firstly acknowledge that we are in bondage and secondly earnestly desire to be set free. Some who long to be liberated from some enslavement, begin to call on the Lord for help, but give up after a while and go back to get entangled once again.

Bartimaeus is a great example of one who never gave up and earnestly sought the Lord’s intervention. The result was miraculous healing and deliverance. We too must persistently seek the Lord and call out to Him when challenges confront us. We must be aware that there will always be hindrances and obstruction when we chose to come to Jesus, because the enemy longs to have dominion over us.  As Jesus Himself said in John 8:36, ‘if the Son sets you free, then you will be really free.” (GNB), it is only the Lord Jesus who can deliver us from every form of enslavement.The Lord can hear the cry of faith and persistence and when we continually call on Him, He will surely stop to deliver us, for there is nothing that is impossible with God.

Prayer:

Our Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the assurance that You are willing to hear, if we will call unto You.  We are so encouraged when we read about the thief on the cross who cried out to You, O Lord and You heard him.  We will call and You will surly deliver us from every trouble that besets us.  Thank you for delivering us from bondages.  In Lord Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Chapter 23 - From darkness to 'the light'

Freedom from Captivity

Chapter 23

From darkness to ‘The Light’

As we continue our study this topic of ‘Freedom from Captivity’ we recognize that it is indeed the will of God that His people should be liberated from every sin and bondage. In this chapter we will study the metaphor of light and darkness, which is widely used in the Bible to explain this concept of freedom from sin and bondage to sin.

In Genesis chapter 1, as we read the creation narrative, one of the first things God said was “Let there be light.’ We infer that this was so, because God’s desire was that mankind should enjoy being in the light and not stumble in the darkness. It is the same for our spiritual life too, that in areas of our lives where there is darkness, the Lord aspires to shed His light, which alone can expel all the darkness of sin and bondage.

We read in Isaiah 9:2, “the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them light hath shone.” (Darby)

The Prophet Isaiah in the above verse, prophesied about a light that shines upon two groups of people; the ones who walked in darkness and those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death. This prophesy that was prophesied by Isaiah, was fulfilled almost 700 later, when Jesus came down to the earth.

We read in Matthew 4:14,“This was done to make come true what the prophet Isaiah had said,” (GNB) and in Matthew 4:16 “The people who live in darkness will see a great light. On those who live in the dark land of death the light will shine." (GNB)

When Jesus commenced his earthly ministry, this prophesy of Isaiah was actually fulfilled.  In John 12:35,“Jesus answered, for the one who walks in the dark does not know where he is going.”

One sure way to identify those who walk in the light from those who walk in darkness, is the former know where they are going, while the latter do not, as they are still groping in the dark. There are also those who assume that they are in walking the light, but are in reality still floundering in darkness.

We will consider the lives of three people in the Bible, who were once in darkness and came into the light, to lead lives that were totally transformed.

Zacchaeus received ‘The Light’

We read in Luke 19:2,“There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich.”(GNT)

This passage in Luke 19 describes the encounter that a man named Zacchaeus had with Jesus. Zacchaeus was the chief of the tax collectors and a rich man. Here was a man who must have had a strong will power, for two reasons; one the fact that he had achieved the position of chief of the tax collectors in his town, and the other, that when he decided to see Jesus, he did not allow his height or the great crowd that gathered there to hinder him, but climbed up a tree to have a glimpse of Jesus. He was one who when he desired to have something, would go all out to attain it. He was also a wealthy man and making loads of money seemed to have been Zacchaeus’ main goal in life. Zacchaeus walked in darkness, not knowing where he was going, until the day he met Jesus.

There are many who are confident of their own strength and will power, believing that with these two components, they can accomplish anything they want. Such people who strive to succeed with their own strength, will sadly at some point in their lives, where they will encounter discouragement and dissatisfaction. There are those like Zacchaeus, who believe that one can accomplish anything in life if they have lots of money, which prompts them to chase after money. Some have a wrong understanding that the lack of money is the reason for various problems, and that the abundance of money is the only solution.

There is a story told of a man who was so obsessed with money, that as he hoarded more and more and he did not even care about his wife or children. He made his wife promise him that when he died, she would place all of the money he possessed in his coffin, as he wished to take it with him. His wife was perplexed, that she could not benefit from the money while her husband lived and now she had to part with all of it after he was gone. One day the man died and the relatives of the family who came to attend the funeral were extremely sympathetic of the wife, who had to part with all of the money.  When they enquired of her as to how she had the heart to place all the money in the coffin, she replied ‘that was simple, I deposited all the money in the bank, wrote out a cheque for the entire amount and placed the cheque in the coffin. I have kept my promise and my husband can now encash it when he gets to the other side.’ Though this may sound hilarious, it is pathetic that many people who are consumed by the love for money, do not realize that we can take nothing with us when we leave this world.

We read in Luke 19:8-9,“Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much. Jesus said to him, "Salvation has come to this house today" (GNB)

The day Jesus went to meet with Zacchaeus, there was a major transformation that took place.  From being a man who was captivated with money, he had a complete change of heart and was willing to give away all the money he had wrongly gained to those whom he had defrauded. He was converted from being a selfish man, to one who was willing to give away all that he possessed to bless others, and be content with what remained. That is when Jesus said, ‘Salvation has come to this house today’. Until that day Zacchaeus’ house had money but they missed out on the salvation that the Lord offered. The day Zacchaeus met Jesus, he was brought from darkness into the light, got a clear understanding of what’s important in life and was now sure as to where he was heading.

A good check for us, to recognize if we are walking in the light or groping in the darkness is the way we handle our finances. We all need money but if our heart is seduced by it, then we can be certain that we are still in darkness. When the Lord truly blesses us, we will be those who lend and not those who borrow.  Therefore to those in debt, it is a reminder to ask God to help us be good stewards of all that God blesses us with, and be a blessing to others and we will find our situations will change. Let us expel the darkness of the love of money, and walk in the light knowing that we are all journeying towards our eternal home in heaven, where money will be of no value whatsoever. Instead if we can bless those around us who are poor and needy, we will be storing up for ourselves treasures in heaven that will last for all eternity. Let us pray and desire of the Lord to make our hands, those that give to others and not be those that keep on receiving from others.

Nicodemus received ‘The Light’

In John 3:1, we read, “There was a Jewish leader named Nicodemus, who belonged to the party of the Pharisees.”(GNT)

Nicodemus was a religious leader, a Pharisee, who was well versed with the scriptures but sadly he did not know the Lord of the scriptures. He came to Jesus at night for fear of being identified by other religious leaders.  The reason he sought after Jesus was because though he knew much about the scriptures, he was not sure if he would enter heaven. That is why he asked Jesus ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ In spite of his religiosity, he was in darkness, not sure where he was going.

At the end of the conversation with Jesus, Nicodemus was a changed man. His encounter with Jesus on that dark night, made Nicodemus realize that he had to be born again, born of water and of the Spirit in order to enter the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus believed that Jesus alone was the way through whom he can enter the Kingdom of heaven. A religious man who walked in darkness, was now brought into God’s glorious light.

Though Nicodemus was a secret believer in Jesus, we read in John 19:39-40,“Nicodemus, who at first had gone to see Jesus at night, went with Joseph, taking with him about one hundred pounds of spices, a mixture of myrrh and aloes. The two men took Jesus' body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices according to the Jewish custom of preparing a body for burial.”(GNB)

After Jesus was crucified, this same Nicodemus, who was once so fearful, came out boldly to take down the body of Jesus for burial. 

There are those who are proficient with the Bible, but do not have a relationship with the Lord of the Bible. If we are content to follow a religion, it will only spell out a whole list of do’s and don’ts, most of which will require us to spend much of our finances on. When confronted with hardships, some people on the advice of others undertake pilgrimages to some auspicious places, hoping that their troubles would end. One man may have the money to go on a pilgrimage, while another may be poor and unable to undertake such a journey; does that mean that God will only answer the request one who undertook the pilgrimage and not answer the one who did not have the means to do so? This is erroneous belief as God is a loving God, who does not show favoritism, and treats everyone alike irrespective of who they are. All we are required to do, is to call on the Lord right where we are, and He is ready to answer.

Jesus’ words to Nicodemus holds true for everyone who wants to believe in Jesus.  It is not only necessary to put our faith in Jesus and believe in all that He has done for us on the cross, it is also important that we declare our faith in Jesus by going down into the waters of baptism. We must enter into a covenant with the Lord Jesus by taking baptism. The Bible does not attest to child baptism but only to baptism as an adult, and Jesus Himself set us an example by doing so. It is only when we repent, believe in Jesus and enter the waters of baptism we will enter the kingdom of God.  Baptism is a symbolism of being buried with Christ in His death and only then will be raised again like Jesus did.

The Samaritan woman received ‘The Light’

In John 4:7, we see, “A Samaritan woman came to draw some water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink of water." (GNB)

It was around 12 noon and Jesus was tired after a long journey and was seated near a well.  A Samaritan woman came to the well, all by herself to draw water from the well.  Jesus requests her for water and as the conversation proceeds we read in John 4:16-18, "Go and call your husband," Jesus told her, "and come back." "I don't have a husband," she answered. Jesus replied, "You are right when you say you don't have a husband. You have been married to five men, and the man you live with now is not really your husband. You have told me the truth."

Here was a woman who led a life with no satisfaction. She was leading a life of immorality, and on meeting with Jesus her life was completely transformed.

Look at what she did in John 4:28,“Then the woman left her water jar, went back to the town, and said to the people there, Joh 4:29  "Come and see the man who told me everything I have ever done. Could he be the Messiah?" (GNB)

A woman who was secluded, afraid and withdrawn from society was suddenly transformed into one who ran to bring her entire town to Jesus.  All her fear and shame vanished when she encountered Jesus, and spoke boldly about him to everyone in her town.  She left her pot, forgot even the purpose of why she came, and ran to share the good news with everyone. A woman who lived in darkness was now was brought into the light, and led many others to the light.

If we have encountered the living Lord Jesus in our lives, it is imperative that there must be a definite transformation in our lives. Just like the Samaritan woman who dropped her earthen pot, and ran to share the good news with others, the Lord is calling us to give up all those earthly things that encumber us, so we can be His witnesses and share the good news with those around us. Instead of wasting all our time with worldly things, let us use all our strength and all we have to serve the Lord. 

When Zacchaeus, Nicodemus and the Samaritan Woman met Jesus, their lives were revolutionized. Let us also like them decide to give up everything that hinders our walking in the light, choosing daily to live in obedience to the Lord and His word. May God help us expel all darkness in our lives and live in His light, for as Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.Whoever, follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (ESV) It is only when we walk in His light, will we know where we are going, and stay on the narrow path that leads to heaven.

Prayer:

Our dear and loving heavenly Father, thank You for teaching about the transformation in the lives of Zacchaeus, Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman.  Though poles apart they all came to the light when they encountered You Lord Jesus and their transformation was so remarkable.  Kindly help me to walk in Your light, so that I will continue to stay on the narrow path that leads to heaven.  

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

www.goodnewsfriends.net

Chapter 22 - Lose Anything but Gain Heaven

Freedom from Captivity

Chapter 22

Lose Anything but Gain Heaven

We read in Mark 9:43-47, "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.]"If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] "If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, (NASB)

At the outset the above mentioned verses may seem hard and frightful to read. However, we must pay close attention to these words as these are the words of Jesus Himself. There are two destinations mentioned in Mark 9:43-47, which we can end up in after we die; one where the presence of God is, which is the kingdom of God or heaven, and the other is hell, where the worms never die and the fire is never quenched, a place actually meant for the devil and his angels. A majority of people don’t want to believe in hell, as this would mean that they would have to alter the way they live. There are others, who comfort themselves with the thought that since God is a loving God, He will never cast anyone into hell, both of which are erroneous and contradictory to what Jesus taught.

Jesus’ admonition in the above mentioned verses is that if someone’s eyes, hands or legs causes them to stumble, it would be better for that person to sever that part while here on earth, rather than have their whole body thrown into a place of eternal torment. It is not that Jesus is commanding us to literally sever all those limbs that cause us to sin, but is an exhortation to deal severely with those sins that cause us to stumble and fall.

It is for certain that the Lord has finished everything for us on the cross of Calvary with regards to our salvation and redemption, but the things that could still hinder us from entering the kingdom of God could be our own eyes, hands or feet. There is a misguided teaching that since Jesus has paid for all of our sins on the cross, a person who is saved is saved forever and is assured of entry into heaven irrespective of what they do or how they live. It is true that Jesus has completed His work to redeem us from our sins, but there are still obligations on our part that we must fulfill. This is explained vividly in the parable of the wedding banquet mentioned in Matthew 22. Many were invited to the wedding, but when the king came to inspect the guests and found one man not dressed in appropriate wedding clothes, he commanded that he be bound and cast away in to outer darkness. We are therefore cautioned that is not only important to accept the Lord’s invitation to be His children, but equally important to walk in holiness and obedience to His word.

The Lord Jesus did not come to the earth to grant us material blessing only as some think, but He came to forgive our sins and save our souls from hell. Jesus came to change the course of the direction of our lives, from heading towards destruction, to steer us towards an eternal life in heaven,to live with Him forever.

For those who may be confused as to what are the things we can sever, here are a few examples. When the television set in our house becomes a nuisance and a constant source of distraction, it could mean cutting off the cable connection. If we were to explain it the way Jesus did, it would go like this; it is far better to cut off the cable connection than to go to hell with the cable connection. Another example, is if we find our mobile phones a source of diversion, tempting us to view things that are detestable to God, it would be far better to discard our phones than to end up in hell.

The Lord does not desire that we live a holy life on Sunday and then go out to live any way we want to for the rest of the week. Our attendance at church, bible reading, prayers and offerings don’t qualify us to go to heaven. It is Jesus alone who can do that, and we must be willing to give up those things that deter us from being all that He wants us to be. The thing that Jesus rebuked in the Pharisees and the Sadducees was their dichotomy and hypocrisy. Our testimony should be such that everyone who knows us, our spouse, our children, our neighbors, our relatives or colleagues will testify that we are children of God. It is only when we have such a testimony, that many will turn to the Lord.

The point that Jesus emphasized in Mark 9:43 -47 was that, losing a limb was nothing when compared to missing out on heaven. The reason Jesus went through all the pain, shame and agony on the cross was that we too could be in heaven with Him forever. Everything that hinders us, be they worldly things or any human relationship, it is better to dissociate from them, rather than allow them to become stumbling blocks in our lives.

When God called Abraham, He could have blessed him right where he was. But the Lord commanded him to leave the place where he was, leave behind all of his family and walk by faith in obedience to God, so he could receive God’s blessings in his life. Abraham had to separate himself in order to be the recipient of God’s favor and blessings.

Jesus said John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.”(ERV)

Jesus re-iterated most clearly that He alone was the ‘only way’ to the Father. Therefore, for those of us who have decided to follow Jesus, there is no way we can drag along with us all those unnecessary things and relationships that the Lord is not pleased with. We are called to look to Jesus, walk with Jesus, follow Him only and throw off everything that hinders us, to attain the eternal life that Jesus promised.

Often times we seek to please people more than we please God. When we do so we will be misled by people, sometimes those very close to us, and begin to lead a life of compromise. Paul said it this way in Galatians 1:10, “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” (NLT) Paul was very categorical that he was called to please God and not people. We must keep in mind that pleasing men will eventually result in futility.

The way Gehazi got enticed

In 2 Kings 5:15, “Then he (Naaman) went back to the man of God (Elisha), with all his train, and, taking his place before him, said, Now I am certain that there is no God in all the earth, but only in Israel: now then, take an offering from me.” (BBE)

In 2 Kings 5:16, we read, “But he said, by the life of the Lord whose servant I am, I will take nothing from you. And he did his best to make him take it but he would not.” (BBE)

We read in 2 Kings 5:18, “But may your servant have the Lord's forgiveness for this one thing: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon for worship there, supported on my arm, and my head is bent in the house of Rimmon; when his head is bent in the house of Rimmon, may your servant have the Lord's forgiveness for this thing.” (BBE)

Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army, but he was afflicted with leprosy. A young Israelite slave girl who worked in Naaman’s house, introduced him to the prophet Elisha. Having heeded the girl’s validation of Elisha, Naaman headed to prophet’s house. Elisha sent his servant with the message to Naaman to go and wash himself seven times in the river Jordan. Though Naaman was initially annoyed by the prophet’s command, he obeyed and was completely cleansed of his leprosy, his body restored like that of a little child.To express his heartfelt gratitude, Naaman offered Elisha a huge gift, which Elisha refused to accept.

Probably, the reason Elisha refused to accept the offering from Naaman was the fact that though Naaman acknowledged that only Yahweh, the God was Israel, who healed him of his leprosy, was the true and living God, he was unwilling to let go of all that he had back home in Syria. As Naaman’s position and job were of much importance to him, inspite of having received the miraculous healing from God, he asked Elisha to pardon him for the times he would have to visit the temple of Rimmon, along with the King of Syria whom he served. Naaman requested Elisha to seek God’s reprieve, for whenever Naaman accompanied the King of Syria to the temple of Rimmon for worship, he too would have to bow down in worship as the king would lean on Naaman’s hand. Elisha did not desire or think it appropriate to take an offering from Naaman, for whom his position and status were far greater importance, than the Lord who healed him of his leprosy.

The same was true of Cain and Abel too. Both of them presented their offerings to the Lord, but the Lord delighted and accepted Abel’s offering while he rejected Cain’s.

When the Lord answers a prayer request, there are those who like Naaman, are content with bestowing an offering to the Lord and don’t remember the Lord until another need arises. It’s a good reminder that one can’t live any way they want, and expect the Lord to accept or approve of their tithes and offerings.

Elijah was a mighty prophet of God and Elisha was his servant. He followed Elijah every step of the way and when Elijah was taken up into heaven, the mantle of Elijah fell of Elisha. Elisha was blessed doubly because he associated with the right person. On the other hand, Elisha had a servant Gehazi whose eyes were fixed on the wrong things. When he saw the enormous gifts that Naaman offered Elisha, he as filled with greed. Like Elisha, Gehazi had the opportunity to be the next prophet but unfortunately Gehazi lost the blessing, because his eyes were focused on the wrong things.

If we are not in association with the right people, we too like Gehazi will lose out on God’s blessings.

In 2 Kings 5:21 we read, “So Gehazi went after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from his carriage and went back to him and said, Is all well?” (BBE)

As Gehazi’s eyes coveted the gifts that Naaman brought, his legs that walked behind Elisha, now ran after Naaman. Gehazi lied to Naaman and received in his hands the money and clothes, which he hid in his house. We see the process of how Gehazi used his eyes, feet and hands to sin, and also hid it from his master Elisha.

We read in 2 Kings 5:27, “Because of what you have done, the disease of Naaman the leper will take you in its grip.” (BBE)

When Gehazi went back to Elisha, the prophet was fully aware of all that Gehazi had done. The consequence was severe; the leprosy that left Naaman clung on to Gehazi and his descendants forever. Naaman came to Elisha unclean but he got cleansed, and Gehazi who was clean became defiled.

Like Gehazi a major temptation to so many, are those pertaining to the lust of the eyes. If one wonders as to where it started, it was way back in the Garden of Eden, where Satan tempted Eve with what she saw. This is the enemy’s clever scheme, that we must be aware of and overcome every day.

In recent times, we are bombarded with loads of visuals on our cell phones, newspapers, television, and magazines etc. that are an abomination to the Lord. Smith Wigglesworth said it this way, ‘If I read the newspaper, I come our dirtier than I went in. If I read my Bible, I come out cleaner than I went in, and I like being clean.’ The newspapers today are filled with news on murder, rape, theft, fraud etc., and instead of filling our minds with all these evils, we should discipline ourselves to spend more time with the word of God, which alone can refresh us and cleanse us.

Irrespective of whether man looks at us or not, we must desire to be holy and pleasing to God and make holiness our lifestyle. There is nothing that is hidden from God who knows our every thought, motive, desire and word even before it proceeds from our mouth. Many young people conceal crucial matters pertaining to their lives and eventually land up in loads of trouble, not realizing that it is far safer to be open about the issues they face, especially with their parents.

The way Judas Iscariot got enticed

Judas Iscariot went down a similar path of allurement. When Mary, the sister of Lazarus anointed the feet of Jesus with an expensive ointment, as a mark of gratitude to Jesus, Judas Iscariot was counting the cost and grumbling. The reason was because Judas’ eyes craved for money, which prompted his feet go and conspire with the high priest, to betray Jesus for a measly thirty pieces of silver. He took the money that was offered in his hands, but sadly his end was pitiable and pathetic.

As believers we must realize that this world is only our temporary residence, and heaven is our eternal abode. Jesus has paved the way for us to get to heaven but it is a fact that nothing unholy or defiled can enter heaven, where the presence of God is. It is true that it is becoming more and more difficult for us to lead holy lives, but it is certainly possible if we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and walk with Him every day, that we will lead lives that are holy and victorious.

May we surrender our bodies, every part of it to the Lord, so He will control our minds, our mouth, our eyes, our hands and our feet. Let us decide to deal with the sin and temptation harshly, no matter how insignificant it may seem. May God grant us His grace and strength to overcome every sin, so that no earthly thing or relationship will hinder us from entering heaven. May we be willing to forfeit everything in our lives, for the sake of entering the Kingdom of God.

Prayer:

Our loving Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord for preparing heaven for us. We know that this life is temporary and we are so often tempted to do let our eyes drift away to the world. Give us the strength and courage to submit to Your Lordship and cut off everything that comes to lure us away from the Kingdom of God. We ask You to be the Lord over our soul, spirit and body. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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