The Wilderness Experience

”THEN was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” -Matt. 4: 1

There comes a time in the Christian’s life when he has to pass through the wilderness in his journey to his place of eternal rest. That wilderness is where he is proved whether he is worthy of that heavenly home or not, whether he is deeply rooted in Christ or just on the surface. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness in order to be tempted by the devil. The devil challenged Him, but He succeeded. When we are faced with persecutions, trials and tribulations, we should look to Jesus and be at peace because He has assured us that even though we shall face troubles, He has overcome the world. John 16: 33.

God allows us to be tempted in order to refine us and to conform us into the image of Christ. But the devil brings the temptations in such a way that we will give up and turn back. We must not relent, God has provided a means of escape for us. That is His Word. Satan tempted Jesus, quoting the Scriptures (Luke 4: 9-11). Satan can quote the Scriptures and can twist its teachings. If we would stand in time of temptations, we must understand what the Bible teaches. That is the essence of studying and meditating on God’s word. Someone has rightly said: ”He who builds up a Christian experience in obedience to the word of God will have something to serve Him in a time of need.

Our task is to glorify God no matter what the circumstances. If we do, our struggle can direct others to the Saviour as we make our way towards our ultimate goal of rest and reward in heaven.

Spiritual Dryness

Most Christians do not enjoy the sweetness of fellowshipping with God. Some experience so little while others do not experience it at all. In order to have such a happy experience, however, we must meet certain conditions. ”If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul.” If our souls are not drawn out in pity for the hungry and we fail to relieve them, we need not expect anything other than a spiritual drought from God.

It may also be the result of attachment to the world. ”Set your affections on things above, and not on things on the earth”. Unless we live by the Bible, we can not be spiritual. A little affection for the things of the world robs the soul of spiritual life. We can sometimes console ourself that what we seek is for God’s glory. Beware! Underneath may be a desire for self-gratification, ease or luxury. If you are troubled by a lack of sensible devotion in worship, examine your affections.

It may also be the result of sloth. ”Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep” Pro. 19: 15. Any neglect of spiritual devotion must result in lukewarmness. ”Awake, thou that sleepest.” Up and away to the hill of the Lord. Be the frequent witness of a sunrise scene from a mount of prayer. If your spiritual fruit is not beautiful, well-flavoured, and fully developed as it should be, look for the presence of sloth in the soul. Satan is too wise to suggest an entire abandonment of the spiritual duties, but he will suggest a little postponement. One delay will soon be followed by another and then by another. These delays are an opiate that dulls the spiritual senses, until we find pleasure in them. Nothing but the greatest diligence and determination and strong laying hold upon God will ever put spiritual sloth to death.

The lifting of the heart to God in praise and adoration is of greater value than the wealth of worlds . We must be filled with the Spirit. Take plenty of time to gain heaven. Stand upon God’s Word and you’ll be suprised at the Lord’s dealings with you.

Source: How to Live a Holy Life by Charles E. Orr

Doing The Will of God.

”For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister and mother.” Matthew 12: 50.

Every genuinely born-again Christian is a brother and sister of our Lord Jesus Christ. What a priviledge to be identified with God as brethren! Surely, everybody longs for that day in which they’ll be welcomed by their brother into the place of rest that has been prepared for them from the foundation of the world.

However, every Christian must DO the will of the Father to be reckoned with Christ as His brother. It is not enough to seek and know His will but to do it. Some may ask, ”what is the will of God?” Apostle Paul answers this question in his letter to the Romans: ”…that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” Romans 12: 1. It is when we offer ourselves as a living offering unto Him that we’re doing His will. Jesus laid this example by giving Himself to reconcile us back to God; to do the will of His Father.

God wants the same from us. When we make deliberate efforts to do His will, He gives us even more grace. We must destroy our ”SELF” which is at enmity with the spirit. That is when we are controlled by the Spirit of God and we’ll say, just as Jesus said, that: ”…not as I will, but as Thou wilt” Matthew 26: 39. When we are brought to a state of total submission to God, we begin to know Him the more. Nothing motivates us more than to do His will; ”…my meat is to do the will of Him that sent me…”. And at the end of our life here on earth, we have an incorruptible inheritance in heaven.

Trust and obey,

For there’s no other way,

To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and obey

The Path of the Just

”But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” Proverbs 4: 18.

This verse paints the beautiful picture of the life of the Christian. We are all saved to fellowship with God; and God is moulding and fashioning us into the image of His dear Son. Our own part is to ensure that we grow spiritually to conform to that image. How can we do that? Its by studying the Word of God and prayer.

Sometimes we neglect our spiritual welfare while we tend to the things of the flesh. We don’t pray and meditate on God’s Word but we feed our mortal bodies everyday. We do not understand that prayer and the Word of God is the food for our spiritual lives; and if we neglect it, how can we grow into the image of Christ? Some people believe that they can still be Christians while they indulge in unwholesome practices. They believe in the doctrine of ”once saved, always saved”. But they fail to admit the truth of the Scripture that says, ”work out your salvation with fear and trembling”.

We must understand that when we discipline ourselves in the place of prayer and meditating on God’s word, new heights of goodness are ever open to us. But if we give up the battle and take the easy way, even the resistance power we possessed against the devil will be lost and will slip from the little height to which we had attained. There is no such thing as standing still in the Christian life. We either get more or lose what we had. We either advance to greater heights or slip back everyday. The Bible admonishes us to ”give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest at anytime we should let them slip” (Hebrews 2: 1).

Let us always remember that there is no creature that is hidden from the Creator. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4: 13). Therefore let us live our lives with the consciousness of who we are in the sight of God.

God bless you.

Hold Fast To What You Have

”Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown” Rev. 3. 11

When we look at the letters Jesus sent to the seven Churches, we discover that the main emphasis is that they should hold fast to the gospel that has been given to them. There are many false teachers and prophets today that teach false doctrines- doctrines of demons. The message of Jesus to the Churches also applies to us- we should hold fast to what we have.

Jesus Christ warned us to hold fast so that no man can take our crown. Many of us today have little or no regard to this exhortation. We know certain areas of our spiritual life that is ”dead”; and yet we don’t do anything about it. We overlook it and pretend as if everything is all right- no, it isn’t. When we hold fast to what we have, we cannot let it slip away. We jealously guard it. As Christians, we are to hold fast to the Word of God. We should keep it in our heart and obey it. The Psalmist said, ”Thy word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against thee”. When our life is not in harmony with one text of that blessed book, we are letting it slip away. We should wake up and be on the watch, so that we can strengthen those aspects of our lives that are about to die.

When Jesus gave the parable of the talents, the lazy and unfaithful servant did contrary to his master’s wish, he let what he had to slip away. As a result, his talent was taken away from him and was given to the servant with ten talents. When we let God’s word slip away from our heart, we work contrary to His will, and our reward (crown) will be given to another man that made the best use of God’s word. Therefore let us hold fast to what we have, so that no man can take our crown.

God bless you.

Guard Your Thoughts

”They want to look at nothing but immoral women…they are under God’s curse!” 2 Pet. 2: 14.

This verse talks about the characteristics of those who are heading for destruction. The Bible is so plain about those things that can rob one of God’s blessings and subjects one to God’s cure instead. As Christians, we must strive to be holy and have our conscience sprinkled from every evil thoughts and imaginations.

Sometimes, the devil sees to it that immoral thoughts come across our mind. He tries as much as possible to make us dwell on those thoughts. If he can’t get us through that, he will try to lead immoral people to turn us away from the faith. If we consent to them and allow them to raise our emotions and passions, that is a clear signal that we are moving away from God’s blessings and going under His curse.

We must see to it that we put our body into subjection like Apostle Paul did. We must mortify our members (body) against every deeds of the flesh because our flesh is always at war with our spirit. The world we live in is very perverted. That is why Jesus told us to be wise as serpents and gentle as doves. We must quit every appearance of sin. God sees our struggle against sin. He sees our craving to gain the mastery over every carnal desire. We should not relent for God will reward our labour in due time.

Hold On To the Faith

”So then, my brothers and sisters, try even harder to make God’s call and his choice of you a permanent experience; if you do so, you will never fall into sin.” -2 Pet. 1: 10

Apostle Peter was addressing the early Christians about the need to remain firm in the faith. There were doubtless some who have grown weary and have sat on a comfortable plateau; awaiting what the future holds for them. They failed to see Jesus at the end of their spiritual journey waiting to receive them into His Kingdom. Such is the case of many Christians today!

The Bible makes us to understand the activities of the devil in the affairs of men. ”…The devil walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Pet. 5: 18. The major work of the devil is to set up situations and circumstances so that a Christian can fall. He does not trouble himself much with the unbelievers- they are already his. That is why the Bible warns us to be alert and be on the watch against his devices. How can we do that? One way is by diligence and faithfulness in serving God. We are to strive to make our calling and election sure.

There are some people who tell stories of how they had been zealous for God and were used mightily for His service but have backslidded in some trying situations. There is danger in this for the Bible tells us that it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and then turn away from the sacred command that was given them (2 Pet. 2: 20). We must continually dwell in God’s presence and the infilling of the Holy Ghost must be a permanent experience. We must strive to serve Him with the understanding that God chose us because He knows that we are perfectly suited to carry out His plans and purposes. After our work is accomplished here on earth, we have an inheritance that is incorruptible in Heaven.

Wilt Thou Be Made Whole? 2

Jesus meant the man at the pool to be a testimony forever. When he had both eyes on Jesus, He said to him, ”Do the impossible thing. Rise, take up thy bed and walk”. Jesus called on the man with the withered hand to do the impossible thing- to stretch forth his hand. The man stretched his hand and it was made every whit whole. And so when the impotent man began to rise, he found that the power of God was moving within him and he began to walk. It was on a sabbath day and there were some of those folks around who think much more of a day than they do of the Lord: and they began to make a fuss. When the power of God is in manifestation, a protest will always come from some hypocrites.

Jesus knew all about what the man was going through, and met him again; and said to him: ”Behold thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee”. There is a close relationship between sin and sickness. How many know that their sickness is a direct result of sin? But if you will obey God and repent of your sin and quit it, God will meet you and neither your sickness nor your sin will remain. If you have not given your life to Christ, you are still under the bondage of sin, a slave of sin. Come to Jesus today, he will relieve you of your burden. Hear His words to you: ”Come to Me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11: 28, Good News Bible). Oh what joy it is to be free from the bondage of sin! Call upon Him with a sincere heart, He will hear you. God wants to fellowship with you, He wants a chance to show you His lovingkindness. He is faithful and just to forgive you. Dare to enter into God’s rest and you’ll found that there is absolutely nothing that can be compared to it.

Wilt Thou Be Made Whole? 1

Read John 5: 1-9.

This is the story of the lame man at the pool. A great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, laid around the pool, waiting for the moving of the water. Jesus did not heal everybody. He left many around that pool unhealed. There were doubtless many who had their eyes on the pool and who had no eyes for Jesus. There are many today who have their confidence all the time in things seen. If they would only get their eyes on God instead of natural things, how quickly will they be helped.

There they are round the pool; and this man had been there a long time. His infirmity was of 38 years standing. Now and again an opportunity would come, as the angel stirred the waters, but his heart would be made sick as he saw another step in and be healed before him. But one day Jesus was passing that way, and seeing him lying there in that sad condition, enquired, ”Wilt thou be made whole?” Jesus said it, and His word is from everlasting to everlasting. This is His word to you, poor, tried and tested one today. You may say, like this poor impotent man, ”I have missed every opportunity up till now.” Never mind about that-Wilt thou be made whole?

There was one difficulty in the way of that man. He had one eye on the pool and one eye on Jesus. There are many getting cross-eyed this way these days; they have one eyes on the doctor and one on Jesus. If you will only look to Christ and put both your eyes on Him, you can be made every whit whole, spirit, soul and body. It is the word of God that they that believe should be justified and made free from all things.

You say, ”Oh, if I only could believe! ” He understands. Jesus knew He had been a long time in that case. He is full of compassion. He knows that neuralgia, that kidney trouble. There is nothing He does not know. He only wants a chance to show himself merciful and gracious to you. If thou canst only believe, thou canst be saved and healed. Dare to believe that Jesus was wounded for your transgressions, was bruised for your iniquities, was chastised that you might have peace, that by His stripes there is healing for you right here and now. You have failed because you have not believed Him. Cry out to Him even now, ”Lord I believe, help Thou my unbelief.”

Source: Ever Increasing Faith by Smith Wigglesworth

Speak to people about Jesus

Although the omnipotent God can speak personally to every sinner in an audible voice, as He did to Saul of Tarsus, He has elected to use Christians to spread His gospel. Any angel in heaven would love to teach this sunday school class, to speak with your neighbour, to have five minutes with the one next to you on the job, to talk to the clerk at the grocery store- but angels cannot. We can (Acts 1: 8).

The Lord also speaks through circumstances, but it is doubtful that sinners will recognise His voice- they need an interpreter. As the Holy Spirit is God’s Interpreter to believers, so Christians are to be interpreters to the lost world (Acts 8: 30, 31). It is necessary, of course, to live a consistent Christian life if we would witness. But we must beware of the philosophy which says, ”Let people see Jesus in you. That is enough.” No it isn’t! We are to speak!

As a matter of fact, unsaved people do not intend to reject Christ, they merely postpone surrender to Him. They feel they cannot live the life now, that salvation is a price they must pay rather than a price Jesus paid, and that they have a little more time. Ours is the responsibility of showing them the way through the Word.

Paul stretched himself beyond conventional limits to reach men with the gospel (1 Corinthians 9: 19- 23). So did our Lord Jesus Christ (John 13: 3-5). David Wilkerson has led hundreds of thousands to Christ because he was willing to do a ”ridiculous thing” in New Work courtroom (The Cross and the Switchblade). While some are winning entire families to God, others are criticizing- being content with their own ”little flock”. Jesus wants a full house. Do we?

P.S. Perhaps you have not given your life to Christ or have not surrendered your all to Him, cry out from your heart for God’s mercy and forgiveness. We are at the time of God’s grace, and it’s running out. The world is coming to an end, and only those who the Lord recognises as His own would escape the wine of God’s fury which is about to be poured on the world. Confess your sins before Him with a sincere heart. He is willing to forgive you and restore you to Himself.

GOD BLESS YOU!