| 2006
Feb : | Be
Not Conformed | World
Day of Prayer | Back to Home Page |
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Be
Not Conformed To This World INTRODUCTION Was Paul
referring to the works of the flesh in Gal 5:19-21?" Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasci-viousness or lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft
or sorcery, hatred, variance or contentions or jealousies, wrath or
outbursts of wrath, strife or selfish ambitions, seditions or dissensions,
heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness,, revellings or revelries,
and such like: of which I tell beforehand, just as I also told you in
the time past, that those who practise such things [those who are still
practising one or more of these without guilt or fear], will not inherit
the kingdom of God, [may still be unsaved]. One does not have to be
a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to condemn these crimes. Judaism
and Islam both consider some of these as heinous and punish those who
commit these with death or imprisonment. After a sinner gets saved by
Christ, he becomes a new creature, 2 Cor 5:17. Therefore these sins
could not be the primary problem of believers. To have even just a few
leaders or members in our churches that are still in bondage to the
works of the flesh is an indictment against our church evangelistic
and Christian Education ministries. Look how Paul was so hard on the
Corinthian believers who tolerated the offenses of the man in 1 Cor
5:1-5, please read. Paul did not make an appeal to the beleivers to
avoid the sin of fornication or the other works of the flesh. He simply
commanded them to put away those who are still practising these sins
and have no repentant spirit. It is already understood that believers
would not do these things and enjoy doing it continuously. [1 John 3
1-10 read]. A closer look at the ceremony of the conse-cration of the priests in Lev 8 may be helpful for this particular message today. Let us read Lev 8:1-24. The blood of the ram of consecration Lev 8:23 for the Levitical priestly office and work could also be a unique representation of the blood of Christ that sanctifies the believers for ministry during this church age. As the Blood of the Passover lamb represented Christ shedding His blood at Calvary for our salvation, [When I see the blood, I will Passover you" Ex12:13] the blood of the Lamb of consecration represents the special anointing of the Holy Spirit for Christian service, John 14:13, 16:7, please read. Three very subtle problem areas we face in our Christian life and ministry: Area One : Should we live by sight or by faith? Do not conform to the philosophy of life of the world which is materialistic and covetous. Do not listen to the voices of the world that influence you to live more by sight and less by faith [1 John 2:15-17]. We need "Blood - stained" right Ears [Lev 8:24] - Our ears represent all that we allow to influence our mind which controls our life and directs our activities. Our right ear anointed with blood represents our positive response to the clear and direct commands of God, the logical conclusions from the overwhelming number of Biblical passages and the implied principles God has revealed in both Old and New testaments relevant to the health and growth of our intellect, emotion and will. Even our personal preferences should be governed by God's still small voice. Elijah
in 1 Kings 18 used his ears to respond to God's call to challenge the
prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He triumphed. But in chapter 19 the
same ears heard the threats of Jezebel. He believed it, got scared and
ran. His decision to run was the result of living by his physical senses.
His lack of faith affected his servant who also ran away with him although
he was left lagging behind because he could not keep up with the speed
of the fleeing "representative" of God. We need the advice of the psalmist in Psalm 1 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful". Demas, Paul's companion, 2 Tim 4:10, forsook him having loved His present world and has departed unto Thessalonica. He must have heard the world's voice saying "what future will you have in Paul's missionary team?" When Christ was tempted in the wilderness, His ears heard Satan's voice very clearly. The first temptation appealed to His material needs, "command these stones to be made bread". It was an attempt to focus on His material needs [living by physical senses]. Christ's answer was "man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" [living by faith in God's Word]. God's children can still fall into the sin of materialism, greed and lust after money. There seem to be a growing acceptance in the Christian Community of materialism and the obsession to become wealthy financially and the belief that no child of God must suffer hardship and poverty. Today, financial wealth, physical health and long life have been equated with God's will and blessings for every believer without exceptions. Do not be deceived by this loud voice from the world: "The more faith believers have, the more they become materially blessed and the less problems, sufferings and trials and difficulties they have in ministry." If a servant of God has only enough food, clothing and shelter, it is an evidence of his lack of faith in God. He must not be doing the will of God and for this he is wretched, poor and needy." Area two : Are we in the ministry to please man or God?" Do not
conform to the standard of the world of measuring success and fruitfulness
in Christian ministry. Our thumbs lock our grip on anything we hold. Without out thumbs the function of our hand would severely be handicapped. Our hands represent our ministry - the specific calling we have received from God [Rom 12]. Works stamped with our thumbs marked with blood of Jesus Christ - for reward [gold silver and precious stones 1 Cor 3:12,13]. We had been saved to do good works [Eph 2:10]. But not all of our works in the name of Christ may be credited with eternal values. Only those which will pass scrutiny of the all-knowing God ["the fire shall try everyone's work of what sort it is"] are given eternal value for reward. If we do good works to please men, God is not glorified. It is wood, hay or stubble, and thus, will be burned. Good works are the believer's thoughts, words and deeds endowed with spiritual and eternal quality and value by the indwelling Holy Spirit related to fulfillment of the Great Commission [Matt 28:18-20], done according to the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of the local church where the believer is a member, with motives, means, method, character and lifestyle considered, 1 Cor 10:31; James 5:17. King Saul lost his kingdom even before he offered any sacrifice. He kept the best among the cattle and among the sheep and goats for future sacrifice to the Lord. What he thought was best based on his worldly and disobedient disposition and attitude made him a "castaway". Whereas another Saul had a different response. "But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection: lest after I have preached to others, I should be a castaway" [1 Cor 9:24-27]. Let us brighten the corner where God puts us. Let us be salt with savor where God desires us to have our resident ministries. Let us stop comparing and competing with one another's ministries in size and number, in human and material resources etc. Let us "bloom where we are planted". Gideon's 300 was not a very qualified or impressive company of soldiers. They could not even do push ups or bend low enough to drink like the younger and more athletic ones who were sent home. They were either too old with aching backs and knees or they were so out of shape to do anything, much less to represent Israel against the Midianites. But who need able and strong men when all they had to do was to blow the trumpets, break the clay pitchers and shout "the sword of the Lord and of Gideon". The impossibility of victory was God's to be glorified. Why? They were nothing. Only what they had in their hands with thumbs stained with "blood of faith", they offered to God. With their obedience they pleased God. Imagine how the rest of the soldiers who in appearance, seemed more in number and more able and stronger must have felt when the 300 handicapped senior citizens, maybe nearing retirement and physically unfit were instead selected to fight against a million Midiantes. Big Congregations, large bank accounts, magnificent buildings occupying prime lots in the cities do not necessary mean that God is glorified unless the other components that are surely and distinctively associated with God's power and providence are also present such as : Faithful preaching of the true and pure Gospel of Christ, consistent teaching of the whole counsel of God, responding positively to God's reproofs and corrections, receiving training and instruction from Scriptures, 2 Tim 3:16-17. We praise God for a few Bible-believing and practising churches around the world that God has blessed with huge memberships, adequate facilities, financial blessings, gifted church leaderships, balanced and varied ministries, yet vibrant and effective witnesses in their area of ministry. The rest of us may only have a few dozens of believers meeting in rented properties, suffering difficulties and many deprivations of comfort and ease because God has given us ministries uniquely designed by God for us. I am glad that God's "well done" is in the statement "Thou good and faithful servant", Matt 25:21; Rev 3:8. Area three : Are we standing in defense of the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ by our human and natural abilities or by the power and with the armor of God? Do not conform to the strategy of the World to defend and protect God's ministry. Do not stand and anchor your toes on the platform of ecumenism and compromise just because they seem to be powerful and influential. We need
Blood - stained right big toes - Standing firm in a defensive and offensive
posture in the battle for Biblical Christianity. We are to stand equipped
with the armor of God, Eph 6:10-18. Breastplate of righteousness - Blameless life and conduct, above reproach in and outside of the church Feet shod with preparation of the Gospel of peace - Missionary and evangelistic programs that adequately train believers to teach clearly the pure Gospel of Christ without mixture or sugar coatings characteristic of the Ecumenical, Neo-evangelical and Charismatic movements. Shield of faith - Personal security, confidence and trust because one is indeed related to the eternal sovereign God who created this universe and all that are in it, maintains and sustains it now, and who will determine the destiny of all creation at the end of His redemptive work and in the eternity beyond. Rom 8:35-39. Helmet of Salvation - Clear understanding of "Soteriology" to a degree that he not only feels but is indeed eternally secured, in the Father, Son and in the Holy Spirit. He has no more condemnation because of Jesus Christ. Living for the Faith give as much fulfillment as Dying for it, 2 Tim, 4:5-7. Sword
of the Spirit - Aptitude and faithfulness in handling the Word of God.
Personally able to use and apply Scriptures for personal and corporate
edification. As we come closer to the end of this age, we can expect more "Christian" churches and organizations to become lukewarm, to embrace compromise and eventually become ecumenical and apostate. May none from among us neglect this warning : "Be not conformed to this world, but be yet transformed by the renewing of you mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God". God bless
us. Amen. |