REDEEMING THE TIME

Eph. 5:16 says “redeem the time, because the days are evil.”

How we handle our time is important indeed. John Lubbock stated that “Time, indeed is a sacred gift and each day is a little life”. Time is a gift from God, it is life, and if I waste time I am wasting life.  As Benjamin Franklin put it “Lost time is never found again.”

The Amplified translation of Eph. 5:16 says “Make the most of our time – buying up each opportunity – because the days are evil”.

One of your greatest dangers in life is letting the urgent things crowd out the important things. Take time to do those important things and take time to enjoy life. Remember, life is not a dress rehearsal, it is the real thing. The following choices need to be made constantly.

Take time to laugh – it is the music of the soul.

Take time to think – it is the source of power.

Take time to play – it is the source of perpetual youth.

Take time to read – it is the fountain of wisdom.

Take time to pray – it is the greatest power on earth.

Take time to love and be loved – it is a God-given privilege.

Take time to be friendly – it is the road to happiness.

Take time to give – it is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to work – it is the price of success.

Value the importance of this moment. Enjoy totally the gift of the day and all that God has for you.  Do not waste time, for time is the raw material of life. 

By Gerald H. Bradley – from the book “Powerful Inspirational Motivation”  

 

THE SINLESS LIFE

 

The Sinless Life (1 John 3:6)   Posted on October 27, 2016 by Paul Ellis

When the Holy Spirit came into your life the change in you was like night and day. It’s like you were given a heart transplant. Your old heart, which was captive to desires of the flesh and enslaved to sin, was replaced with a new heart with new desires and appetites. Your new heart beats with new passions and they are the passions of the Holy Spirit. This is why John can say outlandish things like this:

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. (1 John 3:6

Before I understood what was new about me, I used to look at verses like this sideways. “No one keeps on sinning?!  John, have you lost touch with reality?”

In a manner of speaking I think this is exactly what happened. John understood that there is no comparison between the life we had in Adam and the new life we have in Christ. Sinning is characteristic of Adam’s nature, not Christ’s.  For us, sinning is a part of that old reality that died with Christ on the cross. It does not describe our new reality in Christ.

“But Paul, are you saying we won’t ever sin? Now you’re starting to sound like you’ve lost touch with reality.” Maybe I have. Maybe I have traded the flawed and false reality of my old life for the better and truer reality of his.

 A promise, not a threat

So what is John talking about when he says no one who lives in him keeps on sinning? There are two ways to read this. Someone schooled in the sticks and carrots of the old covenant will interpret these words as a threat. “If you want to remain in him and stay saved, you had better stop sinning. Don’t be deceived. God is holy and intolerant of sin. Slip up and you’re outta here!” 

What an awful distortion of God’s unconditional love! Can you imagine being married to someone who threatened to kick you out every time you made a mistake? You would be an emotional wreck. You would walk on eggshells for fear of upsetting your hyper-sensitive and ungracious partner.

Come to think of it, this is exactly how many Christians live. Since they don’t know what makes the new covenant new, they are filled with performance anxiety. They are ever fearful of enraging a temperamental God. 

Look to the cross! If God loved you enough to die for you when you were a sinner, he surely loves you now. He didn’t stop loving you after you got saved and he will never kick you out. Your union with the Lord is not conditional on your behavior. In case we had forgotten this, John gives us a reminder:

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. (1 John 4:15, NKJV)

God abides, he dwells, He stays. The moment you acknowledged Jesus as Lord, he moved into your life and he will never leave.

John’s remarks about not sinning should not be read as a threat but promise. He is describing the new life that we have in Christ. Jesus didn’t sin and he never will. If you let him live his life through you, then without any conscious effort on your part you’re going to start talking and walking just like sinless Jesus. It’s inevitable. Live with someone long enough and you begin to resemble that person in manner and thought. 

Sonful, not sinful

I am not saying your behavior will attain a level of sinless perfection this side of eternity. I am saying that living in fellowship with the sinless Son produces desires in us that are informed by his righteous nature. You are Sonful not sinful. This is how John explains it:

No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. (1 John 3:9)

 This is not about your performance but your pedigree. Look at the verse again. Three times John refers to your parentage; born of God, God’s seed, born of God. John is trying to tell us that while Adam breeds sinners, God does not. This comes out clearly in the Message Bible:

People conceived and brought into life by God don’t make a practice of sin. How could they? God’s seed is deep within them, making them who they are. It’s not in the nature of the God-begotten to practice and parade sin. (1 John 3:9, MSG)

Origin determines destination. In your old life you followed in the faithless footsteps of your father Adam. You walked after the desires of the flesh because they were the only desires you had.

But you have been taken out of Adam and placed into Christ. You have become a partaker of his divine nature. The evidence of this is the new desires and new ambitions you now have. As far as sinning goes, you are just not that interested anymore. Sure, you still have the capacity to sin. But you don’t enjoy it like you used to. Sinning makes you miserable because you know who your Father is, and when you know who your Father is (not a sinner), then you know who you are (not a sinner).

In the next verse John adds, “This is how we know who the children of God are” (1 John 3:10).

  Who are the children of God?                                   

It is those who practice righteousness, not because they have to, but because they carry the righteous DNA of their righteous Father. You don’t practice righteousness to become righteous but because you are righteous. You are a righteous branch on a righteous vine doing what comes naturally.

Extracted from The Gospel in Ten Words.

 

THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF ANNA - Text: Luke 2:36-38

 “And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:36–38) 

The story of Anna is contained only three small verses of the Scripture, but contained in this brief account of her life are several significant principles to guide us in becoming a more effective witness for Christ.

From these three verses in Luke, the following is known of Anna:

She was a prophetess. She was a daughter of Phanuel. She was a member of the tribe of Asher. She was widowed after seven years of marriage (her husband is not named). She was a devout Asherite Hebrew who regularly practiced prayer and fasting. Luke describes Anna as "very old“ and she was 84 years old.

I. Anna Practice Holiness

a. The first lesson revealed in the text is that Anna practiced a life of purity. The text says she was a prophetess, she fasted and prayed, and she never left the temple. The KJV contains an additional phrase, "she lived with her husband seven years from her virginity." All these references reveal that Anna lived a separated or holy life.

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy instructing him, "If a man cleanses himself he will be a vessel of honour, made holy, useful to the master and prepared for every good work." (2 Tim. 2: 21,22).  NIV

This psalm teaches us what it means to stand in holy places. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” – Psalms 24:3, 4  KJV

Our Psalmist says as we are worshipping God we stand in holiness. We need to have clean hands a pure heart and not living in vanity and deceitfully lifestyle.

II. Anna Pray Consistently

a. The biographical account of Anna reveals that she was a prayer warrior who prayed night and day. When God chose a handful of believers who testified at His Son's birth, God chose someone who prayed. Through prayer she gained an insight that many failed to grasp.

b. Anna’s Prayer and Fasting: She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.  Jesus gave His disciples authority to cast out demons but one day they came upon a possessed man and they could not make the demons leave. Perplexed they asked their master what was wrong and He told them that “this kind” only comes out through prayer and fasting.

Anna. Instead of turning her ministry over to the younger generation, Anna was like the righteous people described in Psalm 92:14, who “still bear fruit in old age; are ever full of sap and green.” (fruits are fresh and flourishing)

c. Anna prayed and God used her to tell others about Christ. We should follow her example. The Scripture says she spoke to all who were looking for redemption (v.38). II am convinced that she told people for whom she had been praying.

III. Anna Persevere Patiently

Anna’s example also invites us to pray for the Lord’s appearing, not as a baby this time but as the triumphant King. In the discouragement of exile, we need to fix our eyes on Jesus—looking expectantly for his work in the world now and for his final revelation one day soon. Like the saints of old, we keep praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20).

This Verse Leads Us to Ask the Lord to Come Quickly

In light of this scene, we pray it today over and over again in the rest of Revelation 22:1–5. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. We long for the day, when we will see your face, we will be with you, you as our light. And we will reign with you, Lord Jesus. Amen!

IV. What I've learned from Anna?

         She didn't give up. There have been times in our ministry that we                          could have given up.

        She did what God told her to do. Obedience

        She taught me about being strong.

        God provided for Anna.

        Fasting produces results.

        She was committed.

        She had a lot of courage.

        She was a strong witness for Christ. 

So be strong in the strength and might of the Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all.

 

THE SAMARITIAN WOMAN AT THE WELL

1. JESUS COMES TO A WELL IN SYCHAR OF SAMARIA.

John 4:5-7 ⁵ So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. ⁶ Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.  ⁷ A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” ⁸ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. (NKJV)

2. THE JEWS IN JESUS’ TIME, DESPISED THE SAMARITANS.

·        When the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel (722 BC), they exiled almost all the Jewish population, removing them from the land. All those left behind were the lowest classes of society.

·        These intermarried with other non-Jewish peoples who came into the region, and the Samaritans emerged as an ethnic and religious group.

·        The Jews in Jesus’ time despised the Samaritans, disliking them even more than Gentiles – because they were, religiously speaking, “half-breeds” with a mixed faith. 

3. JESUS SPEAKS WITH A SAMARITAN WOMAN.

John 4:7-9  ⁷ A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” ⁸ For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. (NKJV)

APPLICATION: (i) By tradition, a rabbi would not speak with a woman in public. It was also very unusual for a Jewish person of that time to ask a favour or accept a drink from a Samaritan’s cup.  (ii) Jesus showed that the way to gain a soul is often to ask a service of that person.”

John 4:9 ⁹ Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 

APPLICATION:

·        (i)  For many reasons, this woman would have been despised by most of the religious leaders in the days of Jesus. She was a woman, a Samaritan, and a woman of questionable reputation. 

·        (ii) The woman was impressed by the friendliness of Jesus. It was unusual for her to hear a kind greeting from a Jewish man.

·        (iii) WE, OURSELVES NEED TO SHOW KINDNESS TO THE POOR & DISPISED.

4. JESUS SPEAKS ABOUT LIVING WATER.

John 4: 10-¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 

WHAT IS THE LIVING WATER?

·  (i) JESUS IS THE LIFE GIVING “LIVING WATER” Revelation 22:1-2: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.

·        Living Water and Living Worship – Living waters will come when there is Living Worship!  Living water is in His Hand and Living worship is in your hand.

·        John 4:10-11 “If you knew the gift of God ……. He would have given you Living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing (the woman was looking  to His Hand) to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?” Jesus could have satisfy her with the well waters but He satisfies her with Living Waters. God satisfies while He supplies the Living Water.

·        (ii) This living water is the spiritual fulfillment and eternal life that Jesus provides to those who believe in him.

·        (iii) Just as water is essential for physical life, Jesus is the essential source of spiritual life for those who trust in him. 

APPLICATION:

(i) Everyone needs to drink water regardless of our condition.

(a) A man’s face may be unwashed, but yet he can drink; he may be a very unworthy character, yet he can drink.

(b) To drink is to receive - to take in the refreshing faith in the Word of God. (Spurgeon)

       (ii) Drinking deeply from the well of living water is a daily practice, continually drawing from the well that never runs dry and never  thirst again as we drink from Jesus a fountain of water will spring out from our inner man.

John 4:13-14  Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (NKJV)

 

APPLICATION: THE BLESSINGS AND PROMISES FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE LIVING WATER:  We

(i)   Receive eternal life & escape the final judgment

(ii)  Become the children of God

(iii) Can boldly come directly to God in prayer (Hebrews 4:16)

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

 

 

TRUE WORSHIPPERS TODAY

 

B. The Samaritan’s Concept of Worship  (continuation from Jesus and Samaritan woman)

1. The Act of Worship – Nine times the verb, once the noun – from “Proskuneo” means “I kiss the hand toward” – John 4:20-24

2. The Object of Worship – the Father – John 4:21, 23

3. The Place of Worship – “neither in Jerusalem” nor in this mountain (Gerizim) – John 4:21

4. The Offerers of Worship – “the true worshippers” whom the Father seeks – John 4:23

5. The Manner of Worship – “in spirit and in truth” – John 4:23

1. The Act of Worship

John 4:20 “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

The noun worship from Greek “proskuneo” means “I kiss the hand toward” In ancient Greek culture, proskuneo referred to showing devotion and reverence to God in worship.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. KJV

Nine times the verb, once the noun – from “Proskuneo” means “I kiss the hand toward” – John 4:20-24  

2. The Object of Worship – the Father & Jesus – John 4:21, 23

Vs. 21 “You worship what you do not know”: The Samaritans believed that Moses commissioned an altar on Mount Gerazim, the mountain of blessing – this was their justification of their system of worship on that mountain.

Now worship is about the Father who is a spirit not in this or that mountains anymore. We also worship Jesus.

The focus of worship is the Our Father in heaven hallow be thy Name.

3. The Place of Worship – “neither in Jerusalem” nor in this mountain (Gerizim) – John 4:21

Jesus pointed her to a time when worship would no longer be focused on places (neither Jerusalem nor Mount Gerazim). The greater work of Jesus would bring a greater, more spiritual worship. (Alford)

Rev. 7:9,10 – “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ESV

4. The Offer’s of Worship – “the true worshippers” whom the Father seeks – John 4:23

GOD LOVES TRUE WORSHIPERS

Why?  This is because true worshipers worships. And God’s meat is Worship. God consumes Worship. God wants quality worship. God is seeking such to worship Him John 4:23. Do you know what God eats when He’s hungry?  Worship!

Application: God says to His churches “Don’t leave your first love? Worship!  God wants to eat here and feeds us every worship. God is not looking for cold worship and heart harden worship lifestyle.

God seeks True Worship – God wants from us more than anything else is our worship. When someone receives Christ in the church, rather than teaching the new convert how to worship, the first thing we teach him is how to work. We ask him to serve the church. We spend time training him to be a worker rather than to be a worshipper. God wants us is our worship first not our service.

And God is seeking true worshippers! There are false worshippers and true worshippers even in church.

5. The Manner of Worship – “in spirit and in truth” – John 4:23

“But the time is coming indeed here and now that..”

Application:

Let’s worship together in spirit and truth, and then let that be the commentary on our lives every day, every moment that we are following the leadership of the Spirit as we cling to the truth of his word and as we proclaim the truth of his word and the power of his spirit. (David Platt)

Worship is far more than singing. It is giving glory and honour to Jesus with our whole lives. When we incorporate intentional worship into our lives - this means our lives should be given to worshipping Jesus in our spirit!  (Katie Stone)

Challenge:

Just worship Him for worship is the key that opens the door to His supernatural supply and divine intervention.  Just worship Him for a few hours daily, really lose yourself and be overwhelmed completely in Him; just worship Him until the frustration, disappointment and depression is no more, making way for His rivers of Joy to flow out of your innermost being, and when you get up, you’ll find your miracle waiting at the door!

WORSHIP HIM AS YOUR MIRACLE-WORKER!

WORSHIP HIM AS YOUR DIVINE HEALER!

WORSHIP HIM AS YOUR DIVINE MATCHMAKER!

WORSHIP HIM AS YOUR SUPERNATURAL DELIVERER!

WORSHIP HIM AS YOUR ANOINTED KING!

WORSHIP HIM AS YOUR DEBT-BUSTER!

WORSHIP JESUS IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH!